HIT at GSDCA National Herding Event

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 | Herding | No Comments

In October, Becky and I entered the German Shepherd Dog Club of America National Herding event held at Hado Bar.  It has been in our plans since Arwen and Wynnter were puppies starting out.  We wanted to earn their started titles at this event, since it will probably never be so close for us again.

Arwen and Becky did earn their title from the Saturday GSD only trial with placement.  I never expect less from them – they earned placements in each trial we entered, including High In Trial the week previous in the Detroit Sheltie Club trial.  Wynnter and I did not qualify at that trial, so we needed another leg at the National to earn the title.  Sunday was designated as the National Event, out of which the highest scoring advanced dog would become the possible Herding Victor depending upon the score of the highest scoring advanced dog from C course, which was run on Monday.  To our delight, Drummer and Kelly Malone, our teacher, did earn that high score from advanced on Sunday, and after C course on Monday, Drummer was named the 2009 GSDCA Herding Victor.  This is Kelly’s second HV, as Reva earned the award in 2006.

Wynnter did qualify on Sunday also, and to my complete surprise, took first place in her class, High-scoring Started Dog, High Scoring Dog with an Obedience Title, and High In Trial.  Wynn’s score was one point higher than Drummer’s (which is not surprising since the started class is easier).  After the events held in Springfield were completed, it was determined that I earned the Bob Vest Memorial Award for the High Scoring Novice Handler!  What a thrill for me, and something I barely dared to dream about, being so new to perfomance events.  This sort of thing will certainly help a beginner’s confidence though!