AKC Midwest Style in Northern Indiana? Maybe a new club?

[MES Kennels]

I run in UKC trials and also like the Midwest style dogs, but there is only one club remotely close that runs those type of hounds at trials (Albion Beagle Club). There is an abundance of UBGF style clubs in the area, and as we all know they're a little slower than some desire.

I am just wondering a couple of things:

First, I was wondering if I am missing any Midwest style beagle clubs in northern Indiana. Particularly in northwest to north-northcentral area Indiana.

I checked the AKC's website and turned up several clubs in the area: Western Beagle Club (been there and they run UBGF), Northwest Indiana Beagle Club (Mostly Brace trials), St. Joe Valley Beagle Club (Brace and some UBGF), Elkhart (UBGF I believe). Albion Beagle Club is the closest to that area of the state, but still they run in Huntington which is a hike for some depending on where you live exactly. Also checked the Midwest Beagle Gundog Federation website/forum to see where their trials are, and it did not show any close other than Albion Beagle Club's trials.

Second, would there be any interest in trying to open a club that runs Midwest style in north-western indiana?

I know I sure would like to have a club closer to run trials at, but if I'm the only one then big woop. It seems as though a well placed club and trial could draw from Indiana, southern Michigan, Illinois (although not sure if we'd want the Illinoisians there; they seem to do things bass ackwards in that state JK)

Just a thought and any comments would be appreciated.

[MES Kennels]

Well, one good thing about no responses, it answers my second question! Must not be a lot of support, or at least not on the board. Thanks for the looks

[patchgirl]

We would travel to Northern Indiana if there was a club that held Midwest trials.

[MES Kennels]

Patchgirl,

Any clubs run midwest by you (I see you are around Holt, MI?

[Ron Conroe]

We got 3 of them here in lower mi,one this fall and two in the spring.

[mybeagles]

There's a couple clubs in lower Michigan, one in southern Indiana and one in Illinois that are all less than 4 hours from you. Starting a club and maintaining one takes some work. Finding members once you do all the work is easy, finding members that will work and help run things is the tough part. You need a good sized piece of land or a couple 40 acre enclosures with plenty of game. 10 members or more. Run a sanctioned event through AKC. Lisa King at AKC is the point of contact. She is very helpful and will get you going in right direction. If you need more info give me a call. I can answer some of your question or put you in contact with some guys that just started a new club. I recommend attending a couple trials, there are several knowledgable people running the trials that can answer most your questions. There is a judging seminar in lower Michigan on this Sunday. An AKC rep will be there and can answer any questions you may have. You could also get your judging license

[patchgirl]

I only now just have a dog that I think could compete in akc Midwest. I've have yet to attend a Midwest trial, but when I was looking up clubs in Michigan I noticed there were only a couple. I wish there were more that we're a reasonable distance.

[MES Kennels]

There's a couple clubs in lower Michigan, one in southern Indiana and one in Illinois that are all less than 4 hours from you. Starting a club and maintaining one takes some work. Finding members once you do all the work is easy, finding members that will work and help run things is the tough part. You need a good sized piece of land or a couple 40 acre enclosures with plenty of game. 10 members or more. Run a sanctioned event through AKC. Lisa King at AKC is the point of contact. She is very helpful and will get you going in right direction. If you need more info give me a call. I can answer some of your question or put you in contact with some guys that just started a new club. I recommend attending a couple trials, there are several knowledgable people running the trials that can answer most your questions. There is a judging seminar in lower Michigan on this Sunday. An AKC rep will be there and can answer any questions you may have. You could also get your judging license

Thank you for the advice. I have attended several trials, but most were UBGF style. I have been to a few Midwest trials, but the driving gets time consuming and costly.

The thing that intrigued me about the Albion club is that they run on state land, non enclosed. Maybe they have an enclosure, but I was only at their trials in Huntington. I guess I was wondering of another club could do that.

I'll mull it over and see how much support there is for the idea. Until then, I'll look into the so Michigan and indiana clubs.

[tdog]

I would love to see a club in northern indiana.. They have some of the best rabbit running around.. serious amount of rabbits in that neck of the woods..

[nhharris78]

90% of all midwest trials are ran in the wild.

[rabbit chaser]

if it didn't fall on a weekend of a NMHA trial you would certainly pull a few dogs that normally ran them from up north and prolly a few hounds from over this way as well.

[MES Kennels]

90% of all midwest trials are ran in the wild.

I did not know that. I only knew that Albion's trial was. That is good info to know! Makes it easier to have a good trial without a huge piece of land as the club's running ground.

if it didn't fall on a weekend of a NMHA trial you would certainly pull a few dogs that normally ran them from up north and prolly a few hounds from over this way as well.

That's exactly what I was thinking!! The southern indiana clubs are maybe a little far away for the northern Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin guys. Wisconsin is only 3-4 hours away from northwest indiana, Michigan is right there too.

If the club was set up, the trial date would be picked to avoid large hunts or ones close by.

[MES Kennels]

Good input guys! Any other thoughts/support are good too!!

[indiana mike]

I live in NW Indiana and would be very interested. There are several F&W areas in the northwest part of the state but I don't know how well they would work out for field trials. Buying or leasing ground along with fencing and all of the facilities required for a club would require a lot of cash. Could possibly work out a deal with one or more of the existing clubs in this part of the state to run trials on their grounds. I think most clubs are looking for opportunities to make money.

[MES Kennels]

I live in NW Indiana and would be very interested. There are several F&W areas in the northwest part of the state but I don't know how well they would work out for field trials. Buying or leasing ground along with fencing and all of the facilities required for a club would require a lot of cash. Could possibly work out a deal with one or more of the existing clubs in this part of the state to run trials on their grounds. I think most clubs are looking for opportunities to make money.

I agree with you! Seems like there would be clubs would be open to the idea. (At least if I was a brace club dying off, I would be ) although it seems like how we see brace as the end of breagling, I think they see anything faster than UBGF as the end. Who knows. Maybe I'll try and call a couple clubs and get a feel for what they think.

There is good public land options. I've run at the Albion trials on public land (salamonie) and it works out pretty well.

I'll PM you and see if we can get something going.