Grand Nationals(JUST TELL`N IT HOW IT IS)

[bucker]

I just came from the Grand Nationals last weekend. I was very surprised that there were only 143 open dogs. Over the 2 days I spent there I seen some great judging, and some not so great. For the record judging was tough, and if done right, $20.00 wasn`t half enough to pay these guys.
Like so many other big hunts, the first round, (while there are still many judges to choose from) its relativly easy to get a fair shake. But look out from HERE. It gets late, and everyone but just a few go home, and unless you are a big shot or a local favorite,you might as well pack up and get an early start. Either way , you`ll be leaving after this round. I used to think that it took a truely great dog to win. A decent dog and the right guy will get you farther than the best dog there, if your a nobody.

Well I know I`ve seen my last big ARHA style hunt. I will leave these hunts to the people that are suposed to win. Your Earl Bruners, and your Fred Bachs, .......Without even looking at the hunt results I knew these guys would be in the top. No, I wasn`t a bit surprised to find out they did well. Not taking anything away from there dogs. I`m sure they are very nice. But it truely does take more than a nice dog to win. If you don`t believe this,you need a reality check. JUST SPEEK`N THE TRUTH

[MasonsBeagles]

Well just to comment and everyone has their own opinion and right to it. I can tell you why Earl Bruner is in the winners circle or has the dogs to beat. It is because Earl and Patricia puts the time in the hounds. A one year old dog from their kennel has the experience of a four or five year dog outta mine. They dont just go grab a dog and roll the dice. Those dogs are ran and ran very hard. I have to say that they are the most dedicated houndspeople in the business. While I am on this darn computer thinking about running hounds you can bet they are running hounds. You know what when you put time in the dogs like they do then you get to reap the rewards of your efforts. So it is not just luck and buddies that puts them their. It is their work ethic with the hounds they have. You know what I put alot of time in my dogs I mean alot of time. When I am up against Earl and Patricia I know I need a little luck because they have put more time in theirs. By the way Earl didnt get in the Hall of Fame as Houndsman for nothing. That is an astounding acomplishment. He got their because him and Patricia know dogs and they know how to get the best out of their dogs. So if you get beat by them you have gotten beat legitimately. They are not going out and buying up dogs all over the country that they think are World Beaters. They are running dogs that were concieved born and raised right their on their property. Dont get me wrong luck does play a role in some of the trials but with the right preperations you find more luck.

Just my opinion. I know alot of people put alot of time in their dogs if they do and have success it just pissess me off when others want to downplay their accomplishments. You know their is a big difference between winning the Grand Nationals and a club hunt in BFE. Their should not be any taking away from those wins. I for one will continue to run ARHA LP. I feel it is the best thing going. If I get beat by an Earl and Patricia Bruner then I do. I dont mind it because I know they didnt do it by luck or by their buddies judging or they found a World Beater two days before the hunt to run. They did it with TIME AND DEDICATION.

[Big Dog]

I have to agree with Mason on this. When Earl brings a dog to a trial you can bet your bottom dollar he feels that the dog can win it all. A lot of us bring a dog knowing he is a good dog that with a little luck might do well. Guys like Earl Bruner, Vernon Hoskins, Tom Langenhorst, Fred Bach, The guys from Sangamon Ridge Kennels, and Sammy Wells bring a dog expecting nothing less than to win it all and that is because they have put the time in and they know that the dog is truly a dog. As for Earl Bruner, I met him for the first time this weekend, I judged his dogs twice, and ran in the cast with one of his dogs. I put a win on the one in the semifinals that went on to win the open class, and the other two dogs lost fair and square. I didn't hear him snivel whine or complain he took it like a man. The guy bought about 5 or 6 dogs to the trial and I think 1 or 2 of them placed and it wasn't because he was buddies with the judge, but because it was the best dog for an hour in that cast. Some people need to realize that their hound will sometimes just lose without being cheated.

Big Dog

[beaglebill]

Well said Mason, I to realize how hard Earl and Pat work. I just cant understand how 4 handlers can stand there and let the judge give Earl or Bachs dog jumps and checks without saying something. Isnt there a right to protest? Do people thing the big guys just automatically got where they are the first time they went to the hunts? Ill tell you this if you have a good dog a judge would have a hard time leaving him out without embarassing the heck out of hisself. I have a suggestion be a judge maybe people will start giving you some attention. In other words get in or get out....

