1977 Vizsla Club of Illinois Hairy Chested Men's All-Breed Amateur Invitational

....ANOTHER VIZSLA CLUB OF ILLINOIS FIRST..........

In an unprecedented move, the VCOI promoted interbreed respect by hosting the inaugural running of the "VIZSLA CLUB OF ILLINOIS HAIRY CHESTED MEN'S ALL-BREED AMATEUR INVITATIONAL" a gun dog stake judged loosly on AKC regulations. Seventeen talented, viable, amateur owned, amateur handled, and for the most part, amateur trained dogs accepted the invitation and toed the line at the Busch Farm on Feb. 27th to share in what one Hairy Chested Man called, "a bit of heavan".

Entire families sttended, some to participate, and some to watch and share in the conviviality. Everyone had a great time. Two huge caldrons of stew (Beef & Pheasant) were consumed; gallons of liquid refreshment were drunk. it was a 'FIELD TRIAL HAPPENING' that occues only rarely.

To give you an idea of the quality of the dogs participating, I'm including here a list of those dogs and their titles in the order that they ran.

- Beau James Patton, GSP, P. Rosenberg
- VCOA Nat.F.CH., Dual Ch., AFC. Brooks Willie Whompum, Viz., A. Lucas
- Ch & AFCh. Wymore's Sean Mac Sumhand, CD (Gord.Set), R. Young
- Hillhaven's Wille the Kid, GSP, A. Ciolkowski
- F.Ch.Alger's May Day, Weim., J. Alger
- Dual Ch & A.FCh. Gradaus Katrinka, Weim, E. Hedrick
- Dual Ch. & A.FCh. Rippi of Webster Woodlands, Viz, K. Crago
- F.Ch. & A.FCh. Big Dan Radbach V Greif, GSP, D Ahrens
- A.FCh. Anuhe' Kuah'ea Lio, GSP, D. Smythe

- Viola's Grau Rausch, Weim, E. Viola
- Dual Ch. & A.FCH. Jodi's Jump-N-Bing Bang Bucz, Viz. J. Busch

- Goldens San Diego Charger, GSP, R. Vernol

- Dual Ch. Crook'N'Nannys Silver Titan, C.D. Weim. R. Zabransky

- F.Ch. Miss Keli's Tonya, GWP, K. Wyderka

- Ch. Hadlock's Duffey, GWP, W. Hadlock

Michaels Shag Bark, GWP, M. Allen

The course the dogs ran featured creek bottoms, sloughs, fence rows, harvested crop fields, road edges and hay fields. Birds were plentiful, flew well, and tended to remain on course after they flew. As a result, all dogs had plenty of game contact, and frequently, what was intended to be a flat 1/2 hour, often stretched into 45 min. or more. Few, if any, dogs negociated the course and call back for a retrieve flawlessly. However, the asstute judicial team of Dick & Wayne Nakotic, after great deliberation, were able to weigh carefully the assets and liabilities of each dogs performance and select five dogs for the 'call back for retrieve'. Unfortunately, what should be to quote Bob Reuss (Thor's owner) a perfunctory "task" turned into what I (Jim Busch) call the 'nut-cuttin'.

Inf first place, topping this star studded field, was Ken Crago's almost impossible to beat, Dual Ch. & Am. Field Ch. Rippie of Webster Woodlands (Vizsla). In second place was Jack Lager's Field Champion May Day (Weim.). These two men will be the judges for the second running of this stake in Feb. of 1978. (Penalty of Honor?). ird was Bob Reuss's Dual Ch Imp Von Pommorgeon. Fourth was Jim Busch's Dual & Am.F.Ch. Jodi's Jump-N-Bing Bang Bucz. Fifth was Ken Wyderka's F. Ch. Miss Keli's Tanya. The winners received in decreasing order of inportance - (a) prestiege, (b) cash (unused entry fees divided % -40-20-20-10-10), and (c) a Tee Shirt inscribed with their placement and the name of the stake.

My personal observations to follow.

1. Respect for the dogs and men of the other breeds was astronomically enhanced. If for no reason, this event and others like it should be repeated often.

2. The training value of this stake to the participants occuring when it did (at the head of the Field Trial Season) is incalcuable. Win or Lose, each entrant received ten times his entry fee in training opportunities.

3. In years to come, if the tradition takes root and flourishes, the invitation to attend will have intrinsic value of huge proprotions. Peer recognition is important to everyone.

Inconclusion: It was indeed "A BIT OF HEAVEN."

- as printed in the VCOI 1977 Bulletin by Jim Busch