Author: Andy Hall

GRCA National Specialty Canceled for 2020

Andy Hall 2020 National

The Mid-Florida Golden Retriever Club was notified today (April 15) that the World Equestrian Center, which was to be the site for the club’s hosting of the 2020 Golden Retriever Club of America National Specialty, has canceled all its events until March of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Therefore, there will be no GRCA National Specialty this year.

The MFGRC board will be holding a special meeting to determine next steps. We ask that everyone please be patient and we will provide further information as soon as we can.

Thanks to everyone who has worked on preparations for the 2020 National and thanks to Golden exhibitors and friends around the country (and world) who were planning to come.

MFGRC Cancels Spring Agility Trial

Andy Hall Agility

The Mid-Florida Golden Retriever Club has canceled its Spring Agility Trial due to the coronavirus outbreak. The event, which was to have been held April 17-18-19 at Grand Oaks Resort in Weirsdale, Fla., will not be rescheduled.

Exhibitors are asked to contact trial secretary Jill Roberts at superbasset@gmail.com to let her know if she can shred their entry check. Exhibitors who have made deposits at Grand Oaks should contact Lori Mount at (352) 750-5500 x 231.

The MFGRC will hold its Fall Agility Trial at Grand Oaks Oct. 9-10-11. The event will be all-breed with judges Cindy Deak and Don Wittke.

The MFGRC is also hosting the 2020 Golden Retriever Club of America National Specialty in October at the new World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla. The event will include Agility for Goldens on Monday, Oct. 19. In addition, the club will hold a Goldens-only agility trial on Sunday, Oct. 18. Judges for both will be John Defilippi and Dave Hirsch.  

MFGRC Announces 2019 Year-End Award Recipients

Andy Hall Awards

The Mid-Florida Golden Retriever Club announced its 2019 year-end awards recipients and winners at the club’s annual Christmas party on Dec. 14 at the home of club president Ann Rowe in Sorrento, Fla.

2019 Year-End Dog and Competition Awards

Dog of the Year award winners received custom car magnets from the club that were created by club member Anney Doucette of K9-Design.

Agility Dog of the Year

Peaches (Picabo’s Sweet As A Peach MX MXJ OF)

Owner: Nina DePetris

Field Dog of the Year

Mya (Surefire Myarmani at JBoo CD RN MH WCX CCA QAA ***)

Owner: Marilyn Booher

Obedience Dog of the Year

Smokey (Liebchen’s Smokey Bones Mountain Mischief VCD2 UDX BN RE MXP AJP OFP TD SCN SIN SHDN TDU THD CGCA CGCU)

Owner: Ralph Orlando

Rally Dog of the Year

Lara (Shor’Line Lara Of Ambersand Beach TD BN RE CCA DJ CGC TKA FDC)

Owner: Ellen Bartkus

Show Dog of the Year

Ditto (MBISS GCH Questan’s RegeneRACEshun MBISS RI DSX DM BN RATN CGC TKI)

Owner: Julie Wangelin

  • Also received perpetual Show Dog of the Year trophy donated by Diane and Vern Gank, Wonderland’s Golden Retrievers

Tracking Dog of the Year

Sizzle (MACH2 PACH Deauxquest It’s A Hot VCD2 UD RN MXB2 MJC MXP4 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX MXF CA DJ)

Owner: Dee Thibodeaux

Versatility Dog of the Year

Ditto (MBISS GCH Questan’s RegeneRACEshun MBISS RI DSX DM BN RATN CGC TKI)

Owner: Julie Wangelin

Fallchase Owner-Handler Award

Julie Wangelin

Ditto (MBISS GCH Questan’s RegeneRACEshun MBISS RI DSX DM BN RATN CGC TKI)

  • Received perpetual trophy donated by Fallchase Kennel

Gold Standard Challenge

(open to Mid-Florida Golden Retriever Club members who compete as an owner-handler with one dog in both field and conformation)

Not presented

  • Award donated by Kristin Sipus In memory of Jagger, Sophie & Fisher, three MFGRC Champion Master Hunters

2019 Year-End Club Member Awards

Mover and Shaker Award

Michele Throm

Above and Beyond Award:

Robin Burket

Lloyd Kiernan Service Award:

Dee Thibodeaux

Nancy McCune Member of the Year

Lisa Boudreau

Holiday Edition of “Golden Tales” Newsletter Now Available

Andy Hall Golden Tales

The brand-new December edition of “Golden Tales,” the newsletter of the Mid-Florida Golden Retriever Club, is now available for reading and downloading on the club website at the “club information” tab on this website.

The new edition includes reviews of the club’s agility trial, WC/WCX and Winter Hunt Test as well as photos from the Fun Field Day and photos of new members. As always, there are lots of club member accolades, information about upcoming event and much, much more.

Club members wishing to make contributions to future editions of “Golden Tales” can submit their items to newsletter editor Chris Jeffrey at newsletter@mfgrc.org.