Its trial season.. Here we go..... Update!

[jetjockey]

Today's the day.  The American Brittany Club Chicken championship started Monday in Nebraska.  Its one of the few trials held on truely wild birds.   Its an All Age 1 hour championship and I believe there were 55-60 entrys this year. So far, of the 12 braces ran (6 per day, 24 dogs total), only 1 dog has made it through with birds cleanly (obviously its a dam hard trial).  Im hoping that changes today.  My pup runs in the afternoon ( ), but conditions don't look to bad.  I'll be happy if she has bird work and makes it through clean.  Id be really happy if they post her, but this is her first 1 hour AA championship, so Im just hoping for a decent showing.  Several of the best  AA brittanys' in the country still have to run, including a dog that will surely be in the Hall Of Fame when its all over.  Im just hoping my little girl has fun, and shows well..  Its going to be a busy week for her.  1 hr championship AA trial today, 30 minute weekend Gun Dog trial this weekend, followed by the 1 hr ABC Shooting Dog championship next week, and then another 30 minute weekend trial.  She runs 4 times in just over a week............  Im crossing my fingers!

[10Key]

Good luck and keep us posted on results

[jetjockey]

I will.  Some great dogs have already come to the line, and didn't get anything done.  The dog that made it through yesterday is a pretty darn nice dog, but my dog has beat it before.  So Im hoping she isn't totally out of her league by running with the big boys, but anything can happen on any day, and maybe my pup just got lucky before.  IMO the best brits are yet to come though, and the weather is getting a lot better.  I expect a lot more dogs to get through clean in the next 3 days.

[Happy Gilmore]

Cool. Let us know how it goes.

[jetjockey]

Well, its all over.  54 dogs came to the line over 4 1/2 days.  The weather sucked the first 3 days, and didn't get better until yesterday.  HOWEVER.. Im pretty friggen excited right now.  I got an email that said my little girl placed 3rd.  Its not official, so Im not getting too excited yet.  But if it holds true, this is her biggest placement to date.  Especially considering the weather didn't settle down until yesterday.  She ran Wednesday, and the weather was still blowing.  All the others dogs that placed ran yesterday, or today.  That makes her placement even more fullfilling to my wife and I.  I sure hope its true..  But damn, this is going to get expensive!  Im crossing my fingers the 3rd hand info is correct.. 

Its official...  She got third!  Woohoo!

[10Key]

Congrats!  I really have no understanding of the field trial circuit, but from what you are saying, it sounds impressive...Good on you and your pup!

[wildweeds]

Congrats,nice placement! I've got a litter of hopeful setters on the ground now that my next trial competitor/huntin dawg is coming from.Choosing the one is going to be pretty  dang hard,had em out yesterday and at 6 weeks all nine pointed with style.

[jetjockey]

Thanks guys.  Its been a pretty good trial season so far.  After taking 3rd at the Chicken she took 3rd in Open Gun Dog at the weekend trial.  This week she ran in the ABC Gun Dog Classic, and didn't get placed.  However, the trainer said I got screwed.  He said my dog and her brother blew everyone else out, but they didn't even use my dog.  He had her brother 1st, and my dog second.  Not too bad considering he also handled the dog that got 1st, and he said my dog beat her. Oh well, thats trialing. You win some you dont deserve to win, and you lose some even when you blow the other dogs out.  Im just happy she's having fun, and she seems to be getting pretty damn consistent.....  But she is really screwing up my hunting season.. (not that Im complaining).  The 3rd place finish at the Chicken qualified her for All Age Nationals in Boonville Arkansas starting at the end of November.  Since shes running in the ABC AA nationals, and then the AKC Gun Dog Nationals at Ames plantation in TN starting in late February, Im only going to get to hunt her for about a month this year.  But Ill tell you, its going to be one hell of fun month.