[BigB]

buckner , I'm sorry you feel that way. But here is the truth. I've judged alot of big name peoples hounds and some of the time they've ended up winning. Not because of who they are but because they brought some tough hounds and that particular cast they had the best dog down. Sometimes it's luck!. Most of the time it's skill. When i judge and hopefully most of the judges out there judge it's just the color of the collar that matters. I don't keep track of who owns what. I have a hard enough time remembering my wifes name let alone someone elses dog. After i do call dead track and the handlers catch their dogs i let them know how i scored that particular rabbit so there's no surprises at the end . Plus if they have any questions the scoring is fresh in my mind. This way they know exactly how their dogs doing. Question do you or have you ever judged? Alot of times guys will sit back and think they're dogs kicking butt in a cast and come back losing. Automatically they think buddy judging is going on. Well let me tell you ,what you hear and what a judge sees is not always the same. If you judged then you would know this.

[KPrice]

Bucker,

Just wondering: Did you step up and judge??? Have you ever been in a judge's shoes?? The amount of whining you hear reminds you of a kindergarten class. On the subject of "big names", how do you think these people got to be known in the first place?? By winning. So let me ask: Do they win because they are "big names", or do they have "big names" because they are winners? Its pretty sad when a person can't accomplish something without whiners and complainers trying to tear them down.

[bucker]

As a matter of fact I did step up and judge. I might even of judged your dog. I judged Bruners champion bitch, and Sangamon Ridges champion. Also, I judged one cast of opens. You need not tell me about spending time running and conditioning of hounds. I run an average of 4 hours a day, weekdays, weekends, everyday. I started a club, did everything to get it going myself. And when you bring a dog to our club, you will not likely see me running a hound. Why? Because I have to judge. I have judged hundreds of cast and never had a protest filed. I`m not by far the best judge, but you will get judged honestly by me! If you don`t think what I said about big names is true, well maybe you need a reality check.

I don`t have anything against the Bruner`s. They seemed like real good folks. I never got beat by there dogs. Wouldn`t of matter if I had. It seems all of you have a personal side with them. If they are you hero`s, well I`m sorry. I am telling you how it is, not just my feeling, the feelings of many that come from other places to run in these hunts. I do see now why only 143 opens dogs showed up. If not for all the great people from other clubs that I met at this hunt, I would really regret going.

As for buddy judging, when the judges won`t tell you all the way through any of the score. When after the cast the judges have to pull away from the handlers, whispering and being very quiet and secretive about there work. Why not say on a check, (Yellow dog, or green dog) or say checks open. The only time that I see this done is the fishy cast. The one where you don`t have a idea of what the judge is seeing. They can bring back any score they want. You know as well as I a protest under these conditions is just a waiste of time. I have no problem getting beat by another dog. I know that some dogs do get lucky breaks. But when a dog gets beat because there from another state, or not the dog the judge wants to win, thats crap! PRICE, that may even be your kindergarten class crap. I liked that. Good one.

You can`t be honest with yourself and say that youv`e never felt like this. I`ve just seen my share. You all can have it. As for Big Dog, I seen you judge a cast and thought you did well. You got pulled very hard for a while. Man that SERECEA was thick.

[Big Dog]

Bucker, I will agree with you on one issue here. I think there would be a lot less controversy if folks would call out that the check is open and what collar dog got the check. If this was done then everyone would know where they stood. If you saw me judge you know that I do this, because I want everyone to know where they stand during the whole cast. I only saw one cast where I thought the judging was a little fishy. In this particular cast the running was rough and all of the handlers thought that there were possibly 2 or 3 checks. After declaring a dead track the judge informed us that their were 6 checks, and everyones mouth just fell open. As a judge I knew that their weren't 5 legitimate checks where the dogs actually didn't make forward progress for 15 seconds and then moved the rabbit, but since the judge never declared the check open we had no idea what he actually called a check. I really wish that the rules committe would require the judge to at least declare when the check is open even if he doesn't call out the collar color. This way corrections can be made on a judge that is giving 7 to 10 second checks, and checks where the dog is just pecking along and not really moving the line. I am convinced that some people do cheat, and others just don't know what the he _ _ they are doing.(LOL) You would be surprised how many guys attend trials and judge that don't really know dogs. That is why a lot of judges never give credit for a jump unless they see the rabbit get up, but that is another story within itself.

Big Dog

[KPrice]

Bucker,
Sorry for the misjudgement. You didn't judge one of mine, I wasn't even there. As far as any relationship I may have with the mentioned people, there is none. Don't know them and never talked to them. My trialing has been done only in the deep south. Didn't mean to get riled up, I just tend to get defensive, especially dealing with complainers who refuse to step up and judge. No hard feelings, I hope.

[Tony-Hammertime]

I don't know about the other class finals but the grands that were in the finals all were there with good reason....they are all good dog I had a fun time just watching them.

[BOOMHOWER]

My dad always told me you can't please everyone. I love field trials, watching other's dogs, meeting people that have the same intrest's, but haven't been to one yet where everyone was pleased at the end.