MNRC Foundation Award Nominations are now open. Deadline is November 30, 2024
Deadline is November 30, 2024
MNRC Foundation Award Nominations are now open. Deadline is November 30, 2024
All nominations should be sent to: Hard copies must be mailed to MNRCF Secretary, c/o Lynn Teague, 734 CR 630, Nacogdoches, TX 75964
E-mails may be sent to bltdogs4@gmail.com
In 2015, the Master National Retriever Club Foundation announced they had approved supporting three, new Awards developed by the Foundation and suggested by the original donor. And in February 2019 the Foundation approved a humanitarian sportsman recognition to honor individuals or groups within the Retriever Hunting Test (RHT) Community that participate in the Master National Retriever Hunting Test program and provide humanitarian services to either those in the sport or outside the sport.
The Foundation Awards Include:
“Youth Handler of the Year Awards” Policy
The “Youth Handler of the Year Awards” (Awards) were established by the Foundation in 2015 at the suggestion of an active supporter of the annual Retriever Hunting Test conducted by the Master National Retriever Club under the current American Kennel Club (AKC) regulations and guidelines. The support is in memory of beloved Master National Retriever Club Hunting Test (MNRCHT) dogs lost, in honor of dogs currently competing in MNRCHT, and in the prospect of upcoming pups for future MNRHT events, as well as in memory and honor of all handlers who have sacrificed so much to experience such an awesome event and in unending support of those still to come. Our future lies not only with future retriever breedings that compete at the highest level of our sport, but also in the hearts and abilities of future handlers that share in the love and sportsmanship of MNRCHT’s.
The primary purposes of the Awards are to honor and continue to encourage youth handlers in each bracket to step up to the line not only at the weekend AKC tests but also at the MNRCHT. There shall be two award categories; one for youth ages 12 years old and younger and another for youth ages 13-17 years old. The primary purpose of having two categories is to be fair to participants in each age group. Each award consists of a plaque and check in the amount of $1,000, and having their names added to the permanent plaques that are displayed at every MNRCHT.
The recipients shall be selected by the Foundation Board of Directors (Board) who have final authority on the selection of the awardees and whether or not the Awards will be given in a particular year. The Awards may not be awarded each year. In considering potential awardees, the Board shall, among other things consider the following criteria:
The age of the handler must meet above requirements;
The handler must:
- handle a dog(s) in all eligible series (any series where the dog is ‘called back’) at the Master National Retriever Club’s annual Retriever Hunting Test;
The dog(s) does/do not have to “qualify” (get a plate) at the MNRCHT for the handler to be eligible for the award; - have trained, or at least participated in the training of the dog(s) handled;
- successfully control the dog from the holding blind to the line at the tests;
- exhibit expertise in handling the dog(s) during the tests;
- have knowledge of the AKC’s current Regulations and Guidelines applicable to the event;
- apply the AKC’s current Regulations and Guidelines applicable to the event;
- exhibit the ability to handle the dog(s) to the AKC Standards;
- exhibit knowledge of how to properly care for the dog(s); and
- exhibit personal & professional conduct at the event.
The handler must be in good standing with the MNRC and AKC.
A handler of a dog that is owned by any member of the MNRC or MNRCF boards of director or their family is ineligible for this award.
To nominate an individual for the awards, submit a legible, written description of how/why the individual meets the above criteria and why they should receive the award. The submission must include all necessary contact information for the submitter and the name and age of the candidate. Hard copies or e-mail copies will be accepted and must be received within 30 days of the completion of the MNRCHT in which they participated. Hard copies must be mailed to MNRCF Secretary, c/o Lynn Teague, 734 CR 630, Nacogdoches, 75964 or E-mailed to bltdogs4@gmail.com
“Bill T. Teague Handler of the Year Award” Policy
The “Bill T. Teague Handler of the Year Award” (Award) was established by the Foundation in 2015 at the suggestion of an active supporter of the annual Retriever Hunting Test conducted by the Master National Retriever Club under the current American Kennel Club (AKC) regulations and guidelines. The support is in memory of beloved Master National Retriever Hunting Test (MNRHT) dogs lost, in honor of dogs competing in MNRHT and in the prospects of upcoming pups for future MNRHT events, as well as in memory and honor of all handlers who have sacrificed so much to experience such an awesome event and in unending support of those to come. The award is named after a past MNRC President who was a mentor and friend to many in the sport and who exemplified the spirit and tenets of the AKC Code of Sportsmanship. This award is to recognize and support an adult handler at the annual MNRCHT who actively demonstrates the tenets of the AKC Code of Sportsmanship. The award consists of a plaque, a check in the amount of $1,000, a lapel pin, and having their name inscribed on the permanent plaque that is displayed at every MNRCHT.
