The 33rd Annual HWA Airedale Field NationalsSeptember 7-9, 2018
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InthehistoryofHWANationals,we’vehadyearswithbigentriesandperfectweather.Thiswasnotoneofthoseyears.
Yetinspiteofsomeweatherchallenges,ourAiredalescarriedonasifnothingmatteredbutraccoonsandbirds.ThisyearwesawsomeyoungAiredalesmoveuptoearntheirfirstqualifyingtestscores,whileourHuntingInstinctTestandBeginners’Retrieverworkshopidentifiedsomeverypromisingpups.
WefirstgatheredatourheadquartershotelforThursdayevening’sHospitalitySuite.Thisisourchancetoreconnectwitholdfriendsandwelcomeanewcomerortwobeforethingsgetreallybusy.Thisyear’s
Hospitalitysponsorshipwasasharedeffort,thankstothegenerousfive-waysupportofMaryandStuartEavenson,SherriandJohnGlass,ChrisandTomHalvorson,JohnNolandandMaryWright.WewerelookingforwardtoanothermemorableNationals,andthatitturnedouttobe.Friday, Sept. 7th
Thissummer’sunseasonablyhotweathercontinued,butanearlystarttoFriday’sATCAFurTestaswellasovercastskiesgotthefourJuniordogsofftoagoodstart.The100yardraccoon-scentedJuniortrackwentintoandthroughthewoods,callingforsomeattentivenoseworkaswellassomebarkingwhentheraccoonwaslocatedhiddenhighinatree.Reeva,ayoungAiredaleowned/handledbyMichaelSites,wastheonlyJuniordogtoqualify,thoughothersputinagoodeffort.TheSeniorTesthadtwodogsrunningamorecomplicated200yardtrack.Sassy,owned/handledbyLindaPotter,qualifiedonthestrengthofherstrongworkatthetreewiththeraccoon.Sassyobviouslythoughtbitingtheraccoontreewasthenextbestthingtogettingthecagedraccoon.Thattreewillbescarredforlife.
AstheFurTestwasunderwayinthewoods,theBeginners’RetrieverWorkshopstartedup.TheworkshopwaspresentedbyPatriciaRose,whowouldalsobetheHWARetrieverTestjudgelaterintheweekend.PatRosehastrainedtwoStandardPoodlestotheOTCH(obediencechampion)andMasterHunterlevels,araredualaccomplishmentforanybreed,butmostespeciallyforanon-traditionalbreedintheretrieverworld.Forthehalf-dozenyoungAiredalesgatheredfortheworkshop,thefocuswouldbeonfoundationalskillssuchas“hold”and“fetch.”Theweekend’sthreeworkshopsessionsoverthecourseoftheweekendgaveparticipantsagoodplanforfuturepractice.ParticipantsreceivedafolderPathadpreparedforHuntingWorkingAiredaleswithawrittenplantofollowasretrievertrainingprogressed.Andso,theywereofftoagoodstart.
Sassy at the Fur Tree
Theactionforallpickedupwhenwetookapre-lunchbreakfortheBarkathon.TheBarkathonisajust-for-funcontestinwhichindividualAiredaleshaveoneminutetojumpandbarkatacagedraccoon,whilespectators,includingotherbarkingAiredales,cheerhimorheron.Wesawalotoffancyorfrenziedleapingandyelping,butthisisalsogoodtrainingforworkingtheraccooninfuturetests.Thisyear’swinnerofthedivisionforthedogswithoutFurTesttitleswenttoKateOstrowski’sSunshine,whobarked62barksinoneminute.ThewinnerforthedivisionfordogswithFurTesttitleswenttoFilson,alsoowned/handledbyKateOstrowski,forbarkinganamazing96barksinoneminute.We’reguessingKatewon’tbeinarushtobragaboutthesehonorstoherneighbors.
Diggs, a 6 month old pup owned/handled by Stuart Eavenson, practices “fetch” in the Retriever Workshop.
