Rockerin Retriever Training Complex

The Tulsa Retriever Club held their fall trial at the beautiful Rockerin Retriever Training Complex in Stillwater, OK, under cold, gray skies the weekend of Oct. 23-25. Grounds were immaculately groomed giving the selected judges many nice fields in which to set up their tests.

The Limited All-Age judges, Moe Schubble and Gary Davidson, chose a very large field to set up a challenging triple. The long gunners sat to the right of the line at approximately 375 yards and threw their bird into a nice piece of cover before retiring. A shorter gun sat across a small pond at 200 yards throwing a bird which landed at the edge of the pond. This gunner retired into a layout blind providing problems for many dogs. The flyer guns were then placed far to the left and shot a nice duck flyer into a large area which provided some big hunts. Dogs which successfully completed this series were: 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15, 18, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 37, 42, 45, 48, 54-61, 64, 65, 68, 70.

Open 1st Series - Flyer guns

Open 1st – retired guns

Owner / Handler Amateur judges, Greg Seddon and Chip Miles, also chose a nice large field with large patches of cover and terrain for dogs to negotiate. A gunner set to the right at approximately 325 yards throws first and retires. A second gun set in the middle of the field around 290 yards and nearer the flyer guns throws second and retires. Flyer guns were set closer in at 155 yards and shot a nice bird which usually landed behind a nice patch of cover.  Amateur dogs surviving this nice marking test were: 1, 3, 8-10, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 24-26, 28, 29, 24-36, 38-41, 44-52.

Amateur 1st series

Derby judges, Jack King and Art Geddes, chose a property about 15 minutes away from the main property which was also very nice with much cover for dogs to negotiate. Excellent water was also available for the judges to test these young dogs. Mark Edwards took 1st and 2nd places with Lainee and David Munhollon’s young male dog, Gotta Heart of a Warrior, taking top honors and Brandon and Shelly Wall’s young female, Alabama Slamajama, taking second. Rob Erhardt came in third with David Aul’s Magic Trick’s Otis and Dan Hurst’s Robber’s Stray Bullet coming in 4th.

Open Land Blind

With 30 dogs back Open judges set up a land blind which was over 300 yards and past a small pond. Even the most seasoned pros were challenged with the blind and only 18 dogs survived. Dogs called back to the water blind were: 5, 12, 15, 18, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 37, 42, 48, 54, 57, 59, 60, 65.

Qualifying 1st Series

Qualifying judges, Jack King and Art Geddes, completed their derby and then set up a Qualifying test with what looked to be a nice double with a land blind, however, many dogs never made it to the land blind. The long bird seemed impossible to get to, and many suspected it was due to the fact that it was through the area where the handlers parked for one of the derby series the previous day. Out of 31 Qualifying dogs, Paul Rainbolt took 1st with his dog Riverdance Iron Horse Allie. Second place went to Chris Wilson’s dog Ozark’s Queen Latifah. Third place went to Tyler Sheppard handling Jo Burson’s dog Jo’s Dusty Southern Breeze and fourth to Dr. Anna Curry’s Golden Retriever, Gingrocks Kokopelli of RCK. 

Amateur Land Blind

 Amateur judges set up their land blind to the right of the flyer stations with a dry pop coming from the same gun used in the flyer fall. The blind wreaked havoc with many of the younger dogs who were heavily influenced by the old fall. The 19 Handlers to survive the blind and invited to the water blind were as follows: 3, 8-10, 12, 15, 20, 24, 26, 34, 36, 38, 39, 47-51. 12 of these were invited to the water marks. They are as follows: Pat Kenny with Nick, Alex Washburn with Alley, Ken Robbins with Anna, Jim Pickering with Willie, Linda Noga with Annie, Mike Loggins with Tiger, Gerald Bailey with Jester, Pat Kenny with Mac, Tim West with Jefe, Al Wilson with Twister, Paul Rainbolt with Ramsie, and Linda Noga with Rooser.

Open Water Blind

Open judges then went to their water blind with 18 dogs. Dogs heard a dry pop and then were sent for the blind. A single duck decoy was placed in a pocket of water near the end of the blind to the left of the line. 13 Dogs successfully completed the blind and the following teams were invited to the water marks: Bill Schrader with Gretzky, Mark Edwards with Rip,  Rob Erhardt with Trudi, Mark Edwards with Bunny, Bill Burks with Judi, Sharon Gierman with Jr, Mark Edwards with Maxie, Rob Erhardt with Barkley, Alex Washburn with Chase, Mark Edwards with Piper, Mark Edwards with Caddy, Al Wilson with Pearl, and Alex Washburn with Punch.

Open Water Marks

Open

Amateur Water Marks

Amateur

Qualifying

Derby

Click here for complete Event Results

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