Field Trial Fantasy Game

I am looking at starting up a Fantasy Field Trial League, I am thinking of a game where you pick a total of 15 dogs 5 walking/coverdogs, 5 shooting dogs and 5 all age dogs and earn points for placements in Championship's.  Exact details are still in the works but I need to know who is really interested.  If interested please click the link below and then fill out the form and I will get more info to you soon. 

Thanks 

Bill Holtan

Field Trial Fantasy Game

2009 National Bird Dog Championship Video-A Review

I recently received my copy of the 2009 National Championship Video and I was very pleased with what I found.  The video quality continues to improve and the narration was very well done.  It is not often that we from other circuits or parts of the country get to see the dogs that compete in this trial, so this is an opportunity that should not be missed.

The video gives great representation of the kind of country these dogs traverse in this trial as well as a good look at these dogs not only around birds but also on the ground.  Anyone who has tried to video a field trial or just dogs in training appreciates the difficulty of this task.  It also gives you somewhat of a feel of how the handlers and scouts interact.  I don't mind saying that after watching the video I found myself craving a field trial as well as starting to think about aquiring a new pup or two out of a couple of these champions.

I am sure that most the the buyers of these videos are mostly all age trialers and that concentrate on pointers, but I would have to believe that any bird dog owner, and most certainly all field trialers, would surely enjoy this video.

The video can be ordered here.   http://www.pleasanthillproductions.com/  and I would recommend you do so if you are a fan of bird dogs of any persuasion.  

Bill Holtan

Hot Setter Derby in the Midwest

There is a new setter derby in the string of Shawn Kinkelaar his name is Ridge Creek Cody, he is owned by Larry Brutger of St. Cloud, MN and he won 1st place in his last two derby stakes, the first being at the Fleetwood Classic in Arkansas and the next being the derby stake at the Southwest Missouri Open Shooting Dog Championship.  I do not have complete details from those trials but both had substantial derby entries, I think the Fleetwood having 18 and the SW MO having around 25.  I apologize for not having full detail on these stakes, I am pretty sure Scott Miller was 2nd and 3rd in both stakes.

Ridge Creek Cody

WE ARE IN FULL SWING!!!

Boy the field trial season is sure in full swing and last Saturday the kids got involved, I bet a great time was had by all.

IS THE SPORT REALLY DIEING?

It seems I started in this sport of field trialing I have heard tell of its impending doom. I have many times heard how the participants are all old and there are no newcomers. I remember looking around and thinking they may be right as most of the participants are older than me. Now I look around at most trials and there are some older (most of those were there when I started) but there are surely some younger and those that are about my same age. So some new people surely have come and some stayed since I first started.

I started pondering this while listing the upcoming Field Trial Championships for the upcoming season on this site. There appears to be plenty of opportunities for people to run in trials all over this country whether it be walking shooting dog, cover dog, shooting dog or all age and either open or amateur stakes.

It is my belief that the reasons that most of our participants are older have more to do with the fact that the older we get the mosre time and money we have to spend on such endeavors.

It looks to me as though this great sport is alive and well and fixing to thrive for another great season.

That's all from here on the farm today!

Bill