(Not a Master National club)

2006 MIRC Directors & Board members

President:	Tony Despenas	641-466-1800	tonymwc@prairieinet.net
Vice President:	Dave Hemminger	641-479-2239
Secretary:	Dave Hoke	641-842-2326	dhoke@issbank.com
Treasurer	Beth Harman	641-449-3326	bbharman@iowatelecom.net
Board:
	Ken Reed	641-236-9011	gldnboy@netins.net
	Joe Mullahey	515-224-0155
	Jim Smith	515-984-6467	TeamH2oK9@aol.com

Mid-Iowa Retriever Club Events

UPCOMING MEETINGS


MIRC holds club meetings the Monday prior to each club trial and licensed event. Our annual election meeting is held in November. All club members are invited to attend!

2008 Club Meeting Schedule

(for event schedule, click here)

Informal Club Trials

Fun Trials are held the fourth Sunday of January through April at the beautiful Chichaqua Wildlife area, Elkhart, IA. Whether you are a field trial or hunt test competitor or a non-competitive retriever owner, there's a stake for all ages of dogs ad all levels of training.

The informal club trial objective is for everyone to have a safe and enjoyable time while evaluating their dog's performance. These Fun trials are a source of income the club uses towards further enhancement of the Chichaqua Wildlife training areas, support of the Adopt-A-Park program and to defray costs occasionally incurred by the three AKC licensed retriever field events held yearly on these same grounds.

All participants are required to offer assistance to their stake by either judging or throwing birds. Member dogs with stake placements receive points towards a year-end club championship trophies. The exception is the Junior/Senior stake which receives club title plaques after three passing scores for each level.

Below is a brief description of the five stakes offered. More information and specifics can be provided by any club member or officer.

Puppy: Open to all dogs that are under one year of age. Puppies can be restrained lightly at the line and must deliver the bird to hand. Water retrieves may be required in the warmer weather. Generally single retrieves only but if further separation is needed to place the class, multiple marks may be used. Ducks and/or pigeons may be used.

Derby: Open to all dogs that are under two years of age. Dogs generally required to make multiple marks retrieves. Dogs can not be restrained and must deliver to hand.

Open: All dogs over six months old are eligible. This is the most advanced test of a dog's skills. Dogs must be steady on the line, honor working dogs, retrieve multiple marks on difficult land and /or water concepts and perform one or more blind retrieves.

Qualifying: Open to all dogs that have not:

• Won two MIRC qualifying stakes (dog is eligible to compete for the remainder of the year in which the second qualifying win was acquired).
• Won a first place in a MIRC Open Stake (dog is immediately ineligible to compete in the Qualifying).
• Become a qualified dog for licensed trial purposes (that is, the dog has received a first or second place in a licensed trial Qualifying stake or has received a placement or JAM in a major stake at a licensed trial).

Junior/Senior: Open to any age dog except those that have accomplished one of the following:

• Dogs that have received three passing scores at that level (club titled) are no longer eligible to compete at that level and must move to the next level (JR to SR, SR to Qual or above).
• Dogs winning a derby stake at any club or licensed trial are no longer eligible to compete at the Junior level.
• Dogs receiving a placement (first through fourth) In Open or Qualifying at any club or licensed trial are no longer eligible to compete at the Junior or Senior level.
• Dogs which have received an AKC/UKC and or NAHRA equivalent degree or higher are ineligible to compete at that level.

Juniors and Seniors will run the same set of marks under the same two judges.

Junior test will consist of: Four single marks (two series), mild restraint, handling on one mark only, dogs must deliver to hand. Following all other rules in accordance with AKC Hunt Test guidelines.

Senior test will consist of: Two double marks (two series); two blinds outside the marks (one in each series); dogs must be steady on the line; there will be no honor. One controlled break allowed. Following all other rules in accordance with AKC Hunt Test guidelines. Judging will be pass/fail only. Certificates to dogs receiving passing scores. Once three passing scores are obtained, a stake recognition plaque will be awarded at the end of the season to club members only. There will be no club high point trophy for the Junior/Senior stake at the State Trial Championships.

AKC Licensed Retriever Field Trials

Since the early 1960s, the club has been hosting AKC licensed retriever field trials. At field trials, dogs compete against each other for placements and points toward the title(s) of Field Champion (FC) and Amateur Field Champion (AFC).

Each of the club's spring and fall trials draws over 150 top caliber retrievers from across the country for three days of intensive competition for championship points. All Stakes are held on the Chichaqua Wildlife Area grounds.

AKC Licensed Retriever Hunt Test

In 1998, the club held its first AKC licensed retriever hunt test. Since then the club has continued hosting successful hunt tests in June on the lovely Chichaqua Wildlife grounds.

These events allow the owner to evaluate his/her dog's natural hunting abilities and trainability at one of three different levels. Dogs that successfully pass the required number of hunt tests for the various levels are awarded the title(s) of Junior Hunter (JH), Senior Hunter (SH) or Master Hunter (MH).

2007 Event Schedule