I had the opportunity to to travel to Natchez Mississippi to participate in the HRC Grand last week. If you don't know anything about " The Grand" it's considered by almost everyone to be the most difficult hunt test to pass. There is typically around 800 dogs who enter and anywhere from 15%-25-% pass. You then have to do it twice. There are tons of dogs out there who never get that second pass. Once you get that second pass and a accumulate 300 points you gain the title of Grand Hunting Retriever Champion (GRHRCH).


I got down there around the 20th of April and "pre-grand" trained with a group of great people. It's been a while since I had that much fun. We just hung out, trained dogs and laughed till we cried several times. The grounds were beautiful and the land owner threw us a big crawfish boil with some of the locals. It was just an outstanding experience and we hadn't even started the event yet.

The actual Grand started April 25th and ends on the 29th. It consists of 5 series, 4 of which are retrieving tests and 1 that is an upland series. You have to be perfect to make it through. Our flight started with around 80 dogs and by the 5th series we had 12 left. The entire week is filled with a rollercoaster of emotions waiting for your turn and watching your fellow dog trainers/handlers get dropped. We have so much invested in the dogs and it's a grind making it through.

We were very blessed to pick up Rally's second pass for her GRHRCH title and I was super pumped to het that handshake after the 5th series especially since i went out in the 5th series last fall. Pass or fail though I would have had a great time.

GRHRCH Firefly's Rally The Troops MH

She is now 12/12 in finished tests, 6/6 in Master tests.

She passed her first Grand, went out in the 4th, went out in the 5th and now Passed for her second pass.











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Congratulations! Great accomplishment. Great dog.

What does the upland portion of the test include?

Congradulations Team Rally!

There is a walk up where two dogs are at heel and they simulate a flush with a dead chukar, one dog retrieves and one dog honors both must remain steady.

Then there is quartering and flushing portion. There are live chukars planted and the dog has to show that it will quarter and hunt away from the handler, flush, sit to flush and shot.

It's not much really, it's all about the sit to flush for the most part.

Congrats! If I hadn't been in the middle of trying to get settled here MS I would have loved to come down and watch.

Are you planning to run the mast national?

No Im not a fan of the MN. I don't want to have to qualify every year and by the time I pay for all those master tests and national fees I could go run 30 Qs and they only last a day with way less travel. I personally would much rather get her QAA vs the MNH.

To me the GRHRCH is a higher HT title so I don't see the point in chasing the MNH.

Right on

GRHRCH is def an awesome title to have. I don’t blame you on the MN. I know just a tiny amount about HRC and AKC tests. And basically nothing about field trials. I know everybody has their preferred game to play. I dropped my pup off at the trainer today so hopefully I can play some next year.

Congratulations
I’ve heard it is a very hard series to pass.

That's awesome man it can become addictive. Go watch some tests sometime. Our clubs HRC test is the 14th-15th near Graham. In general most consider AKC tests to be just a tad harder at each level except when it comes to the Grand. Ask any pro who runs both and they will tell you, not to mention the past rates prove it.

Tests by difficulty

HRC/UKC Started SHR
AKC Junior JR
HRC/UKC Seasoned HR
AKC Senior SR
HRC/UKC Finished HRCH
AKC Master MH

AKC Master National Hunter MNH
HRC/UKC Grand Hunting Retriever Champion GRHRCH

AKC Field Trials

In General field trial titles are more difficult to obtain and require a lot more out of the dog. You have to have access to FT type grounds to be competitive.

QAA while not an official title most recognize it. It requires a win or second in the Qualifying stake. I strongly believe the QAA to be equivalent to a GRHRCH title. There are tons of QAA dogs that participate in the Grand every year that don't pass and there are a lot of GRHRCH that wouldn't be competitive in the Q but a lot that would. They are just different games.

QA2 is an official title and you need 2 wins or 2 seconds

AFC Amateur field Champion

FC Field champion

NAFC National Amateur Field Champion

NFC National Field Champion

Well done. Congrats to both you and Rally!

Congrats on your Grand victory. Rally is a special dog, not many reach that level. Everyone who hunts should go to a trial and see what trainers and their dogs do.

Congratulations sir. We will try again in the fall more than likely… Would love to get one of my girls their GRHRCH

Congratulations to your dog, and or course you. Very tough tests, your girl is beautiful

Congrats on the title. That's big stuff right there. I know you've worked hard to get her there.
QAA can also be achieved by JAMing or placing Am's and Opens. QA2 title is meeting the QAA criteria twice. I hope to see you chase those.
The biggest difference is in field trials, you have to be better than the other dogs. Hunt Tests, be better than the standard. All in the judges eyes...and sometimes they're right, and other times they're wrong! haha
Either way, for a dog and handler to keep themselves together for that many series and achieve either title or status, regardless of the venue, is fantastic feat.
Well deserved accolades for your dog. Huge congrats and I wish you continued success.

Thank man!

It's the first title I think I am truly proud of. The HRCH and MH were nice but Im really proud of this GRHRCH. I'll definitely hit some Qs hopefully in the fall and for sure next spring and see what happens.

Congrats Brady Buck! Well deserved. You and Rally put in the work!

Beautiful dog and great job done by both of you.

+1

That's awesome! Congrats!

Congrats! now come to Valley View and get QAA

Robby