She's on fire!

FCSpringer

FCSpringer

Moderator
River has just been a bird finding nut this fall and so fun to handle. My last trial of the fall and she wins the open and does her water test to seal the deal on her AFC title. With this win she now only needs 2 points to gather up her FC title. All 5 trials finished with 4 placements in a row. And she should have placed in the other one. Just one of those things. 3rd, 2 2nds, and now her open win. Time for some wild birds again.:thumbsup:
:beer:

 
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Congratulations Ken, and River...well, keep on keepin' on.

I suppose the handler should get some praise, as well. Good work, Ken, good work. :D

I can only imagine the satisfaction that comes after the anticipation and then the adrenaline during the testing.


Well done.
 
It feels real good when its against the pros.:D She has been unstoppable. But she was blessed with opportunity. Long retrieves or running birds. Each run she had birds that ran off. That will do it for her every time. She is gifted at trailing like not many can do. If she puts her nose down and goes, she will get that bird. It don't matter if she has to trail it to china.:thumbsup:
 
Way to go River dog!:10sign: You should be, as I'm sure you are, very proud Ken.
 
That had to feel great getting that win. I have a buddy that picked up his hundredth point 2-3 years ago.... Still hasn't picked up the win for his FC.
 
Congrats Ken.:):cheers:


If you don't mind me asking; How many points are need for this tittle vs. that tittle when it comes to field trials? I'm not so much a dog guy so unfortunately my knowledge on the subject of trials is null.
 
Such a sharp looking dog who performs up to its great looks. Congratulations!
 
1pheas4 said:
Congrats Ken.:):cheers:


If you don't mind me asking; How many points are need for this tittle vs. that tittle when it comes to field trials? I'm not so much a dog guy so unfortunately my knowledge on the subject of trials is null.
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Not sure what you mean by VS field trials. I will try to answer. This is AKC field trials. AKC licensed field trials for ESS are in 2 categories, Amateur all age(people who don't get paid to train) and Open all age(pros who get paid to train dogs) There is not any difference really, just those few who except compensation can not run in the Amateur. Often it is the same dogs, many run both. The competition is equal, and often tougher in the AM. Most times more dogs in the AM. Both require a win plus 10 points, or 2 wins. A win does not get you points toward your 10, only when you just get 2 wins. So with a win you need to place enough times for the tally to add up to 10+ your win. 2nd is 3 points, 3rd is 2 points, and 4th is one point. A win is 5 points but only is recorded toward year end high point tallies. An Amateur win or points do not go toward the Open, nor the Open toward the AM. So you have to do it all over to go for a title in the other. She got her win in the AM(AFC) and her points. So then now I wish to obtain her Open(FC title) She now has 8 points in that and her win. So she would need a combination of 1 3rd or 2 4th place finishes. My other dog I ran in the Open and got his FC, now is running in the AM looking to get his AFC. I split them up so they would not have to compete against one another:D When I did that it worked best for both. Simply because they both can do well any week. So I was shooting myself in the foot, or my dogs foot.
 
UplandHntr said:
Congrats - heck of a pup you have there!
Wild birds are the TRUE proving grounds!!!!!!!!!!:thumbsup:
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Sort of, but not really. Great trial dogs when it comes to ESS are better hunting dogs because of the required training. It is all live birds, and because of the training, and putting dog against many many dogs that train to a much higher level then 99.9% of all hunting alone dogs, owned by the average hunter. You get to see the cream rise to the top. Hunting just becomes 2nd nature to the every week training and competing year round on live birds. They run just the same and do the same when it comes to finding game, trailing them out and retrieving. So when you put your dog up against many others training to that high level, that's the "TRUE" test;). Hunting is just fun not work:D And the birds are free LOL. It takes me about 4 years to make a real good trial dog, it takes me about 6 months to make a good hunting dog.:D
 
FCSpringer said:
Yes it does. Its the hard one. Especially in the Midwest. There will never be a high point dogs here, there is just too many good ones. I have seen that same scenario play out several times.
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The retriever games play out the same. The last 2 NFC's train at CMRC in Sauk Rapids. But the high point dogs rarely come from the Midwest. All the best trainers come here for the summer. Heck the best AM's come here for the summer too. The east/west coast trial circuits are considered training for the main event. There is a really nice dog wth 4 double header wins (Open, and AM in the same weekend) that has clinched High Point already. This dog travels from the east coast to the west coast all summer long. Rarely stops in the mid west......
Steve
 
Way to go Sir, there's a lot of hard work that goes with that. As you well know there's something special about them Spaniels! Love the look of that pup, any other pictures?
 
Way to go River!! Congrats Ken. Great explanation on the difference between AFC/FC titles. Good luck at national if you get to go.
 
I wish I could but this year just aint in the cards. Too bad she is very competitive. And has been in the 5th series of another, but too dang many bills to pay with the wife's cancer deal. It will always be a what if thing I know, but I have come to terms with it. She is just going to turn 7 next spring, and I think she will have another crack at it. Maybe I will be able to go in 2015. It will bug me for a while but a few days hunting with her and that will ease the pain.:D Closing was today with the National open, and I am in Seattle WA judging with the gal who takes the entries. I told her no today:(. It is what it is. But life goes on.:thumbsup: Yes I have more pics, I can post some when I get home.:D
 
It's a beautiful thing when years of hard work and careful breeding come together. What a good looking dog she is too. I'm sure 'alert' doesn't begin to describe her. It's fascinating just to sit and watch.

Congratulations !!
 
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