AfterlunchtheHuntingInstinctTestgatheredfivepupsandyoungdogsaswellasagoodgroupofspectatorsonashadylawn.LongtimeAiredalebreederSherriGlassandassistantMichaelSitesevaluatedthepups’reactionsthroughaseriesofexercises,suchaschasingalureforpreydrive,retrievingabumperortoy,findingacagedlivebirdandacagedliveraccoon.Testingthedogs’reactiontogunfirewasdonewithablankshotfromapistol,andthenontothepondtoseeifthepupwouldenterthewater.Itwasahotafternoonbythistime,somostpupswereallinforthecoolwaterfinale.Alistofthosepupswhoqualifiedbyscoring70ormorepointsoutof100isattheendofthisarticle.AsecondBeginners’Workshopsessionfollowed,justtobesurealltheparticipantsweregoodandtiredbytheevening.Friday’sofficialactivitiesconcludedwiththeAnnualmeeting,whichwasmovedfromHollyHillstotheheadquartershoteltotakeadvantageofthe
Sadie, a pup owned/handled by K.D. Van Drie, carries her bird in the Hunting Instinct Test. 2
Elliott, owned/handled by Kim Zaborniak, is an enthusiastic Barkathon participant.
Saturday, Sept. 8th.
Predictedrain–somesaidremnantsofTropicalStormGordon--movedintosouthernOhioonSaturdaymorning,justintimeforthestartofthelandseriesofHWA’sUplandTest.OurAKC-licensedjudgeswereJohnDudashandRickAbolt.TheUplandTestinvolvesthedogsfinding,flushingandretrievingchukar,whicharegamebirdssimilartoquail.Inrainyorwetconditions,chukararenotoriouslyreluctanttofly.Whilehumanstestedhoweffectivetheirraingearwas,ourentryoffiveJuniordogs,oneSeniordog,andfourMasterdogsfoundandbroughtintheirbirdsasiftheweatherdidn’tfazethem.
SaturdayafternoonwasdevotedtothelandseriesoftheHWARetrieverTest.OurAKC-licensedretrieverjudgesLesliePhillipsandPatriciaRoseplannedabasiccoursewithtwosingleretrievesfortheirfourJuniorentries,whileamorecomplicatedcoursefortheoneSeniorentryandfourMasterdogsinvolvedlongerdoubleretrieves,withathird“diversion”retrievefortheMasters.Attheendofarain-soakedafternoon,twoJuniorsandoneMasterdogpassedtheirlandtestandwouldadvancetoSunday’swaterseries.SaturdayeveningisthetimeforHWA’sannualBanquetandSilentAuction.Thankstoco-chairsCorallyBurmasterandPatReed,theSilentAuction,alongwiththeNationals’Limited
Raffle,arethemajorfundraisersforourclub.Aswegatheredfortheevening,itwassurprisingtoseehowwellthesoddenhunttestfolkshaddriedoutandcleanedupfortheoccasion.Besideseating,socializing,andhumorfromMasterofCeremoniesJohnGlass,ourBanquetgivesusthechancetogathertohonorspecialpeoplewhohaveanon-goingimportancetoourclub.ThisyearLawrenceAlexanderandGeorgeGordon,twolong-timeHWAmembersandsupporters,receivedHWA’splaquesinappreciationoftheirmanyyearsoffaithfulserviceandguidance.Inaddition,wewerepleasedthatMikeLogsdon,thewinneroftheLimitedRafflequiltedwall-hangingmadeforHWAbyDebraTodhunter,waspresentattheBanquettoclaimhisprize.Mikereportedthathealreadyhadaplaceinmindinhishometohangthatartwork.
Sunshine, owned/handled by Kate Ostrowski, retrieves her bird in the pouring rain in the Junior Upland Test.
Hershey, owned/handled by Susan Hogsette, launches for her land retrieve in the pouring rain in the Junior Retriever Test.
HWA honored two long-time members for their years of HWA support and particpation: Lawrence Alexander (on left), and George Gordon, right photo.
Mike Logsdon (right) was the winner of this
year’s Limited Raffle, a quilted
wall-hanging, created for HWA
by Debra Todhunter.
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Sunday, Sept. 9th
Toourhugerelief,weatherreportssayingthatSunday’srainwouldbe“threetimesworsethanSaturday”turnedouttobeexaggerations.WedidhaverainforSunday’swaterseriesoftheUplandandRetrieverTests,butitseemedmilderwithoutSaturday’swind.
