2009 PNW Regional Championship

2009 PNW Regional Championship

by Karen Bostwick & Warren Jones
photos by Warren, Glenn and others

German Shepherd Schutzhund Club presented a great venue for this year’s Regional Championship. While pulling all the details together, the members of GSSC entered and operated the event like pros. A member of GSSC offered free cold beverages to all and it was very appreciated on a warm day.

Any club that hosts a regional event is dependent upon the region to promote and support it. Regional Director Will Pope and Assistant Regional Director Warren Jones added their support and entry or participation. As always, Oregon clubs and individuals supported this event.

The entry was small but it did not diminish the effort and performances. The list of contestants included some new faces and some old ... uh ... older faces — long time sports friends. The dogs also included veterans, tried and true, and younger dogs that showed spirit and speed. When the entry consists of this range of experience, the competition takes on a new, fresh excitement.

Icon tracking in the lush grass

GSSC found the only irrigated pasture in the area, and this was on a small farm with limited parking, so very few spectators made it to tracking. Despite the near perfect conditions, nearly every dog lost concentration somewhere on the track, and scores posted included high score 92 and from there to 91, 90, 89 as top scores. Clearly green grass wasn’t a sure bet for an easy track.

Dago & Mark on their way to high tracking

The four BH entries provided a novelty — every handler was there for their first trial, so before we could get started, they all had to take the written test.

The BH handlers got to break in the novel group arrangement introduced by judge Lance Collins, who got it from the Canadian Nationals, who got it from… anyway, the group walks in a circle around four spokes that cut across the middle, and every other group member cuts across on one of the spokes, making a truly random pattern that set up some interesting collisions between group members at first, and no way for the handler to plan an entry until they were right on top of the group. Despite their inexperience (or maybe because of it?), the BH handlers all had success with the group… and in fact with all of the event: Everyone got a title!

Obedience for the schutzhund dogs came with a warm Sunday morning at 8 a.m. Of note was the excellent performance of Al Carlson and his favorite girl, Amy - favorite after his wife, Bev, of course. In spite of places where the judge found to mark off, the overall picture was one of speed, attitude, and a happy-to-be-there smile on her face. It was a real pleasure to watch.

Both malinois in the trial (Warren Jones’ Harley and Mike Casey’s Ikon) demonstrated excellent heeling and were approaching great scores until the go-out — both dogs decided the go out spot was the dumbbell rack!

Warren & Harley

Mark Gomersall and his GSD Dago turned in the top obedience score with a 90 SG.

Mark & Dago

For protection, it was the same. As a regional event, the helpers were top of the line with Will Pope back half, Jas Leverette front half, and Mark Gomersall doing the 2’s.

Emily & Barret return helper Mark to the Judge

Each dog was challenged equally on a field of beautiful grass and regulation distances to the blinds. Speed, grips and control were the challenges and met with different measure. Scores say one story and viewing from the side tells some more. The point is: you gotta be there to get full measure.

Mark and Dago again turned in a top score with a 90SG, which was enough to become the Regional Champion. A good dog with a good handler performed consistently with a great attitude and became the example of how it was supposed to look in all three phases. As a spectator, I found all of the performances to exhibit the picture of willing, well trained dogs performing. Yes, some will go home and work on some exercises that didn’t go as planned but the overall performances were good for the sport and stood up to regional event expectations. Judge Lance Collins provided exquisite detail in his critiques, so that all the spectators and handlers had a clear idea where the points went and what the judge was looking for. Thank you Lance for making a good show even better.

Lance & Will

Lynne & Cappy

Mike & Icon

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