Hunt Test –2006

The Cocker Spaniel Specialty Club Of Georgia, Inc.

CSSCG 2006 Hunt Test Report

From Richard Beaton

Hunt Test Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Everyone,

 

Every test has its challenges and we started out with one first thing on Saturday. We were commended by the AKC Field Rep on how well the test was run to how well we handled the situation of the deer hunters and starting late. He said it is one of the better run tests because of the volunteers and its leadership.

 

I would like to commend all those who helped in many different ways to makes us look so good, we could not have done it with out you.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

I also wanted to thank the person responsible for the great weather, I don't remember who I put in charge of that, but they exceeded the expectations. Those who came with no entries, but to simply watch, learn and volunteer, you were wonderful and we, as the Cocker Spaniel Specialty Club of Georgia, can't thank you enough.

 

For those who entered, we thank you for making the journey and hope you have something to enter next year. This was our largest entry ever and we loved making new friends and the social gathering's each night got us even closer.  It is fun to cheer the dogs on in the field and water, but it is even better when you are cheering on your friends and after this weekend I/ we consider "you all" friends.

 

I want to commend Susan Willingham for allowing her 11-year-old son, George, to move forward with her Welsh Springer Spaniel, Mazie. We all know how hard it is to let go of a good working dog and Susan recognized two things:

1. That George did a great job working with Mazie in the field.

That in order to move the hunt test program to the next generation, you have to get the next generation involved.

On Saturday George and Mazie received a qualifying score and only needed to qualify on Sunday to complete Mazie's Senior Hunter title, but sadly on Sunday Mazie’s zeal for the retrieve caused her to break before being sent, which caused her not to qualify. Watching George working together with Mazie should inspire us to help find and help the youth of America to work with their dogs in the AKC Hunt Test Program.

 

And finally I would like to thank the judges for their co-operations with our field committee on assisting us with adjusting to whatever situation that may have popped up, from a delayed start to a frosty field that created a lot of trapped birds, to making the test fair for every dog that ran the test. Those that were unfortunately unable to achieve an Orange Qualifying Rosette, new it was not because of the judging but a training issue. As the judges said in their final review, there were a lot of great dogs out there and if they missed it, it was not by much unless it had something to do with getting in the water.

 

 

Thank you again,

Richard