RETRIEVER: 2011 National Amateur Championship

The 2011 National Amateur Retriever Championship Field Trial will begin tomorrow, 19th June and continue for 7 gruelling days through 25th June. This year it is held in Ronan, Montana. Click here to read Vickie Lamb's blog highlighting the events; and here to follow daily reports by Tina Ebner and Gwen Jones, and view test diagrams.

And here's professional trainer Jerry Patopea smiling for the camera as he came in from re-birding a test during a change of stations in the field. What's a pro trainer doing at an Amateur National?  Patopea is an annual fixture at these events.  He trains handlers as well as dogs, though I think he does a better job with the dogs.