different testing venues

[Solon Rhode]

Here is a chance for those of you in eastern NE to check out a top NSTRA trial. The particulars are below and we would appreciate some observation and impressions:

Owens Products Mid-West National Championship Trial

[CLICK HERE FOR DRAW RESULTS]

The trial is to be held on June 2-5, 2010 at the Rock Creek Field Trial Association in Waverly, Nebraska. Entry fee will be $150 per entry. Entry deadline is April 30, 2010 with the first 128 qualified dogs guaranteed entry.

The number of dogs will be up to 128 with the qualifications as follows:

Participation in the National trials held in the year preceding the trial:
2009 Endurance, 2009 Dog of the Year, 2010 Grand National, 2010 Quail Invitational, 2010 Trial of Champions
2009 Purina Top Performance winner
Participation in the Regional Elimination trial held in the qualifying period May 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010.

The trial will be conducted as follows:
1st round – Beat your Brace Mate
2nd round – Top 16 scored
3rd and final round – Beat your Brace Mate

This trial is subject to the same rules and regulations as all other National Trials.

A pretrial will be held on May 29 – June 1 on the trial grounds in Waverly. There won’t be any practice days due to this trial. SEND YOUR ENTRIES IN TO BILL DUBS IMMEDIATELY TO GET ENTERED IN THIS TRIAL.

If you have any questions contact Bill Dubs at 402-367-4244 or Mike Rost at 402-525-8334

Dateline June 10:

Looks like no one from the NE area spent a few hours looking at the top NSTRA dogs do their thing and that is disappointing, as I would have liked to read about their impressions of the NSTRA venue. I read this trial was won by a GSP.

Solon

[Solon Rhode]

If you want to watch some video of this springs Northern NH Bird Dog Club coverdog trial, Paul Fuller, Bird Dogs Afield, has them up on his web site at this link:

http://www.myoutdoortv.com/show-microsi ... field.html

Our Brie had some placements at this trial, although I don't think she appears in the videos. I haven't seen yours truly in the video either, although I haven't gotten all the way through both of them yet (we have a daily limit on our broadband use-satellite). It is all pointers and English Setters, except one Red Setter was run. I have seen the occasional GSP at some of these trials. There was no footage of the Kilkenny open shooting dog classic, which was in part run for one hour on wild birds. The other stakes used liberated quail. That is why the flushing efforts are so tedious. At least the dog has to be really broke to stand while the quail runs around in front of it.

Hope someone in NE gets the chance to watch a few hours of the big NSTRA trial in Waverly going on now. I would sure like to learn their impressions. NSTRA doesn't appeal to me, but it has a big following.

Solon

[Chris Proseus]

This is a good opportunity.

This is a fun event and you can learn alot about trials and there are always people willing to share and help someone new. Don't worry that you have an SM and not a pointer or setter for this event. Spinone's, Gordons and other breeds have all placed in this trial.

The following is copied from http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum ... p?t=341654


Michigan Grouse & Woodcock Hunting Dog Classic

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It's nearly August and time for the annual Michigan Grouse & Woodcock Hunting Dog Classic hosted by the Michigan Amateur Field Trial Club.

This stake is intended for hunting dogs, not seasoned field trial dogs, dogs with no prior Shooting Dog or All Age placements. We run on the continuous courses at the Gladwin Field Trial Area on wild birds and run this event in the same manner as our sanctioned events. The major difference is judging, judgement ceases at the flush of the bird. Steady to wing and shot is not required. The stake is intended to introduce folks to the game we play and the grounds we play on. We have Shooting Dog and Derby on Saturday Aug. 21 and the Hunting Dog on Sunday morning, Aug 22. Judges for this event are Rich Hollister & Fritz Heller.

We always provide nice prizes for the winners and Purina donates product that is distributed to all participants.

Saturday evening at the Alibi Hall (on the grounds) the club will have the grilles going and will provide hamburgs, hot dogs and such. Please bring something to pass, if you can, we won't be checked' at the door (single barrel bourbon is always a nice thing to share)

More info, entry contacts, etc posted at http://coverdog.blogspot.com/

[Solon Rhode]

Chris,

That looks like a real fun gun dog stake. I hope some of our SM owners can make it and run their dogs there. Gladwin is a major venue for cover dog trials. Copy your post into a new thread in the Events and News section. It will be more visible there.

A Spinone placed??

On another note, I haven't found out more about the ABHA yet. I think the NBHA is a more active organization, although I do see references here and there to ABHA events.

