TCTWDA Summer Trial
July 16, 2005
By Cynthia Zimmermann
Adolphus, KY - The weather in Kentucky the week of the trial gave us our first light rain since May 15. I was glad for those trialing as tracking conditions had been nothing but dead, dry grass. Saturday morning dawned with overcast skies, hot and humid.
Our first track at 7:00 a.m. featured Gerry Zimmermann and his dog Civa van JoeFarm. They were entered for an IPO 1. Gerry’s dog had been ill and training had been difficult, but they made it through with a passing score.
Our second track was an IPO 3 with the dog/handler team of Laura Fahrenkamp and Ken Mar King Odin of DeVal. As our judge, Glenn Stephenson, DOJ, AWMA and myself walked to the track, the skies began to darken and the wind picked up. As the team stepped up to the scent pad and with the command of such, the skies opened up and a torrential deluge descended on them. Odin made it down the first leg to the corner, but then was overcome by the conditions. The track was called and both Glenn and I finished the rest with them. At the last article and Odin’s indication, the rain stopped for the rest of the day.
Back at the field, after a quick change for everyone, we began our BH obedience phase. All teams passed with flying colors. They were:
Dustain Vance & Xbo Ot Vitosha
Don Cates & Winrush Jamis Takela
Don Cates & Bocca van Joefarm
A special note of recognition here for Don. It was his very first trial where he showed both his dogs and did a wonderful job! Thanks to Dave Barmore and Bodi for standing in as our “smart” dog.
Next up was Gerry and Laura for obedience. All went well for Gerry and Civa up until the send away where Civa decided it was really the second command that meant he should go down. Laura came through this phase with no additional problems from Mother Nature.
Giving the IPO dogs a break, we went into the traffic portion of the BH routines. All I can say is dang, Glenn, you are a fast jogger! I had to really keep up with you on the bike. After the tie-out portion all the newly titled dogs and their handlers came together for the presentation and some well deserved applause.
Onto protection. I don’t think I have ever seen my husband Gerry so nervous before, except maybe our wedding. He had an unfortunate training incident the night before that involved the call out of the blind. He was sure things were going to go wrong. I told him what my coach always tells me, “What you think will happen, will. Think and see that all will go well and they will.” Well Civa did look away in the blind, but the call out as well as the rest of the routine went fine and they passed their IPO 1.
Laura and Odin were our final team. The two never cease to amaze me. Odin is an AKC conformation show dog. We most affectionately call him, “pansy boy,” and he is 6 years old. He always gives 110% of everything he has. The two made it through the routine fine with a few glitches on the attack out of the back transport, but received a passing score. Laura, your dedication to training really came through! The team will try again in September and I have no doubt they will pass and receive their IPO 3.
The BBQ was fired up and we all ate some great food that everyone had brought and trained dogs.
Gerry and Civa received the High In Trial trophy which is a new perpetual trophy that will be up for grabs at our next trial in November. It was donated by SV. OG. Sulz. The BH certificates of achievement were given out and I decided to break some rules and awarded Laura and Odin with the High Obedience award.
Our sincere thanks to Glenn Stephenson for traveling to judge our trial. I know how tight your time is, Glenn and all of us at TCTWDA say thank you. Thanks as well to our helpers, Dave Barmore and Gerry Zimmermann for their work as well. To view some of the pictures of the trial, visit our TCTWDA photo gallery at:
http://gallery.workingdogworld.com
Our trial date in November will be posted on the AWMA web site under the club listing. Come join us for the next one. We can always promise a fun time.
