Retriever Trials See Strong Showing

By NCK YAMASHITA

The Progress

The Las Vegas Hunting Retriever Club (LVHRC) held its annual qualifier event last weekend. The trials started on Thursday, February 25 and continued through Sunday, February 28. Bright and early starts took place at 8:00 am at the Overton Wildlife Management Area just south of downtown Overton.

“It was beautiful weather most of the weekend, just a bit windy and cold on Sunday morning,” said Logandale resident Shannon Ruiz, whose husband Tim Ruiz had four dogs competing in the event. Tim is the owner of All Around Retrievers.

The turnout was massive with 318 total dogs present to try and qualify.
“I think it is great how many different breeds we had present here this week,” said LVHRC member Elizabeth Nielson of Henderson.

These included 265 Labradors, 34 Golden Retrievers, 6 Flat-Coated Retrievers, 4 Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, 4 Poodles, 2 Airedale Terriers, 2 Boykin Spaniels, and 1 German Shorthaired Pointer.

The qualifications had the retrievers competing in two events. One was land retrieval where a duck was hidden in a field somewhere to be sniffed out and retrieved by the dog. The other was a similar challenge only on the water.

The majority of the dogs were female with 178 compared to the 140 males which were entered. All ages and conditions of dogs were present. The oldest was born on 09/13/2010 while the youngest birthday was 07/27/2020. There even were pregnant competitors in the trials.

“She did so well!” exclaimed Moapa Valley resident Emily Leavitt of her dog, Cake by the Ocean, who was 9-months pregnant.

Handlers and owners came from all over the western United States, including California, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, and even as far north as Alaska.

Local resident Harmony Leavitt, Vice President of LVHRC, explained part of the reasoning for the massive showing. “Due to COVID-19, several qualifications events were canceled so those events are limited,” she said. “You have to have so many qualifications to make Nationals.”

The trials went until dark on all the competition days. Another cool program that helped out with the event was Triumph Youth Services out of the Salt Lake City area. The company helps send some of their youth down to assist in different roles for the event. These roles include duck throwers, working in the blinds, callers, and more. The organization teaches troubled teens to handle dogs and compete.

“Triumph is a great program,” said local resident Brian Burris who volunteered at the event last weekend. “It teaches these youth amazing things and helps keep them out of trouble. The boys were the best and huge help. We couldn’t have done it without their help.”
Some of the young boys even got to be handlers too and qualify.

Hundreds of dogs in the crowd were able to receive their qualification and title ribbon., Attendees ssaid they were very please with the event in the end.

“We really had a very successful event,” stated Event Secretary and Co-Coordinators of the event, Scott Fowler.
Fowler is also the President of the LVHRC.

After running around and ensuring the event’s success, Fowler was able to express appreciation to all that helped.

“I just want to give a special thanks to the sponsors and donors,” he said. “Special thanks to all of the event volunteers and helping clubs. A very special thanks to the young men of Triumph and their staff. Kids are the future of the sport and these young men were amazing.”

Fowler also thanked the judges, all volunteers, WHIN Organization, Las Vegas Skeet Club, Sit Means Sit, and Battle Born Duckers.

For more information about Las Vegas Hunting Retriever Club visit, their website at www.lvhrc.com.