Forecast for the Opening Day of 2018 National Open Championship

Here is what you can expect for tomorrow as you get prepared to head out to the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship Opening Day.

Looks like we will have a high of 40 degrees but the sun will be shining with a light 5 mph NNE wind.

Remember the Opening ceremonies will start with the National Anthem at 6:00 am, with test dogs being called to the line at 6:30 am and the first running dog, #59 - Telamon's War Eagle, handled by Clint Avant at 7:00 am. 

The first test will be a Double with Two Roosters, one being a Flyer. This test will be held on the Siren Field.

Gun change will be after 21 dogs have run. The gun changes will happen after dog numbers 77, 98, 13 and 34.

Cocktail Party at the Carroll Convention Center

We all reconvened back at the Carroll Convention Center in one of the upstairs ballrooms for the traditional Cocktail Party. Everyone had spruced themselves up and the evening's festivities were very well attended. Hostess Chair Dana Young created very special centerpieces utilizing old silver  tankard trophies engraved with placements from the olden days. Another unique touch were goldfish bowls lit from below glowing on several tables. The food and drinks were outstanding and we all had a great time. There was much conversation about the next day and what everyone would be wearing to keep warm. Please enjoy the following shots from the Carroll Convention Center!

L to R: Peggy Roegiers, Dave Smith and Steve Rogiers

Fran and Bobby Smith

Judge Charles Tyson and his wife

L to R: Ginger Cope, Jim Cope, Loren Morehouse and Jaimee Strange

Karen and Rich Pingatore (Happy Anniversary!)

Kathy and Johnny Armstrong

Mike Bott and Lester Langley

Lauren and Glen Curtis

Guess who? – F-O-X-X

Robby Bickley, Monte and Pam Wulf and Fred Rohrer

NICE TIE!!

2018 National Retriever Club Annual Meeting

2018 NRC President Mitch Patterson call the meeting to order at 2:13 pm with a moment of silence for our two and four legged friends that we have lost this past year. Following this moment of silence he asked for all to stand for our Pledge of Allegiance.

2018 NRC President Mitch Patterson

Mitch then welcomed everyone to Paducah, Kentucky. He thanked the following people stating they were instrumental in the grounds being ready for this premier event: Dr. Harry Carlos, Tim Kreher, John Brunjes and Steve Bane of the Western Paducah Wildlife Management Area.

Sandra Wilson, Mayor pro tem, spoke stating she was happy we are here and hope we all come back.

Mayor Sandra Wilson

Mitch then introduced Linda Peters-Jones, Paducah Travel and Commerce, who helped get motels and restaurants plus more.

Mitch recognized past Presidents and Chairmen of National clubs, then he went on to salute the Hall of Fame members and finally, he mentioned the veterans and first responders.

The 2018 National Retriever Club Championship is dedicated to Mr. Don Driggers and Mr. Charles Hays. Mitch stated we lost two great men this past year. First, Charlie Hays … and his wife, Yvonne Hays, spoke. She stated that while this is a very competitive sport, when something bad happens, you learn how many friends you have. Second to be recognized was Don Driggers whom Mitch spoke about and you can review both dedications in the National Open catalog which is digitally on the Retriever News website as well. Both women received from the National Club a crystal clock engraved with a commemorative plaque.

Yvonne Hays

Next was the introduction of the NRC current Board Members...

President: Mitch Patterson

Secretary/Treasure: David Opseth (Secretary of FT Mark Medford)

Directors: Julie Cole, Ginger Cope and Jeff Talley
Field Trial Chairman: Loren Morehouse

Then the 2018 NRC Judges were introduced...
Atlantic Time Zone – David Opseth
Mountain Time Zone – Ed Aycock
Pacific Time Zone – Charles Tyson
They received a gift from the Board of the National.

Judges (L to R) Charles Tyson, David Opseth and Ed Aycock

FT Secretary/Treasurer pro tem Mark Medford read the minutes from the 2017 NRC meeting and a motion was made and seconded to accept them.

Mark Medford

 Role call was called and a quorum was established. Next, Mark gave the treasury report stating that the event in Thomasville, GA made $35,000 in 2017. He congratulated 2017 Chairman Jeff Talley on a job well done.

The treasurer's report was distributed among the attendees. Mark asked for a motion to approve the report and it was seconded and accepted.

PRTA President - Paul Sletten came to the podium stating that the PRTA Land Grants have not yet been determined. They will be announced after the Sunday night PRTA meeting. Paul went on to thank Purina, Avery and Garmin for their financial support which helps to keep the PRTA active.

PRTA President Paul Sletten

Dean Reinke from from Purina presented the 2017 winner's painting to Suzanne and Mark Medford along with Dave Smith the Ross Young winner's painting of NFC-AFC Fresh Squeezed Juice.

NFC-AFC Fresh Squeezed Juice – "Juice"

The 2019 NRC Board was presented...

Julie Cole – President

Ginger Cope – VP

Jeff Talley – Director
Mitch Patterson – Director

David Opseth – Secretary/Treasurer

A motion to close nominations and to approve the board as presented and was accepted.

Julie Cole announced the 2019 National Retriever Club Championship to be held in 

Corning, California from November 9 - 16, 2019. 

