Marta Morris

August 30, 2020 by Marta Morris

Stellar’s last northern test is on the books. It was a successful weekend with 13 out of 15 Master passes and 2 for 2 Senior passes. The weather was a little unsettled Friday morning with a rain/lightening delay, but the day found sunshine in the afternoon with just enough of a rain late in the day to produce a beautiful rainbow stretched across the sky. Our thanks to the Hinckley Retriever Club and Chuck Beckmann, Dan Berglove, Ed Thibodeaux, Sonia Liedman, Steve Paulson and all the other volunteers like Sarah Willett, Chad Sweep, Gordie Schlichting and other I did not know by name who stepped up to keep the tests moving. Thank you to Lin Gelbmann and Tom Newell for their Master tests with good bird and blind placement. Thanks to Sharon Sweep and Sid Sontag for what Jack referred to as the “Senior National” with some very meaty birds and blinds. All these tests showed areas for trainer/handlers to work on for future tests. Stellar congratulates all those who received passing score but also acknowledges the commitment all  handlers make to play this sport. Stellar looks forward to running in the HRC tests next year.

August 24, 2020 by Marta Morris

Stellar retrievers just completed Mississippi Headwaters Retriever Club’s Master/Senior Test which started Friday 8/21 and finished 8/23. The Master test started with 84 dogs and finished with 51 dogs. A huge “thank you” to Budd Denny for Chairing this event and Becky, Doug, Shannon, Ernie, Jerrie, and the rest of the MHRC for all their hard work and planning. Thank you to Sarah Willett and Wilson “Boogie” Lejeune for setting up some very challenging tests (the blinds were very well placed). When it was all said and done, Stellar passed 16 out of 16 Master dogs, (Karin Parker did an awesome job handling her dog Maverick with 10’s on both the land and water blinds in the last series), and passed 2 for 2 Senior dogs. It was the first test for both Senior dogs, thank you the Shannon Heifort and Wendy Mattinen for their tests and time in the Judges chair. Stellar thanks and appreciates our clients faith in our training.

August 10, 2020 by Marta Morris

Stellar Retrievers had one of those unbelievable Hunt Tests this past Friday/Saturday at Hennipen County Amateur Retriever Club in Foley MN. Thank you to the Hennipen Club for their well organized flight and all the hard work of Dan Tongen and his crew. They were all great and kept things moving. Thanks to Lin Gelbmann and Jace Tramontin for three very challenging series that had some of us a little nervous. Stellar wishes to congratulate all those who passed these tests and say thank you to our clients who put their faith in Stellar.

July 05, 2020 by Marta Morris

Thank you to the Coastal Bend RetrieverClub for a well run, organized Hunt Test this weekend. Thank you Tim and Lauren Springer for hosting at their property at Kelly Farms. Thank you Leda Blom and Mark Holcomb for safe Hunt Test setups, keeping dogs from getting overheated in the excessive heat, thank you to our Flight team for cold water pools and having everything ready to go on all three series. Congratulations to all those who received passes including Goose, owned by Phil and Linda Shimerda. Goose not only passed, he received his Master Title and qualified for the 2020 Master National. Josh Clepper’s Bolt also passed. Coastal Bend is always a well run event and all those working and participating have a very good time.

June 15, 2020 by Marta Morris

The Vikingland June HT is on the books and what a day it was. With a flight of 32 and a very organized Retriever club, the Test was completed in one day. Thanks to judges Jeff Buddy and Kurt Stivley for putting up three good series made more difficult by mother nature’s windy conditions?? A huge “Thank You” goes out to Todd and Benita Otterness for sharing their amazing training facility for the competition. Jack was able to get master passes on Gary Witherspoon’s Cody, David Dyslin’s Rowdy, Jack’s Tori, and Josh Clepper’s Bolt. Karin Parker did a great job handling Maverick to another master pass. It was wonderful to be able to see friends and compete again after a very isolated spring.