View
of Lake Conroe from the Del Lago Towers (Headquarters)
Saturday is a day
for meetings to bring the event together and plan for
the future of the sport. Many tended to last minute
training while others organized later meetings and events.
Old friends met and greeted each other and stopped by
the hostess room to pick up their packets and peruse
a large selection of logo emblazoned clothing and other
merchandise for sale.
After lunch the Retriever Advisory Committee met to
revisit and update rule change proposals for the upcoming
year. A brief review follows:
Pete Simonds itemized the three proposals:
1. Eliminate the use of a collar in the Derby
2. Prohibit "dummy" holding blinds in marks. Blinds
could only be used to hide gunners or cover a danger
in the field.
3. Prohibit dry shots from being used in marking tests.
They could only be
used in conjunction with blinds and away from the marks.
Also, the Junior Handler certificate was explained and
would be recommended.
After, the problem of large entries resulting in initial
tests that were designed to drop dogs and the unfairness
thereof was brought to the floor. A lively discussion
followed with many options being suggested. All would
be undesirable in some way, but several could ease the
problem. Pete invited input from the attendees after
the meeting also.
Shortly after, the National Retriever Club meeting convened
in the same room .It began with a moment of silence
remembering those that had passed away since last year.
After the opening preliminaries, Dennis Bath
thanked the Sponsors and each was presented with a plaque.
Bill Speck was honored
for his contribution to the sport and presented with
a sculpture. He was then invited to draw the starting
number for the current stake from a jar of small white
balls. Number 38 was the lucky winner.
The 2005 Board of Directors was announced as:
President, Grayson Kelley
VP Judy Powers
Sect/Treas. Tony Snow
Zone Reps:
Bill Goldstein
Mike Kammerer
Kirk Naisbitt
Bill Goldstein announced that the 2005 National Stake
would again be held in Cheraw, SC. It would run from
Nov. 13-19. Judges will be: Skip Cope, Mary Ahlgren
and Laura Parrott.
Particulars were then given on the current stake.:
First test(s) an double and blind with Rooster Pheasants.
Test dogs at 7:15 (Two run at the beginning of each
series).
First running dog (38) on line shortly after.
Dog and handler on mat to send for all birds.
No partial Callbacks
Rotation is : 38 - 58- 78- 18
The pre trial cocktail party followed at 6:30 p.m.
More info will be reported in the Retriever
Field Trial News.
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