Public Announcement – Closing Ceremony

The Master Amateur Closing Ceremony will begin at 6 pm
or whenever the members of the last Flight gets in.
The Bar opens at 5 pm. Mark Atwater of UpClose photo
will be available to take portrait shots of your dog also at 5 pm.

The location of the Closing Ceremony will be:

Tired Creek Golf Course

(the same place as the Workers' Party)

   1701 W Hwy 84

      Cairo, GA 39827 

July 2017 Commemorative magazine Issue

Retriever News would like to offer a single copy of the July 2017 Commemorative MAI issue for only $10, when you order before May 31, 2017! (OR get a full year subscription at a 20% discount when you mention you heard about this on the RN Blog!)

ORDER NOW (click here)

The July Commemorative issue will feature coverage from the 2017 Inaugural Master Amateur Invitational Event, photos, Qualifers listed and more! Click here, or contact our office to snag your copy! 262-278-4201 or email: info@theretrievernews.com

Landowner Ken Neil explains the name "Whoa Nellie Farm"

Tina said, “Why do you call this the ‘Whoa Nellie Farm’ ?”

"We bought our first field trial dog in 1999. We named her ‘Good Idea’s Whoa Nellie’, call name ‘Nellie’. This wonderful 49 day old puppy became NAFC-FC-AFC Good Idea’s Whoa Nellie. She started it all for us in this sport. It is in her honor that we named our training grounds and winter home Whoa Nellie Farm. We miss her every day and know she would have loved to have tried to do the tests that you're all running here this week. ’Nellie’ says good luck to all, be safe and have fun! ;-)”

Ken and Brenda Neil

Tuesday Night Workers' Party

***Reminder***

Tonight is the Workers Party!

When: Tuesday, April 25

Time: 5:30 pm (originally posted at 6:30 pm)

Where: Tired Creek Golf Club

      1701 W Hwy 84,

      Cairo, GA 39827 

See you there!

Info About Using this Blog – And Finding Past Posts

Quick Info About Using This Blog

Using the Top Tabs…

This part of the blog is pretty simple. The tabs on top make finding certain information on the blog really easy for you! It works just like a regular website!

Here are the top tabs highlighted in "web view" or from a laptop or desktop computer:

Here is what the top tabs look like on a device or phone:

On your phone you click the arrow as shown above, and all of the available tabs will appear for you to choose from. On a desktop computer or web view, you just click on any tab, such as the Order of the Draw, to see the information on that page. In the case of "The Order of the Draw" you will see … The Order of the Draw!!

Or click "1st Series" to see the Test 1 info, "2nd Series" to see Test 2 info, and so on. There are also tabs for "The Finalists," "Our Sponsors" and "Blog Instructions". When you click on each of these tabs it will open up that page of info on the blog, when you are done viewing it that tab, simply click on the "Home" tab to get back into the regular blog action!

Using Labels …

A new feature we have incorporated into the blog this year is the use of "Labels." Which basically categorizes our posts for you, if you know how to use them, it makes finding groups of posts super easy! In order to use this handy feature however, you must be using your "web browser view" (web view) on your computer or tablet or phone. (on your computer or laptop, it should be automatic and you don’t have to worry about this step) It will NOT work if you are using the “app view” from your smartphone or device. So if you are on a phone, or device, please scroll to the bottom and click “view web version” to use this feature. (see figure below)

So Now that you are looking at the web version of the blog, you can start using the Labels to see groups of relevant posts. For instance, if you want to see how Dog #17 has been doing throughout the event, you can click on the "Labels: 17" under one of the posts for that dog and it will bring up all posts which were labeled with 17. You will see each post Dog #17 was in from the beginning of the event,  to the most recent post! It’s pretty cool! (see example below)

Another easy way to go and look at the labels (on web view) is to scroll down and look at the right side of the blog, there is a long list of all the labels that have been used in the blog, and it makes finding the labels easy for you. You simply click on the label you want and it will take you to all of those corresponding posts! (see below) (NOTE: Label 1 is for Dog #1, 2 is for Dog #2 and so on)

There are labels for each dog #, and there are also labels under the posts for things such as: "info", which is all the informational posts, "test", which will bring up all informational posts directly related to each of the tests,  "photos" or "videos" which will bring up all posts with a photo or video in them if you want to review them all … etc.
Enjoy the use of this new feature!


