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Team Trad First Master Pass
Aye Mates,
Team TRAD successfully qualified for TRAD'S first pass toward an AKC Master Hunter Title during an AKC Hunt Test hosted by the Westchester Retriever Club in Newburgh, New York this past weekend. TRAD now holds an HRC Hunting Retriever Title and an AKC Senior Hunter Title. Currently TRAD needs two more legs to earn his HRC Hunting Retriever Champion Title and 4 more legs to earn his AKC Master Hunter Title. TRAD will turn 4 years old on August 30th, 2017. I lost my prior gun dog AKC WILDROSE CAYDEN SH to a sudden death on September 3rd, 2013 and selected TRAD out of a litter of pups Haynes Floyd of Double TT Kennels in Sylvia, Kansas had at the time. By share chance Haynes had one person drop from the reserve list for the breeding and I asked Haynes to select the pup for me (something I had never trusted anyone to do on any of my previous gun dogs). The pup Haynes selected was TRAD and I could not have asked for better. Totally devastated at me loss of Cayden (a very accomplished and sharply honed gun dog) that me own first bout with cancer prevented me from running him beyond the AKC Senior Hunter Title he held at the time of his death. All that knew him from hunt tests and having had hunted over him said he was destined to be a Master Hunter but we never got the chance to run him in the Master Stakes.
Me 2nd bout with cancer was a rough fight and really kicked me in the arse. During the whole ordeal TRAD remained at me side whenever he could and shadowed me like he could sense how sick I was. TRAD was a constant source of comfort to me during this dark time and just reaching over and scratching him on the head was better than any medicine on the planet. I have been fortunate and truly blessed to have made a come back to once again hunt and train with some really grand retrievers and TRAD is beyond special. In fact, TRAD and CAYDEN share some ancestry and I am often amazed at the similarity in the two.
I am blessed in many regards, my wonderful wife Lisa and daughters Megan and Shannon are me lifeblood, and me many friends in the upland bird, waterfowl hunting, sporting dog, and wildlife conservation and Irish cultural communities have been so supportive in giving me the spirit to fight for me life. Me retrievers kept me focused at times that were most challenging and gave me reasons to live each day with their well being a major driving force in me own motivation.
TRAD and I will keep on working toward our objectives and we'll find new ones when those are reached. We will dedicate the next titles earned by TRAD to the memory of me beloved retriever CAYDEN and all the lessons I learned from him in me continuing development as a retriever trainer. And I will remain most thankful to all that have helped me in making a comeback after me battle with the beast. GOD, great medical professionals, me cherished family, friends, and beloved retrievers are all responsible for me survival. THANK YOU TO ALL.
Slainte',
Irishwhistler
HR TTF CRAIGHORN KIFFIN TRAD SH and his first Master Stakes qualifying score award earned at the Westchester Retriever Club AKC Hunt Test held on 7/23/17.
