Daily journal entries return - I promise
11/16/2006 8:30:02 PM
Journal entry for November 16, 2006
Hello coon hunters and coonhound fanciers across the great United States. At the chiding of my friend Chris Herring here in North Carolina to “tighten up” I’m back at you with the daily journals and plan to visit with you daily as we move toward another tremendous year of coonhound events in the New AKC.
Yesterday was my second anniversary at The AKC with my friends on the Coonhound Events Management Team. It’s easy to see that things have changed in terms of the emphasis on coonhounds at the world’s largest registry but the exciting news is what’s yet to come. Some of the things that are coming up can be shared but the really big announcement will have to wait a few days.
I’m like the guy that buys his wife a really great present and can’t wait to surprise her but doesn’t want spoil the opportunity to see the look on her face on Christmas morning. The big announcement will definitely have the coonhound world buzzing. But, we’ll just have to wait a few days until we can tear the wrapping off the biggest story to hit coon hunting in a very long time.
We do have a new competition for the bench show enthusiasts that will kick off January one. We see another show competition out there but it requires a commitment to travel the country, at no little expenditure of time and money, to participate. This AKC national bench show competition will follow the AKC philosophy of bringing the competition to you, eliminating the requirement to travel in order to participate. The last time I filled up the pickup, gas was still more than $2 a gallon and with recent changes will no doubt go higher.
In January, we will announce the Bench Show competition which will allow you to participate by entering any AKC-licensed event. We are in the planning stages in terms of the award structure but the program is largely in place. The program was devised by Exec. Field Rep Lyndell Price who has a wealth of knowledge in working with bench shows over the years. When I was at the UKC, Lyndell had the distinction of being the “lead” judge for any new major shows that we introduced.
The program is very straight forward in its approach. You go to any AKC bench show and if you win Best Male or Female in any of the four categories, Show, Champion, Grand Champion, or Supreme Grand Champion you earn 2 points. Then, you participate in a runoff f of these winners. If you win that, you earn 5 bonus points. Certain designated shows, called “Signature Shows” will award 10 bonus points to the winner of the runoff.
We believe that all bench show enthusiasts will enjoy the increased competition provided by the runoffs and will appreciate the recognition the leaders will receive online and in the coonhound press. No one will argue that The AKC is the hands down leader when it comes to dog shows with around 3 million entries in shows each year. We will be borrowing from the vast experience of The AKC in developing a national coonhound bench show program that will meet the needs of all who love to show their coonhounds in AKC competition.
The first “Signature Show” of the 2007 season will be the Lake Eufaula Southern Heritage Show on Friday, January 26 in Eufaula, Alabama.
And, for those that are looking forward to showing their coonhounds in the AKC conformation rings around the country and especially at landmark events like the Westminster Kennel Club show or the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, the Eufaula show presents a special opportunity. We will be holding two AKC conformation matches following the AKC “Signature Show” on Friday night. There will be Class B match for Plotts and a “fun” match for Redbones at Eufaula on Friday night. Show enthusiasts attending shows in Albany, Georgia that weekend will have plenty of time to attend the AKC show and the matches. A “don’t miss” feature at Eufaula on January 26 will be a “How To” presentation for all coonhound exhibitors that have aspirations of showing in the AKC conformation rings. This is a golden opportunity to learn everything you need to know about entering and showing your dogs in AKC conformation.
We’ve got a lot more to share concerning the new year and I’ll save that for tomorrow’s journal entry.
Since I mentioned Lyndell Price in this journal entry, I should recognize Lyndell's efforts in speading the AKC word to the coon hunting world. We shipped 10 or more club packets to new clubs that Lyndell has contacted this week and are ready to experience the New AKC. Great job, Lyndell.
I hope that each of you have a great hunt tonight with your hounds. Coon seasons are in across the nation and I’m sure you are, as am I, enjoying coon hunting to its fullest at this time of year.
Good Huntin’
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