Checking out Thomasville

You can take a walking tour of the city…

The Pink Valise is a nifty boutique that carries upscale clothing …

The Grizzly bear at Kevin's greets customers …

Darling bronze statues like this one line the sidewalks

This is Thomasville's smallest (perhaps narrowest …) building.
Just 8 feet wide by 100 feet deep, this building "fills" what used to be an alley!

The Farmer's Daughter is a hip and trendy wine bar.

Show your MAI Invitational PRIDE!!

Party Set-Up Crew

A group of people have been working hard at the Grady County Cultural Center in Cairo, Ga preparing for the meetings and party to be held there. It takes a small army of volunteers for every task associated with this event and this group was no exception…

This is what 159 bags of Purina Pro Plan looks like!

The Handler bags are filled and "Ready to Go!"

Even the Hostess/Set-up Crew needs reinforcement!!

Gifts for the contestants courtesy of Avery Sporting Dog

Gloria Nusbickel, Hostess Chair and Betsy Pohl, Corporate Sponsor Liaison

2017 MAI Schedule of Events

Seen Around Town …

The Judges enjoy a delicious meal at the Cairo City Grill …

Thank You to Our Sponsors for their Generous Support!

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors!

Corporate Sponsor Liaison Betsy Pohl and Sec'y/Treasurer Dave Kress display Purina's banner

Unloading three pallets of Avery Sporting Dog products – WOW!

Thank goodness we had heavy equipment to move the pallets!

Corporate Sponsor Liaison Betsy Pohl and Sec'y/Treasurer Dave Kress display Avery Sporting Dog's banner

Thanks to Betsy Pohl and Bob Swift for the pictures.

Are You A Camera Bug?

Please send pictures with identification of the "who/what/where" about the pictures, so we can share them on the blog with folks across the country. Be a part of this historic inaugural Master Amateur Invitational event and support the Blog with snaps of your friends and/or training group.

Email to: tstyan@theretrievernews.com
Text to: 414-405-7833

Training Bird Disposal Procedure

Please dispose of your training birds in the bins that are provided at three separate locations across the area for your convenience. Please put no more than 10 birds to a bag so they are not too heavy  – THANK YOU!

LOCATION #1:

276 Open Pond Rd, Cairo, GA

Dump birds over fence into front end loader 

LOCATION #2: 

TG Property #7 – "Wagging Tail Farm"

2484 US HWY 84, Dixie, GA

2 barrels inside fence

LOCATION #3:

TG Property #4 – "Southcape"

1411 Baden Rd, Quitman, GA

This cute little puppy says "Please dispose of your training birds responsibly in the bins provided!"

Welcome to Cairo, GA!

The Master Amateur Retriever Club is being welcomed in fine fashion!

Although Cairo is nicknamed the "Syrup City", it has no relationship with the Karo brand of corn syrup, which is pronounced like the city's name. Rather, Cairo earned its nickname by producing cane syrup from the early 1900s through the late 1990s.

Cairo, the county seat for Grady County, incorporated on October 28, 1870. Local stories propose that the city takes its name either from the city in Egypt or from the town of Cairo, Illinois. The city's name, however, is pronounced "Cayroe". The population is 9,607.

Cairo is the birthplace of famous baseball player Jackie Robinson. The first African-American baseball player in the major leagues, Robinson earned recognition as the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1949.
The city hosts the Great Southern Antique Car Rally every May, an event which features 100 of the world's most expensive antique cars. The Cairo Antique Auto Museum also features antique cars from every decade of the 1900s, along with Matchbox cars, antique bicycles and other collectibles.

Tuesday Judges and Hunt Test Committee Meeting

The six Judges for all three flights along with the Hunt Test Committee met first thing Tuesday morning in the Best Western Headquarters in Cairo, GA. They discussed the combination of tests that they needed to devise that would be the most efficient design for conducting a successful Invitational within the time allowed. They are hoping for a 5-star quality event that showcases the dogs to their utmost ability. The handlers will be given more details about what the tests will be comprised of at the General Meeting later this week.

Co-Chairman John Blackbird

Co-Chairman Bob Montler, Judge Tom Lehr and MARC President Bob Swift

MARC Sec'y/Treasurer Dave Kress

Ed Sullivan holds the honorary HT Committee puppy

Working THE DRAW …

Thanks to Rob Ehlers and Bob Swift for these photos …

Ed Sullivan & Frankie Prendergast work the Training Properties DRAW

These signs mark the pre-National Training Properties …

Frank Prendergast and Ed Sullivan working the draw for training properties

Frankie P and Paul McInnis

Pre-National Training Day #1

Thanks to Larry Blasbalg for these photos …

SPECTACULAR WATER! at Judy Rasmuson's "Red Dog" —  "…just a double double, poison bird down the shore bird!"

Jane Sullivan

Ellison Armfield

Rob Ehlers chillin' in the shade … the Training Group Captain!

Denis & Jace Tramontin and Frankie Prendergast

MARC Training Birds

Please read carefully below for instructions on picking up your training birds:

Training Grounds Draw

 

All Draws are at the HQ – Best Western, Cairo, GA, 2800 US Hwy 84, Cairo, GA 39828

First Training Property Draw:

Sunday, April 16, 5:00 pm   

For Monday ONLY       
Second Training Property Draw:    

Monday, April 17, 5:00 pm

For Tuesday & Wednesday               

Third Training Property Draw:

Wednesday, April 19, 5:00 pm

For Thursday & Friday

(No Draw for Saturday)

All Roads Lead to Cairo, Georgia!

The contestants for the 2017 Master Amateur Invitational have begun to arrive in the Cairo/Thomasville, Georgia area from all points across the country. They are being welcomed by brilliant sunshine and temperatures ranging from 60 degrees in the morning and increasing to the mid 80's by the afternoon. There is a light wind and lower humidity … a great day for pre-National dog training! Please send your pre-National training group pictures to Tina Styan @ tstyan@theretrievernews.com so we can put them on the blog and make you FAMOUS!

The Invitational is Here!

The event begins this coming Sunday, April 23!  Contestants are already arriving and training ... getting ready for the big event! We can officially say "The Inaugural Master Amateur Invitational is HERE!"  Welcome to Cairo, GA everyone!

Merchandise Sale!

Make sure to check out the 2017 MAI 

commemorative merchandise on sale NOW 

available through Duck Dog Clothing and Brenda Neil’s Lucky Lab Pins!

Get Yours  Today!

Duckdogclothing.com

($10 off your order of $75 or more - see details)

&

MasterAmateurGifts.com