WestartedSundaywiththewaterseriesoftheUplandTest,withjudgesJohnDudashandRickAbolt.AlloftheUplanddogswereinvitedtotrywaterretrieves,thoughsomedogsandhandlersweren’tabletostayontoSunday.Thosethatstayedhadthechancetojumpintoarain-splatteredpondtobringinawetbird.TwoJuniordogsandallfourMasterdogsdidthatsuccessfully.Seetheendofthisreportforthelistingofqualifiers.
ThenitwasontoHollyHills’otherpondforthewaterseriesoftheHWARetrieverTest.JudgesPatriciaRoseandLesliePhillipsweredeterminedtomakethebestoftheirbigducksinasmallpond.TwofirsttimeJuniorRetrievertestentrants,Hershey,owned/handledbySusanHogsetteandSunshine,owned/handledbyKateOstrowski,completedtheirsinglewaterretrieveswithstyle.BothdogsthusqualifiedforboththeirJuniorUplandandJuniorRetrieverteststhisweekend,aaccomplishmentthatpointsthemtowardsnextyear’sSeniortests,aswellasanyAKCteststheymaychoosetoenter.AsfortheSeniorandMasterentries,onlyFilson,owned/handledbyKateOstrowskiqualifiedinthemorecomplicatedMasterRetrieverTest.KategaveusamasterfuldemonstrationofcalmhandlingasFilsonfiguredoutthetestscenarioandbroughtinallthreeofhisducks.
Eventhoughthemajortestsoftheweekendwerewrappedup,therewasonemorejust-for-funcontestforthosepupsanddogswhostayedthroughtoSundaymorning.ThePocketQuailtestgivesuntrainedyoungAiredalesachancetousetheirnosesfindbirdwingshiddenintallgrassinatimedhunt.Thedogonlyhastoindicatehe/shehasfoundthewing,andthehandlerthenpicksitupandputsitinaplasticbag(formerlyapocket).Thedogthatfindsthemostwingsinthegiventimewinsatokenprizeandhopefullygoesontomoresophisticatedhuntsnextyear.Thisyear’swinnerofthePocketQuailcontestwasElliott,owned/handledbyKimZaborniak.
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Reeva, owned/handled by Michael Sites, makes the most of her water entry in the Upland Test water series.
Congratulations to our three duck-carryin’ Retriever Test qualifers!
Sunshine Hershey Filson
TheAwardsCeremonyfollowingSunday’slunchcompletedtheweekendformostparticipants.InadditiontoribbonsforthequalifiersandcertificatesforFirst–Timeparticipants,HWAwaspleasedtoawardseveraltrophiesforspecialachievements.Kira,owned/handledbyMichaelSites,receivedtheBrownBessMemorialAwardofferedbyLawrenceAlexanderforHenryJohnsonJr.,forthehighestscoringAiredaleintheUplandTest.Keepingitinthefamily,Reeva,alsoowned/handledbyMichaelSites,receivedthePriscillaCreeMemorialAwardofferedbyLawrenceAlexander,forthehighestscoringdogintheFurTest.Filson,owned/handledbyKateOstrowski,receivedtheGunners’ChoiceAward,offeredbyJohnandPatBell,awardedtothedogthegunnersselectedastheonethey’dmostliketohuntover.Inaddition,FilsonandKateearnedthisyear’sRoadDogTrophyastheteamthatearnedthemostAKChunttestqualifying“legs”sincelastyear’sNationals,whichFilsondidbycompletinghisAKCMasterHuntertitlelastfall.
AftertheAwardsCeremony,afewhandlersandauditorsstayedontoparticipateinthenew-for-this-yearAdvancedRetrieverSeminarwithPatriciaRose.Theplanwastofocusonmoreadvancedretrieverdrillsandskills,butthesmallgroupalsogavethechanceformorespecificproblem-solvingadvice.Itwasagoodwrap-uptoalongweekend.
Beforefinalgood-byesand“seeyounextyear”sweresaid,HWA’sEventsPlanningteamsaidabigTHANKYOUonbehalfofallofustoMarshaandDeanHatfield,ownersofHollyHills,andtoMattShoemaker,ourgo-tostaffassistantthisweekend.
We’llbereturningtoHollyHillsnextyear.Wehopeyou’llsavethesedatesnow:
FunintheField,April6-7,201934thAiredaleFieldNational,Sept.20-22,2019
Journey, owned and loved by Mary Wright, can’t wait for his chance to be a big duck-carryin’ Airedale next year!
