2005 Dachshund Club of America National Field Trial
A trail of blue bonnets, Indian paintbrush and pink primrose lined the roads leading to the Stephen Ferguson Ranch in Hempstead, TX that was the site of the 2005 Dachshund Club of America Field Trial. The Ranch itself was a beautiful, sprawling working ranch populated by well-bred cattle and reining horses. Sometimes the weather wasn't the best with heat one day and strong winds the next but the dogs did their best and put on some good runs. The Open All Age Dog and Bitch Stakes were run on March 31st and the Field Champion Stakes were run on April 1st.
The 13 acre enclosure was well stocked with rabbits and the Open All Age Dog Stake went along smoothly. Judges Mike Nothstein of NJ and Lois Ballard of WI took four series to sort through the dogs and in the end the mini smooth Rocky, took first place. The Open All Age Bitch Stake was next. Judges Cheri Faust of WI and Gerald Price of CA also sorted through four series to find their winner in the wire bitch, Kate, owned by Mary Powell.
The next day judges Barb Teigen of WI and Kellye Slatton of TX sorted through the Field Champion Dogs and after six series found their winner in Val, a mini smooth owned by Phil and Mary Bird. Then judges Larry Gohlke of WI and Ann Parrish of IL scrutinized the Field Champion Bitches and after four series found their first place winner in Jean Dieden's standard wire bitch, Kharma. This was a special win for Jean as Kharma is the dam of Shag, the Absolute winner of the 2004 DCA National Field Trial. Obviously, rabbit work runs in the family!
The two Field Champions had to run head to head to decide who would face the bitch stake winner as Rocky, winner of the dog stake had a serious reaction to nettles that dotted the fields and was under veterinary care. In the end, Val ran against Kate and after a couple rabbits, Val came up the winner. Owners Phil and Mary Bird were proud of their little dog as he became the 2005 Absolute winner of the 2005 DCA National Field Trial!
Other notables at the trial were 13 year old Seja owned by Jean Dieden who competed in the FC Bitch Stake. And there was 10 year old Bentley in the FC Dog Stake owned by Larry and Paula Innis who earned an Award of Merit. I believe the only International competitor was Riisa, a Dutch bred standard wire, owned by Andrea Whitney of Mexico who also earned an Award of Merit.
The day closed with a new National Field Trial winner and a lot of happy dogs and handlers as just the opportunity to run on such well stocked grounds was a treat. Next year's DCA National Field trial will be held by the Atlanta Dachshund Club in Lafayette, GA at the Lookout Beagle Club grounds and promises to be another exciting trial.
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