Finding Old Posts from previous days …

This one can be a little more tricky! In order to find a seemingly "lost" post on the Retriever News Blog from days that have already past …
Here are some easy to follow instructions …

For Smartphones and Devices ...
On a mobile phone, you can just keep scrolling down and looking through the posts, and click the arrow at the bottom to continue on, as shown here … *ALSO you can click "View web version" to be able to click on the archived dates as shown below for "Desktop and Laptop Computers"

For Desktop and Laptop Computers ...
First you scroll down and on the Left-hand side, under "Blog Archive" … you click on the drop down arrow for the Archived Day you are looking for and a list of Post Titles will show up for you to choose from.

Once you have selected a day, you can look through that days post titles. And if you get to the bottom of the list for that day and you still haven't seen the post you are looking for yet … you click on the last post on the bottom of that day. After that post opens, you go to the bottom of it and click on the ">Older" link below it. This will keep bringing you back one post at a time.

TIP: There can be A LOT of posts in each day, (125-200) and the column running down the left side will only show the titles of the last 100 posts of each day. So, it might be easier for you to use the “Labels” feature to find a post you are seeking, rather than clicking through each post one at a time…

The labels are categorized on the right side of the blog. So if you kind of know what you are looking for, for example, how Dog #25 did throughout the event, that’s the way to go! Just go to the labels and click (•25) and you will go directly to all of Dog #25’s posts in the event.

Time to Go Shopping …

Why not take a trip out to Whoa Nellie Farm – the location for the Flight B tests – and do a little shopping? There is commemorative Master Amateur merchandise galore, as well as other neat dog-related items. You can check out the Flight B tests at the same time!

Both vendors are open each day until further notice!!

Get your commemorative MAI from Brenda Neil at Lucky Lab Pins –
she and her husband Ken Neil are landowners for this event

The "World Headquarters" of Lucky Lab Pins

Melissa Lutz has gear on site and can special order Master Amateur Merchandise during the event – Please visit her soon!

Both vendors are open each day until further notice!!

Day Two Conditions Report

Rain, rain, go away. Well, thank goodness it did. Around 5:30 pm Monday, a very heavy rainstorm came through. It was not windy or violent, but it sure did cool things down nicely. According to the official Retriever News rain gauge (YES – we have one! Doesn't everybody?) we got just over one inch of rain. That should help fill those ponds! Today should be our one cool day and the dogs (and their handlers) will enjoy temps in the low seventies. BUT right now the  humidity is 100% – very close, so stay COOL and check back with us later for details about the second day of the Inaugural Master Amateur Invitational.

MARC General Meeting

Dorothy Ruehman sang the National Anthem accompanied by a gorgeous black lab named Kate's Crown Jewel MH MNR THD. Since she was 16 weeks old, "Ruby" has worked at the Texas Medical Center in Occupational, Critical Care ICU and Psychiatric Departments. What a Good Girl!

Dorothy Ruehman accompanied by "Ruby" sings the National Anthem

Bob Swift, President of the MARC, introduced the Vice-Presidents and Directors for each of the regions:

Bob Montler – Vice President East Region
Frank Prendergast – Director East Region   
Dave Kress – Secretary / Treasurer
John Blackbird – Vice President Central Region
Ed Sullivan – Director Central Region   
Paul McGinnis – Vice President West Central Region
Dave Christianson – Director West Central Region   
Steve Elliott – Vice President West Region
Laura Judd – Director West Region

Bob Swift – President

He proceeded to thank the folks who were instrumental in putting the Training Grounds Book together. Frankie Prendergast for obtaining all the Training Grounds, Larry Blasbalg for selling all the advertising and Tina Styan of Retriever News for putting the book together for the MARC. He gave Tina an 2017 MAI Inaugural Training Guide signed by all the Board members in appreciation for her efforts.

Dave Kress submitted the financials of the club and explained the membership. He noted that this time last year there were just 13 members and what a long way the club has come.

Dave Kress – MARC Secretary/Tresurer

Bob Swift introduced Betsy Pohl, the Corporate Sponsor Liaison. She thanked Purina and Avery Sporting Dog and asked that Dean Reinke and David Carrington stand. In fact, it was the entire audience there who then stood and gave them both a standing ovation.

Betsy Pohl, Corporate Sponsor Liaison

She continued on showing the MARC's appreciation by calling out Missy Lemoi who represents Garmin as well as Dogtra and WetMutt.

Ed Sullivan was introduced and announced that hte dates for next year's Master Amateur Invitational would be May 20-26,  2018 at Bob Hayden's Wood Dale Farm in Sedalia, Missouri. He was looking forward to seeing you all there and stated that this year's event would be a "… hard act to follow."

Ed Sullivan

Doug Ljungren, the AKC VP of Sports & Events, introduced his colleagues, Caroline Murphy, Office Director of Performance Events and Jerry Mann, Field Director. He stated that few moments in time   structure our sport and set our traditions, but that this was one of those moments. The vision that is the Master Amateur Retriever Club will go on forever.

