Martha Holt Greenlee
Nominated by Kent Patterson
In the Brittany all age championship arena, historically dominated by male handlers, male trainers, and male breeders; there stands one female…..Martha Holt Greenlee. For over 30 years, Piney Run Kennels was dedicated to breeding American Field Championship competitors. Dogs that could win anywhere in the country, dogs that wild bird hunters from all over the USA desired, and clients from around the world sought for their breeding programs.
Tom and Martha Greenlee purchased and developed property in Baskerville VA in the early 2000’s specifically for breeding, training, and developing Piney Run Kennels. Their focus was on all age, purpose bred, field brittanys for American Field and AKC Championship competition. From that focus has come a multitude of competitors known throughout the brittany field trial community as “bird dogs” that have won all over the United States.
It all started with a gift puppy from professional trainer, Dave Walker. Piney Run Sam was her kennel foundation stud dog that would go on to win the 2000 National Amateur Championship, as well as 10 other American Field Championships and AKC hour stakes with over 70 placements. Sam would sire Just Call Me Roy, one of the most decorated National Championship competitors in breed history. Roy, elected to the HOF in 2015, was the 2004 National Amateur Champion with Ken Cherry, the 2005 National Champion with Ben Lorenson, and the 2006 National Amateur Champion with Kent Patterson.
Martha was gifted another pup from breeder Art Cohen in 2004, she named him Piney Run Art. A big running dog that was hard to get around on east coast grounds, Artie would go to Booneville in 2011 and be named National Champion with Ben Lorenson. He followed it up with a 2012 RU National Amateur Champion with Kent Patterson.
Martha focused on breeding dogs that could compete at the highest levels of the sport, dogs that shined in the toughest conditions or brightest lights. Below are some of the notable dogs she owned or bred.
10X CH Piney Run Sam
2004 ABC National Amateur Champion
4X CH Piney Run Art
2011 ABC National Champion
2012 ABC RU National Amateur Champion
Piney Run Lily
2006 AKC Pointing Breed National Champion
5X CH Piney Run Candy
2025 ABC RU National Amateur Champion
15X CH Piney Run Jake
2x Purina Open All Age Dog of the Year
2018 RU ABC National Champion
2017 RU ABC National Amateur Champion
2x RU US Open Champion
9X CH Piney Run Hilltop Blew
2x ABC National Amateur Champion (2021,2022)
2023 Purina Amateur All Age Dog of the Year
2023 RU ABC National Amateur Champion
2024 RU ABC National Champion
2x ABC Chicken Champion
2x ABC Pheasant Champion
3X CH Piney Run Zack
2022 RU ABC Chicken Champion
2023 ABC Pheasant Champion
2023 Dixieland Champion
2023 Region 4 Champion
2026 RU ABC Quail Champion
CH Piney Run Señor
2024 ABC Chicken Champion
5X CH Piney Run Hank
5X CH Piney Run Rex
Piney Run White Lightning
2X RU Victore Nationale Champion
In total, 67 dogs from the Piney Run breeding program have amassed over 700 placements in American Field and AKC competition, to date.
Martha created and organized the “Friends of Dick Cross”, a group of various club members dedicated to maintaining the field trial grounds near South Hill, VA. She served as President of the Southeastern Brittany Club for 13 years and Treasurer for the Tarheel Brittany Club for 6 years. Twice, she received the Women Handler Award at the Brittany All Age Nationals. In 2025, she was recognized as a Breeder of Merit by AKC. She authored “Training with Mo; How Maurice Lindley Trains Pointing Dogs” and “Training Tips Your Bird Dog Will Love”. She co-authored “The Brittany; Amateurs Training with Professionals” and contributed countless articles to numerous outdoor publications. She was the owner and creator of two popular Facebook pages, Brittany Field Fanatics and Steady with Style. She supported her local Quail Unlimited Chapter by annually purchasing a table and inviting newcomers to the banquet. Martha supported the strings of professional trainers, Dave Walker and Ben Lorenson, with multiple dogs for 30 years. At the time of her passing, she had 3 notable competitors with Ben Lorenson (Piney Run Candy, Piney Run Ruby, Piney Run Patsy).
If one reads the criteria for election to the Brittany Field Trial Hall of Fame, you would be hard pressed to find a lady who was more qualified, at this time, for this honor. Countless individuals across this country have benefited from her generosity in sharing knowledge and experience with field performance brittanys. An amazing Hall of Fame life, well lived by a remarkable lady.