Needless to say, I am extremely honored and
humbled to be chosen to judge our U.S. National Amateur this year. Before
I move into my background, I would like to take this opportunity to thank
each of you for placing your confidence in both Marty and me. Wow! What an
honor this is.
I, like a lot of others in the Field Trial game, became involved with
field trialing while looking for a hunting dog. On numerous occasions, my
wife and I had passed a farm on Route 42 outside of Lebanon, OH and had
noticed the infamous bicycle flags in the field. On one particular jaunt,
I decided to stop and enquire as to the use of the flags. It was explained
to me that they were a Field Bred English Springer Spaniel Kennel (Turtlecreek
Farms) and that they trained Springer Spaniels in that particular field.
After my asking 9 thousand questions, I was invited to their next training
session (the giant sucking sound). The next Saturday, I attended their
training session and was in total amazement as to what these little guys
could do. I was most impressed with their athleticism and how much
 they
liked what they were doing. I immediately purchased my first Springer.
My first desire was strictly hunting but as we trained, people kept
telling me what a good pup I had and that I should try trialing him. I did
and became hooked. As I attended trials, I became more involved with other
people and about three years into the game I began training with Ben
Martin, a local Professional, whom probably most everyone knows. Ben took
me under his wing and probably worked as hard training me as to the proper
way to run a dog in a trial, shoot a trial and judge a trial as he does
working with the dogs. During a training session with Ben not only are
dogs being trained but people are also being trained. We are constantly
discussing judging and gunning situations when they arise in training.
This is how I have learned most all I know about this crazy game. I cannot
thank Ben enough for all the help, guidance and support he has given me
over the past several years. It is often said to learn this game “go train
with a Pro.” I cannot agree more.
To all of those competing in this year’s National, I look forward to
seeing each of you. I wish each of you all the success in the world and I
know Marty and I will do everything we can to make every series as fun and
successful as possible. Remember “IT’S THE NATIONAL, STRUT YOUR STUFF.”
Good luck and have fun.
John Leininger
|
of
pigeons have passed through the coop.