Saturday, June 16, 2007 |
By Saturday, most people had arrived in or near Evanston and were available for the two meetings scheduled for early afternoon. This will be a brief overview of those meetings. A full report will appear in the Aug. 07 issue of Retriever Field Trial News.
Retriever Advisory Committee
The first meeting was that of the Retriever Advisory Committee held in the Historic Machine Shop in Evanston, Wyoming. It was called to order by President Nelson Sills at 1:18 pm. On the dais were committee members Bill Speck, Lisa Carroll, Bob Young, John Goettl, Bill Daley, Jerry Mann, Charles Hays, Don Driggers, and Don Lundgren.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the latest proposed rule changes and recommendations for field trials. Four items were on the agenda; none were up for a vote, only discussion. They would be again visited at the National Championship in November. They were:
A.) Proposals for Improving Judging
These suggestions included an apprenticeship for new judges, along with benchmarks that new judges would have to attain to be approved as Judges. These would not go into effect until 2009 and any judges now approved by the AKC would not be affected. Pro and con suggestions were taken into consideration by the committee.
B.) The Movement of Retired GunsAgain numerous viewpoints were discussed on the distance and placement of retired guns including wind direction, the use of ATV's and relationship to other marks.
C.) Poison Birds
The use of unseen, previously planted birds, several poison birds, bags of birds left in fields, and proximity to other marks caused a lively discussion.
Also, the question of having Judges differentiate between a poison bird (diversion) and a mark. Interrupted marks would still be permitted but the discussion centered around when a poison bird is a mark and when it can be considered as a blind. Opinions proved the topic was wide and deep. Again, numerous suggestions were presented to the committee.
D.) The Qualification of Canadian Registered Dogs to Run U.S. All-Age Stakes
A recommendation to allow qualified All-Age Canadian dogs to run U.S. All-Age stakes was favored with the exception of the U.S. "Special" stake.
E.) Walk-Up TestsThe proposal was designed more for moderating how quickly Judges call for the birds more so than the effect of a walk up. Because of multi mark tests of today, distance and numerous retired birds, a proposal was made that judges allow enough time for contestants to see all the positions before calling for the birds. Also, they should tap the handler on the back before call for the marks. This drew mixed reaction and also will be revisited ant the November National.
The meeting adjourned at 2:55 pm and there was a short recess before the second meeting.
National Amateur Membership Meeting
This meeting was held in the same room as the first and was called to order by President Sherry Bleazard at 3:16 pm. On the dais were: Ron Bailey, Suzanne King, John Russell, Don Driggers, and Brad Clow.
The minutes, Treasurers report, and roll call were completed and a moment of silence observed for those departed since last year.
The nominating committee presented the slate of directors for 2008. They are: President Don Driggers, Vice President Ron Ainley, Secretary/Treasurer Fred Kampo (John Russell retired) Suzanne King, Brad Clow, and Duncan Christie.
2008 FT Chair Duncan Christie announced the stake would be held in Stowe, Vermont, and the Judges would be: Steve Kompf, Bruce Ahlers and Al Case.
Shortly after, Bill Speck was called upon to draw the '07 starting number from a container of numbered dollar bill. The winner (?) was ....#1. The "lucky" one, Linda Harger was called up and presented with the remainder of the dollar bills!
Rotation would be 1-28-56-83. At 7 am, the test dogs would run, and, at 8 am, the first running dog would begin. The test would be a land double with hen mallards. It would be located at the Chicken Creek property about 40 minutes from Headquarters.
Four scratches were announced - 32, 40, 49 and 104. After several more announcements, the meeting adjourned at 4:10 pm.
Retriever Advisory Committee
The first meeting was that of the Retriever Advisory Committee held in the Historic Machine Shop in Evanston, Wyoming. It was called to order by President Nelson Sills at 1:18 pm. On the dais were committee members Bill Speck, Lisa Carroll, Bob Young, John Goettl, Bill Daley, Jerry Mann, Charles Hays, Don Driggers, and Don Lundgren.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the latest proposed rule changes and recommendations for field trials. Four items were on the agenda; none were up for a vote, only discussion. They would be again visited at the National Championship in November. They were:
A.) Proposals for Improving Judging
These suggestions included an apprenticeship for new judges, along with benchmarks that new judges would have to attain to be approved as Judges. These would not go into effect until 2009 and any judges now approved by the AKC would not be affected. Pro and con suggestions were taken into consideration by the committee.
B.) The Movement of Retired GunsAgain numerous viewpoints were discussed on the distance and placement of retired guns including wind direction, the use of ATV's and relationship to other marks.
C.) Poison Birds
The use of unseen, previously planted birds, several poison birds, bags of birds left in fields, and proximity to other marks caused a lively discussion.
Also, the question of having Judges differentiate between a poison bird (diversion) and a mark. Interrupted marks would still be permitted but the discussion centered around when a poison bird is a mark and when it can be considered as a blind. Opinions proved the topic was wide and deep. Again, numerous suggestions were presented to the committee.
D.) The Qualification of Canadian Registered Dogs to Run U.S. All-Age Stakes
A recommendation to allow qualified All-Age Canadian dogs to run U.S. All-Age stakes was favored with the exception of the U.S. "Special" stake.
E.) Walk-Up TestsThe proposal was designed more for moderating how quickly Judges call for the birds more so than the effect of a walk up. Because of multi mark tests of today, distance and numerous retired birds, a proposal was made that judges allow enough time for contestants to see all the positions before calling for the birds. Also, they should tap the handler on the back before call for the marks. This drew mixed reaction and also will be revisited ant the November National.
The meeting adjourned at 2:55 pm and there was a short recess before the second meeting.
National Amateur Membership Meeting
This meeting was held in the same room as the first and was called to order by President Sherry Bleazard at 3:16 pm. On the dais were: Ron Bailey, Suzanne King, John Russell, Don Driggers, and Brad Clow.
The minutes, Treasurers report, and roll call were completed and a moment of silence observed for those departed since last year.
The nominating committee presented the slate of directors for 2008. They are: President Don Driggers, Vice President Ron Ainley, Secretary/Treasurer Fred Kampo (John Russell retired) Suzanne King, Brad Clow, and Duncan Christie.
2008 FT Chair Duncan Christie announced the stake would be held in Stowe, Vermont, and the Judges would be: Steve Kompf, Bruce Ahlers and Al Case.
Shortly after, Bill Speck was called upon to draw the '07 starting number from a container of numbered dollar bill. The winner (?) was ....#1. The "lucky" one, Linda Harger was called up and presented with the remainder of the dollar bills!
Rotation would be 1-28-56-83. At 7 am, the test dogs would run, and, at 8 am, the first running dog would begin. The test would be a land double with hen mallards. It would be located at the Chicken Creek property about 40 minutes from Headquarters.
Four scratches were announced - 32, 40, 49 and 104. After several more announcements, the meeting adjourned at 4:10 pm.