2019 NRC Committee
Rob Rueter – Chairman
Steve Kompf – Co-Chair
Gary Zellner – Co-Chair

The judges will be as follows:
Atlantic Time Zone – Roy Morejon

Western Time Zone – Cindy Howard
Central Time Zone – Bruce Ahlers

Corporate Sponsor Liaison Gwen Jones came to the front to thank this year's Sponsors. They are...
Purina 

Avery 
Ford Motor Company
Garmin 
Kent Ammunition

Dogtra 
Gwen presented a gift to representatives Dean Reinke from Purina and David Carrington from Avery. She recognized the other companies and their reps present and reminded those present to thank the sponsors personally as they encountered them during the week.

Corporate Sponsor Liaison Gwen Jones

Mike Bott representing  Garmin and Ken Neil representing Dogtra with Gwen Jones

Mitch Patterson introduced Dennis Bath and announced that Dennis would be retiring as the Central Zone Gun Captain after this National. He commended Dennis for his involvement in the sport.

Chairman Loren Morehouse presented Mitch Patterson with a trophy and recognized him for being the outgoing NRC President. He also thanked the Western Kentucky Wildlife Management Area  training property owners and the set up crew for all their hard work. He then introduced Chief Marshal Mark Medford and Co-Marshal Phil Heye.

 Rules From The Marshal

Gun change will be after every 21 dogs. The changes will happen AFTER the dog numbers 77, 98, 13 and 34.

Caravan to the test site will leave at 5:15 am from the headquarters hotel parking lot.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 6:00-6:15 am.

The test dog will run at 6:30 am, with the first running dog at 7:00 am.

The first series of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship will be a Double with Two Roosters, one being a flyer. The location of this test will be at the Siren Field.

No-Bird Policy

1^st No-Bird – The team will go back five (5) places and run the sixth.

2^nd No-Bird – The team will go back five (5) places and run the sixth.

3^rd No-Bird – The team will run at the end of the rotation.

Test Dogs

Labrador male test dog is Watermarks Coal-Fired Folsom Train, “Cash,” owned by David Hudson and handled by Cynean Bartlett. Labrador female test dog is FC Tall Oaks Repeat, “Peat,” owned and handled by John Brunjes.

The dogs scratched are #2 - #71 - #83.

Parking and viewing will be great for the First Series.

A food wagon from O'Charley's Restaurant will be on the grounds each day.

See page 27 of the 2018 NRC catalog for the rotation procedures.
Rotation for the first four series run will be 59 - 86 - 7 - 34.

Jean Wu was recognized as a great help asset to the Judge's this past week as the Official Sketch Artist.

The first 20 dogs in rotation will be allowed to view the test from the line. The first 10, then the second 10. The rest can view during gun changes.

Callbacks will be announced the same day by 7:00 pm. They will be posted at the headquarters and also on the Retriever News blog.

Handler Dana Young and "Baylin"

Baylin (aka the PUPPY DOG) Young picks the starting dog number!

Starting dog will be #59 - Telamon's War Eagle, handled by Clint Avant.

It was then announced the bitch check would follow the meeting in the Northeast corner of the parking lot.

Meeting adjourned at 3:15 pm

Retriever Advisory Committee Meeting

The 2018 Retriever Advisory Committee meeting came order by introducing the members present. They are Russ Reavis – AKC Field Supervisor, John Russell - Chairperson, Larry Morgan - Rocky Mountain Time Zone Representative, Loren Morehouse - Central Time Zone Representative and Ray Vreeland - Eastern Time Zone Representative.

John Russell discussed a Rule Amendment of the rule addressing the topic of dogs running first in more than one series. The talk is affirmative that no dog should run first in more than one series.

John also acknowledged the passing of Charlie Hays stating "We will miss the wisdom and logic he brought to the sport."

There was heavy discussion about Marked Blinds. Should they have mandatory marking or some definitive way to mark the location of the blind. In other words, it can be seen in all transitions of lighting and conditions.

The next topic of discussion was about Poison Birds thrown and not picked up. Many felt if it was thrown, it should be picked up.

• Sometimes the bird is not picked up due to time

• The idea would be that the Judges would be “encouraged” to allot the time in order that the dog should be able to pick up the poison bird.

In the end, the discussion seemed to be in favor of no rule change.

Dave Rorem spoke his concerns about the visibility of marks and guns, asking "Is there a way to enforce our current rules on visibility?" There is a big erosion factor in that we are getting answers at trials for the wrong reasons.

RAC Chairman, John Russell, Jr.

Julie Cole and Larry Morgan

Russ Reavis – AKC Field Director of Sporting Breeds

The RAC Committee: L to R: Loren Morehouse, Julie Cole, Larry Morgan and Ray Vreeland.

pre-National – WORKING

While all the pre-National training was going on this past week, there was a lot of behind the scenes work being done to prepare and work toward the kick-off for this event. Here are some candid snaps of the preparation the Hostess and Merchandise Committees have been doing in advance of the start of the 2018 National Open …

Hostesses Carol Morehouse and Suzanne Caire put together the Committee name tags

Corporate Sponsor Liaison Gwen Jones and RN Official Reporter Becky Eckett help to number bumpers.

Merchandise Chair Katie Gutermuth checks her stock.

Becky Eckett and Gwen Jones

The Hostess Committee stuffs the handler and worker bags

The Coloring Duo – What a creative pair!

Unloading all the goodies …

Pam Wulf and Carol Morehouse

The STORE IS OPEN!!

Lucky Lab pins will keep you warm! (and your coffee, too!)