Club Report Summer 2002
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We had the largest trial in the history of The Thunder Bay Schtuzhund Club on May 11 2002 with Canadian Judge Jan Hrouda. There were seven entries from our own club and two from Winnipeg Working Dog Club, Jim Chrisp and Mike Bauer who drove through a snow storm to support us. Thanks guys. It was a long day but very successful overall.
Congratulations to Trish and “Cassie” on their BH, Lol and “Gorby” on achieving their SchH1 as well as Mike Bauer and “Axt “ who also took High Obedience, tied with Lol and “Gorby “ for High Protection and took High SchH1. Not bad for a guy who appears to have been taking lessons from Bob on how to throw points away on the tracking field. Mike put an article on the first leg of the track and of course promptly forgot that he did it. Even though Axt downed on the article and poked his nose at it, Mike was sure it was a false indication and restarted his dog at the end of the 30 foot tracking line. Off Axt went (good dog!) while Mike heard the Judge comment from behind, “Ah, Mike, wasn’t that your article?” Doh!
Congratulations to John Carvalho and “Buddy” and Jacki Barnes and “Aro” on their SchH2’s. Aro, being the creative dog that he is, entertained the spectators and surprised John after the out by going behind John, sticking his head between John’s legs, staring up at him and doing a hold and bark. The look on John’s face was priceless. I, on the other hand failed to see the humour in all this.
Congratulations also to Bob and “Rockie” who earned their SchH3 and High in Trial. Rockie beat Bob to the punch this time and decided just to get it over with and poison herself. She broke into Mike Bauer’s dog food container and consumed about eight cups of food all at once. Needless to say she didn’t get fed for a day or so. Come to think of it, she still hasn’t gotten her waistline back.
We lucked out with the weather although the wind caused a bit of a problem during the gunfire. Trish, our trial secretary, was standing behind Jan when she was given the signal to fire. A gust of wind came up at that very moment and she shot Jan in the back of the neck with a hot paper wad and gunpowder. The “Gun Powder Shuffle” was born with Jan’s arms flapping and coat tales flying. We think Trish apologized but we’re not sure because she was laughing so hard.
Who says trials aren’t any fun?
We mustn’t forget to thank John Carvalho who did the helper work for all but one dog, his own, and Bob McGonigal, who did the helper work for John’s dog. Great job guys. John is now thinking about trying out for helper at the Nationals. Good luck John.
Special thanks to Jan Hrouda for his fair judging on Saturday and his help and advice on Sunday. It’s always a pleasure having you judge at our club and we really appreciate your sense of humour. Right Trish?
Lol and Jacki will now travel to Orangeville to compete in the Regionals while Bob will go to Edmonton to trial at the Regionals there.
Good luck to all those participating at Regionals and maybe we’ll see you at the Nationals.
On top of all this, we have new German shepherd puppies being worked. Claire Allison has “Cabre”, Bob has “Corey”, new members Marilyn and Terry Mahoney have “Tazz”, Maureen Koropeski is working “Shadow” and Wayne Hill with “Jessie”.
It’s going to be a very exciting year!
Jacki Barnes