Sound like FUN?

[kawarthalabs]

Entries for the Snowbird Club of South Georgia
Open 122 entries

Owner Handler Amateur 103 entries

Do you think this malkes for a FUN trial? Sure IF you win or place.
How would you feel if you were judging?

Tony.

[blackstorm]

They are the hardest events to do, last year I judged the Open with Tom Hawley and did the Black Warrior FT and their was 102 dogs enterd and it was early Saturday before we could complete the first series marks. Time management was critical but we were lucky to have excellant help in form of convicts at the cattle farm. The trial grounds were not great, I don't think there was a blade of grass longer than say an 1 1/2". We had to be creative with elements and bird placement and develop tests that gave clear answers but did not chew up time. It was a great experience but one I will try to avoid in the future if I can.
Glynn

[Howard]

Hey Tony,

Deuce is making his AA debut at this trial with Kevin, do you think a 2 year old has a chance? He's not 3 until March.........lol

Howard

[kawarthalabs]

Howard. I hope Deuce does real well for Kevin. He doesn't know there are 121 other dogs there to beat. I'm looking forward to competing against you,Deuce and Tie in the all age stakes this coming year. One thing is for sure-we won't have to beat over 100 dogs just to finish! What are your trial and judging plans this year?

Good to here from you
Tony.

[Misty Marsh]

RTF is saying 300 combined entries for snowbird trail.:cheesy: I would love to see the first series, my guess is that it would be a "cut throat" deal with 125-150 entries per stake?:der: Maybe the 30-50 dog opens & Am's in the praries aren't so bad afterall!:dribble:

[captainjack]

I was down watching the Snowbird trial last year and they had a very big trial. I was truly impressed with the quality of the tests in both the open and amateur - no cut throat there.
Good grounds, good bird placement and good judges - I doubt very much that it will be cut throat, but very demanding.
Snowbird has a number of experienced members which helps when selecting judges. I am quite sure everything is under control.

Peter.

PS. Watch out for Tule - he seems to shine at these big trials. Best of luck to our Canadian snowbirds!

[Misty Marsh]

I had an interesting conversation with Norm Elder about big US trials this summer and he said that he found some judges would set up some really tough first series with the intention of cutting the numbers to a more workable number. Really with 150 dog's and 2, maybe 3 days to run the trial how could you carry the majority with a entry level first couple of series, it's not like 5-6 day national where you have the luxury of gradually building up the difficulty factor? I've never been to one, but the logistics of a big 150 dog trial would almost dictate the cream being skimmed off pretty quick would'nt you say?

[captainjack]

I do not think the cream is skimmed off quickly. I believe in a big trial the cream rises quickly to the top and the cream being the big dogs! Big US trials have 3 full days to test. Marking is of primary importance. There is no complaint about a very tough opening marking test with well placed birds. The flyer becomes a key element and when shot out of order ie. not last, it makes for a very difficult test. Contestants would rather face a tough first series rather than being penciled out and everyone there knows what happens if you do not have a good first test. The judges can not carry you.
With that number of dogs and the quality of the dogs, handlers and trainers, you will probably have a good percentage have very good work ie. 40% and those are the ones that will make it to the next series.
Again anyone can set up a test to get rid of dogs as we see on many weekends, but can one set up a test to evaluate the dogs? Is there a difference?
Again, watch out for Dennis's Tule - a big dog - doing a big test.

Peter

[Misty Marsh]

I think we are talking about the same thing? I'm not saying judges in a big 140+ AA trial would intentionally set up as trick, or insanely difficult test in order to trim the fat, but as you have stated tough through bird placement, the fyler, and use of theterrain/factors.