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Brody and John came to the line at 8:42 am
F – Out to the fall area - 2 loops and he missed it - went left and deep and then came back in for his bird.
RR – Across the field left of the bales - went deep and across the road - back to the fall area and had a loop to get his bird.
B – Lined past the tree and through the slot - loose at the end but he got it.
There will be a gun change after Dog #37 Runs
A Rebird after 39
2nd Gun Change after Dog #62 Runs
Last Gun Change of the Day after #87 Runs
(Click the dog's name above to view history and stats! - Sponsored by Retriever Results)
Randy and David came to the line at 8:36 am
F – Good Line straight to the bird
RR – Line was left of the bird, between the flyer guns and the tree left of the bird. A couple loops deep to the top of the hill and then back to the bird.
B – 2 casts to get the slot, then two quick whistles at the bird.
AFC RIDGECREST’S JUST FOR A LARK
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Whimsy and Betsy came to the line at 8:30 am
F – Line out brought her to the fall area, took a few loops slightly short of the fall, then back in for the bird.
RR – Good line left to the bales, a couple loops in the area and then a large loop deep and back in again to the bird.
B – First whistle to get through the slot then several whistles at the end around the bushes to get the bird.
Faith and Wayne came to the line at 8:28 am and had a No-Bird, they will be back after 6 dogs
(Click the dog's name above to view history and stats! - Sponsored by Retriever Results)
Lexi and Kathy came to the line at 8:21 am
F – Hunted wide right and deep and then out to the fall area and her bird.
RR – Almost to the hay bales - cut left and made a big loop - went out to the gunners blind - turned up the hill and to her bird.
B – 2 whistles before the tree - 1 whistle and just missed the slot - 4 more to the bird.
AFC CLAREMORE’S LIGHTNING FLASH
(Click the dog's name above to view history and stats! - Sponsored by Retriever Results)
Flash and David came to the line at 8:14 am
F – Out to the fall area - turned - and took a quick loop back to her bird.
RR – Wide left going out - cut right across the field - back to the gunners blind - out to the fall area and quickly got her bird.
B – Lined past the tree and through the slot - 3 whistles and quickly got the bird!
(Click the dog's name above to view history and stats! - Sponsored by Retriever Results)
Charlie and Jim came to the line at 8:xx am
F – Good line to the fall area, one loop left and back to the bird.
RR – Line was between the bales and the blind, took one loop back and then in to get his bird.
B – 2 casts left to the slot, through the slot and 2 more whistles at the end to get the bird.
(Click the dog's name above to view history and stats! - Sponsored by Retriever Results)
Tali and Barbara came to the line at 8:03 am
(Click the dog's name above to view history and stats! - Sponsored by Retriever Results)
Evie and Bente came to the line at 7:54 am
F – Came in left of the bird - a quick turn to the right and she got it!
RR – Out past the bales on the left - wide left and deep to the road - over the road and out of sight - she was handled back to the fall area and she got it.
B – 1 whistle to the tree - 1 through the slot and 3 more to the blind.
(Click the dog's name above to view history and stats! - Sponsored by Retriever Results)
Earl and John came to the line at 7:48 am
1st and 2nd Series Test Description
Welcome to the first test of the 2025 National Amateur Retriever Championship!
102 dog/handler teams will start this morning, after having traveled from all over the US to compete here in Mondovi, Wisconsin.
It is currently 55 degrees and cloudy with a slight breeze - wind coming from the East.
Good Morning Everyone and Welcome to the 2025 National Amateur Retriever Championship!
This morning we are kicking off the event at the 1st and 2nd series test location. W have heard the National Anthem, test dogs are running and then we will be ready to begin our first series to kick off this event!
This morning has started out rather dreary and cloudy with temps currently at 54 degrees. There is an expected high around 67 this afternoon. Rainy and cloudy conditions are likely to persist this afternoon with showers possible on and off. We will update you with changing conditions as the day goes on of course! For now, stay tuned as we prepare to begin the 68th National Amateur Retriever Championship!
137 Dogs Qualified for this event. 106 Dogs Entered. (4 dogs have Scratched: 85, 89, 90, 96)
102 Dogs will Start this 1st and 2nd Series.
Note: You can view all the dog profiles entered in this event, brought to you by Retriever Results!
Retriever Results Sponsored Dog Profiles:
https://retrieverresults.com/free/nationalentered
Congratulations to everyone that has qualified to be here, and Good Luck to all the teams this morning!
Friday, June 13th at 3:00 pm (CT) – Eau Claire, Wisconsin
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| Left to Right: Paul Hanson, Kyle Broussard, Jim Rickoff (standing), Joel Harris, Sonya Harrigfeld-Jackson and Mitch Brown. |
Meeting was officially called to order at 3:05 pm by Jim Rickoff.
Jim thanked everyone who has worked so hard on this National! This event brought together retriever enthusiasts, participants, and volunteers from across the country to celebrate this prestigious competition.
