IASM (I am Sold Myself!)

Thanks to famed Hall of Fame handler John Rex Gates for taking the time to speak with me this past winter at the 2012 National Championship. I asked him if he had any handling tips for amateur newcomers to field trials. John Rex’s advice is pertinent to handling all field trial dogs. Obviously a somewhat different scenario is presented handling dogs from foot in the heavier cover of grouse and woodcock trials where, for example, a tight 10 to 2 cone would restrict the dog’s ability to hunt for birds.

Afterwards, the conversation turned to John Rex’s favorites of the countless dogs he handled to championship wins and what about them he liked. This second conversation will be presented in a separate podcast. The wins listed below reveals a hint.

John Rex Gates retired from field trials 16 years ago having won over 100 Championships as well the Purina Award twice and in 1978, at the age of 38, he became the youngest handler inducted into the Field Trial Hall of Fame.

Here is the podcast interview with John Rex: Strideaway Podcast6_ John Rex Gates

Some of his important wins include:

National Championship
1966 with Safari
1972 with The Texas Squire
1997, John Rex won with Dave Grubb’s charge Miller’s Silver Ending when Dave suddenly fell ill. He had never handled the dog before that day!

National Free-for-All Championship
1965 with Paladin’s Royal Flush
1969 with Oklahoma Flush

Continental Championship
1967 with Safari
1975 with Palariel Stormy Clown
1981 with Flush’s Wrangler

+ many Continental Derby Championship wins

Georgia Quail Championship
1969 Haberdasher’s Royal Ace
1971 & 1973 with Oklahoma Flush
1972 with Mission
1976 with The Sultan
1977 with Hiway

+ many Georgia Derby Championship wins

U.S. Open Quail Championship
1970 with The Texas Squire
1972 with Orion Flush
1973 with Oklahoma Flush

Oklahoma Open Championship
1968 with Oklahoma Flush
1970 with Texas Allegheny Pete
1971 with The Texas Squire
1973 & 1975 with Texas Fight
1977 with Hiway
1978 with Flush’s Wrangler
1980 with Tar Hill Ranger