Two teams qualify for Nationals at Kenai Schutzhund Club’s July 2004 Trial

Jim with Kayoz Vom Diener (Oz), and Chris with Chrilo's Kona Nut Jones qualified for Nationals at our July 2004 trial, earning scores of 286 and 280 respectively. 

Several days of pre-trial rain on fields with six-inch grass made ideal tracking conditions for the Kenai Schutzhund Club’s second trial in Alaska on July 31, 2004.  Four club members scored in the 90s and everyone passed tracking as the day started out early and successful, much to the delight of participants and our judge, Jim Elder. 

Around 6AM we were out in Palmer, AK at the tracking field laying the SchH 3 and TR 3 tracks.  First up was Kelly and Kasina Vom Haus Grossen Hund who performed their TR 3 brilliantly for a 98 score.  Jeanine and Prinzessin Zena Vom Schlacht started their TR 3 well, but Zena had left her work ethic at home and began sauntering around the track turning her nose up at all the articles and barely scoring a passing 70. 

An awesome performance was turned in by Jim and Oz with a score of 99 and high in tracking honors.  Not to be outdone by much, Chris and Kona were next and finished with 97 points.  Shaun and Gretta Vom Haus Grossen Hund struggled a bit with their SchH 3 track.  Gretta didn’t want to stop grazing and although it is difficult to work a track and eat at the same time, they finished with 72 points.  Tracklayers got busy again laying the TR 2 and SchH 1 tracks and then we took a break while the last two tracks aged.

Shaun and Austin Courage Pronounced finished their SchH 1 track with a score of 87 points.  Last to track were Bryan and Ricochet von Talarik (Ric).  Ric took a minute to savor the taste of the fragrant grass and then got down to business to earn 93 points on his TR 2 title.  With seven successful tracks finished, we jumped in our vehicles for the 50-mile drive to Anchorage.

At Pena Soccer Field we set up for obedience.  The partly sunny weather was perfect for obedience and protection with only the threat of rain to dampen spirits.  First team on the field was Shaun and Austin for their SchH 1 obedience while Zena and Jeanine were on the long down for OB 2.  Shaun and Austin completed a good performance for a score of 80 points.  Zena started out with energy and enthusiasm right up until the motion exercises.  The sit in motion turned into a great stand, the scaling wall was not to be completed and an enthusiastic voraus ended with no platz.  Mandatory deductions for those incomplete exercises left Zena and Jeanine with 65 points and a failed effort.

The three SchH 3 teams used the famous round-robin format for their field turns in obedience.  Shaun and Gretta had some problems with attention and the dumbbell exercises and finished with a 65.  Chris and Kona were fun to watch, but Kona lost some points for overenthusiastic behavior and scored 90 points.  Jim and Oz wowed the crowd with a great performance and 94 points.

Shaun and Gretta bounced back during the protection phase earning 80 points.  Unfortunately their struggle in obedience left them without a title from this trial.  Jim and Oz, and Chris and Kona tied in protection, each earning 93 points.  Chris and Kona had some trouble running all the blinds and Jim and Oz struggled with shallow grips, however, all in all it was a good day for both teams.  Jim and Oz “swept the field” by taking high points honors in tracking, obedience, protection and trial. 

The Kenai Schutzhund Club would like to thank all our members who pitched in to make this trial fun and successful.  Thank you also to Monica, Trial Secretary; Kelly SchH 3 Tracklayer; Jim SchH 2 and SchH 3 Tracklayer and Helper; and Chris SchH 3 Tracklayer and Helper; and Hundesport Alaska member, Shaun, for participating in our trial.  We would like to give a special thanks to our judge, Jim Elder, for his guidance, expertise and dedication to the sport of schutzhund.