Entries for the Master National Retriever Club Foundation awards are now open. Please take a few minutes to review the requirements for A Youth Handler, Handler of the Year, and Humanitarian Award and nominate someone you know for these prestigious awards.
“Youth Handler of the Year Award” Policy
The “Youth Handler of the Year 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 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 still to come. Our future lies not only with future retriever breeding’s 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 MNRHT’s.
The primary purposes of the Award are to honor and continue to encourage a youth handler in each bracket to step up to the line not only at the weekend AKC tests but also at the MNRHT. There shall be two award categories; a 12 year old and below and a 13-17 year 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.
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:
1. The age of the handler; must meet above requirements;
2. 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;
3. The dog(s) does/do not have to “qualify” (get a plate)at the MNRHT for the handler to be eligible for the award;
4. The handler must have trained, or at least participated in the training of the dog(s) handled;
5. The handler must successfully control the dog from the holding blind to the line at the tests;
6. The handler must exhibit expertise in handling the dog(s) during the tests;
7. The handler must have knowledge of the AKC’s current Regulations and Guidelines applicable to the event;
8. The handler must apply the AKC’s current Regulations and Guidelines applicable to the event;
9. The handler must exhibit an ability to handle the dog(s) to the AKC Standards;
10. The handler must exhibit knowledge of how to properly care for the dog(s); and
11. The handler must exhibit personal & professional conduct at the event.
12. The handler must be in good standing with the MNRC and AKC.
13. A handler of a dog that is owned by any member of the MNRC or MNRCF board of directors or their family is ineligible for this award.
14. A handler of a dog shall not ‘campaign’ for the 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 MNRHT in which they participated. Hard copies must be mailed to MNRCF, 734 CR 630, Nacogdoches, Texas 75964. E-mails sent to ta9@hughes.net.
For further information, contact Bill Teague at ta9@hughes.net or 713-252-3918, Central time.
“Bill T. Teague Handler of the Year Award” Policy
The “Bill T. Teague Handler of the Year 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 has been and is a mentor and friend to many in the sport who exemplifies the spirt and tenets of the AKC Code of Sportsmanship. This award is to recognize and support an adult handler at the annual MNRHT who actively demonstrates the tenets of the AKC Code of Sportsmanship. The award consists of a plaque and check in the amount of $1,000.
The recipient shall be selected by the Foundation Board of Directors 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:
1. The handler must handle a dog(s) in all eligible series at the Master National Retriever Club’s annual Retriever Hunting Test;
2. The dog(s) does/do not have to “qualify” (get a plate)at the MNRHT for the handler to be eligible for the award;
3. The handler must have trained, or at least participated in the training of the dog(s) handled;
4. The handler must successfully control the dog from the holding blind to the line at the tests;
5. The handler must exhibit expertise in handling the dog(s) during the tests;
6. The handler must have knowledge of the AKC’s current Regulations and Guidelines applicable to the event;
7. The handler must apply the AKC’s current Regulations and Guidelines applicable to the event;
8. The handler must exhibit an ability to handle the dog(s) to the AKC Standards;
9. The handler must exhibit knowledge of how to properly care for the dog(s); and
10. The handler must exhibit personal & professional conduct at the event.
11. The handler must be in good standing with the MNRC and AKC
12. A handler of a dog that is owned by any member of the MNRC or MNRCF board of directors or their family is ineligible for this award.
13. A handler of a dog shall not ‘campaign’ for the 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 MNRHT in which they participated. Hard copies must be mailed to MNRCF, 734 CR 630, Nacogdoches, Texas 75964. E-mails sent to ta9@hughes.net. For further information, contact Bill Teague at ta9@hughes.net or 713-252-3918, Central time.
“Humanitarian Sportsman Recognition” Policy
The “Humanitarian Sportsman 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 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 either at the recipient’s home and/or the first Master National Retriever Club’s annual event following their selection.
The recipient shall be selected by the Foundation Board of Directors who have final authority on the selection of the recipient and whether or not the Award will be given in a particular year. The Recognition may not be awarded each year. In considering potential awardees, the Board shall, among other things consider the following criteria:
1. The candidate must be a retriever enthusiast associated with the Master National Retriever Club’s annual Retriever Hunting Test (MNRHT) within 3 years of the nomination;
2. Handling a dog in the MNRHT is not a requirement;
3. The candidate must have trained, or at least participated in the training of the dog(s) handled in the event;
4. The candidate must have knowledge, and be familiar with, the AKC’s current Regulations and Guidelines applicable to the event;
5. The candidate must apply the AKC’s current Regulations and Guidelines applicable to the event;
6. The candidate must exhibit compliant personal & professional conduct at the event.
7. The candidate must be in good standing with the MNRC and AKC
8. The candidate must have provided humanitarian services to individuals or groups inside or outside the RHT community within 3 years of the year in which they are nominated;
9. These services may be on a ‘one time’ basis or over a longer period;
10. The services provided must be non-compensated to the individual and/or their family providing the services
11. The services must have made a significant improvement in the recipients (individual or group) life
12. An individual that has a dog that is owned or trained by any member of the MNRC or MNRCF board of directors or their family is ineligible for this Recognition.
13. No individual may be nominated for multiple awards or Recognition in a given year.
14. An individual shall not ‘campaign’ for the Recognition.
To nominate an individual for this Recognition, submit a legible, written description of how/why the individual meets the above criteria and why they should receive the Recognition. 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 MNRHT. Hard copies must be mailed to MNRCF, 734 CR 630, Nacogdoches, Texas 75964. E-mails sent to ta9@hughes.net. For further information, contact Bill Teague at ta9@hughes.net or 713-252-3918, Central time.
