And the Winner is ...

The Winner of the 2019 

National Amateur Retriever Club Championship is …

20. FC-AFC KIRKWOOD'S ACE OF LONE STAR, "Lexie" LF, Casey Adams

Owners: Casey Adams and Andrew & Shirley Kahn

Handler: Casey Adams

Fun Fact: Today is also Casey’s birthday!! Happy Birthday Casey and Congratulations!!

And The Finalists Are....

The 2019 National Amateur Retriever Championship Finalists are…

20. FC-AFC KIRKWOOD'S ACE OF LONE STAR, "Lexie" LF, Casey Adams

25. FC-AFC-CAFC BAYPOINTS THOUSAND FATHOM EDGE, "Ouuks" LM, Jim McFarland

31. FC-AFC SEASIDE'S GORGEOUS GEORGE, "Clooney" LM, Michael Robicheaux

54. NAFC-FC TEXAS TROUBADOR, "Tubb" LM, John Russell, Jr.

57. FC-AFC COOLWATER'S HOOKED ON SPRINGTIME, "Maya" LF, Alex Washburn

62. NAFC-FC MULLIGAN OFF THE RAINY "T", "Mully" LM, Randy Spangler

67. BEAVER RUNS COOLHAND LUKE, "Luke" LM, Bert Windham

87. AFC TRULINES BIG BAD JACK, "Jack" LM, Wayne Carey

88. FC-AFC HUNTING CREEK CLASSY GIRL JH, "Classy" LF, Johnny Armstrong

94. FC-AFC LANE'S THRILLA N MANILLA, "Frazier" LM, Michael Robicheaux

105. FC-AFC TUCKED AWAY AT RIVER'S EDGE, "Tucker" LM, Alex Abraham

108. FC-AFC PEPPERJACK'S MARSH SURFER, "Dude" LM, Kerry Lavin

110. FC-AFC HOCKLEY CREEK'S SWITCH HITTER, "Mickey" LM, Robby Bickley

116. FC-AFC BEDAZZLED II, "Be" LF, Yvonne Hays

123. FC-AFC WOOD RIVER'S MR BIG, "George" LM, Bill Fruehling   

           

SCRAPBOOK OF THE TENTH SERIES

WHILE WE ARE WAITING FOR THE FINALISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED …

10th Series is in the Books!

The 10th Series is officially complete at 2:40 pm

Handle Re-Run - 94. FC-AFC LANE'S THRILLA N MANILLA, "Frazier" LM, Michael Robicheaux

FC-AFC LANE'S THRILLA N MANILLA, "Frazier" LM

2/16/2011 (FC-AFC Lanes Lets Get Ready To Rumble ex AFC JB's Rude Attitude)
Breeders: Richard & Charlotte Kaiser
Owners: Michael & Cheryl Robicheaux, Breaux Bridge, LA
Handler: Michael Robicheaux

Frazier's road to qualifying for the 2019 National Amateur in Ronan, MT...
Amateur Wins - 1 & Points - 14; Open Win by Amateur Handler - 1 Open Points - 5
Total Wins 2019 Qualifying Year - 2 & Total Points - 19
Week Qualified 48 at South Louisiana RC

A look at Frazie's 2018 and current year points...
2018 Open: 20.5 & Amateur: 6.5;   2019 Open: 6.5 & Amateur: 9

Lifetime Open Points: 42.5
Lifetime Amateur Points: 64.5
All-Age Lifetime Points: 107 

Lifetime Derby Points: 15
 
Year(s) Entered A National Event
2018 - NRC / NARC
2016 - NARC
2015 - NRC / NARC

Fun Fact on Frazier: He completed his AFC in February of 2016 and FC in March of 2017.
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Frazier and handler Michael came to the line at 2:28 pm


Right Flyer - Smack!

Left Flyer - Came in on top of it!

Island Bird - 1 quick loop short, then jumped in the water and straight to the bird.

