WRC Coverage of 1997 National Open Retriever Championship Stake
The 1997 National Open Retriever Championship is the fifth National event that Working Retriever Central has provided information about each day's activities and results each evening during the event on the Internet. The 1996 National Open in Oklahoma, the 1997 National Amateur in Minnesota, the 1997 Master National Hunting Test in Montana, the 1997 Canadian National Open in Ontario, and now the 1997 National Open in South Carolina have been followed by interested retriever enthusiasts, mostly in North America, with great interest.
My plans to be present at the 1997 National Open in South Carolina were nipped in the "bud" by a "bug" that kept me at home several days before and during the trial. So, the biggest reason we were able to bring you this coverage of the 1997 National Retriever Championship can be summed up in two words: SUE REYNOLDS.
Sue stayed out in the field all day every day keeping in close touch with each dog's work as she has done for years at Nationals. She also doubled as a worker at this National by serving on the Stewards Committee. Her dedication to this great sport is also demonstrated in the book she publishes and updates periodically on the statistical records of the performances of most of our field trial retrievers over the years. Her latest edition is Retriever Field Trial Statistics, 1941-1995. Sue's e-mail address is sermason@aol.com.
Sue provided details to me every evening so they could be posted on the Internet, along with drawings of the tests. She is aware that the tremendous interest in Working Retriever Central's coverage of National events has grown over the last year since Oklahoma last November. So, I am personally thankful and grateful for Sue's reporting for us over the last week. The fact is, it just would not have happened without her.
I'd also like to thank Stephen O'Connell, Bill Goldstein, Clint Joyner (Chairman of this year's National), and Regina Poer for their support for and during this National coverage. Jeff Wright was also very thoughtful and considerate in contributing photos from the awards ceremony on the last day of the National. Thanks, Jeff!
With no staff at all Working Retriever Central has attempted to provide a service to the retriever sports in the United States and Canada, and to some extent to retrievers in other parts of the world. We must rely on contributions of dedicated retriever lovers like Sue Reynolds and others to provide information for all of us. Some people take from the sport much more than they give. But people involved in contributing to these National events as they happen locally, and provide information for us to post on WRC, give much more more than they take. My hat off to them and my appreciation to all of them.
It is also important to remember that Working Retriever Central's ability to provide information about National events as they happen is possible only because of the support of our WRC Sponsors and Partners. If these services are important to you then patronize our sponsors and let them know you appreciate their support of this site.
I would also like to congratulate Laura Parrott, and John, and new NFC "Willie", on their great win in South Carolina this week. "Willie" now holds retrieverdom's most coveted title, NFC, National Field Champion, and adds that to another National title, High-Point Derby Dog (1992). He has also won two Double Headers to date, one handled by Laura, the other by John, and more honors are in the future for this great retriever. There were many retrievers running this National who would be worthy of the title "NFC", but there are none who would wear it better than NFC Lucyana's Fast Willie. A truly deserving National Champion.
I'm sure Willie's trophy will shine very bright next to Lucy's in the Parrott home. Good luck to all in their next National!
David Wallace
Working Retriever Central!
