Gallery Greetings 5 |
by Ken McCartney, an avid Field Trialer
DAY FIVE: More of the triple, thirteen more to run a test a that eats up six dogs an hour, and I mean eats as in chews up. The judges are grinning again from ear to ear.
>>>>>>>>>>-*-*-*-*DISCLAIMER*-*-*-*<<<<<<<<<<<
I need to set the record completely straight here. Whoever posted an internet allegation that I have a bag of Ann Rauff’s (81) under wear in my motel room is completely ignorant of the truth and should be condemned to the fish bowl of the Presidency if he or she thinks the first stone is a safe toss. There is absolutely no truth to the allegation that Hook Taylor has been commissioned to find edible embroidery for placing the NARC Logo on 7 briefs in quite varied colors, 6 upper body under garments in three colors, and on eight mixed pair of socks suitable for wearing with blue jeans (pictures, no colored pictures will not follow). This scatological innuendo is going to have to be quelled or a decent person is just not going to be able to appear in public without blushing or even worse being talked about on the circuit!
That said, back to the serious business of having fun.
I would call the fifth series bitter sweet. There were a lot of failures and many dogs were seriously dinged up. Several clean dogs lost it here. But that has the effect of making it a real joy for those who did the test successfully. And there were some very good jobs. Several dogs marked all three birds and picked them up with nice lines through some of the most difficult terrain yet, in a trial that will probably be called a terrain test of champions for years to come.
The judges are getting along great. They are making the trial the success it is for sure.
It is still early for much gallery speculation on the leaders. When I ask, I hear several names and “but he had a bit of trouble with….” I may sneak insider info later in the week to heighten your enjoyment not that I am unencumbered by competing.
“What is the difference from those handlers at this trial and those not here that you see many weekends at local trials?”
I asked myself that question 22 years ago. Did I tell you this is the twentieth anniversary of my first National Qualification? It is my 13th start out of 18 NARC qualifications and I am awed by those here who have not missed one! I can not tell you how to win one. Hell, I’ve viewed all the Lardy tapes many times and still have no guarantee in that regard. If only I could, Jack Vollstedt (29, 75) and Lance Brown (35) would be just two of many that would make my retirement. I am able only to describe some of what I see here to give you some ideas.
1. The dogs here are trained, and trained long hours. The one thing the winners have in common is hard work. That is not enough.
1.5 The dogs here run weekend trials. It takes starts to receive points.
2. They are trained by goal oriented trainers, willing to put the time and energy and let us face it, the other resources, that it takes to win.
3. They are trained smart. Training all day everyday will not a champion make unless it is the right training. For me, I had to find a professional that I believed in and could trust to help me learn what smart training is. It used to be possible to reach this level with a good dog and not a lot of help. I do not think anyone here has not had help. The technique has evolved so much that it is just not practical to get here without someone showing you the do’s and don’ts. It would certainly take a lot longer than it does with help.
4. They have good dogs. But that is not the answer in and of it self. Many of the contestants here are out of or by one untitled dog. Some of the best dogs are from untitled parents. The key is a puppy or started dog that matches the handler’s personality. A high maintenance dog may be right for some trainers while a low maintenance dog is better for others. If I had some magic to place puppies or started dogs I could quit the practice of law and metal works business and never look back. The bringing of the right animal to the right trainer may be the most difficult aspect of getting to a national. I would guess that the trainer who show up here year after year are willing to let the puppy or young dog that just does not have the requisite blood lust to win, go to a happy hunting home and move on. It is difficult to keep a non competitor for their whole life time and have room for champions in the kennel.
4.5. Some handlers buy their NARC contestants already qualified. That formula is want to get you back here. Finding a started dog that has what it takes is a formula that a whole lot of good trainers with or without good pros use. It takes the ability to follow through to make the initial investment worth while. That means the handler has to be capable not just the dog.
5. Goal oriented training may be with a pro full or part time. It may be with an amateur training group, but the work will involve training on concepts. It is not possible to train for every set up on every terrain, but it is possible to train on three in line with retired middle bird and get through the fourth series of some national amateur some time in McCall. I need to work on the flying duck, indented dead duck, and cock pheasant against a sage background concept sometime real soon.
6. Nobody here has all the answers. Nobody wins all of the time. Although, the Creek Robbers of the world help us appreciate how good, good can be. The good amateurs and the good pro’s win their share and think about what they should and should not do and how to do it better. There is no one out there totally dominating, but some do remarkably better than others. Align your star with competency that is proximate to your situation and only good things will happen. The best trainer in the world is not going to help you if you can not go to where the training occurs and be trained. A trained dog is not a factor without a trained handler.
7. In a sport where we take turn judging each other the best trainers are good people, people, too. I do not think Barry Bonds would get his share of call backs in this subjective sport. It just would not be right. With the exception of the rookies, call it as to the contestants here with at least their second dog, all of them are eight point judges….
A couple final notes. I have it on good authority that the rumor that with Dennis Bath as Editor in Chief the Retriever Field Trial News the magazine would be featuring a center fold commencing the fourth quarter of 2003, is COMPLETELY unfounded. There are no plans for a fold out and Glenda Brown has not volunteered for the first issue. And it sounded so plausible when I first heard of it.
