Combined Sixth/Seventh Series: "Believe You Can and You're Halfway There."
-an amateur competitor's perspective
By: Jamie Woodson #45
The Fifth Series land quad tested 57 canine athletes and their handlers and the field has narrowed significantly as we head into the Sixth Series of the 2017 National Retriever Championship. The judges spent a great deal of time studying the work thus far and deliberated into the wee hours of the morning. At 5:15 a.m, callbacks were posted and the judges have invited just 28 dogs to run this morning in a combined Sixth/Seventh Series land/water blind.
This is so exciting!!!
A few fun facts on the field as the Sixth/Seventh Series begin:
-Some handlers still have multiple dogs in the competition - 17 total handlers remain
-7 of the 17 dogs have handled
-6 National Champions entered the competition - 4 remain
-22 amateur handlers started the First Series - 5 remain
-5 untitled dogs entered - 2 remain
-9 women handlers started in the first series - only two remain (Lynn Troy #64 and Martha Russell #66)
Teddy Roosevelt was one of my favorite U.S. Presidents. He was an avid outdoors-man, a bold leader, a person of action, a fighter, and a conservationist! I have his voice in my head this morning as I imagine how these 17 handlers must be feeling.
"Believe you can and you're halfway there."
I sent a message to a friend and fellow competitor this morning with a reminder of Roosevelt's wisdom. There are typically ten series in a National and these handlers made it over the hump.
So... if we are being precise, you're more than halfway there. BELIEVE!!!
Wishing everyone a healthy dose of good luck (and the absence of bad luck)!
Until next time, may the wind be in your favor and your flyers be friendly.
-Jamie Woodson #45