The recipient shall be selected by the Foundation Board of Directors (Board) who have final authority on the selection of the awardees and whether or not the Award will be given in a particular year. The Award may not be awarded each year. In considering potential awardees, the Board shall, among other things consider the following criteria:
- The handler must: handle a dog(s) in all eligible series at the Master National Retriever Club’s annual Retriever Hunting Test;
The dog(s) does/do not have to “qualify” (get a plate)at the MNRHT for the handler to be eligible for the award; - have trained, or at least participated in the training of the dog(s) handled;
- successfully control the dog from the holding blind to the line at the tests;
- exhibit expertise in handling the dog(s) during the tests;
- have knowledge of and apply the AKC’s current Regulations and Guidelines applicable to the event;
- exhibit an ability to handle the dog(s) to the AKC Standards;
- exhibit knowledge of how to properly care for the dog(s); and
- exhibit personal & professional conduct at the event.
- be in good standing with the MNRC and AKC
A handler of a dog that is owned by any member of the MNRC or MNRCF boards of director or their family is ineligible for this award.
To nominate an individual for the awards, submit a legible, written description of how/why the individual meets the above criteria and why they should receive the award. The submission must include all necessary contact information for the submitter and the name of the candidate. Hard copies or e-mail copies will be accepted and must be received within 30 days of the completion of the MNRCHT in which they participated. Hard copies must be mailed to MNRCF Secretary, c/o Lynn Teague, 734 CR 630, Nacogdoches, TX 75964 or e-mailed to bltdogs4@gmail.com
The “Humanitarian Sportsman Recognition” (Recognition) was established by the Foundation in February 2019 to recognize individuals or groups within the Retriever Hunting Test (RHT) Sport that participate in the Master National Retriever Club Hunting Test program and provide humanitarian services to either those in the sport or outside the sport.
The Recognition may not be given every year. This Recognition is designed to recognize members of the RHT sport for their humanitarian services and raise the awareness of the positive impact on individuals, groups and communities that members of the RHT provide. While it is expected members of the RHT sport will provide some humanitarian services, this Recognition is to recognize those who go ‘above and beyond the call’ to provide that service.
Candidates for this Recognition must meet the tenets of the AKC Code of Sportsmanship and Master National Retriever Clubs’ Code of Ethics. This award consists of a personal plaque, name on a perpetual plaque & presentation of the plaques at the Master National Retriever Club’s annual event following their selection. Nominations for the recognition must be received within 30 days after the close of the event. To nominate an individual for the awards, submit a legible, written description of how/why the individual meets the above criteria and why they should receive the award. The submission must include all necessary contact information for the submitter and the name of the candidate. Hard copies or e-mail copies will be accepted and must be received within 30 days of the completion of the most recent MNRCHT in which they participated. Hard copies must be mailed to MNRCF Secretary, c/o Lynn Teague, 734 CR 630, Nacogdoches, TX 75964 or e-mailed to bltdogs4@gmail.com
MNNRC Foundation Board of Directors:
President – Jack Morris
Secretary – Lynn Teague
Treasurer – Jimmy Hughes
Gloria Mundell – Director
Current MNRC President – 2024 Keith Kiesow
2025 President Charles Pugh
Ex Officio Director – 2024 – Keith Maready
Previous Award Winners Are:
The Bill T Teague Handler of the Year Award:
2023 – Dr. Kathryn (Katie) Quarles
2022 – Dr. Dennis Greer and Jim Windham
2021 – None
2020 (No Event)
2019 Sallie Sullivan
2018 Lyle Steinman
2017 Bob Neipert
2016 Bill Autry
2015 Ken Vidrine
Youth Handler of the Year: 13 to 17 year/old category
2023 Preston Anderson
2019 Haleigh McKeithan
2017 Mary Emma Simon
The Humanitarian Sportsman Recognition Award
2019 Rody Best for his work during Hurricane Harvey in the Houston, TX area and Frank Barton for his work with the wounded soldiers in the Marion, AR area.
Remember – Deadline for submitting a nomination for any of these awards is Nov. 30, 2024. Nominations must be in writing and indicate why the nominee meets the criteria set forth to be considered for the award. Submit nominations to MNRCF Secretary, c/o Lynn Teague, 734 CR 630, Nacogdoches, TX 75964 or by email to bltdogs4@gmail.com.
