2009 Super Retriever Series Kettle River Club Event

The first SRS Club event in Hinckley, Minnesota, was held on August 8 - 9, 2009, and it was a success. Chuck Beckmann from the Kettle River Retriever Club talked with Derek Randle, a competitor and friend of the SRS, about trying to hold a SRS event. The idea of a club event came out of this conversation and after a few phone calls and a conversation with the Super Retriever Series, the SRS Club Event was born.

"We were all excited to make this work for the Kettle River Retriever Club and are also in hopes it can work out for other clubs in all states", said Shannon Nardi, Producer of SRS. "The growth of the SRS has always been the goal. I think that it is a wonderful sport and an avenue in the outdoors that we can all enjoy with our dogs. All of us can participate and anyone can play at any level."

The Kettle River Retriever SRS Club event was an Owner/Handler event and had 30 teams entered. The handler meeting kicked off on Thursday evening with a wonderful dinner along with a band that played well into the night making it a good time for all.

"Our judges - Dave Mealman, Terry Holzinger, and Ron Ainley put together some great tests," said Brett Gratham, SRS Marshall. "I have enjoyed working with these judges and I have to applaud the Kettle River group. I believe they had 23 handlers that had never run an SRS event. There were so many people willing to volunteer to make this event happen. I can't help but admire people that love dog games so much they would give their time even while running the event."

Randy Bohlman and Dealer took 1st place and a bid into the SRS Crown Championship to be held in Little Rock Arkansas in May of 2010. For complete results from the Kettle River event, click here.

The SRS congratulates all the participants in the first-ever SRS Club event!

Photos from Hinckley