Charlie Hays of Long Lake, Minnesota, was elected President of the National Amateur Retriever Club at the Annual Meeting in Stowe, Vermont, on June 17, 1984. Charlie's primary responsibility is to provide the leadership and organization for the 1985 National Amateur Championship Stake to be held in the vicinity of Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota.
Charlie has always been an avid hunter and sportsman. He was introduced to Field Trials when he was invited to Gun at trials of the Minnesota Field Trial Association. He got his first Labrador Retriever in 1963. He and his wife, Yvonne, quickly became very much involved, both with training and trialing the dogs and with participation in the M.F.T.A. Club. Both Charlie and Yvonne are on the Board. Charlie is a Past President, and Yvonne is the 1985 Vice President.
Both of them have campaigned their dogs nationally and have qualified them for many Nationals, but both have also given freely of their time to Judge or serve on National committees.
They currently have three titled dogs: FC-AFC Candlewood's Mad Mouse, FC-AFC Candlewood's Flash Back, and AFC Westwind's Pedro. Of course, the most successful performer has been the great "Mouse", who has been a National Finalist four times and is the All-time High-Point Yellow Lab in Open and Combined Open and Amateur Stakes. Mouse is still running and still winning at age ten and one-half years. Charlie and Yvonne do most of their own training, but are quick to credit those who have helped, especially in the early training; including Jerry Mount, Rip McGaughey, and Reo Raj Kennels.
The Sport is Fortunate to have a person of such broad experience and dedication directing its National Amateur Stake in 1985.
RFTN August 1984
