Field Trial Review Remembering Robin Gates by Nancy Brannon, Ph.D
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FFIIEELLDD TTRRIIAALL RReevviieeww 122 nd National Championship Ames Plantation February 8, 2021 2020 National Champion Miller’s Speed Dial (photo by Nancy Brannon ) Covering the National Championship since 1986 2. 2021 Field Trial Review Remembering Robin gates By Nancy Brannon, Ph.D. onship [1985]. “Robin was in his twenty-first year of The field trial world lost one of its contending for the National in 2010 when prominent bird dog handlers on February the Carl Bowman’s Pointer, In The Shadow, 19, 2020, just as the 121st National Cham - won over the thirty-eight other competitors. pionship was nearing its conclusion: Robin “Robin’s third victory would come only Gates. Robert C. “Robin” Gates (63) of Lee three years later, 2013, when the setter, County, Georgia died at his residence. He Shadow Oak Bo, was the first setter in 43 was the son of John S. Gates, also a promi - years to win the title. When Bo was a very nent field trial bird dog trainer and handler. young dog, Robin made the statement that A highlight of Robin’s career came in he had a Setter in summer camp that was 2013 when he handled champion setter capable of winning the National. The next Shadow Oak Bo to the National Champi - year, 2014, Bo topped the field of forty-one onship. This was the first time since 1970 to again take the garland. that a setter had won the coveted title. Gates “Robin has been a part of the National and his son Hunter Gates, who scouted, for thirty years. He has competed every year were decidedly delighted with the win. In since 1989. In those thirty-one appearances, an interview after the ceremony, Gates he has entered 32 different dogs and has quipped, “After the fourth find, we really handled in 88 braces. got serious.” He described how the dog ran “Hunter Gates went to work for his fa - the course. “What impressed me about him Handler Robin Gates and scout Luke Eisenhart on the steps of the Ames Manor ther, Robin, and scouted for him for 13 was his endurance. He had a find off the House with National Champion Shadow Oak Bo, February 2014, the year Bo won years. The last year he scouted was 2013, breakaway, and then at pick-up time, I went his second National Championship in a row. ( photos by Nancy Brannon ) Shadow Oak Bo’s first win of the National. in there and found him pointed again. I He is the third generation to train out of the knew we had done a really good job and it camp his grandfather established in would take a quality dog to beat him. This Broomhill, Manitoba in the 1940s.” is the greatest honor that’s ever happened to Vera Courtney, long-time field trial en - me!” Gates concluded his remarks, saying thusiast and photographer wrote of Gates: he would like to do this again next year. “As his family and friends lay Robin And indeed, he did. Gates handled Bo to Gates to rest, my thoughts are moved to the a repeat National Championship win in prairies of Canada. A few years ago I made 2014, with Luke Eisenhart scouting that my first trip to the prairies and took that op - year. portunity to visit Robin at his camp for a On the steps of the Ames Manor House, few minutes. before the winner of the 2020 National “He was a man of ‘Big’ stature, but a Championship was announced, Dr. Rick man with a soft heart. On my visit I was Carlisle, Director of Ames Plantation, asked greeted with a warm welcome and short for a moment of silence and said a prayer tour of the ‘Gates Camp.’ I didn't know for the Gates family. Carlisle later told me Robin well, but he just made me feel like I that it was all he could do to hold back the was an old friend. tears. “Robin was a true, good friend. He Handler Robin Gates, scout and son Hunter Gates, with 2010 National Cham - “I know he loved his family with all his was a superb dog handler, dog trainer, and pion In the Shadow and owner Carl Bowman at the Ames Manor House. heart and was so proud of his son’s, Hunter, handled horses well. He was willing to help horse trainer by trade, but bird dogs are his and the dog had a special connection.” success as a sportsman. He loved and was anybody with anything they needed and passion. In The Shadow lived part of the In his article for the 2020 Field Trial Re - proud of his grandsons’ accomplishments. was very complimentary of the people year as a house dog with Carl. He was a view on “Fathers, Sons, and Brothers,” Na - On the one occasion I met his wife, Mary working with him. He was good at educat - well-trained house dog and even rode in the tional Championship reporter William S. Ann, he introduced her with great pride and ing people, especially owners, about the nu - car to the bank with Carl’s wife, where the Smith wrote: “Robin was 28 years old when love. ances of bird dog handling without tellers gave him dog treats. During these he entered his first National in 1984 with “Robin will never be forgotten for all his sounding condescending. He was just a re - times, he wore a leather collar. But when Flush’s Reedy Rogue. He is one of only a accomplishments in the Bird Dog Field ally nice human being.” field trialing season came and Robin took very few to win in his second attempt, when Trial world, but his biggest feat and success Carlisle recalled the year 2010 when off the leather collar and put on the orange the black and white pointer, Flatwood will be the family he created. Gates won the National Championship with collar, the dog’s whole demeanor changed; Hank, carried them both to the top of the “Fly High Robin. We will all meet again Carl Bowman’s In The Shadow. “Carl Bow - he knew it was time to get to work. Robin heap in his first appearance at the champi - on the Prairies of Heaven.” man [of Louisville, KY] is a Thoroughbred About The Field Trial Review Field Trial Review Started by the late Don Dowdle, the Field Trial Review has been published annually Equus Charta, LLC Copyright 2021 since 1986. We have continued the legacy of covering the National Championship, P.O. Box 594 • Arlington, TN 38002-0594 paying tribute to the dogs, owners, handlers, and the Ames Plantation at this prestigious 901-867-1755 • 901-867-1755 (Fax) event. We hope you are pleased with this year’s issue. Publishers & Editors — Tommy & Dr. Nancy Brannon The Field Trial Review is a free publication made possible by the support of our Staff — Andrea Gilbert advertisers. Please tell our patrons that you saw their ad in the Field Trial Review. Email: [email protected] Website: www.midsouthhorsereview.com Every effort is made to avoid errors and to secure photos of every dog and everyone involved in the National Championship. If you find errors or if we missed you, we The Field Trial Review is an annual publication of the Mid-South Horse Review , a apologize. We express our sincere appreciation to all who contributed articles, photos, free monthly equine newsmagazine. Yearly subscriptions to the Mid-South Horse Review are available by first class mail for $35 annually. To subscribe, send payment to P.O. Box and information for this publication. Articles have been edited to fit available space. 594, Arlington, TN 38002-0594. Subscribe by phone: (901) 867-1755 . The Field Trial Review is available online at: www.midsouthhorsereview.com. Past issues are also available at this site. Deadline for the 2022 FTR is February 1, 2022 . EDITORIAL POLICY: The opinions expressed in articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policy of Tommy & Dr. Nancy Brannon, Publishers & Editors the Field Trial Review . Expressions of differing opinions through manuscript submis- 6220 Greenlee St. • P. O. Box 594, Arlington, TN 38002 • 901-867-1755 sions are welcome. Contents © 2021 2021 Field Trial Review 3. 4. 2021 Field Trial Review 2021 Field Trial Review 5. 6. 2021 Field Trial Review 2020 National Champion ahead” and kept on moving. “The mud Got Birds on was really bad, but he looked like a mil - lion dollars on every find. That’s a Miller- bred dog. He’s tough.” Speed Dial? Lester had had major back surgery in Article & photos by Nancy Brannon October 2019 and, at times, it seemed questionable whether he would be able to Miller’s Speed Dial is the 2020 Na - handle a dog at the National Champi - tional Champion, owned and handled by onship. But he and Mark had worked the Gary Lester, scouted by Mark Haynes. dog in south Georgia over the winter, and The announcement was made around 11 Lester said he felt better now than he had a.m. on Friday, February 21, 2020 at the in years. Ames Manor House, after a very short “I’m very blessed!” Lester often says, morning brace. and he thanks God for all the opportuni - This was “Joe’s” second year running ties he’s been given. in the National Championship after put - He praised Mr. Ferrell, his mentor, ting in a commendable three-hour run last “who taught me everything. Ferrell once year. The four-year-old orange and white told me that a dog who wins a champi - pointer male is a son of 2015 National onship must look like a champion.” Lester Champion Miller’s Dialing In.