Harold got into this wonderful sport of retriever field trials, post retirement, by buying a Golden puppy as a hunting companion. He won two puppy stakes at club trials in 1970, got hooked and has never gotten unhooked. That puppy later became FC AFC Bonnie Brooks Red followed by Goldens: AFC Son of Red, FC AFC Topbrass Bandit, FC AFC Sangamo Red, AFC Little Fever and Labradors: FC AFC Bingo By Bounce and FC Bounce By Bingo. Those dogs were all trained from puppyhood by Harold, except in striving to attain FC titles for Bonnie Brooks Red and Bounce By Bingo, he availed himself of the help of pros Billy Voigt (for Red) and Joe and Scott Harp (for Bounce).

Harold is an honorary member of the Mid-Illinois Retriever Club and the Bluegrass Retriever Club and a former member of the River King Retriever Club and the Golden Retriever Club of America. He has been deeply involved, as a member and officer, of the Mid-Illinois Retriever Club since 1970. He has judged more than 40 all-age stakes and also the National in Albany, GA in 1989. He is one of, if not the oldest person to qualify for and run the National (1998). He has run several other Nationals over the years. He retired from training and trial competition in September, 2004 at the age of 91.