Congratulations to VIRC dogs & handlers

A huge shoutout to our amazing VIRC dogs and their handlers for earning those high point awards for 2025, especially Linda Page with both Flicker & Wren earning two awards! 🎉 The BC Association of Retriever Trial Clubs held its Annual Members Meeting in November, where they celebrated the top BC dogs of the year. Be sure to check out the BCARTC website to read their inspiring stories! BCARTC Top Dogs for 2025.

Congratulations to the many VIRC dogs and handlers who featured prominently in the listings of top dogs with the National Retriever Club of Canada! Your hard work and dedication have truly paid off. Be sure to check out the NRCC Fall Newsletter for the full list of top dogs, handlers, and kennels for 2025! 2025 NRCC Fall Newsletter.

May Field Trial Results

The May long weekend was the scene for the VIRC spring field trial. Here is the link to the results https://retrieverresults.com/cdn/event/freeft/2025-20/VIRC-C.
Thank you to judges, workers, billet hosts, cooks (Dave & Sue, Brianne and Robin), and everyone who chipped in. It takes a village to put on a successful event. Here are some great photos from the Amateur stake on Monday, taken by Bob Ell, and some snapshots from the weekend.

Welcome to 2025

The VIRC held its AGM in early January where the executive was appointed for the coming year: Lorne Parker president, Kevin Ashfield vice-president, Linda Page secretary, Amanda Wannop treasurer, and Rick Roberts taking over the picnic trial chair position.

The field trials are set for 2025 starting with the May long weekend in the Comox Valley, June 28-30 in Logan Lake, and September 27-28 at Swallowfield.

Check the VIRC calendar for upcoming training days and picnic trials. You can find all the British Columbia field trials and hunt tests (including HRC) on the BCARTC website.

Congratulations to Bill Pearson and “Tip” for receiving the Molly Moss Trophy for the club member dog earning the most field trial points in the year (any stake). This team also earned the Hi-Point Junior Field Trial Dog in Canada and the BCARTC Hi-Point Junior Dog award.

And thank you to all the volunteers who help throughout the year! Good luck in 2025. Happy training!

May 18-20 Field Trial Recap

Congratulations to all finishers and especially to new title earners, Lynne Johnson “AFTCH” Tsolumside Winging It Again, and Bill Pearson Tsolumside Take Me Just In Case “QFTR”.

AWARDS

The Graham Tyler Memorial Trophy, Saturday Open Stake Winner was Rod Spence & Baypoint Backwater Oscar.

The Bob Harman Memorial Trophy,  for Top Amateur handled dog for the combined two All-Age Stakes was shared between Rod Spence and Lynne Johnson.

The Frank Albany Memorial Trophy, Qualifying Stake Winner was Bill Pearson & Tsolumside Take Me Just In Case

Thank you to the Caldwell family for donating placement awards in memory of John.

THANK YOU

Each day the group was treated to onsite lunches. Thank you to ANW Trucking, Forbidden Zone Pizza, and Blackstone Creek Ranch, for your contributions towards the lunches!

Trials are only successful because of the amazing volunteers who help with setup, marshal, judge, make lunches, and the myriad of other tasks – THANK YOU!

Thank you to the National Retriever Club sponsor “GARMIN” for their donation, and congratulations to Lorne Parker as the recipient!

RESULTS

Full trial results can be viewed here : Retriever Results

WHAT’S NEXT…

Join VIRC as it hits the road to Logan Lake for the June 29- July 1 field trial. Entries close June 14. See premium on Canuck Dogs.

Annual Members Meeting January 7, 2024

The VIRC held it’s annual members meeting on January 7, 2024 via Zoom. 17 members attended and celebrated the accomplishments of the club over the past year. A heartfelt thank you was said to Debby Montgomery as retiring Vice President, and to Ian Montgomery as retiring Equipment Manager.

The members welcomed new executive members Kevin Ashfield as Vice President and Amanda Wannop as Treasurer, and thank Linda Page for her continued work as Secretary, Daniel Shnitka as Picnic Trial Chair, and Lorne Parker as President. A welcome to Gary Harrison as incoming Equipment Manager.

The VIRC members chose a hybrid model of training days and picnic trials for 2024. Events will be held at Swallowfield and the Comox Valley. View the calendar of events to find out when the monthly events are happening.

The VIRC resurrected the Molly Moss Memorial Trophy for the VIRC member owned dog that earned the most points in CKC licensed trials in the year. The top dog was “Pink” COOLWATER’S MISSUNDAZTOOD QFTR-JFTR and Dave Douglas. Pink earned 15 points in 10 trials in Qualifying, including two wins. Congratulations Pink & Dave!

Annual Celebration – Winter Olympics

Last Saturday the club hosted the annual Winter Olympics. 20 members and 27 dogs braved the less then ideal weather and had a blast! Dogs and handlers competed in fastest(and slowest) as well as a relay and prizes were awarded for a host of fun things! A big thank you to the organizers, Angela Andersen, Debra Pile, Daniel Shnitka and Linda Page as well as everyone who helped out and/or brought something for the pot luck lunch. And especially thank you to Louise for getting Rick to bring the tent and portable fire pit! A great way to close out an amazing 2023 for the club.

Congratulations to the 2023 NFTCH & NAFTCH!

Congratulations to the 2023 Canadian National Retriever Championship winner and top placing Amateur handler to earn titles of NFTCH and NAFTCH.

Click here to see all the finalists and daily reports from the event.

NFTCH “Floyd” & Amie Henninger

And NAFTCH “River” & Kevin Ashfield

The Vancouver Island Retriever Club was proud to be the host club to the 2023 National Championship in the Comox Valley. Many thanks to the enormous team whose members worked tirelessly, not just over the two weeks of the event but over the last 18 months to bring this event into fruition. A huge feat and huge accomplishment!

In addition, thank you to landowners and sponsors, for who without them events would not take place. Click here to view the official catalogue with the many local and national sponsors who contributed.