Long Retired -  Handled to the bird.

Handle Re-Run 116. FC-AFC BEDAZZLED II, "Be" LF, Yvonne Hays

 FC-AFC BEDAZZLED II, "Be" LF

5/5/2012 (NAFC-FC Texas Troubador ex FC Hardscrabbles Captain Morgan)
Breeder: Gregory Cross
Owners: Yvonne & Charlie Hays, Pavo, GA
Handler: Yvonne Hays


Be's road to qualifying for the 2019 National Amateur in Ronan, MT...
Amateur Wins - 1 &  Points - 6; Open Win by Amateur Handler - 1 & Open Points - 9
Total Wins 2019 Qualifying Year - 2 & Total Points 2019 - 15
Week Qualified 48 at Snowbird RC of South GA

A look at Be's 2018 and current year points...
2018 Open: 8 & Amateur: 11;   2019 Open: 1


Lifetime Open Points: 20
Lifetime Amateur Points: 32
All-Age Lifetime Points: 52 

Lifetime Derby Points: 19

Year(s) Entered A National Event
2017 - NARC

Fun Fact on Be: she is competing against his sire #54 Tubb. She completed her AFC in October 2016 and FC in May 2017.
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Be and handler Yvonne came to the line 2:15 pm

Right Flyer - Good Mark!

Left Flyer - Got right in the area and dug her bird out!

Long Retired - She hit the first piece of water and squared out to pull right, worked her way to the long retired gun, established a small hunt and came up with the bird.

Island Bird - Drove wide left, handled in the corner of the field and to her bird.

Sketch of the 10th Series

Sketch of the Tenth Series by David Morrison, Official Sketch Artist

Re-Run - 108. FC-AFC PEPPERJACK'S MARSH SURFER, "Dude" LM, Kerry Lavin

FC-AFC PEPPERJACK'S MARSH SURFER, "Dude" LM

7/14/2013 (FC-AFC Carbons Blue Pursuit ex PepperJack's Dolled Up Mya MH QAA)
Breeders: Misty Melo & Kerry Lavin
Owner: Kerry Lavin, Anderson, CA
Handler: Kerry Lavin


Dude's road to qualifying for the 2019 National Amateur in Ronan, MT...
Amateur Wins - 1 & Points - 8; Open Win by Amateur Handler - 1 & Points - 5
Total Wins 2019 Qualifying Year - 2 & Points - 13
Week Qualified 7 at Sagehen's RC

A look at Dude's 2018 and current year points...
2018 Open: 6 & Amateur: 8;   2019 Open: 10 &Amateur:5


Lifetime Open Points: 21
Lifetime Amateur Points: 13
All-Age Lifetime Points: 34

Lifetime Derby Points: 32
 
Year(s) Entered A National Event
2018 - NRC / NARC (F)


Fun Fact on Dude: He completed his FC in March 2018 and AFC in February 2019.
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Dude and Kerry came to the line
Right Flyer - Straight to his bird.

Left Flyer - Straight to the fall area, a tight hunt and he got it.

Island Bird - Good line and a great turn into the last piece of water. Perfect!

Long Retired -  Came in right past the guns to the far back, into the first tree line, back to this side of the ditch, back over, hunted and found his bird.

A Bit of History on the Tenth Series Grounds – Bear Ranch by Alice Woodyard

The Tenth Series is being held on Breck and Cindy Howard's Bear Ranch. Bear Ranch is one of very the earliest retriever properties developed in the Mission Valley. It was acquired 30 years ago, back when the Mission Valley retriever community, now totaling over 20 training properties, consisted of professional trainer Don Remien and just a few other pioneering retriever enthusiasts. Bear Ranch was acquired as three parcels, with the middle connecting section acquired 5 years ago, after which the Bear Ranch stretched for a full mile, running from section road to section road.

