GONE Labor Day Weekend 2017

As Gone's 2017 Labor Day Weekend ASFA Field Trial Chairman, I want to express my thanks to all who joined us at Rich & Denise's Wolfwind Farm for our 10th ASFA Labor Day weekend trial and the 6th Iron Dog Challenge. Once again it was great to be able to use both fields which can certainly challenge any hound :-). On Saturday night 23 of us gathered at K.C's for supper, and on Sunday after being challenged with rain from the remnants of hurricane Harvey we held our appreciation supper in Rich & Denise's new shed!

A big thank you to our Field Trial Secretary for handling the paperwork for our 6th Iron Dog Challenge weekend, our panel of judges, Charles Roberts all the way from Oregon, Tom Cigolle from West Virginia, Doug Berlin from Pennsylvania & Rich Whritenour, field clerks, paddock, huntmasters, lure ops, field crew and the new volunteers who graciously stepped up to make the trial go smoothly, and most of all to those who entered their beautiful hounds and helped us make our 10th annual Labor Day Trial a success.

We actually had participants who traveled from Oregon, Ontario, Washington DC, PA, NY, VA, NJ, MA, NH, CT to name a few. I would be remiss if I did not mention Sue Ann for once again setting up the pot luck supper on Sunday night, and I want to extend my personal thanks to my right hand person Clay who always keeps me out of trouble fixing the equipment, field set up / break down & loading of the trailer.

This year's Iron Dog Challenge Judges on Monday were Charles Richards and Tom Cigolle, the lure operator was Rich Whritenour, huntmaster Paul Obelcz, field clerk Sue Ann Leslie and our proud Field Trial Secretary Dara Johnston who's survived another 3 days.

The Iron Dog Best in Event competitors were the Ibizan Meme 1Y , Rhodesian Ridgeback Steffi 1P, Rhodesian Ridgeback PJ 1B, Whippet Brag 2Y, Pharaoh Shelby 2P, Gunner Galgo 2B, Rhodesian Ibizan Fin 3Y and the Basenji Dharma 3P, Ridgeback Chrissy 3B.

DRUM ROLL: GONE's 2017 winner of the ASFA Labor Day Weekend 3 day Iron Dog Challenge Trial was: The Basenji "Dharma" owned by Julie and Doug Berlin.

Hope to see you next year!
Ben Brodeur