National Amateur Championship Placements

2009 NAFC:  Ruger - owners Mark & Pam Spurgeon, handler Mark Spurgeon
2nd:  Rex - owner/handler Jim Gingrich
3rd:  Huck - owner Greg Ritchings, handler Grace Anne Lawson
4th:  Greta - owner Tom & Jeanette Steven, handler Mike Dalby

Friday Night Hijinx

National Amateur Championship - 1st series, day 2

Around clean with birdwork:

Molly
Zeko
Ginger
Darcy
Lotto
Rex
Ulee
Jack
Axel
Greta
Edie

Second Series announced, to start Saturday morning:
1 -Tzeitel & Greta
2 - Zeko & Brutus
3 - Lotto & Ruger
4 - Axel & Rex
5 - Darcy & Huck
6 - Paige & Jack

National Amateur Championship - 1st series, day 1

Seven braces of the Amateur ran today after the conclusion of the Derby.  Around clean with bird work:

Tzeital
Brutus
Rusty
Ruger
Huck
Paige
Boot
Octane

Eleven braces will run tomorrow.  Second series to be announced tomorrow evening.

Derby Classic Placements

1st - Calli
2nd - Blue
3rd - Stormy
4th - Remek
AOM - Buck
AOM - Tango
AOM - Mac

From 2009 VCA National Field Trial

2009 VCA NFC

The 2009 VCA National Field Champion is NFC FC Berry's Taking Chances ("Lotto"), owned by Michael and Carrie Syczylo and handled by Diane Vater.  Second went to DC AFC Bitteroot Semper Fi Cutter ("Cutter"), owned by Clint and Valerie Sails and handled by Clint Sails.  Third was FC AFC Bitteroot Stormy ("Stormy"), owned and handled by Howard Shultz.


Nine braces of the Derby Classic ran today with five braces remaining for tomorrow.

Third Day Highlights

First, a correction on the first day's report:  It was Luke who got around clean in the first series, not Hit.

This morning the last four braces of the first series for the National Championship ran, with Stormy, Jack (Yurek) and Ruger around clean.  First four braces of second series were run today.  Lotto, Cutter and Jack (Gingrich) all around clean with retrieve.  Stormy and Ruger to run tomorrow morning.  Mark Spurgeon got some awesome pictures during the 2nd series - hope I can share some here tomorrow.  Unfortunately my camera didn't make it out of the trailer.

The Derby Calcutta was this evening.  Top bid was around $265 but dang it, I don't remember who it was!  I think maybe it was for Buck (Long) in the 6th brace.  The Calcutta raised $2150 (50% to the club and 50 % split among the top three placements).  Many thanks to auctioneer Clint Sails.

Second Day of Running - National Championship

Today was a beautiful day for running dogs with sunny skies and high's in the 60's.  Twenty-three braces were completed by the end of the day, with the following dogs around clean for today:

Reba
Remington
Easy
Thomas
Cutter
Huck
Paige
Jack (Gingrich)
Rusty

Four braces remain in the first series for the National Championship.  The judges announced the first four braces for the second series, with the possibility of more dogs to be called back.  Those making the second series so far are:

1st brace:
Cutter - Lotto

2nd brace:
Paige - Brutus

3rd brace:
Greta (Dalby) - Yoghurt

4th brace:
Tzeitel - Jack (Gingrich)

First Day of Running

The first day of running for the National Championship started off with light to moderate rain and temps in the low to mid 50s.  The first few braces were rough with some dogs getting lost and some dogs going birdless.  The rain continued throughout the morning, and after 6 braces only 3 dogs were around clean.  After lunch the rain had subsided, but the temperature dropped to the upper 40s.  Dogs were findng more birds, however, and after 11 braces of running, another 6 or 7 dogs were around clean.

Those around clean after day 1:
Yoghurt
Edie
Octane
Hit (I think)
Lotto
Gretta II
Brutus
Potter
Tzeital
Tinker

Tomorrow's forecast is looking better with cloudy skies and temps in the upper 50s predicted.  If the rains hold off, I hope to get some photos.