President’s Message 2018.
Dear field trialers, friends’ guests and our four-legged companions
Welcome and thank you for participating in this momentous 110th field trial. I am so proud to be part of a club with so much history and filled with so many positive and inspiring people. On this special occasion commemorating 110 years of the club, I would like to thank each and every one of you and those great men and women who came before us, for making the SAFTC and field trialling what it is today.
This year our field trial is being held in the majestic Verloren Valei Nature Reserve. This is one of my favourite places. The scenery is breath-taking, and we always have lots of birds. I am happy to welcome some new field trailers as well some friends from the past. Thank you for coming. You are all very welcome and I hope you all have a great trial.
The SAFTC has been a busy year. We have run our Puppy Trials, Memel Hunt and Team St Hubert as well as three surveys so far this year. We still have the St Hubert as well as our Heidelberg shoot coming up. I’m happy to report that we have had good participation in all our events. This year we rans our inaugural Team St Hubert event in the Memel area. To my knowledge the first such event run in South Africa, and what a great success this was. This event validates the importance of why we train our dogs to field trial standards. Any shortcomings of the hunters or the dogs are quickly exposed. I see a great future for this event as it is a real test of team work, hunters’ abilities, understanding of terrain, safety, knowledge of birds as well as the ability, experience and training of the dogs. This event brings it all together.
Thank you to our judges, field stewards and organising committee for your time and dedication. We could not do this without your commitment and help. Thanks to Elandskloof Trout Farm for welcoming and accommodating us. Thank you to the management of Verloren Valei Nature Reserve for the use of the reserve and for the visible improvements that have been made. Thank you also to the Friends of Verloren Valei for your role in supporting the reserve management.
Thank you to our Sponsors Montego Foods for the bags of food for the winners and The Delish Real Food Company for the delicious braai ready mixes and pot breads!
Thank you to all of you and your dogs who have taken time out to come and participate. I wish you all a great trial. May you all compete hard but most importantly may you all have a great time.
All the best
Robby Zorrer
President
Congratulations to the following!
The Results of the Open:
1st Place – Robby Zorrer with Titan
2nd Place – Francois van der Walt with Bullet
3rd Place – Robby Crawford Brunt with Westley
COM – Robby Crawford Brunt with Flint
COM – Steve Smith with Purdy
COM – Jaco Moolman with Freyja
Best Lady Handler – Susan Allen with Zola
Most Spectacular Chase – Ed and Vicki Martin with Ally
Maiden Stake Results:
3rd Susan with Zola
COM Robbie with Westley
Derby Stakes Results:
1st Trompie with Hector
Most promising pup – Kenneth with Jet
