The United Kennel Club would like to congratulate all the handlers and dogs who passed the 2007 UKC/HRC Fall International Grand in Webberville, Michigan, and thank all the participants, volunteers and sponsors.

From Loretta Wylie of UKC, who attended: "This year’s Fall Grand was in Webberville, Michigan near Lansing. I was pretty excited that it was held in the state I live and I wouldn’t have to fly or drive very far. OK, the real reason I was so happy about it is I was thinking to myself that might not get lost this time. I remember when I flew to a Grand near Dallas and got lost in their airport and rode around in a circle for about 45 minutes. I am talking about 45 minutes in the airport ramp. For some reason, I could not figure out how to get out of that place. Thank goodness, I finally did and had a great time once I got to my destination.

I did manage to get to the hotel without getting lost. I was pretty psyched about that. Once I got to the banquet, again without getting lost, I was stunned. I have never seen so much food. They had this table with fruits and vegetables and a little caramel fountain. I think I even saw someone dipping cucumbers in that fountain. It was pretty cool, though. I wanted to dip my finger in it, but thought that Wayne and everyone else would think that was a little uncouth.

On my way to the hunt tests, I got lost. I’ll bet everyone knew that was coming. I didn’t see a sign for the hunt test sites and went about 20 miles out of the way before my common sense kicked in and I knew I had to turn around. Lo and behold on my way back, there were some geese looking things hanging up showing me the way to the hunts. Now I was finally ready to sit back and enjoy myself. This was easy.

Good company and beautiful weather made the Grand a success once again. I got to visit with Diana Peacock, Dianna Lacaze and her husband James, Carol and Mike Ford, Bill Autrey and Jim, Mike Dittrich and many more. I also got a nice gift bag from Jim Reichman.

I had a wonderful time and I hope everyone who got to come to Michigan enjoyed it here. I got an earful about why it was so hot, but then it cooled down and turned out downright nice.

Thank you to everyone for making me a part of the HRC family and making me feel so welcome. I can’t wait until the Spring Grand!"

Click here for the final Call Back Report, showing complete results of all the dogs entered.

Of the 51 dogs to pass, 10 became Grand Hunting Retriever Champions. They are:
• HRCH Whisper Wind's Awesome Angus, a black Labrador Retriever male owned by Ed or Linda Ruf of Laura, Ohio, handled by Ed
• UH HRCH Max's Chocolate Chic, a chocolate Labrador Retriever female owned and handled by Sonya Garmon of Lincolnton, North Carolina
• HRCH B&M's That Thangs Got a Hemi, a chocolate Labrador Retriever male owned by Brian Nicholson or Mary Beeson of Denver, North Carolina, handled by Charles Jurney
• HRCH Sweetpea of Ontario, a black Labrador Retriever female owned and handled by Shawn Arney of Port Perry, Ontario, Canada
• HRCH Beckylou's Bayou Beamer, a yellow Labrador Retriever male owned by Louis DeJohn, Jr. of Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, handled by Ronnie Lee
• HRCH Run-N-Gun's Samson, a yellow Labrador Retriever male owned by Ronald or Jeanne Miller of Conroe, Texas, handled by David James
• HRCH Loneoaks Sweet Adeline, a yellow Labrador Retriever female owned by Tom Mathis of Dyersburg, Tennessee, handled by Scott Greer
• HRCH Table Rocks Go for the Gusto, a black Labrador Retriever male owned by Michael Bockerstette and Laurie Froehlich of St. Charles, Missouri, handled by Chris Brinegar
• HRCH McMac Magic Eyes A'Smilin, a black Labrador Retriever male owned by Libby Milroy of North Platte, Nebraska, handled by Chris Jobman
• HRCH Riverwalk's Gunner Boy, a yellow Labrador Retriever male owned and handled by Jeffrey Chesnut of Marlow, Oklahoma

Check out the official site of the Hunting Retriever Club for more details. And don't miss complete results in the December/January HUNTING RETRIEVER!