Solon

[Gary Nestle]

Wow - this looks cool - thanks Chris!! Gon'a have to check the sched, the "cute springer" may have to go show those setters something (show them what - who knows.....) going to give the P.O.C. a call and get the particulars.

Gary

[Chris Proseus]

No problem Gary. Let us know if you decide to enter. Who knows maybe we can get group together to attend.

[Kevin Crowley]

Chris and Gary,
I'm running Litha in Sunday in the Grouse and Woodcock Classic. I got a text from Mike, and it sounded like he was going to run a dog. John Frei, who has a dog from Mikes first liter is going, but is on the fence about running his dog. Saturdays trials are sanctioned so AKC and FDSB pointing breeds only. Sunday is the same pointing breeds only rule, but the guy in charge told me a SM would be welcomed. He just didn't want flushing breeds and pointing labs, because the dogs are run in braces. Judging is a little different too, because they will be looking for a complete grouse and woodcock hunting dog that is expected to hunt closer and retreave unlike a cover dog. This just means its OK for the dog to break after the gun, or even after the flush with out disqualication. Sounded like if our dogs can do as well as they do in the fall, they can be successful in this. Hope you guys can make it.

[Mike Palmitier]

I am going to try and make it. I have to get my schedule cleared first. I think it will be great exposure for the breed! And the way the rules are we should be able to compete. If John is going to be there he might as well run. It couldn't hurt anything.

I will let you know if I can make it.

[Kevin Crowley]

I believe there's a campground on site, right by the hall they have the dinner Saturday night. Not sure how many sites and when you need to get there to secure a spot with two other trials satuday. I may be interested in heading up early to get a site for team moonster and see the other dogs run Saturday. I'll try to find out about the camping availability and holding spots.

[Solon Rhode]

I am glad to see interest in this. If you all have fun, you might look into registering your dogs with the FDSB, that might expand the venues you can run in.

Solon

[Chris Proseus]

Kevin,

There is a primative campground by the hall and if I recall correctly there are additional sites just a short distance away. There is a well and outhouses at the campground. When you run, depending on the course you will want to move more quickly through unlikely cover and allow more time for your dog to work better cover. Good luck. You'll have fun.

[Chris Proseus]

The following information is quoted from the thread I posted above and is rather informative as to the judgeing of the trials.

"Some judging insight

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mike has a point, why would anybody waste their time to compete in something when they don't know the expectations. So here is a little insight to what should be expected of a hunting dog in this trial.

The dogs in question will be judged on the following attributes.
This is a wild bird trial out in the woods in search of Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock. The course's will be a walking path throughout the woods predetermined by very avid wild bird hunters to manipulate the cover for approximately 30 Min's. each. The judges will be looking at the dogs ability to hunt each objective to logically locate, point,hold to flush a grouse or woodcock. The manner in which each dog will do this in conjunction with the hunter ( Handler ) is also observed. The range and rate of speed may vary per course, dog, handler. The bird finding is also observed as does the dog search to find and point a bird or is it just bouncing around and just points a bird. We will be looking for intelligent application. We will be looking for dogs that work with the handler and obey commands. We will be looking for a dog that has enough stamina to make an all day hunt. Now as all of these dogs are suppose to point birds the manner in which they go about finding them is where we do the judgment . Pointing multiple birds is always a great thing but in the woods the opportunity may not be equally available in every covert. To say if we know a piece of cover held 5 birds and another piece only held one is it fair to say a dog is better that doesn't hunt but is walked into pointing five birds than a dog that works his tail off to find the one bird in the lesser cover? What if the tables were turned , lets switch dogs and coverts. Well we cant actually do that so we have to look at all aspects of the hunt.

When we as a group pick our judges we look at the dogs the judges hunt behind to distinguish the manner in which they will judge the events. Each of us hunt in our own special way and to say one way is better than the other is wrong.
This is the only hunting dog trial in Michigan that is held on wild grouse in wild habitat and granted this is a fun trial to introduce new people and supply a venue that we can enjoy our hunting dogs in the off season, and gain some bragging rights ,it is still a competition and we will not all go home with blue ribbons and trophies.
Come to the Gladwin field trial grounds in august and walk behind some of these folk's great hunting dogs and hang around to see who wins and you will know if you and your dogs will fit in. This is not for everybody just as golf is not for everybody. By the way I had to play golf before I new I couldn't contend, They didn't like me shooting at the balls.........

I hope I have given enough details on this event, as this trial is the heart and soul of what we do as field trialers both Pros and Amateurs.
Rich"