My First Field Champion

[doco]

I had two great weekends starting Labor Day 2010 at Hudson Valley Brit's Fall Trial at Lost Pond Field Trial Grounds in Oxford, NY. Abbey took 2nd out of 22 on Sat. with three solid finds both in the grouse woods and then finished strong and forward on the meadows in Am. Walking Gun Dog Stake. Then on Sunday, she placed 1st out of 38 in Open Gun Dog with a great race and big edges with some awesome moves. Three weeks later, I finished her at Flaherty in Connecticut at Hudson Valley GSP's Trial with a 1st out of 20 in a Open Gun Dog Retrieving Stake for a 4 point major. For Abbey is was Three BIg wins around her third birthday 9/15/10. Her littermate, Heidi also placed at Flaherty with a 2nd in Am. Gun Dog (Ret), she'll be next.

Many thanks are owed to my training mentor and buddy, Styles Bridges of Canton, NY who hasn't campaigned dogs in many years. Once a feared owner and amateur trialer of Lightning Flash English Setter fame, all American Field bred, he has since changed his mind about stubby tailed dogs and has mentored me over the last three years. He saw their potential at three months old and started me on this obsessive ride. It was a learning curve for both of us. Myself, being as green as they come to training an trialing, and he, never having to explain to someone how to do what he just did instinctively. Many afternoons of roading dogs with beers and two men with passion for great dogs.

Many Kudo's to all of the judges overt the last 2 years that have helped me along the way with words of encouragement, correction, and most importantly the placements. At each trial I usually am alone, and therefore I had a learning curve as a handler when many times I was the weak link in our team. So many thanks to the folks I have met along the way for their mentoring and corrective actions that have never fallen on deaf ears. I ask cause I want and need to know. Without failure, there is no improvement.

So, 2 1/2 years of driving 40 miles each way to train 2 -3x/wk, living on the Canadian Border of NY and driving 5 1/2 hours to the closest trial, sleeping in a snowmobile trailer instead of hotels, riding wranger's horses for 2 1/2 years with a puckering behind, $11k for a Polaris Ranger just to road dogs, a broken left Humerus from rolling a saddle three times in one weekend, and finally purchasing a horse and finishing my first FC on the same weekend.......Priceless.

Abbey just came into heat and I will be breeding her this time. Working on finding a complimentary Stud for her and will post that info as well once she is bred.

[doco]

This was my first shot at submitting a post. I don't know why my signature did not come up so I am trying again to sign off with their pedigrees.

[kbshorthairs]

CONGRATS!!!! That is fantastic and your girl really is bred nicely! Good luck on your upcoming breeding and litter!

[The Zephyr]

Bill,

Congratulations on a job well done!!!!

John L.

[Fieldmaster]

Very nice congrats on all your success. Nicely bred dogs as well.

Robert

[Karen]

Congratulations Bill! Your smile says it all!

Have appt. with knee guy on Monday...will ask him his opinion on humerus rod removal as you suggested.

[AHGSP]

CONGRATS!

[Crystal kennels]

Congrats and a real nice looking dog as well!


Judy

[snips]

Nice looking dog and pedigree..Congrats!

[Greg Jennings]

Huge congrats! Nice looking dogs.

[bhulisa]

Awesome!!! And what a great post....anyone contemplating field trialling, and a lot of people who do currently field trial or compete with dogs in any venue, could take something from it. In addition to good dogs, it takes a lot of work, learning, humility, other people's help, and perseverance to acheive success. So Well Done!

And yes, the smile on your face says it all....

Trudi

[ACooper]

Well congrats! Helluva first post!

[GrayDawg]

Bill,
I'd just like to congratulate you again on Abbey's FC......... great job!
Your post really is a testimony to perseverence & gratitude to those who helped
you along the way.

Enjoy the rest of your fall & good luck with the breeding!

Rob

[Kiki's Mom]

WOO HOO!!!! CONGRATULATIONS Abbey is a very nice girl and it was awesome to have met you at HV well done, Bill, well done!

[doco]

Thanks all. Heading to Philadelphia Pa. tonight to have her Inseminated tommorrow morning at 9AM. Can't leave until 7PM, typical, just another 8 hour drive through the middle of the night then back. "bleep" dogs! What we don't do....