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> Granite City Kennel Club "Field of Champions" Invitational Dog Show
>
> The American Kennel Club has indicated a willingness to approve
> a dog show that will be limited to conformation champions that also
> possess field titles, the first of its type to ever be approved by the
> AKC.
>
> The show, a "special attraction" under AKC regulations, has been
> named "The Granite City Kennel club 'Field of Champions' Invitational
> Dog Show," and will be held in St. Cloud, Minnesota on Friday,
> December 4, 1998, the day before Granite City's two all breed dog shows.
>
> In order to be eligible to enter, dogs must have met both the conformation
> and minimum performance standards for their breed. What this means for
> this year that dogs entered must be AKC conformation champions and
> have either an AKC hunting, herding, earthdog, lure-coursing title For
> breeds where there is no formal AKC performance testing program, dogs
> must possess an AKC conformation championship and a working
> certificate from the parent club, provided the parent club is a member
> of the American kennel club. Spayed and neutered dogs can compete
> in this show provided they meet the eligibility requirements for their
> breed.
>
> There will be five groups judged in this show - sporting, hound, herding,
> working, terrier. Dogs in the nonsporting and toy groups that are eligible
> for this show will be judged in the group where their working title
> applies, ie, Poodles and Airedales will be judged with the sporting group
> and Silky Terriers with the terrier group.
>
> There are no points connected with this show because AKC has
> approved it a "special attraction." But there are certainly some bragging
> rights on the line because this is, for all intents and purposes, *the*
> national show for dual titled dogs. Competition will be for best of breed,
> best of opposite, group placements and best in show. Judges may choose to
> award up to five awards of merit in competition for best of breed. The
> show will also be a partial sweepstakes in that 40 percent of the entry
> fees will be returned to the dog taking best in show and the four placing
> dogs in each group.
>
> GCKC is seeking trophy donations for Best of Breed and Best of Opposite.
> The trophies are silver tankards with the breed head and cost $15.00 each.
> GCKC is also seeking donations for the awards of merit (green sun
> catchers with the breed head $7.50 each) and seven rosettes for each
> breed (7 for $20). GCKC would also welcome any donations to the
> trophy fund or for group placements. Contact the trophy chair @
> 3593 75th St., Swanville, MN  56382  (320)573-2153.
>
> This is an exciting development on the part of the American Kennel
> Club and Granite City Kennel Club hopes to pave the way and put on
> a class act to showcase these dual dogs. We hope there are some
> dogs in your breed that meet the eligibility requirements for this show.
> For information concerning the "Field of Champions" show on Friday
> December 4, 1998, please contact the show secretary: James Parrish,
> 5989 Hobe Lane, White Bear Lake, MN  55110. The all-breed shows on
> Saturday and Sunday December 5 & 6 is superintendent Jack Onofrio,
> PO Box 25764, Oklahoma City, OK  73125.
>
> We hope you will pass this information along to your club members
> either through your newsletter or via the Internet. You have permission
> to reprint this letter.
>
> Sincerely,
> MJ Nelson
> Project Director
> (320) 573-2153
>
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