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2018 HWA Nationals Hunt Test Qualifiers
ATCAFurTestJuniorFurTest:
!StillwatersReevaMia,JHF,JFT,owned/handledbyMichaelSites,Eureka,MO,bredbySherriGlass.
SeniorFurTest:!SassyVII,SFT,owned/handledbyLindaPotter,Georgetown,IL.,bredbyDebbieKennedy.
HWAUplandTestJuniorUplandTest:
! StillwatersLindseyYorkHershey,JHF,JHR,owned/handledbySusanHogsette,Lexington,OH;bredbySherriGlass.
! Hilltop’sSunshineOverButternut,JHF,JHR,owned/handledbyKateOstrowski,Dallas,PA;bredbyLawrenceAlexander
MasterUplandTest:! Hilltop’sFilsonofLittleSandyRiver,MH,JHV,JFT,MHF,MHR,owned/handledbyKateOstrowski,
Dallas,PA;bredbyLawrenceAlexander.! ColdstreamBornintheUSA,MH,MHV,MFT,MHF,CD,RA,owned/handledbyChrisHalvorson,
Lockport,NY;bredbyCorallyBurmasterandMargoDupre.! AirecraftKiraStellaSites,MH,GD,CGC,MHV,MFT,MHF,owned/handledbyMichaelSites;bredby
DaleandKimBurrierandCorallyBurmaster! ColdstreamMakeMyDay,SH,CD,JHV,MHF,MFT,owned/handledbyChrisHalvorson,co-owned
byAngelaDobbins;bredbyCorallyBurmaster.
HWARetrieverTestJuniorRetrieverTest:
! StillwatersLindseyYorkHershey,JHF,JHR,owned/handledbySusanHogsette,Lexington,OH;bredbySherriGlass.
! Hilltop’sSunshineOverButternut,JHF,JHR,owned/handledbyKateOstrowski,Dallas,PA;bredbyLawrenceAlexander
MasterRetrieverTest! Hilltop’sFilsonofLittleSandyRiver,MH,JHV,JFT,MHF,MHR,owned/handledbyKateOstrowski,
Dallas,PA;bredbyLawrenceAlexander.
HuntingInstinctTest! VolantSassySadie,owned/handledbyK.D.VanDrie,Sewicky,PA;bredbyRobynandBert
Lawrence.! Donaldmac’sEasyOntheEyes,owned/handledbyKimberlyZaborniak,Millersport,OH;bredby
LeithMacDonald.! SmartestoftheBunchLocherMüehle,owned/handledbySherriGlass,Clyde,OH;bredbyBärbel
Friedrich.! ColdstreamSingleShot,owned/handledbyMaryWright,Toledo,OH;bredbyCorallyBurmaster.
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2018 Trophy Winners
PriscillaCreeMemorialAwardforthedogpassingtheFurTestwiththehighestscore,offeredbyLawrenceAlexander:
• StillwatersReevaMia,JHF,JFT,owned/handledbyMichaelSites,Eureka,MO,bredbySherriGlass
SandhillBrownBessMemorialAwardforthedogpassingtheUplandTestwiththehighestscore,offeredbyLawrenceAlexanderforHenryJohnson,Jr.
• AirecraftKiraStellaSites,MH,MHV,MFT,MHF,CGC,GD,owned/handledbyMichaelSites,Eureka,MO;bredbyKimBurrierandCorallyBurmaster
RoadDogTrophyforthedog(s)withthemostweekendswithpassingscoresatAKC/HRCeventssincethelastHWANationals.OfferedbyHWA.
! Hilltop’sFilsonofLittleSandyRiver,MH,JHV,JFT,MHF,MHR,owned/handledbyKateOstrowski,Dallas,PA;bredbyLawrenceAlexander.
Gunners’ChoiceAwardforthedogselectedbytheUplandgunnersasthedogtheywouldmostliketohuntover.Offeredin2018byJohnandPatBell.
! Hilltop’sFilsonofLittleSandyRiver,MH,JHV,JFT,MHF,MHR,owned/handledbyKateOstrowski,Dallas,PA;bredbyLawrenceAlexander.
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