THE BANCROFT RETRIEVER TRIALS
As a youngster, going to the Sportsman Show in Toronto was always a highlight. It officially signaled the end of winter and aroused my anticipation of heading north for the summer. The Golden Whistle Retriever Trials were my favourite. Trainers were decked out in white – so their charges could better identify them from the crowds of onlookers – whistling, waving and exhorting their canine companions to excellence. Mostly black labs were the favoured breed. Yellow labs and chocolates didn’t seem all that bright and the Goldens loved the adulation and could care less – if they were at all aware – that time was of the essence.
Flash forward five decades and I still love to watch the trials. The Bancroft Trials. The last time I took in the Golden Whistle was in 2001 when Dan Rapson entered his Chessie Nugget and won his evening’s competition.
In 2004, Rapson, his wife Nancy and childhood friend Gary Ridout initiated their own retriever trials in Bancroft. Now they are ready to celebrate 10 years. Competitors come from all over North America.
I recall looking at the competitor’s program seeing entries from Florida, California, B.C., Alberta, Vermont …. I couldn’t wait to interview some of those visitors. That’s when I learned that professional trainers travelled the continent hired by many who probably never even saw their dogs perform. One owner, for example, was on the Kentucky Downs Board so evidently she was into horses as well. Other entrants were trained and trialed by their owners. Like Rapson.
Times have changed and black labs, although still popular, are not so exclusive. Yellows, chocolates and even reds are now part of the mix. The breeding and training over the years has resulted in brighter, better performing retrievers. There are still some Goldens, the odd Duck Toll and a few other breeds uncommon to trials like the black Flat Coated Retriever, the rare Curly Coated Retriever, one Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Water Dog. President Obama has one of those. And more women are involved.
Men often get involved in trials to extend their love of hunting with their retrievers. Many Women come from the opposite motivation first training then extending their love of trials to hunting. Playing the devil’s advocate I asked who made the better trainer – men or women. The response was low key humouous banter. Basically, the common denominator is nurturing and encouragement. “It’s a great way to exercise yourself, your dog and to bond.”
The trials, which take up an entire weekend, are under the auspices of the Canadian Kennel Club. The trials take place at Dennis and Mary LeFeuvre’s Hypoint Farm (home to the volunteer driven North Hastings Community Hatchery) and also at Rick and Jayne Card’s farm. Over the years numerous stories have stood out. Following are a few examples.
GREENER – Two Tales
Following a day of trials Shirley Greener stopped for a bite and left her dog Harley in an unlocked vehicle. Returning to her vehicle Greener discovered that someone had taken Harley. Using the media to advantage she and Harley eventually reunited. Turns out some guy in his twenties, influenced by too much grog, simply took Harley. Home. Where his mother asked about the dog, discovered what had happened, saw the news reports and convinced her son to return the dog. Happy ending.
Post Harley, without a dog to train, a friend of Greener’s training in Florida noticed a black lab tied up and apparently abandoned. She called Shirley and asked if she wanted her to try and buy the dog for Shirley to train. To abbreviate the details Greener trained that dog and at the Bancroft trials became the FIRST woman in Canada to earn the Grand Master award which included upland retrieving, flushing and a water test.
GILMORE, a Golden retriever, was more than a pretty face. His credits included 30 movie sets, a Tim Horton commercial, Darcy’s Wildlife (a North American television series filmed 2004-2006), and for 3 years he starred in the CBC series “Riverdale” where he continually stole scenes. His credentials? Gilmore was a Grand Master Hunter, Agility Trial Champ and an Obedience Trial Champ.
Tony ZAPPIA has published articles and photos in most major U.S. magazines. He travelled the world including Canada, Europe, the Scandinavian countries and Russia. His one lens was the size of a small man. He could film the nose hairs of a flea at 100 paces.
“I had been in Sweden for two weeks filming for a fishing magazine,” he told me. On his way home, at Heathrow, Uzi armed guards interrogated him, x-rayed all of his equipment and destroyed his film. “That was it!” he said. Zappia changed careers.
From New York, Zappia was trialing his two Goldens. He trains 6 days a week. “I just love it here,” he said. “I passed up opening day for waterfowl to be here and I’m OK with that.”
Even the best dog can run amuck. To wit, legendary Brittany trainer, trial judge and writer Bill McClure of Manotick, On. recounted how his dog, just before taking a test, walked over to the judge, sniffed him and then proceeded to urinate on his leg. “A pre-emptive strike?” McClure wondered.
ICE was a 6 year old Black Lab trialed by professional trainer Chuck Dygos. In 2006 and 2007 she was the first female to win back to back National Field Trial Championships in 47 years. Dygos said that only 4 dogs in retriever history had ever accomplished this and “Ice” was the second female. “It’s almost unheard of for a 6-year old to win the National; 8 or 9 is the usual age,” said Dygos. It was no shock that Ice won the Bancroft trials.
Dygos said Ice is part of the family. She “hunts duck, pheasant; she’s a house dog and a companion.” Following the Bancroft trials Ice sold for a rumoured, never confirmed, $350,000. “Pups from her first litter sold for $5000 each.”
Besides the brilliant colours of fall the area abounds with wildlife. Visitors in 2013 were astounded by the bountiful numbers of white-tail deer. And, of course, there are the resident elk. One competitor from Sudbury was staying in the Hartsmere area. He drove with caution saying with considerable enthusiasm that the deer and elk “were all over the place.”
As for a decade, this year’s 10th will be held on the weekend of October 4&5. When I asked Dan Rapson if he had any special plans he responded, “Nothing special; just hoping or good weather.” And more interesting stories.