Field and Retrieving "HALL OF FAME"
In 1999 the Australian National Kennel Council approved regulations for the introduction of a Field and Retrieving Trial "Hall of Fame" to enshrine the records of outstanding gundogs and prominent persons which/who made significant contributions to the sport of field and retrieving trialing. Nominations were sought from clubs or members detailing achievements and contributions of their nominees in two categories - outstanding gundogs (which must have been deceased) and prominent persons. The eligibility criteria for the dog was based on its entire competitive career and previous record as a producer, not simply for one particular win or specific deed. The distinction of nomination for prominent persons was those who had made an outstanding contribution to the field and retrieving game and 'givers' to the sport. In the first year of election, five dogs and five persons were inducted into the "Hall of Fame". Distinguished dogs: LABRADOR RETRIEVER - RT & FT Ch Pantherdell Panther (1956-67) owned by Mr George Daniell. ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL - FT Ch Bellever Raffleson (Imp UK) (1976-1990) owned by Ms Rachel Greaves. LABRADOR RETRIEVER - Dual Ch FT & RT Ch Rosemoor Rajah (1955-1967) owned by Mr CG "Bill" Badham. GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER - FT Ch South Creek Zachary (1968-1979) owned by Mr Kevin Walshaw. LABRADOR RETRIEVER - RT & FT Ch Tesrose Chasa (1967-1973) owned by Mr & Mrs CE Ball. Prominent persons: Mr Cecil Adkins, Mrs Marie Ewen, Mr Bob Maver, Mr Jack Montasell, Mr Kevin Walshaw. We congratulate these wonderful dogs and dedicated people on formal recognition of their contributions to the "wonderful world of gundogs"!
UPDATE 2001 Two additions were made to the Hall of Fame for the year 2001. These were: Prominent persons: Mr Sid Howell of New South Wales, and Distinguished dogs: Labrador Retriever - RT Ch Kaemajae Tammy UD, owned, trialled and handled by Mr Bill Loftus of NSW.
UPDATE 2002 Prominent persons: Two nominations were received. The late Mr Peter Halford of NSW and the late Mr Jack Thomson of Victoria, received sufficient votes to be inducted. Distinguished dogs: Five nominations were received. Final tabulation found two dogs secured the required votes for induction: These were Nat FT Ch & RT Ch Saetta Alto owned and trailed by Mr Elio Colasimone of Queensland, and FT Ch & RT Ch Dunfrui Nicholas owned by the late Mr Jack Thomson of Victoria. |
Gundogs in Search and Rescue
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Our family is held hostage by a disaster dog. Sara has a number of disastrous habits: escapology, thievery, gluttony and bossiness. Her escapes up the road to do a circuit of takeaway bars leaves her vomiting chips and hamburgers for up to three days and me wondering if she’s actually bulimic. We dare not admit her inappropriate sexual encounters to true-blue dog people. The fact that no puppies resulted from her pitbull liaison is proof that a dog god does exist. However it was not any of these helpful and endearing characteristics that earned our flatcoat the title of disaster dog. Instead it was 18 months of training and recent formal examinations resulting in the title Urban Search and Rescue Dog (a new term for a disaster dog). The honour of being the first three officially qualified USAR dogs in Australasia falls to three Christchurch gundogs; Mij a yellow Labrador, Jas a black Labrador and Sara our black flatcoat. All these dogs are part of the RATS Civil Defence Search Dog Team. The fourth, as yet untrained, member of this team is a Springer Spaniel puppy called Paddy. In addition New Zealand already has eight certified wilderness search dogs including Labradors, Curly Coats and Border Collies. Mij is one of these, making her dual qualified, a standard Sara and Jas hope to reach soon. Wilderness search dogs train to find lost trampers and the like. There are also search dogs trained specifically for avalanche work, but in Australasia at least, this is not an urban issue. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) dogs are trained to be key players in urban earthquake disaster response. The contribution of the dogs flown to recent quakes in Turkey and Taiwan was huge. Dogs don’t disturb the site and can significantly reduce the death toll by locating people in the critical first 48 hours. Unconscious, motionless and soundless under meters of rubble, a dog can still smell you as the scent drifts up through air pockets. A comforting thought for South Pacific and South-East Asian nations that are the likely response area for these dogs. So why do gundogs dominate the ranks of search dogs in New Zealand? Because they are easy to train, love people, have good noses, love to work and are robust. |
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Gundogs and gundog crosses are the raw material for good search dogs. The limiting factor is often handler suitability. You need to possess outdoor survival skills, be mentally and physically robust, a team player (Rambos need not apply) and have plenty of spare time. The Christchurch team trains twice per week plus the occasional survival skills workshop, live-in dog training retreat and public demonstration. After all this, the potential for USAR call-outs is very small, so you have to do it because you enjoy the training. |
| Sara absolutely loves training. When
her handler (my husband) heads for the search gear or moves towards his boots Sara is
instantly in a frenzy of excitement. Even in the field her excitement is almost as intense
on the sixth find of the day as on the first. To the dogs it’s the most splendid game
of hide and seek and they revel in it. Profiles of the Christchurch handlers include both male and female, with backgrounds including an experienced obedience instructor, a handler of earlier wilderness and avalanche dogs and complete novices who have never even owned a dog before. The handlers enjoy training almost as much as the dogs. Certainly the media frenzy the dogs created when they qualified, making national TV news along with multiple radio and newspaper articles put a smile on even the most reserved of the current handlers’ faces. Now the fuss is over its back to serious training and the forlorn hope that Sara won’t embarrass us with any more trips to takeaway bars with pit bulls. But Sara is a flatcoat and as we have found out public humiliation is par for the course with this particular flavour of gundog. However when she searches she is magnificent and all is forgiven. Further information ... For details on the Urban Search and Rescue program please fax (New Zealand) +64 3 352 1459 or email lame.dog@xtra.co.nz. |