The original ponds built 30 years ago by the Howards were created under the sponsorship of a federal waterfowl restoration program and were put in at the suggestion of the federal program officials who spotted the habitat and bird production potential of the area. This is a nice example of habitat protection and retriever training supporting each other's goals. Since then the Howards have added several more ponds and there are now numerous ponds on the Ranch. The aerial photographs taken for this event by Elite Retrievers show only a portion of them!

 

What do you see in this photo? Look closely …

 

No-bird - 94. FC-AFC LANE'S THRILLA N MANILLA, "Frazier" LM, Michael Robicheaux

Frazier and Mike came to the line at 1:58 pm

No bird on the flyer, will go to the end

Double Handle - 123. FC-AFC WOOD RIVER'S MR BIG, "George" LM, Bill Fruehling

FC-AFC WOOD RIVER'S MR BIG, "George" LM

9/19/2011 (FC-AFC Wood River's Franchise ex FC-AFC U.S. First Lady)
Breeders: Michael & Kareen Tierney
Owners: Bill & Gay Fruehling, Ketchum, ID
Handler: Bill Fruehling

George's road to qualifying for the 2019 National Amateur in Ronan, MT...
Amateur Wins - 3 & Pts - 30.5;  Open Win by Amateur Handler - 3 & Open Points - 17.5    
Total Wins 2019 Qualifying Year - 6 & Total Points - 48
Week Qualified 37 at Wood River RC

A look at George's 2018 and current year points...

2018 Open: 14.5 & Amateur: 36;  2019 Open: 12 & Amateur: 10

Lifetime Open Points: 57.5
Lifetime Amateur Points: 92.5
All-Age Lifetime Points: 150

Lifetime Derby Points: 24

Year(s) Entered A National Event
2018 - NRC / NARC
2017 - NRC / NARC
2016 - NARC

Fun Fact on George: He was the Purina Amateur High Point dog and the Retriever News High Point Amateur dog in 2018. He also won 2 Double Headers back to back. He completed his AFC in September 2015 and FC in January 2017.
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George and Bill came to the line at 1:41 pm


Right Flyer - Hunted short and right of the mark, handled to the bird.

Left Flyer - Hunted deep and was handled back to the bird.

Island Bird -  Straight to the bird.

Long Retired -  Excellent line to his bird.

Re-Run - 88. FC-AFC HUNTING CREEK CLASSY GIRL JH, "Classy" LF, Johnny Armstrong

FC-AFC HUNTING CREEK CLASSY GIRL JH, "Classy" LF

2/12/2009 (FC-AFC Small Craft Advisory ex White Pine's Lots Of Lottie SH)
Breeder: Don Stroud
Owners: Johnny & Kathy Armstrong & Jane McCullough, Winston Salem, NC
Handler: Johnny Armstrong


Classy's road to qualifying for the 2019 National Amateur in Ronan, MT...
Amateur Wins - 1 & Points - 11.5; Open Points by Amat Handler - 1.5      
Total Wins 2019 Qualifying Year - 1 &  Total Points - 13
Week Qualified 39 at Tidewater RC

A look at Classy's 2018 and current year...
2018 Amateur: 11.5;   2019 Open: 1.5

Lifetime Open Points: 46.5
Lifetime Amateur Points: 32.5
All-Age Lifetime Points: 79

Year(s) Entered A National Event
2018 - NARC
2014 - NRC
2013 - NRC / NARC (F)

Fun Fact on Classy: She completed her FC in May 2013 and AFC in April 2015.
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Classy and Johnny came to the line at 1:26 pm


Right Flyer - Straight to the bird

Left Flyer - Through the corner of the pond, Classy arrives to the arc and just right of the holding blind. She establishes a hunt behind it and expands her hunt to get her bird.

Island Bird - Initial line is wide left, nearing the corner of the water she appears to get wind of it and is on the bird!

Long Retired -  Headed wide left, she corrected and went into the area, hunted a little right and worked her way to the bird.

