#NRC2017 - The
Retriever World is putting on a BIG EVENT in Boston, Georgia this Sunday!
- an amateur
competitor's perspective
By: Jamie Woodson #45
Just days ago,
sporting fans were on the edge of their seats watching the Major League
Baseball battle between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While Houston's win
in the World Series is fresh on every one's minds, the retriever world is in
the spotlight this week.
There is a different
kind of world class competition starting Sunday morning. This one involves
four-legged, elite athletes and their human
handlers. Families, friends, and retriever enthusiasts across America
are brimming with excitement as all eyes in the retriever field trailing world
turn to Boston, Georgia. Canine/Handler teams have come from 33 different
states and Canada to take their shot at this National.
Many are excited
because a retriever in their life is competing this week, but thousands more
are looking forward to experiencing the retriever community's World Series as
it unfolds over 10 challenging tests. Yes, the Peach state is hosting the
National Retriever Championship (NRC)!
My husband, Bill, and
I have made the journey to Boston to experience the big event first hand. While
we will be volunteering, we also have the special gift of having two Labrador
Retrievers, Keeper #45 and Baby #32, both qualified and competing here in
Georgia.
I'm particularly
honored that the Retriever News team invited me to blog again from a
competitor's viewpoint. Sharing my perspective throughout last year's National
Retriever Championship in Bonham, Texas was a blast. My good friend Pat Burns,
of Elite Retriever
Training, and I had so
much fun sharing our experiences and we are both thrilled to be doing it again!
I have many friends
who ask, "So, how are your ‘dog shows’ going?" I suspect they imagine
me trotting alongside my dog in an arena with wall to wall blue carpet. Well,
it's not exactly like that in retriever field trials…
So, what's the big
deal? If you are familiar with this sport, you know. For those of you who love
your field trial "afflicted" friends but don't really get what all
the fuss is about, let me try to put it in perspective for you.
Here is a Facebook link of an all-age
waterblind from a Pat Burns/Ray Voigt clinic that can give you a sense of the
incredible teamwork and discipline that is required for each and every series
in retriever field trials. Attention
grabbing, eh?
And, Nationals are
even more impressive. While there are millions - yes, millions of retrievers
across the globe - only 116 retrievers qualified for this National Open and
just 104 are competing this week for the title of National Field Champion.
How does a retriever
get qualified to run? Qualifying dogs must have an Open win and have acquired 2
additional open points during the preceding 12 months. This feat of "Blue
and Two" doesn't sound that daunting but there are many superb
canine/handler teams who didn't qualify this year, teams that are highly
competitive every time they step up on line.
Like the National
Amateur Retriever Championship (and all retriever field trials), males and
females (both canines and handlers) compete equally. But, unlike the National
Amateur, the National Open is "open" to both professional and amateur
handlers.
Here are a few fun
facts about the field this year:
28 Professional
handlers competing - 26 men/2 women
25 Amateur handlers
competing - 18 men/7 women (including me)
This is my second
time experiencing a National Open as a handler/competitor and I'm beyond
excited to be here with my partner for 10 years now - Keeper!
I hope you enjoy
these musings that Retriever News will be posting this week and welcome your
ideas on items to share and National news to cover.
If you are interested
in following the action, you can access event information at https://www.theretrievernews.com/2017-nrc---boston-ga.html.
For moment to moment
updates, you can keep up via the Retriever News Blog at https://2017nrc.blogspot.com/.
Until next time, may
the wind be with you and your flyers be friendly!
- Jamie Woodson #45
