2025 Tall Timbers Youth Field Trial Report
2025 Tall Timbers Youth Field Trial
Livingston Place, Greenville, Florida
Novemebr 23, 2025
Report by Chris Mathan
Winners:
1st: Rose, Harper King
2nd: Jade, Griffyn Long
3rd: Rester’s Chasin’ In Sterling Woodruff
Top Junior Handler Award: Jacob McCormick handling Jenni
Huge thanks to Tall Timbers and the crew at Livingston Place: John McCormick, Ben Melvin and others for welcoming the youth handlers to this the second annual youth trial held on these historic grounds. Thanks also for their help running the stake. The Tall Timbers Youth Field Trial is sponsored by the Continental Amateur FTC and runs at the end of the Continental Amateur All-Age and Derby. The last 4 derby braces were running when we broke away.
Special thanks to our judges, both experienced and successfully field trialers — Lynn and Buck Heard, Moultrie, GA. They were supportive of the young handlers and gave them their undivided attention.
Thanks to Greg Blair and Purina who sent Pro Plan samples and swag in record time. Youth Field Trial Alliance supplied rosettes, a roading harness for the winner, horse leads for 2nd and 3rd place winners and one of Patty’s Custom Leather’s popular canvas drink holders to the Top Junior Handler as well as YFTA caps for the judges. Tall Timbers provided caps for all the handlers.
The morning of Sunday, November 23rd saw enough cloud cover to hope that at least the early braces would be productive. Southwest Georgia and North Florida are experiencing a six-month long drought causing scenting conditions to be less than favorable due to the extreme dryness. As the morning went on, the temperature rose and the sun began to peek out from behind the clouds, diminishing that hope. Our young handlers just have to learn “that’s field trialing”…but also that sometimes the when all hope is lost, the most extraordinary things happen!
The 1st brace brought Emmie McHugh and her GSP female, Dakota and pointer female, Brandi handled by Sawyer King to the line. Both handlers displayed confidence which resulted in good responsiveness from their classy dogs. Dakota failed to back Brandi at 12. No birds were produced and the judges asked Emmie to pick her dog up.
Next up, the 2nd brace paired pointer male, Rester’s Powered Up handled by Sterling Woodruff with pointer female Jenni handled by Jacob McCormick. This was Jacob’s second time competing. Young Sterling hails from Tennessee and has already made his mark in youth trials including becoming Alabama Youth Handler of the Year in 2023! Powered Up ran a big race, coming from behind once but Sterling was well in command of his energetic pointer. Jenni was shorter in her hunting application and very responsive to Jacob.
The third brace brought pointer males Pete and Koby to the line with their handlers Harper King and Kaidence Cumbie. Both young ladies did an excellent job singing to their dogs with Pete’s response and hunting pattern exemplary.
Fourth up were pointer male, Clyde handled by first-timer Ava Padgett and pointer female, Pine Creek Mae with Sterling Woodruff aboard his much admired American Paint Horse, Shiny. Sterling did all he could to keep Mae in the pocket but she had other ideas. The tracker was asked for at 18 while point was called for Clyde by Ava’s scout. A relocation could not produce birds and brace ended.
The fifth brace paired pretty black and white setter female Boxie, Emmie McHugh and pointer female Jade handled by Griffyn Long. Griffyn was the third place winner here last year. Both dogs handled well at gun dog range as the temperatures steadily rose, taking their toll on the setter. Jade finally gave everyone the thrill of a productive point. The nicely located covey lifted as Griffyn confidently flushed for her dog with all in order.
Brace six, pointer male Stan, Sawyer King and excellent bird-finding setter female Lady, handled by Kaidence Cumbie got underway with hopes that the tide had turned but it was not to be. Both dogs dug in making great efforts and both handlers, with experience and wins to their names, did a great job piloting their dogs. Stan pointed several times, correcting himself in his effort to point birds in the horrible dry conditions. Lady nicely backed Stan in one instance but neither dog could get birds pointed.
The last brace broke away in a bottom with slightly lusher and greener vegetation that would prove to make all the difference in the world. Judge Lynn Heard remarked that she noticed the difference in conditions. Pointer male Rester’s Chasin’ In and pretty pointer female Rose were brought to the line by their experienced winning handlers Sterling Woodruff and Harper King. The team of Rose and Harper King are not newcomers to the winner’s circle, having won this trial in its inaugural running last year. Harper was awarded 2024 Dixie Trace Youth Handler of the Year at this year’s banquet in Alabama. The action started early with Rose’s first find at the 3-minute mark! 3 birds got up as Harper rode to her dog with the remainder of the covey lifting as she began to flush for Rose. Not minutes after, point was called by Harper again as she rode to Rose and flushed another covey. Meanwhile Chasin’ In hunted every bit of cover that was rewarded in a nice covey find. He was found pointing staunchly with Rose honoring while Sterling put the birds in the air. We finished with one more covey find by the mighty little Rose placing her at the top of the Tall Timber’s winner’s circle for a second time!