 

No-Bird - 116. FC-AFC BEDAZZLED II, "Be" LF, Yvonne Hays

No Bird Moves to the end

Pick Up - 114. AFC TOPBRASS HAWKS BLACKHAWK, "Hawk" GM, Ernie Hawkins

 AFC TOPBRASS HAWKS BLACKHAWK, "Hawk" GM

2/18/2013 (FC-AFC-CFC-CAFC TNT's Explosion ex Topbrass Liberty Belle III MH)
Breeders: Jackie Mertens & Linda Johnson
Owners: Ernest & Elizabeth Hawkins, Kalamazoo, MI
Handler: Ernest Hawkins


Hawk's road to qualifying for the 2019 National Amateur in Ronan, MT...
Amateur Wins - 1 & Points - 7.5; Open Points by Amateur Handler - 1          
Total Wins 2019 Qualifying Year - 1 & Total Points - 8.5
Week Qualified 42 at North Florida ARC

A look at Hawk's 2018 and current year points...
2018 Open: 1 & Amateur: 16; 2019 Amateur: 1.5


Lifetime Open Points: 2
Lifetime Amateur Points: 18.5
All-Age Lifetime Points: 20.5

Lifetime Derby Points: 61

Year(s) Entered A National Event
2018 - NARC

Fun Fact on Hawk: He is our only Golden Retriever still competing in the 2019 NARC. He completed is AFC in October 2018. 
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Hawk and handler Ernie came to the line 12:44 pm.

Right Flyer - Excellent line and recovery

Left Flyer - Hawk went around the end of the pond and entered the area of the fall behind the blind, then quickly moves to his flyer hen.

Island Bird - He went left of the point which put his line wide left, but Hawk adjusted himself as he came to the last piece of water where he swam to his bird.

Long Retired - He went left of the hay bale that s at the base of the hill where the line is. He continues to fade left and is handled to his bird.

NOTE: We have been told that the Judges are still deliberating about this contestant.

110. FC-AFC HOCKLEY CREEK'S SWITCH HITTER, "Mickey" LM, Robby Bickley

FC-AFC HOCKLEY CREEK'S SWITCH HITTER, "Mickey" LM

8/29/2013 (NAFC-FC Texas Troubador ex FC-AFC Dance Hall Gal)
Breeders: Joe O'Brien & James Roberts
Owner: Robby Bickley, Gainsville, TX
Handler: Robby Bickley

Mickey's road to qualifying for the 2019 National Amateur in Ronan, MT...
Amateur Wins - 4 & Points - 37.5, Open Win by Amateur Handler - 2 &  Open Points - 17.5    
Total Wins 2019 Qualifying Year - 6  & Total Points - 55
Week Qualified 33 at PRTA - Eastern

A look at Mickey's 2018 and current year points...
2018 Open: 13 & Amateur: 23.5;   2019 Open: 12.5 & Amateur: 28.5


Lifetime Open Points: 47.5
Lifetime Amateur Points: 86.5

All-Age Lifetime Points: 134

Lifetime Derby Points: 24

Year(s) Entered A National Event
2018 - NRC / NARC
2017 - NRC / NARC

Fun Fact on Mickey: he is competing against his sire #54 Tubb. In 2015 he won a Double Header, and he was the High Point Purina Amateur dog in 2017. Mickey completed his AFC in April 2017 and FC in May 2017.
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 Mickey and Robby got to the line at 12:31 pm.

Right Flyer - Stepped on IT!

Left Flyer - Across the field to the drop area and Mickey got his bird.

Island Bird - Mickey got into the pond, out and across the field to enter the next bit of water that took him to the the bird. Pounded IT!

Long Retired - An amazing line that started wrong but Mickey quickly corrected. This brought him out to the area and on his bird. 

 

Test Dog Video of the Tenth Series

No Bird - 108. FC-AFC PEPPERJACK'S MARSH SURFER, "Dude" LM, Kerry Lavin

Dude and Kerry got to the line at 12:24 and received a no bird. They will go back and have a rerun.

