New Member and Question!

[Vickie Lamb]

Hello --

I am new to this forum and from the USA. I have Labs, a Golden and a Chessie, and a few coonhounds.

Hope I can ask a few questions right away!

What breeds can compete in the Australian National Retriever Championship?

And is that what the Championship is called?

Thanks!!

[Graeme Parkinson]

Vickie

Welcome

Our retrieving championship is called the "National Retrieving Trial Championship".

All registered pure bred gundogs as recognised by the member bodies may compete in retrieving trials, once such a dog is qualified it may compete at the national.

Graeme Parkinson

[Vickie Lamb]

Thank you very much!

How do dogs get qualified?

[Robert Tawton]

Hi Vicki,

Welcome to the ARWC website. If you care to have a look in the Articles/Archives Section you will find an article entitled, Retrieving Trials in Australia – An Explanation by Robert Tawton, which I wrote some time ago in response to similar questions to yours. Over the past 30 years or so I have seen the following breeds compete in our Retrieving Trials; Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Flat Coat Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointers, German Long Haired Pointers, Vizlas, Duck Tollers, Weimaraners, a Red Setter, (English) Pointers, Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. In terms of numbers competing, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and GSP’s would be the leaders in the popularity stakes.
We have conducted 35 National Championships and if you take into account dogs finishing in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place you have a sample of 105 animals. Of this sample, 6 have been German Shorthaired Pointers, 2 have been Golden Retrievers and the rest have been Labrador Retrievers.
Kindest regards, RWT