“It is a shame we have to work this hard to have fun.” Greg Bartlett at breakfast day two of the trial when everyone was getting up early and rushing to be someplace.
>>>>>>>>>>-*-*-*-*DISCLAIMER*-*-*-*<<<<<<<<<<<
I need to set the record completely straight here. Whoever posted an internet allegation that I have a bag of Ann Rauff’s (81) under wear in my motel room is completely ignorant of the truth and should be condemned to the fish bowl of the Presidency if he or she thinks the first stone is a safe toss. There is absolutely no truth to the allegation that Hook Taylor has been commissioned to find edible embroidery for placing the NARC Logo on 7 briefs in quite varied colors, 6 upper body under garments in three colors, and on eight mixed pair of socks suitable for wearing with blue jeans (pictures, no colored pictures will not follow). This scatological innuendo is going to have to be quelled or a decent person is just not going to be able to appear in public without blushing or even worse being talked about on the circuit!
That said, back to the serious business of having fun.
I would call the fifth series bitter sweet. There were a lot of failures and many dogs were seriously dinged up. Several clean dogs lost it here. But that has the effect of making it a real joy for those who did the test successfully. And there were some very good jobs. Several dogs marked all three birds and picked them up with nice lines through some of the most difficult terrain yet, in a trial that will probably be called a terrain test of champions for years to come.
The judges are getting along great. They are making the trial the success it is for sure.
It is still early for much gallery speculation on the leaders. When I ask, I hear several names and “but he had a bit of trouble with….” I may sneak insider info later in the week to heighten your enjoyment not that I am unencumbered by competing.
“What is the difference from those handlers at this trial and those not here that you see many weekends at local trials?”
I asked myself that question 22 years ago. Did I tell you this is the twentieth anniversary of my first National Qualification? It is my 13th start out of 18 NARC qualifications and I am awed by those here who have not missed one! I can not tell you how to win one. Hell, I’ve viewed all the Lardy tapes many times and still have no guarantee in that regard. If only I could, Jack Vollstedt (29, 75) and Lance Brown (35) would be just two of many that would make my retirement. I am able only to describe some of what I see here to give you some ideas.
1. The dogs here are trained, and trained long hours. The one thing the winners have in common is hard work. That is not enough.
1.5 The dogs here run weekend trials. It takes starts to receive points.
2. They are trained by goal oriented trainers, willing to put the time and energy and let us face it, the other resources, that it takes to win.
3. They are trained smart. Training all day everyday will not a champion make unless it is the right training. For me, I had to find a professional that I believed in and could trust to help me learn what smart training is. It used to be possible to reach this level with a good dog and not a lot of help. I do not think anyone here has not had help. The technique has evolved so much that it is just not practical to get here without someone showing you the do’s and don’ts. It would certainly take a lot longer than it does with help.
4. They have good dogs. But that is not the answer in and of it self. Many of the contestants here are out of or by one untitled dog. Some of the best dogs are from untitled parents. The key is a puppy or started dog that matches the handler’s personality. A high maintenance dog may be right for some trainers while a low maintenance dog is better for others. If I had some magic to place puppies or started dogs I could quit the practice of law and metal works business and never look back. The bringing of the right animal to the right trainer may be the most difficult aspect of getting to a national. I would guess that the trainer who show up here year after year are willing to let the puppy or young dog that just does not have the requisite blood lust to win, go to a happy hunting home and move on. It is difficult to keep a non competitor for their whole life time and have room for champions in the kennel.
4.5. Some handlers buy their NARC contestants already qualified. That formula is want to get you back here. Finding a started dog that has what it takes is a formula that a whole lot of good trainers with or without good pros use. It takes the ability to follow through to make the initial investment worth while. That means the handler has to be capable not just the dog.
5. Goal oriented training may be with a pro full or part time. It may be with an amateur training group, but the work will involve training on concepts. It is not possible to train for every set up on every terrain, but it is possible to train on three in line with retired middle bird and get through the fourth series of some national amateur some time in McCall. I need to work on the flying duck, indented dead duck, and cock pheasant against a sage background concept sometime real soon.
6. Nobody here has all the answers. Nobody wins all of the time. Although, the Creek Robbers of the world help us appreciate how good, good can be. The good amateurs and the good pro’s win their share and think about what they should and should not do and how to do it better. There is no one out there totally dominating, but some do remarkably better than others. Align your star with competency that is proximate to your situation and only good things will happen. The best trainer in the world is not going to help you if you can not go to where the training occurs and be trained. A trained dog is not a factor without a trained handler.
7. In a sport where we take turn judging each other the best trainers are good people, people, too. I do not think Barry Bonds would get his share of call backs in this subjective sport. It just would not be right. With the exception of the rookies, call it as to the contestants here with at least their second dog, all of them are eight point judges….
A couple final notes. I have it on good authority that the rumor that with Dennis Bath as Editor in Chief the Retriever Field Trial News the magazine would be featuring a center fold commencing the fourth quarter of 2003, is COMPLETELY unfounded. There are no plans for a fold out and Glenda Brown has not volunteered for the first issue. And it sounded so plausible when I first heard of it.
“It is a shame we have to work this hard to have fun.” Greg Bartlett at breakfast day two of the trial when everyone was getting up early and rushing to be someplace.