Triple Handle - 105. FC-AFC TUCKED AWAY AT RIVER'S EDGE, "Tucker" LM, Alex Abraham

FC-AFC TUCKED AWAY AT RIVER'S EDGE, "Tucker" LM

4/7/2011 (FC-AFC Nubian V ex Twin Pine's Crank Her Up MH)
Breeders: Vikki Diehl & Elissa Kirkegard
Owner: Alex Abraham, Havre de Grace, MD
Handler: Alex Abraham


Tucker's road to qualifying for the 2019 National Amateur in Ronan, MT...
Amateur Wins - 2 & Points - 25.5,  Open Win by Amateur Handler - 1 & Open Points - 20        
Total Wins 2019 Qualifying Year - 3 & Total Points - 45.5      
Week Qualified 35 at Labrador RC

A look at Tucker's 2018 and current year points...

2018 Open: 22 & Amateur: 32.5;  2019 Open 10 & Amateur: 11.5

Lifetime Open Points: 57.5

Lifetime Amateur Points: 104
All-Age Lifetime Points:161.5

 

Lifetime Derby Points: 30

 

Year(s) Entered A National Event

2018 - NRC / NARC
2017 - NRC / NARC
2016 - NRC / NARC
2015 - NARC

Fun Fact on Tucker: He won a Double Header in 2017 & 2018. He completed is AFC in May 2015 and FC in October 2016.

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Tucker with handler Alex came to the line at 12:07 pm

Left Flyer - Positive Mark!

Right Flyer - Tucker was locked on the left flyer and didn't see this flyer. But he booked at the gunners and launched. He established a hunt short and in the swale but had to be handled to the bird.

Island Bird - This line was wide left but Tucker corrected it. He got deep of the bird and had to get handled back to it.

Long Retired - Line took him just right of the hay bales. He got over the land/water entries. Tucker began to fade right and was handled to the bird.

Tackling the Tenth by Alice Woodyard

The experience of being a finalist at a National Championship is a very special one.

Saturday morning for these special teams that have made the cut for the Tenth is nevertheless likely to start with a very mundane task: a visit to the local car wash to rid the dog truck of two week's worth of grime. With each truck now ready for the Finalists' Caravan, the 16 finalists for the 2019 National Amateur Championship gather near the grounds where the event workers organize them into an orderly procession.

The Finalists Caravan is greeted by the cheers of the workers and gallery on its arrival at the site of the Tenth Series. Everyone gathers and the National Anthem plays, after which the teams of gunners (three out of four of the stations today will be shooting flyers) take their places throughout the field.

Next it's guns up for the test dogs. In keeping with established tradition, the birds for the first test dog are decorated with streamers. And, in keeping with what is becoming yet another tradition, the second test dog runs under the watchful buzz of the overhead drone that is recording her every step for later upload to the internet!

After all the final details are checked, we are ready to watch 16 of the most talented and fortunate amateur retriever handlers in North America run the big land-water quad and wrap up a week's worth of the challenging testing that will determine the 2019 National Amateur Champion.

After each contestant completes the test to the applause of the gallery they swing by the sponsor's tent for congratulatory handshakes and hugs from the representatives of event sponsors, Purina and Avery. Then its back to that recently washed dog truck to care for their dog - and with more hugs there for this amazing retriever that has made it to the Tenth.

Finally the handler proceeds to the gallery to decompress and watch the remaining contestants tackle the test they have now completed (with of course an occasional check of the blog to see the latest announcements).

No Bird - 94. FC-AFC LANE'S THRILLA N MANILLA, "Frazier" LM, Michael Robicheaux

Frazier and Michael came to the line at 11:54 am. They completed the Right and Left Flyer station, but when Frazier got to the Island bird, the bird was not on the island. They took the dog off the line and he will have a re-run.