After several years away from the sport Joyce Williams moved to Wisconsin and in 1984 purchased a puppy from Mary Howley -- the last pick of a litter sired by 1976 NFC-AFC San Joaquin Honcho out of Candlewood's Delta Dash. This was the beginning of a ride of a lifetime in the great sport of retriever field trials.

Joyce ran this "bright ball of dynamite" in nine puppy stakes. Tank won seven of them and became more than excited about field trials. Although Joyce had performed the early basic and obedience training she realized she would need help. Professional trainer Mike Lardy accepted Tank in training two weeks shy of his first birthday.

Tank with Handler Mike Lardy
following 1992 National Open win

After thriving in the training program provided by Lardy and his assistant, Andy Attar, Tank won five derbies while accumulating thirty-six derby points and became Qualified All-Age at twenty months of age.

At age three Tank was a finalist in the 1988 National Amateur Championship. He then won the 1990 National Amateur Retriever Championship in Sauvie Island, Oregon.

In winning the 1992 National Open Championship in Ardmore, Oklahoma, "Tank" became only the fourth retriever in field history to win both the National Open and the National Amateur Championships. He was handled to the wins by Mike Lardy in the National Open and by Joyce in the National Amateur.

Joyce Williams celebrating win with
Tank and trainer Mike Lardy at the 1990
Naitonal Amateur Championship

Tank also proved to be a productive and popular stud dog. He sired NFC-AFC Candlewoods Tanks A Lot, a daughter who won three National Open Championships in 1990, 1991, and 1993, and is the all-time high-point derby dog with 108 derby points.

NFC-NAFC Candlewoods Super Tanker amassed 238 all-age points during a career which was cut short by a shoulder injury. Tank died one month short of the 1993 National Open Championship in which he would have defended his title. That year's winner was his daughter, "Lottie".