Belvidere, TN—The First Annual Quail Unlimited/Bird Dog Cigar Christmas Trial was held at Breezy Knoll Farm in Belvidere, TN on December 27th, 28th, and 29th. If comments by the participants are any indication this will become one of the more popular venues on the circuit. One veteran (not old) handler commented that this was the nicest of any facility he has ever competed at. Each day a total of 88 dogs competed, divided on three fields. Breeds represented included Brittanys, English Setters, English Pointers, and German Shorthair Pointers. Trial participants included competitors from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Montana, and Tennessee. The trial was sanctioned by both Quail Unlimited and NSTRA www.nstra.org (National Shoot to Retrieve Association). A total of 88 dogs competed each day. Three separate fields with marshals and judges at each allowed simultaneous running Each 30 minute run consists of two dogs competing head to head with 5 birds released in the field. Each dog and handler team has a certified NSTRA judge and are scored on each find, each retrieve, obedience, and ground covered by the dog.

Quail Unlimited and associated sponsors donated over $6,000 worth of prizes. All first place winners on each field each day received a bronze finished quail trophy furnished by Quail Unlimited, a gun case furnished by Bass Pro, 2 cases of Winchester ammunition, Browning shirt, Quail Unlimited cap, a Bass Pro cap and a Bird Dog Cigar plaque. All second place winners received a Quail Unlimited gun cleaning kit, a case of Winchester ammunition, a Quail Unlimited cap, a Bass Pro cap, and a Bird Dog Cigar plaque. All third place winners received a case of Winchester ammunition, a Quail Unlimited cap, a Bass Pro cap, and a Bird Dog Cigar plaque. The overall high point dog for the entire three day trial was Black Magic Snake, an 8 year old black-and-white English Pointer male handled by Jeff Gamble and owned by Jeff Gamble and Scott Townsend. "Snake" is a ten time NSTRA champion. He competed five times over the course of the three day trial and received four placements.

The farm is nestled at the foothills of the Cumberland Plateau. The fields are flat to gently rolling with the mountains serving as a breath taking setting for the trial grounds. Breezy Knoll Farm is owned by Jeff Gamble and his wife Sharon Warmbrod Gamble and has been in the Warmbrod family since 1892. The farm was recently inducted into the Tennessee Century Farm Program. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture requires a farm to have been in the same family and used for agricultural purposes continuously for at least 100 years to be eligible for this recognition. The renovated farmhouse is used as overnight accommodations for participants and the renovated barn built in 1892 is used as the banquet hall. The three fields used at the farm for the field trials each total between 33 to 40 acres.

The word "renovated" does not seem quite adequate to describe what Jeff and his family have done with this property. They have done an outstanding job of preserving and at the same time improving. The hand-hewn timbers originally held together with wooden pegs soar above the huge open enterior of the barn. It has been said that the only thing that two dog handlers can agree on is that the third does not know what he or she is talking about. Now there is obviously another. There was unanimous agreement that the meals that came out of the Breezy Knoll Farm commercial kitchen three times each day were outstanding. The menu included everything from the traditional southern breakfast fare to catfish, hush puppies and steak. It was not clear who was in charge of the culinary wizardy crew consisting of Butch Baker, Corey Throneberry, John Warmbrod, Betty Gamble, and Betty Warmbrod. It was noted that when the two Betty's were present the volume level of random advice from others dropped considerably.

One area of the barn is dedicated to another interest of Jeff Gamble and that is Bird Dog Cigars. Over the years I have seen some creative names for horses and dogs. I confess that when I first saw the Bird Dog Cigar sign and logo I thought that it was the name of a Dog someone was campaigning vigorously. Anyone who has ever had that "favorite" "best dog ever" will appreciate the story of Bird Dog Cigars at www.birddogcigar.com.

Even for those not competing in the trial the facility provides an excellent opportunity to observe the dogs as they work in one of the three fields. Whether it is from the front porch or the deck over the porch of the house situated on the knoll above fields A and B, or the observation deck on the building at field C you can still be in on the action. One of the second floor balconies (don't know what else to call them) inside the barn with two large windows overlooking field C was a popular place one of the days when the rain added to the atmosphere of real bird hunting conditions.