Welcome
Well everybody, now that I am President of the Master National Retriever Club I would like to say how fortunate I am to hold this position during the time of many successful achievements of the MNRC.
Our 2011 Master National event held in Maryland was the largest AKC performance event ever in the sporting dog field category! Also our hunt test community continues to grow at a rapid rate, producing talented retriever/handler teams like you, competing in challenging and quality hunt tests throughout this great nation.
I have never been more proud then when my yellow boy Blackbird’s Blu-Moon Shyne and I received our third pass at the 2011 Master National, and were honored to receive the title of Master National Hunter. The opportunity to display this title on Shyne’s pedigree is credited to past Master National board members who worked closely with the AKC to recognize, and reward the hunt test program.
Knowing firsthand the dedication it takes to qualify at our national event, the current national board members commitment and dedication to provide a retriever event at the national level surpassed my expectations! Their time and efforts were the results of an outstanding event in 2011. The magnitude of this event managing three flights with over 550 teams was an accomplishment way beyond my dreams.
Looking ahead to the 2012 Master National to be held in Demopolis, Alabama in October has filled me with excitement, and no doubt some anxiety. I am anxious about tending to all the details related to putting on such a grand event, and I am excited about the growing number of participants that have chosen to be active members in retriever clubs, volunteering at weekend hunt test, and during the MN event.
It’s the volunteers that make this program so special. Each and every person starting with the great judges, organizers, bird throwers, flyer shooters, marshals, bird stewards, blind planters, and all the behind the scenes volunteers, I personally want to thank. Without you it would not be possible. Thanks to everyone before me and after me, for making the Master National ABSOULUTLY INCREDIBLE!
See you in Alabama
John Blackbird
