After months of tough competition, the winners of the 2019 Chase-Pride-Johnson’s Telemetry “Test of the Best” have been determined. First of all, I want to thank the hunters themselves who support this contest, competing at preserves that run “Test of the Best” field trials. It takes the effort of many to make this contest successful including our great co-sponsors, The Pride Dog Food and Johnson’s Telemetry. Both Mike Carr and Debbie Johnson are steadfast in their support not only of the “Test of the Best”, but many field trials throughout the nation. The hounds whose names follow have withstood the rigors of a year’s worth of one day and puppy trials, going head-to-head against a formidable peer group to finish in the top five of each category.

Both number one hounds come from a kennel that had never won this competition before, although the owners have had a great deal of success in the past. Congratulations to Old School headed by Michael Whitley and Donald Newheart, who have been knocking on the door for a couple of years now in the One Day, coming through with a very consistent hound in Front Row Jim. These hunters are relentless in their pursuit of having the best hounds not only excelling in one day hunts, but three day field trials as well. A trio of gentlemen representing CC&G United Kennel; father/son Gairy and Colby Canady, and Cody Hall made the grade in puppy hunts by winning the division with CC&G United Cheetos and placing another hound third. It is a rarified accomplishment when a hunter places the same hound two years consecutively, and a tip of the hat goes to Mike Hearn for doing just that with Hearn’s Runt. A great hound in a small package, this little gyp won the One Day division in 2018 returning again to place a strong second last year. Blessings to Mike and Runt for this tremendous accomplishment! Each of the following hounds competed in hunts advertised in The Chase, with corresponding results received by the office and printed in the magazine. Here are the winners of the “Test of the Best” in the order they finished:

Puppy Division

1) CC&G United Cheetos 380194 (930 Points)
(Bedrock’s Spartacus – Coates’ Dew Drop)
Owned by CC&G United Knl; Richlands, NC

2) Mama’s Baby Blue 382394 (470 Points - 7 Placements)
(Mercer’s Duke – Moe’s Streak)
Owned by Anthony Morales, Rollin Thunder Knl; Pink Hill, NC

3) CC&G United Classy 380197 (470 Points - 6 Placements)
(Buckshot’s Hard Rock – RJ’s Vegas)
Owned by CC&G United Knl; Richlands, NC

Two Hounds tied for 4th Place

4) Bradleys’ Kelly 382404 (450 Points - 5 Placements)
(K&L Smokey Wendall – Bradley’s Black Pearl)
Owned by Dennis Salyers, Red Devil Knl; Waynesburg, KY

4) Shepard’s Jack J. 382368 (450 Points - 5 Placements)
(Goshen Swamp Pistol – Shepard’s Dynasty)
Owned by Johnny Shepard, Haws Run Knl; Jacksonville, NC

5) Moe’s Yawt Yawt 382395 (330 Points – Posthumously)
(Mercer’s Duke - Moe’s Streak)
Owned by Anthony Morales, Rollin Thunder Knl; Pink Hill, NC

One Day Division

1) Front Row Jim 374070 (710 Points)
(Whisenant’s Jimmy B. – Lewis’ Ellie)
Owned by Old School Knl; Windsor, VA

2) Hearn’s Runt 379187 (690 Points)
(PPK’s Night Train – Hearn’s Stripper)
Owned by Mike Hearn; Jarratt, VA

3) Play Dirty’s Candy Man 380481 (650 Points)
(Lakehill’s Ike – Thompson’s Snowflake)
Owned by Chris Sproul, Play Dirty Knl; Windsor, VA

4) Croaker’s Smoke 380268 (630 Points)
(Thompson’s Willie – BH Lulabel)
Owned by Chris Meadows, Croaker Boyz Knl; Williamsburg, VA

5) Old School Pungo 380884 (600 Points)
(Cox’s Howard – Rose’s Lil Ann)
Owned by Old School Knl; Windsor, VA

Look for a complete rundown of the results in an upcoming issue of The Chase. Congratulations to the winners, who will receive recognition at the awards presentation in Lexington, KY on Thursday, March 26.