Retriever Field Trials
National Amateur Retriever Championship Stake
June 13-19, 2004

Saturday Photos Click on image for caption and larger view.

2004 RAC Sub-Committee Report and Announcement of 2005 NARC Location

The first subject considered was the matter of limiting the use of holding blinds in the field during marking tests. The Sub-Committe was unanimous in its view that there are only two circumstances in which judges should place holding blinds in the field in a marking test. The first is to provide for the effective retirement of guns/throwers in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 8 of the Standard Procedure as recently amended by the vote in 2003. The second is the use of a holding blind to block a potentially dangerous obstacle in the field such as a concealed culvert or other dangerous condition that a running dog might not see. Obviously, use of a holding blind for the safety of the running dogs is appropriate in any test, whether a mark or a blind. Any other use of a holding blind in the field in a marking test is inappropriate. The placement of a blind in the field that serves no purpose other than to confuse the running dogs is bad practice.

Proposal No. 1

Amend Paragraph 8 of the Standard Procedure (as it has been most recently amended by vote in 2003) by adding at the end of said paragraph the following sentence:

"No blinds should be placed in the field in a marking test except in accordance with the provisions set forth above in this paragraph or for the purpose of protecting the running dogs from injury by unseen hazards."

The Sub-Committee considered the issue of the use of "dry guns" in a marking test. The Sub-Committee concluded that placing visible dry guns in the field in a marking test, whether those guns "popped" or merely stood silently, was a device or practice which could, and often would, confuse the dogs and interfere with the dogs' abilities to demonstrate their marking skills. The Sub-Committee concluded that the use of such dry guns as part of a marking test should not be permitted. The Sub-Committee recognized that a prohibition on dry guns in the field during a marking test might create a conflict with the judge's authority to use dry guns in a blind test in those situations in which a mark and a blind are run together in a combination test. The committee did not believe that running a blind with visible dry guns, pop or not, should be prohibited when the blind is run in combination with a mark. We do feel that placing the dry guns used in the blind in a location where they are visible to the dogs while running the mark should be avoided.

Proposal No. 2

Amend Paragraph 8 of the Standard Procedure (as it has been most recently amended by vote in 2003) by inserting after the first sentence:

"No dry guns should be stationed in the field and visible to the dog while a marking test is run, or while the marking portion of a combination mark/blind test is run."

The third issue considered by the Sub-Committee was the provisions in Paragraph 6(c) of the Standard Procedure that permit a derby dog to wear a collar while under judgement. For a variety of reasons, including the fact that the type of collar permitted is not identified, the Sub-Committee has decided this provision should be modified.

Proposal No. 3

Amend Paragraph 6(c) of the Standard Procedure by deleting the words "may wear collars while under judgement and", and inserting the words "and collar" after the word "leash" when it last appears in paragraph 6(c) so that the amended paragraph 6(c) will read:

"In Derby Stakes, solely at the handler's option, dogs may be brought to the line and taken from the line on leash or off leash, the leash and collar being removed from the time of arrival on line until departure."

Other Issues

The Sub-Committee considered a thoughtful letter it received recommending that special provisions be adopted to permit a "Junior Handler" (defined as a person under 18 years of age) to enter and handle a dog who was otherwise not eligible to run in a minor stake. In other words, a field champion could be entered and run in a derby or qualifying stake. The goal would be to gain experience for the young handler. If the ineligible dog completed the stake satisfactorily, the handler would receive a ribbon recognizing the achievement. The Sub-Committee understands that similar provisions apply to hunt tests and that young handlers participate occasionally. We are not opposed to the junior handler concept for field trials. We are, however, unclear about the level of interest in this undertaking.

If we are shown that there was a significant interest in attracting young handlers to our sport, we would be willing to examine the rule changes needed to put this practice in place. Please pass on your views on this issue.

Finally, the Sub-Committee received a suggestion that we adopt or create a new all-age stake to be titled an Amateur Trained Amateur All-Age Stake. This stake as proposed would be open only to dogs that had been entirely trained by amateurs for the entire life of the dog. The proponents of this concept believe that there is a substantial community of amateurs who train their own dogs, but who are unable to compete effectively in the current Amateur All-Age Stakes because of the need to compete against professionally trained dogs. After discussion, the Sub-Committee has unanimously concluded that there is neither a demand for, nor a benfit to, the sport of retriever field trials provided by this proposal.

This report was mailed to each member and licensed Retriever Field Trial Club in preparation for a interim meeting of the RAC at the June '04 National Amateur Championship Stake. A ballot will be prepared and mailed to all clubs eligible to vote not later than July '04.

Announcement of 2005 NARC Location

At the next meeting, the club President for 2005, Liz Jerome, told the crowd that the 2005 National Amateur Retriever Championship would be held June 19-26 in the Virginia, Minnesota area. The judges would be:

Eastern Time Zone: Bob Willow
Mountain Time Zone: Kevin Scovel
Western Time Zone: Linda Erwin

After that announcement, they tried something new this year in selecting the first dog and handler for the 2004 Championship. A lab named "Leo" was brought in the room and he selected a bumper from about 100 bumpers in a pool of water. It took "Leo" a little while to select a bumper, which drew lots of laughs from the crowd. The bumper chosen was number 82 (FC AFC Blackwater Ruby II - Owners: Ronald and Jane Ainley, Dubuque, IA).