Doug Ljungren, AKC VP of Sporting Events

Next, Jace Tramontin was presented with a recognition gift by Bob Swift for being so influential in getting this club started and developed. John Stracka, a wintertime resident of south Georgia and President and Editor-in-Chief of Retriever News was given the President's Initiative Award for all his assistance with developing the club's tracking methods, website development, communication program and most recently, the Training Guide produced at Retriever News. This award was accepted on his behalf by Managing Editor and Vice-President, Tina Styan.

Bob Swift thanked the landowners and presented all three with gifts of the beautiful lead crystal plates created by Brenda Neil of Lucky Lab pins.
John and Mary Stracka – Tired Bottom Farm
Ken and Brenda Neil – Whoa Nellie Farm
Glen and Laurie Williams – Dog Pond Kennels

Bob Swift presented John Blackbird, Frankie Prendergast and Ed Sullivan with colorful sombreros and hot chili pepper boleros and deemed them "The Order of the Sombreros." With that, the meeting adjourned and the Handler's Banquet began.

Frankie, John and Ed show off their new sombreros (Photo by Mia DiBenedetto)

MAI Handler's Meeting

The first running Dog is Dog #28 for each flight!

The meeting was called to order by John Blackbird who is the Co-Chair and Head Marshal presiding during the mandatory Handler's Meeting this afternoon. 

The first order of business was the draw for the dog to run first, the lucky number is #28. Congratulations go to:

Flight A: Gloria Nusbickel and Dogleg's Snake Eyes Pair-A-Dice MH MNH, 

Flight B: Charles Pugh and Lil Miss Crazy Kate MH QAA, 

Flight C: Ellison Armfield and CH Duckback Armbrook's Indigo MH CD.

Charles, Ellison and Gloria – The Three Musketeers

Ellison Armfield displays the gun she will use to run with her dog,
CH Duckback Armbrook's Indigo MH CD

These handlers were presented a beautiful handmade "handlers gun." These handler guns were made by Master Amateur member Roy Fray from Corte Mardera, CA. 

The rotation was announced: 28, 36, 44, 2, 10 and 18

John said a special thank you to Ed Sullivan and Frank Prendergast for all of their help over the past several months in preparation for this event. 

Test locations were announced: Flight A will be at Tired Bottom Farm, land owners are John and Mary Stracka; Flight B will be at Whoa Nellie Farm, land owners are Ken and Brenda Neil; Flight C will be at Dog Pond Kennels, land owners are Glen and Laurie Williams. 

Safety note ** Traveling to Dog Pond Kennels can be tricky, proceed with great caution when driving to this property. 

Rip Shively was chosen to speak on behalf of all of the judges. It was announced that the judges would still take questions at each test site. He cautioned the handlers of the following item points:

• The handlers gun must be shouldered and no barrels shall pass in front of the dog at any time.
• During the honor, handlers may stand or kneel, but may not hoover over the dog.
• Handlers need to wear dark or appropriate clothing and may use their hat when handling.
• During walk-ups, you must continue to make progress towards the bird.
• If you start to handle on a mark, handle all the way to the bird.
• Judges will not take the handler gun from the handler – gun stands are provided and handlers shall place the gun in the stand.

• If you get a "no bird," go back 3 dogs; if you get a second "no bird," go back 6 dogs; if you get a third "no bird" go to the end.

Judge Rip Shively gives the handler instructions

John announced that each series will begin with the run of two Test Dogs – these same two dogs will also serve as bye dogs. 

All dogs will run in order – NO EXCEPTIONS. 

All callbacks will take place at the location of the series that has just finished prior to any callbacks being posted on any type of social media. 

All Handlers are required to work multiple shifts, there was no one hired to work this event. This event is an all-volunteer event!! Shifts will be from 7:30 am to 11:30 am, second shift will run from 11:30 to the end of the day including tear down and set up for the next series.

Chairman John Blackbird

Stake Chairs Laura Judd (A), Dave Christianson (B), Frankie Prendergast (C) and John Blackbird

 Bitch check will take place each morning at 7:30 am. All females must be checked each morning. 

All questions from the handler to the judges during the course of the entire event must go through the line Marshal. Each handler does have the right to ask questions of the judges, but the questions must go through the line judge. 

This concluded the information passed to the handlers.

The handlers sign up to work at their stake.

2017 MAI - Frankie Prendergast and his Assistant Choose the First Running Dog

Number 28!!

Thank You to the MARC Associate Charter Members & Club Charter Members!

The banners shown below represent all the MARC Associate Charter Members and Club Charter Members