17/06/2024
From Bill Burland cross posted with permission, but I would like to add a big thank you to Bill for chairing our first specialty!
On behalf of the Liberty NSDTR Club, I want to thank all those who came out to support our Mentored AKC Specialty held Saturday June 15th with Bryn Mawr Kennel Club. As many know, the Liberty Club was created to serve the needs of those in the greater Philadelphia area. We had about 10% of our entry as people new to the sport or new to Tollers. We are also working with about 5 Juniors, two of whom have already moved out of Novice into Open Jr. The Master Junior entered on Saturday took Best Junior, Best of Breed and a Sporting Group 2.
We are grateful to Bryn Marw Show Chair, Colleen Obrien and Bryn Marw Kennel Club & Members who were very accommodating and provided everything we could have wanted! The oversized Specialty ring, the ring time, permission to erect a hospitality tent, reserved parking, bathing area, and mentoring and meeting areas made the event run smoothly!
No event happens without good planning and ex*****on, it’s even better when it’s automatic! The Liberty team has been together in one fashion or another for a few years and it shows (we’ve done MD Sporting for years and the NSDTR 2022 National as well as Supported entries in the area. We are fortunate to have members who were also generous with financial support, thank you Michael & Julie Rudisill.
Grounds
Mike Gaumer (Grounds) was there on Friday to secure our parking and who has been my partner at many events is always ready to make space for anyone who needs it. We had perfect Toller parking with a view of the ring as well as a great hospitality tent.
Exhibitor Hospitality
Francine Kaplan and Rhonda Sherrod for preparing a great lunch. Lisa Burland, Deb Denis and Karen Lockwood for a great selection of appetizers. Andrea Boyer Scott, and Francine Kaplan provided each member of the family with a commemorative medallion marking Liberty’s first event. Renee Donelan created the logo banner that adorned our Hospitality tent. Jen Hollis, Andrea Scott and LeeAnn Kalb worked their magic to give everyone commemorative pins and magnets. Thank you all for your generosity and talent.
Trophies
Sherry Seibel again came up with some very nice trophies, and she and Gary Seibel donated them.
With and entry of 49 and only one absence (based on our observation) we had a 5 Point Major in Dogs and a 5 Point Major in Bi***es.
In addition to the club member Ree Smyth, we had some volunteers who helped anyone who needed grooming. Leslie Hettinger and Andrea Spitzke helped anyone who needed advice or needed to be shown how to do something. Our wonderful Pros in attendance, the experienced owner handlers all helped mentor the Juniors and first timers to get their dogs into the ring. We truly appreciate their professionalism and help. They were all very generous with their time and talent.
It was by all accounts a team effort! We made our dream a reality.
Great things happen with great teams.
In a follow up post we will publish results as soon as Rau puts them on line.
