2005 VCOI Winter Walking Field Trial
Ottawa Field Trial Grounds, Eagle, WI
December, 2005

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

The 2005 walking trial was held under tough conditions. Temperatures in the single-to-low double digits all weekend left precious little moisture to carry scent Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon, the much needed moisture had arrived in the form of unneeded snow. About 4 inches of it fell during the last half of Saturday, with another 2 inches overnight. Falling temps and swirling gusts throughout Sunday ensured that scenting conditions would continue to deteriorate. The snow drifts made for tough going for the handlers.

However, in spite of the coldest conditions since the event moved from the Busch farm to Ottawa, the VCOI volunteers persevered to host yet another successful event. Fifty-one dogs made the 71 total entries for the weekend. Many new owners watched and competed. Judges Rano Wells, Kent Harter, and Rodney Albin had a fine selection of dogs from which to choose. Victor Barger, Rodney Albin, Mark Spurgeon, Joe Duffek, Jeff Parise, Greg Wegler, Jim Busch, and others whom I've surely forgotten all helped the event run smoothly by bird planting, gunning and marshalling.

We tried something a little different this year, too. The trophies from the original walking trial years were the highly coveted Lane Dog trophies that we give out to the runners-up at the Futurity. In that spirit, the event committee decided to use signed, numbered, limited edition Vizsla prints as trophies, that were met with participant acclaim. Two stakes were sponsored, the Open Puppy by MIRA Vizslas and the Open Derby by Tru Vizslas. Thank you again to everyone who watched, entered, pitched in, and toughed out the conditions.

- Submitted by Michel Berner, Event Secretary

Amateur Gun Dog Ret, (13 Starters)
Judges: Kent Harter, Rano Wells
1. Shiloh Madach's Mishka, Robert Tomczak
2. Withheld
3. Withheld
4. Strider's Red Flash JH, Victor Barger

Open Puppy - stake sponsored by MIRA Vizslas (18 Starters)
Judges: Kent Harter, Rano Wells
1. Sherminator's Bouncing Boomer, Katie Sherman
2. Johnston's Jumping Jack Flash JH, Terry Johnston
3. Strider's Razzmatazz, Rodney Albin
4. Strider's Star A Blazin', Kevin Berta

Open Limited Gun Dog (6 Starters)
Judges: Rano Wells, Rodney Albin
1. withheld
2. Strider's Ace, Victor Barger
3. withheld
4. Strider's Red Flash JH, Victor Barger

Open Derby - stake sponsored by Tru Vizslas (24 Starters)
Judges: Kent Harter, Rano Wells
1. Shiloh's Irish Tia Maria, Brynne Bock
2. Rio Le Rouge, Jonathan Peck
3. Wegler's Gypsy Gracie, Greg Wegler
4. Si Cisco, Linda Busch

Amateur Limited Gun Dog (10 Starters)
Judges: Kent Harter, Rodney Albin
1. Fankell's Shiloh Taz, Thomas Fankell
2. withheld
3. CH Csillag's Day of Infamy SH, Jeff Parise
4. FC AFC Cherokee's Jazzmin of Shiloh, Robert Tomczak