National Retriever Champions

Loyal, smart and determined.

The best of the best retrievers will be competing at an incredibly prestigious event in Cheraw come November. H Cooper Black will be hosting the 2021 National Retriever Championship from November 13 to 20. “It’s the culmination of a year’s hard work and campaigning to qualify for the event in the AKC (American Kennel Club) performance event calendar for Retriever Field Trials,” said Mark Menzies with the Field Trial Committee. About 100 of the best retrievers in the country and their handlers – mainly professional and some amateur – who’ve qualified during the past year are coming to compete in over a week of testing, including 10 different scenarios, with the winner to be named the National Retriever Champion. The outdoor competitions are designed to showcase hunting instincts in the retriever breeds, which principally will be made up of Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. These canine athletic events originated in England in 1866. Dogs are judged on four hunting components: accurate marking of multiple fallen game ability to handle on blind retrieves efficiently, style, and the ability to work together with their handler as a team. The week of testing at H Cooper Black is designed to show their superior performance level. “The event is being held at H Cooper Black Sporting Dog Facility, a SC State park facility between Patrick and Society Hill. Extending to some 7,000 acres, it is a jewel in the Crown of South Carolina Parks system and for that matter Nationally as there are very few similar state-owned parks of this nature in the country. It is used for retrievers, bird dogs, and gets much use from residents and visitors alike, with stables, arena, kennels, camping sites, bath houses club house, etc. The facility is a boon for Hartsville, bringing tourism to the city and providing amenities for the residents and visitors alike. “Having said that,” Menzies continued, “We are very pleased to be hosting the 2021 National Retriever Championship, which is finally returning to HCB after 8 years. This will be the fifth time the Championship has been held at HCB. The Championship is back again this year in the Eastern time zone. It was last held in Cheraw in 2013, and before that in 2005, 2001, and 1997.” Having celebrated its 80th anniversary last year, the event originated in Quoque, Long Island, New York, in 1941, so has plenty of history, and Hartsville will be the headquarters this year. There will be many specialized dog trucks and dogs in the area for several weeks, so don’t be surprised at the activity. The opening ceremonies start at 6 a.m. November 13 the trial grounds. The championship begins at 7 a.m. “After each test, the dogs that don’t measure up are dropped,” Tina Styan, managing editor and vice president with Retriever News. “The others go on to the next test. The winner is rewarded with the title “NFC,” National Field Champion. The requisite stud fees and future progeny is where the reward comes from and the winner if a male will likely have an impact on future generations of hunting and competition dogs for years to come..” There will be a food wagon on the grounds from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the trials. The grounds are located at 279 Sporting Dog Trail, Cheraw, SC 29520.

photos from past championship days

For more information and to follow the trials, visit Retriever News at theretrievernews.com for record keeping and reporting.