The Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America (AFTCA) sponsored the 41st running of the National Amateur All Age Invitational Championship, December 6-8, 2021 at Ames Plantation, Grand Junction, TN. Judges were Dr. Robert Rankin of Edmond, Okla. and Brandon Johnson of Guthrie, Okla. Jim Atchinson of Caruthersville, Missouri was the reporter.
AFTCA says, “The purpose of this trial is to determine the best amateur all-age dog in America!”
Here’s the field trial format: Braces of dogs are drawn for the first day’s running. Each dog will have a different bracemate, course, and time to compete on the second day. All dogs will compete for one-hour on the first two days. A brace is complete when the dogs are ordered up. The competition the first two days is to qualify the dogs for a third day. The judges will call back at least two dogs. After one hour, the duration of the heats on the third day is at the judges’ discretion. The Champion is named based on its performance all three days. A runner-up is not mandatory, but may be named if the judges deem a dog especially worthy.
Twelve dogs were invited to compete in the 2021 renewal, running in six braces on Monday December 6 and six braces slated for Tuesday December 7. Call backs were on Wednesday December 8.
Winners:
CH-Hendrix’s Touch Up (Burke Hendrix/owner; Jonathan Burch/scout)
RU-Mohawk Mill Image (Gary Winall/owner; Ellen Clements/scout)
Hendrix’s Touch Up, handled by Burke Hendrix, and Mohawk Mill Image, handled by Gary Winall, both male pointers, ran in the first brace on Monday. On Tuesday, Mohawk Mill Image ran in the fifth brace against Cocklebur King Tut, another male pointer handled by Bubba Spencer, and Hendrix’s Touch Up ran in the sixth and last brace against Rebel Survivor, male pointer handled by David Williams.
Burke Hendrix was thrilled with the win. “This was a back-to- back Amateur Invitational Championship win for “Hank.” Thanks for all the texts, calls and kind comments. Dad and I are blessed and grateful to own Hendrix’s Touch Up (Hank). Thanks to Piper Huffmanfor all your hard work this year. Thanks to Jonathon Burch for giving 100% as a scout. Thanks to Purina, Ames Plantation and their staff, Rick Carlisle, Chris Weatherly, Ryan Braddock, and others. Thanks Ken Blackmanfor being spot on with the dog wagon. Congratulations to RU Mohawk Mill Image, Gary Winall and Ellen Clements.”
This year’s National Amateur All Age Invitational was, ironically, almost a repeat of the 2020 edition, which ran on December 7-9. Last year’s championship was won by Hendrix’s Touch Up, owned by Burke and Guy Hendrix of Hernando, Miss. and handled by Burke. Last year’s Runner Up was Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior, another dog owned by Gary Winall of Powhatan, Virginia.
Hendrix’s Touch Up is now at the top of the AFTCA 2021 Invitational Points Standing list. Pendy’s Good Grace, handled by Matt Pendergest, who ran in the fifth brace on day 1 and the second brace on day 2, is currently in second place in the standings. Find more information at: https://www.aftca.org/invitational-points/
AFTCA says, “The purpose of this trial is to determine the best amateur all-age dog in America!”
Here’s the field trial format: Braces of dogs are drawn for the first day’s running. Each dog will have a different bracemate, course, and time to compete on the second day. All dogs will compete for one-hour on the first two days. A brace is complete when the dogs are ordered up. The competition the first two days is to qualify the dogs for a third day. The judges will call back at least two dogs. After one hour, the duration of the heats on the third day is at the judges’ discretion. The Champion is named based on its performance all three days. A runner-up is not mandatory, but may be named if the judges deem a dog especially worthy.
Twelve dogs were invited to compete in the 2021 renewal, running in six braces on Monday December 6 and six braces slated for Tuesday December 7. Call backs were on Wednesday December 8.
Winners:
CH-Hendrix’s Touch Up (Burke Hendrix/owner; Jonathan Burch/scout)
RU-Mohawk Mill Image (Gary Winall/owner; Ellen Clements/scout)
Hendrix’s Touch Up, handled by Burke Hendrix, and Mohawk Mill Image, handled by Gary Winall, both male pointers, ran in the first brace on Monday. On Tuesday, Mohawk Mill Image ran in the fifth brace against Cocklebur King Tut, another male pointer handled by Bubba Spencer, and Hendrix’s Touch Up ran in the sixth and last brace against Rebel Survivor, male pointer handled by David Williams.
Burke Hendrix was thrilled with the win. “This was a back-to- back Amateur Invitational Championship win for “Hank.” Thanks for all the texts, calls and kind comments. Dad and I are blessed and grateful to own Hendrix’s Touch Up (Hank). Thanks to Piper Huffmanfor all your hard work this year. Thanks to Jonathon Burch for giving 100% as a scout. Thanks to Purina, Ames Plantation and their staff, Rick Carlisle, Chris Weatherly, Ryan Braddock, and others. Thanks Ken Blackmanfor being spot on with the dog wagon. Congratulations to RU Mohawk Mill Image, Gary Winall and Ellen Clements.”
This year’s National Amateur All Age Invitational was, ironically, almost a repeat of the 2020 edition, which ran on December 7-9. Last year’s championship was won by Hendrix’s Touch Up, owned by Burke and Guy Hendrix of Hernando, Miss. and handled by Burke. Last year’s Runner Up was Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior, another dog owned by Gary Winall of Powhatan, Virginia.
Hendrix’s Touch Up is now at the top of the AFTCA 2021 Invitational Points Standing list. Pendy’s Good Grace, handled by Matt Pendergest, who ran in the fifth brace on day 1 and the second brace on day 2, is currently in second place in the standings. Find more information at: https://www.aftca.org/invitational-points/
