Open class trials were run in both braces and solo competition. Heavy cover and still conditions made finding the plentiful birds difficult. The trial began Saturday morning with two braces being run. Although wild pheasants were numerous there were no successful finds as the birds either ran for the hills or flushed long before they could be pointed.

The solo competition was held Saturday afternoon when the temperatures were at their peak. Scenting conditions continued to be poor as the wind failed to stir itself into even a faint breeze. The taxing conditions did not stop the entrants from making a valiant effort and exhausting themselves in the attempt to locate a bird but none were successful. No placements or passes were awarded in the open class for the wild bird trial.

The same conditions that made it difficult for the Open dogs also posed challenges for the Gun dogs. Two dogs persevered through the heavy cover and pointed birds for Judge Kieres. This allowed him to award the first ever placement for the Great North Chapter.

August De La Savange Rouge Randy Meester First Place

TAN Smith’s Squire De Chasseur Ed Smith Pass

Conditions for Open Class braces and solo remained difficult. Although cooler than the previous afternoon, scenting conditions were again hampered by the lack of a breeze. After braces, the judges separated into two fields to continue the open solo contest. All dogs in the open class enjoyed success in one form or another on Sunday although none were able to perform at a level worthy of a placement.

Braces

Valdemar De Winterhaven Russ Winter Pass

NBOB TR2 GRCH Topperlyn Gallant Bodacious Anne Johnson Pass

Vigeur De L’Escarbot Doug Lodermeier Pass

TR CH Topperlyn Fontay Azure Bo TAN Glen Gunderson Pass

Solo

TR CH Topperlyn Fontay Azure Bo TAN Glen Gunderson Pass

Valdemar De Winterhaven Russ Winter Pass

Vigeur De L’Escarbot Doug Lodermeier Pass

The temperature rose quickly on Sunday and by the time that the Gun Dogs took the field the heat was once again a major factor for all competitors. Several dogs were up to the challenge and performed well in the extreme conditions.

Eden De Plum Creek Sam Dolan Pass

TAN Bako De Keraniouan Steve Broughton Pass

The dogs and handlers seeking their TAN found the conditions no less forgiving than the more experienced dogs had. Demonstrating their natural ability under conditions that took a toll on the most experienced dogs, many of these future stars were able to showcase their potential. The following dogs received their TAN over the two day event.

Don’s Dante De RCK Don Rick Pass

Eden De Plum Creek Sam Dolan Pass

Dominik De L`Escarbot Joe Kananowski Pass

Deacon Bo Du Copper Spur Jon Anderson Pass

Derrick De L`Etoile Du Nord Derek Lodermeier Pass

In addition to the judges a HUGE thank you is due to the many people who made this event run smoothly. The following is not a complete list of people who contributed but were simply the ones noticed by me over the course of the weekend. Anne Johnson chaired the field trial committee and secured permission to conduct the trial on some spectacular fields. Steve Broughton was the field trial secretary and assisted with securing birds and coordinating the event. Glen Gunderson assisted both Anne and Steve in making sure that everything went smoothly. I would also like to thank all of the land owners who graciously shared their property with us for the weekend and all of the friends and family members who volunteered to act as guides, bird planters and taxi drivers. We couldn’t have done it without you.

The judges were unanimous in congratulating the chapter on organizing and hosting our first event and honored to be asked to preside over our inaugural event. Recognizing that this type of project involves a lot of work long before the actual event the judges assured us that we’ve taken the hardest step by having our first trial. They were impressed by the quality of the fields and the plentiful wild birds. Both judges indicated that they would love to be invited back. The judges also repeated a theme first raised by judges at the national meeting in March. Contestants would do well to familiarize themselves with the UKC rulebook regarding the expectations for handlers and dogs in your class. Other suggestions offered include a nod to general conditioning, as hot weather and heavy cover are not limited to field trials, and focusing on the retrieve during a future training event. As someone who sees room for improvement every time I’m in front of a mirror, I thank the judges for their feedback.

No date has been set for the next meeting of the GNEBGDC but plans are underway to set a date and topics. Training tips for improving the retrieve has been proposed as a topic and plans for a spring trial will need to be made. Neither hunting season nor the holiday season are particularly good times to plan a meeting so the next gathering will likely occur in early 2010. Club President Steve Braughton will be in contact with everyone to arrange a time and place.

I thought that I should include a brief note to clarify who’s responsible for the content of this newsletter. I am. Think of it as a Buyer Beware sign for the reader. In an effort to get out a newsletter before you hear everything from someone else (and before pheasant season opens) I’ve put this bulletin together in a hurry. The information contained here is not guaranteed to be accurate although I have done my best. I believe that I have listed everyone who received an award or deserved a special thank you. If I’ve missed anyone, I apologize. I would also like to ask everyone to forward this to anyone whose email address I don’t have or anyone who may be interested in learning about our club.

Russ Winter