Dedication, leadership, commitment, integrity, humor, and love of the field trial sport describe Dennis Bath's involvement and the reasons the Central Time Zone dedicates the 2002 National Open Championship in Dennis' name.

His son, David, writes, "My dad bought his first lab in 1967 for hunting from Tom Sorenson. Shortly thereafter he went to a field trial in Wentzville and decided he would like to participate. Figuring he was an amateur, he entered the Amateur Stake. He was quickly eliminated before the birds were shot. Promptly he acquired a rule book to find out how to master this game. I think he is still trying. He is also constantly trying to improve this sport and the dogs he truly loves".

Dennis has given the sport a great deal of his time ..... Dennis was instrumental in initiating the Purina Outstanding Field Trial Retriever Award nineteen years ago. In 1997 the Outstanding amateur Award was added. He is still a charter member of the committee. Discussion, at Dennis' initiation, is currently underway for a possible High Point Woman Handler annual award.

Dennis has held every office in the National Open Retriever Club, including President for two terms and secretary-treasurer for six years. He is currently Midwest Captain of guns for both the NRC and NARC and Corporate Liaison for both National Clubs. He has judged over 100 Field Trials and three nationals, two National Opens and one National Amateur. Locally, he is President of the River King Retriever Club - Illinois, trial committee member, and gunner.

Dennis has owned and competed with many labrador retrievers, but we all will remember his greatest accomplishment in winning back-to-back National Amateur Championships with Lawhorn's Cadillac Mack in 1979 and 1980. (Note that the 1979 and 1980 National Amateurs were the first two National Amateurs Dennis had ever run!) "Mack" accumulated 218 all-age points and was inducted into the Retriever Hall of Fame in 1993.

Dennis was inducted into the Retriever Hall of Fame (Grand Junction, Tennessee) in 2000. We believe our friend and fellow sportsman deserves recognition. In 2002 he became President and Editor-In-Chief of Retriever Field Trial News.

2002 National Retriever Club Catalog