Vancouver Island, BC -  Draft Test, April 5, 2003

The recently purchased acreage of the van Klaverens was the venue of our annual spring draft test on Vancouver Island. The day started out dull and overcast as the judges--Angela James, Diana Wilman, and Phil Chagnon-- did the equipment check and walk through with the three DDX teams.

Bernese Norma Jean (Haibeks Jacks Secret Affair, CDX, DD) with handler Patricia Doolin was the first team through the course and passed all three elements with flying colours. Unfortunately the next two did not do very well in the handling from behind exercises and will have to try again.

The first two hundred feet of the freight haul was over a rolling field covered in tall grass, down a hill through a shallow creek, up a slight incline and across the creek again. After about a hundred feet along the side of a hill it was time to enter the woods. Wending their way through the trees over uneven terrain proved no problem for any of the teams. The backpacking went through the woods, over logs, through some thick brush, down a steep hill over the creek and back up the hill into the woods.

When the DDX was finished the judges did the equipment check and walk through fit the DDs Eight of the ten teams entered showed up but we lost the Greater Swiss when he came up lame. Obedience took place in a roped off portion of the field which had been freshly mowed the day before. One of the Vizsla’s and a Samoyed failed this exercise. The maneuvering exercises took place in a ring situated in the trees where the posts for the figure eight were two giant cedar trees. The freight haul also took place in the trees and when it was over we had five qualifiers, two Bernese, a Boxer, a Golden and a Vizsla. The handler for the Golden provided a bit of comedy in the backup when instead of saying “back” she said “beep beep”

Ann Dickie and Heidi provided a gourmet meal to the judges and there was an abundance of food for everyone.

Time to hand out the ribbons and the sky opened up. Congratulations to the one DDX and the five DDs that earned their titles and a big thank you to the volunteers.

David R. Denis

Dogs Qualifying in DDX

Bernese Mountain Dog
Haibeks Jacks Secret Affair, CDX, DD.
Owner and handler: Patricia A. Doolin, California.

Dogs Qualifying in DD

Bernese Mountain Dog
Ch. Doubledutch Born of Paschen,
Handler: Bernadette van Klaveren

Bernese Mountain Dog
Ch. Onyx Maximum Overdrive Ryder, CD
Owners, K. Miller, J.Smith, M. Knowles. Handler: Ingrid Miller

Vizsla
MOTCH Santa Fe's Golden Contessa, TD
Owned by Blair and K. Kilgour

Golden Retreiver
Ch. Myriosa's Legend of the Rose, TD. CD
Owned by Maralyn Redford

Boxer
Ajay's Expression is Hot Legs, CDX, AGN
Owned by Joanne M. Klauer