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| Jim Rickoff, President |
Jim then introduced our field trial Chairman Paul Hanson.
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| Paul Hanson, FT Chairman |
Paul thanked the Judges and advised the contestants that these Judges have devised 40+ tests for this national!
We then said the Pledge of Allegiance.
It was announced that this trial was in honor of Rick Van Bergen and Ron Ainley, and memorial honoree Richard Dallesassee
Kyle Broussard, our Secretary Treasurer began the roll call of 153 clubs.
We had a quorum and can proceed.
Kyle Broussard, Secretary Treasurer – doing roll call
Prayers were sent out to Andy Kahn who has taken a fall. Jim took a picture of the crowd giving Andy a thumbs up!
Jim introduced Retriever News newest full-time employee, Melinda Gustavson who was in attendance.
Jim also gave props to Sara Sommerfeld for her decades+ dedication to Retriever News.
The Officers for the 25-26 season were announced:
Four new amateur clubs were announced:
The AKC only takes points from clubs that are approved by the AKC.
We were advised that the NARC is now divided into 4 new regions. The time zones west of the Mississippi had a very small judging pool - so they were redivided to give each zone an approximately equal number.
A questionnaire was sent to each club, 107 replied:105 yes – 2 no
Bylaws were rewritten and updated today to reflect the new zones.
An example of the old system had 44 % of the total judges living in the central time zone.
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| Gwen Jones, Corporate Sponsor Liaison |
Our Sponsors were introduced by Gwen Jones:
Gwen brought our sponsors to the front to thank them!
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| Ray Voigt, Purina |
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| David Carrington, Avery |
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| Pat Burns, Garmin |
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| Kent Cartridge - Curt Showalter |
This year’s judges were asked to come to the front, they were given hand drawn prints of their personal dogs, drawn by artist Hunter Johnston.
Landwoners were next called to the front, and received jackets which reflected the years they have been donating their land to this national event.
Dr. Love is doing a study on what injuries are occurring to the dogs in our sport. She asked for people to provide their email addresses so that she could send out a survey to discover what injuries are received, what is being done, and what has been the outcome. They are trying to come together with a protocol to treat the different sport related injuries to retrievers.
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| Dr. Sarah Love |
2026 NARC Details Announced
Location: The 2026 National Amateur will be held in Junction City/Creswell, Oregon
Dates: June 13th-20th, 2026
Judges:
West Central – Don Fregelette
East Central – Phil Heye
Atlantic – Jerry Younglove
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| Sonya Harrigfeld-Jackson |
It was announced that the bitch check would be done outside the main doors after the meeting.
Purina Presentation
Next Ray Voigt presented the Purina portrait to last years’ winner by artist Holly Dunn, it was given to Mark and Sussie Menzies and their dog "Fleurt."
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| Mark and Sussie Menzies with their portrait of "Fleurt" |
1st Series Location
Chris Brandl, Chief Marshall, announced the location to be Fox Hollow for 1st and 2nd series, it will be a Double and a Blind with Pheasants.
Caravan and First Day Schedule
5:30 am the caravan will leave headquarters hotel
6:40 am we’ll sing the national anthem
6:50 am prayer,
7:10 am test dog
7:30 am first running dog
Trial Procedures
Trial instructions were given for no birds:
Test dog handlers announced:
Male Test Dog: Tom Hawley with “Morgan”
Female Test Dog: Dave Kress with “Fancy”
Starting Dog
Marni Sampair’s dog fetched our starting number bumper – the trial will start with #13. John Russell.
13, 34, 55, 76, 97
The meeting concluded at about 4 pm.2025 Retriever Advisory Committee Meeting
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| Left to Right: Larry Morgan, Monty Wulf, John Russell, Bill Goldstein and Russ Reavis |
The new rulebook was handed out with only one change noted, there now MUST be a rotation in both the Derby and Qualifying.
There was a discussion about clubs retaining entry fees. Unless the club stipulates a difference between the entry fee and the club processing fee in the premium, it must all be refunded.
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| Russ Reavis, AKC |
Statement was made that the AKC receives 3.50 per dog for each dog entered in this National.
Rotation was discussed – if you start a new test that day, you will continue the new test starting with the dog that was in the holding blind. If the test starts on a new day, you go back to the original rotation.
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| John Russell, RAC Chairman |
Vet Seminar presented by Kurt Hallgren, DVM CVSMT
1:00 pm
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| Kurt Hallgren, DVM CVSMT, Medical Director, Town and Country Veterinary Clinic, Marinette, WI |
Kurt discussed ocular Injuries in the field, GI issues like vomiting and diarrhea and a quick overview of flea, tick and heart-worm medications.
He explained that eyes are easy to injure, and most injuries involve the clear cornea.
Injuries can come from:
Typical treatment involves numbing and then flush, flush, flush!
Tips for while you are out In the field at this event:
