For the past three months Tanya Dygos and small but dedicated group of volunteers from the North Bay Retriever Club have been working full tilt to pull together the 2010 National Amateur Retriever Championship Stake.
For the past three months Tanya Dygos and small but dedicated group of volunteers from the North Bay Retriever Club have been working full tilt to pull together the 2010 National Amateur Retriever Championship Stake.
“We have about eight core club members that do a lot of the work a lot of the organising, I’m on the back end of it I do the emails, a lot of the phone calling,” says a modest Dygos who takes a break from cooking to talk with BayToday.
“Everybody (club members) who is here today (helping) are club members, friends, family, neighbours everybody just pitches in and does their own thing.”
“We have club members who are working their behinds off running around, getting things organised, making sure that Purina tents are up because that is important.”
Dygos says the work never ends from cooking, to putting up signs to making sure the dogs and handlers are doing what they came here to do, but at the same time it is a huge honour to host the event.
“Yes it’s a lot of work but it’s a huge reward in the end and it’s a lot of memories for everybody.”
The championship, a five day skill driven event sanctioned by the Canadian Kennel Club and sponsored by Purina, is comprised of ten tests - five on land and five on water, which tests the retrieving skills of the breed.
The dogs are tested on ‘marked retrieves’ where the dog can see the birds fall and on ‘blind retrieves’ where the birds are hidden.
“It (National Amateur Retriever Championship) travels all across Canada, it goes in different zones from the east to the west to the south and every year it goes to one of the zones this is the amateur and only amateur run and there is a national open that the pros and anyone can run,” explains local competitor Jim Andrew.
“Right now they are throwing marks … it’s a triple they throw three marks and the dog has to remember where they all are and we can help them by pointing them in the right direction but their memory is the main thing here and their marking ability to go out and remember where the birds are mark them and pick them up.”
“The retrievers here now are probably the best of the best in the amateur leagues,” He adds.
The North Bay club applied to host the event last July and Andrew says this is the first time North Bay has run a national amateur event.
“We’ve run the national open, but this is our first shot at the national amateur.”
The competition is open to all Amateur Retriever runners and the North Bay club’s event has proven to be popular among enthusiasts.
“This is actually the biggest national amateur ever run as far as dogs go … we had 75 dogs entered,” he notes.
“You have to qualify to get here though, and we have people from Montana, BC, Prince Edward Island, and everywhere in between … Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Vermont.”
When asked what he gets from participating in the event, Andrew says not much aside from bragging rights and a sense of accomplishment.
“Nothing … just the fun of doing it,” he says with a huge smile.
As for picking a dog with promise Andrew says it all comes down to luck.
“You start with a puppy and if they don’t work out we usually give them away as pets. Not every dog can do it and there are not many great ones, there are many good ones, but not many great ones.”
“It’s hard to tell sometimes you think you’ve got a good one and that weekend they just fall apart … it’s hard to tell.”
Dygos says the event is open to the public and there is no admission charge but folks need to bring their own chair for the viewing gallery.
“No admission, no nothing, just come on out have a look and enjoy yourself.”
“It’s pretty exciting for other people to come and look, especially it is exciting for us to have local people come in because that’s when you get your new club members.”
“They say this is a dying sport because a lot of people are older in the sport, but it is nice to see younger people get involved.”
Dygos says the event is held in different locations between Astorville and Nipissing Village throughout the five days and points out that there are a few rules for everyone while on the competition grounds.
“There is no white (clothing) allowed, quiet in the gallery, there is a roped of area for spectators as you are only allowed in certain spots for the safety of the people and for the handlers so the dogs don’t get confused.”
“It’s general knowledge that you don’t go up to a dog without asking but most handlers will allow you to pet the dogs. But other than that we’d love to have people come out and join us.”
The competition continues for the rest of the week call 498-4569 to get the current day's competition location.
TIPS FOR THE GALLERY 1. Never attempt to approach or pet anyone else's dogs.
2. Please stay in the area designated by officials.
3. While dogs are being tested, refrain from loud talking or other
noises and unnecessary, quick motions. These distractions may seriously interfere with a dog's work.
4. Withhold applause until the dog has completed the series and is leaving the line.
5. White coats, shirts, sweaters, hats, etc., WILL NOT be permitted in the gallery.
6. Respect the environment and the landowners; keep the grounds litter-free. Fully extinguish all smoking material and matches.
7. Non-competing dogs are not allowed on the grounds.
