News & Important Announcements

The President's Perspective

The weekend of June 1-3 was a busy three days for the officers and directors of the National German Shorthaired Pointer Association, splitting meeting time between Memphis and the National Bird Dog Museum/Field Trial Hall of Fame in Grand Junction, Tenn.

I will start with what I believe to be our most important decision:

NEW POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT

The NGSPA shall require all dogs competing in any NGSPA approved Championship stake to be entered using an "Official National German Shorthaired Pointer Association Field Trial Entry Form." An official AKC entry form may be substituted only if it includes the dog's DNA certificate number and also the dog's Field Dog Stud Book registration number. A dog's DNA certificate number and FDSB registration number must be provided before the close of entries or the dog will not be allowed to compete.

The effective date of this policy is August 1, 2012.

Background. The Trustee Board believes this is the only means of ensuring that any named Champion or Runner-up has a DNA number on record, and a FDSB number in compliance with the requirements of the Field Trial Stud Book.

• This requirement does NOT apply to Derby Stakes.

• The entry form is downloadable from the official website: www.ngspa.org Select the category on the left side-bar titled: DOWNLOADABLE FORMS. Then choose: NGSPA Field Trial Entry Form. Print it out and complete it. One for each dog.

• It is suggested that owners and handlers you make up a master form for each dog and make an appropriate number of copies. Simply bring a copy for each dog to the field trial and turn them into the field trial secretary before the drawing, or mail them in advance.

• Many participants already have similar forms made up for their dogs for use when they run AKC trials. You may use the AKC form only if it includes the Field Trial Stud Book number.

• If a dog already has a DNA certificate number from the AKC, that number can be entered on the dog's FDSB record. Please call the Field Dog Stud Book for details on this process.

• If you need a DNA certification for a dog, simply request a DNA kit from the AKC or the American Field. It can take up to four weeks or longer to have DNA processed and certificate returned. Please do not procrastinate.

Contact information: AKC: order through the AKC Online Store, or by contacting the AKC: phone: 919-233-9767; fax: 919-816-4255; e-mail: orderdesk@akc.org. Field Dog Stud Book Phone: (312) 663-9797 ext. 29; fax: (312) 663-5557, or email: fdsb@americanfield.com

Secondly we adopted a new set of qualifications for entering dogs in NGSPA Championships:

NEW RULES FOR CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATIONS

Qualifying NGSPA or American Field Events

any Championship or Runner-Up placement
any Futurity placement
any placement in a broke-dog Classic
any placement in an Open Derby Classic

Qualifying GSPC Events where Clubs are Affiliated with the NGSPA

Any placement in a broke dog stake
Any placement in an Open Derby stake

Qualifying GSPC Events where Clubs are Not Affiliated with the NGSPA

Any FC , AFC, or NFC
First place in any broke dog stake
First place in an Open Derby stake

Additional Qualifications

FDSB number required to compete
DNA number required to compete

Note that any GSPCA member Club that is also affiliated with the NGSPA (by paying annual dues of $50.00), receives a tremendous benefit. All dogs placing at their trials are qualified to enter NGSPA Championships.

OTHER DECISIONS OF NOTE

Jean Armbrust was recognized with a special plaque in appreciation of the many years of hard work and dedication she has given to the NGSPA and to the sport of Field Trialing.
There is a new committee in charge of the presentation at our GSP Museum at the Bird Dog Hall of Fame. It is being led by Hayley Killam. They are off to a running start and some great things are happening. We can all look forward to having a presentation of our special breed that is top-notch and worthy of a trip to Grand Junction, TN. once our initial plans are accomplished. Give us a year or two. We will keep you updated.

We discussed a number of ways to improve our National Field Trial at Booneville, Arkansas in March. We hope to see more new faces competing at this important event next year.

Keith Richardson,
President, NGSPA