Livingston Place
Continental Field Trials
Field trialing is a competition to display a bird dog’s ability to successfully find and point coveys of quail. While riding on horseback, dog handlers, judges, officials and a gallery of spectators follow the dogs that run along designated courses.

The sport began in 1874, near Memphis, Tennessee, with a group of nine men competing to settle the claims of who had the best bird dog. The Continental Field Trial Club is almost as old as the sport itself. The Club’s first meeting was held March 6, 1895 in Chicago, with 75 charter members. Gerald Livingston, the original owner of Livingston Place, was inducted into the club in 1933, and within two years was elected its president. In 1937, Livingston was instrumental in bringing the trials to the property, where they have been held since.

The Continental Field Trials are held the third Monday of January each year. There are two trials held back to back. The Continental Open Derby Championship is run first, followed by the Continental Open All-Age Championship. Winning the Continental Open All-Age trial entitles the dog to compete in the National Field Trial Championship, the highest honor a bird dog can attain.
2020 Continental All-Age Championship Winners
Champion: Touch’s Malcolm Story, handled by Mark McLean, owned by Alex Rickert; Runner Up Champion: Lester’s Storm Surge, owned and handled by Gary Lester



