For you "plan-aheaders", our 2013 National Website is up and running, the link is below for you to bookmark.

As we get closer to the time, I will ask the mods to make this thread a sticky, so everything will be in one place.

The 2013 theme is "Denim, Diamonds and Gold". The diamonds come in because we will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the GRCA in 2013. The logo was designed by the Forum's own K9-Design and Anney did a fablulous job. It really looks nice on all the merchandise. We took some of the merchandise to the National in St. Louis and quickly sold out.

Some of you saw the beautiful quilt we are raffling when we brought it to St. Louis. Alison Desmarais (Mirasol Goldens) gave us one-time permission to use her stained glass designs in a quilt. Quilter extraordinaire Arlene Blouch did the panels - it took her over 1 year. Long-arm quilter Marj Deupree put it together. The quilt has been appraised at $3,000 and is on the website.

All grooming will be indoors. All vendors will be indoors. Lots and lots of RV spaces.

For those of you competing in conformation/obedience/agility/rally and also in field, the location of the field events is only about 20-30 minutes away from the main building where conformation et al will be.

Our answer gal is Patti Caldwell. I know some of you are on other lists where she will post updates, but many of you are not - so I will post her updates here. Below is her first one:

"Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2012 16:15:34 -0800
From: Patti Branch Caldwell
Subject: 2013 Golden Retriever National Information!

You know the saying "Everything's bigger and better in Texas?" The
2013 National Committee is working hard to prove that to be true)
We hope you all have your calendars marked for the events you will be
attending October 20-30, 2013 in Wichita Falls, TX!

I hope you will all take a moment to go to our website:
2013 GRCA National Specialty - Wichita Falls, Texas - October 20 - 30 where you can view our beautiful show site where
*everything* (except field & tracking events, of course will be held indoors!!
The website also gives you up-to-date information and may answer
many of your questions.

While you are there, be sure to make your
hotel reservations through Connections - please take the time to read
"What is Connections Housing and Exactly What Do They Do?" to
understand the importance of booking through them and not making your
own hotel reservations.

In addition to checking the website for information, you will want to
sign up for the GRCANationalSpecialty yahoo list now! The link is :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GRCANa...Specialty/join

You may also want to sign up to sponsor a trophy now, so you can be
sure to support the one you want to be acknowledged in the catalog
for your donation.

Judges will be listed on the website as they are approved by AKC --
Tracking and Field Judges are already there

I know this is a busy time of the year, but we are here to make some
of your shopping easy (don't forget to buy something for yourself,
too!) with our wide selection of 2013 National Merchandise --- check
out the website for all these beautiful items!!!!!!!

I am pleased and proud to be this year's Answer Gal! To avoid
questions getting overlooked in my personal emails, I have opened a
gmail account just for National questions -- please send any
questions you may have to: branchcaldwell@gmail.com. The address
can also be found on our website.
The Dallas-Ft. Worth Golden Retriever Club and committee members from
all over the country are very excited about all the plans in progress
for a fun and fabulous National and hope y'all plan to come enjoy
it!!
Patti Branch Caldwell
"Answer Gal"

__________________
Ann
"Sawyer", Merichase Tails of Mark Twain
"Colt", C-R Gemini's High Flying Cowboy

I can not wait!! I will be there with bells and whistles and a possible of 3 dogs!! Thanks for the info!

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CH Lakewood's Gonna B A RockStar JH CGC "Remi"
CH Lakewood's Bringin' Out Da Big Guns "Cannon"
Rhythm's Dat's Da Way I Like It "KC"

Kelli,

Bells and Whistles.........and cowboy boots!

__________________
Ann
"Sawyer", Merichase Tails of Mark Twain
"Colt", C-R Gemini's High Flying Cowboy

Update from Patti Caldwell, the 2013 GRCA National "Answer Gal"


"A group of us went to Wichita Falls yesterday and got a tour and detailed description of every building that we will be using for the National. I have been looking forward to our upcoming National before, but now....I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to visualize everything. Co-Chairs Sherri Farmer and Donna Todd have done an unbelievably thorough job thinking through and taking care of every detail to make next year's National successful!!

One feature that I know will please everyone is the indoor grooming area (about triple the size as last year) with enough power for everyone!! Also, there will be many vendors and they will be set up indoors around the rings. There will also be security, so dogs may be left in the building overnight.

I hope that you are continuing to check the website: 2013 GRCA National Specialty - Wichita Falls, Texas - October 20 - 30 for new information. We are waiting on approval of Conformation judges from AKC and they should be listed sometime next week. We are very proud of all the beautiful merchandise and hope you have checked it out and placed your order. You will want to get your reservations in early either through Connections for hotel rooms or for reserved RV Parking (for those staying in RV's, there will be bathrooms/showers available!)

I will be posting information every Wednesday night for now and will increase those posts, as needed, as it gets closer to the dates of the National. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have at: branchcaldwell@gmail.com

Y'all are NOT going to want to miss this National - be sure to mark your calendars now!!

Patti Caldwell
"Answer Gal"

__________________
Ann
"Sawyer", Merichase Tails of Mark Twain
"Colt", C-R Gemini's High Flying Cowboy

2013 National - Judges announced:
ate: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:15:14 -0800
From: Patti Branch Caldwell
Subject: 2013 Golden National JUDGES!!!

We were trying to wait until our Web Master returns from her
out-of-the-country vacation to post our judges, but we just can’t
wait!!! We’re so excited about our panel and we want to share it
now. The information will be posted on our website next week when
our Web Guru returns.


CONFORMATION:

Virginia Lyne – Best of Breed

Michele (Stansbury) Gawenka – Dogs (Regular & Non-Regular)

Kitty Cathey – Bitches (Regular & Non-Regular)


Peter Stager – Sweepstakes, Bitches (Puppies & Veterans)

Alison Desmarais – Sweepstakes – Dogs (Puppies & Veterans)

Barbara Branstadt – Sweepstakes – Gun Dogs

Junior Showmanship will be judged by Kitty Cathey

Best Puppy in Sweeps will be judged by Alison Desmarais

Best Veteran in Sweeps will be judged by Peter Stager



OBEDIENCE

Roger Ayers (Obedience)

Cathy Caballero (Rally and Obedience)

James Ham (Obedience)


AGILITY

Terri Campbell

Rhonda Crane


TRACKING

Linda Baschnagel

Charlene Dunn


FIELD TRIAL

Open Stake

John Russell

Martha Russell

Amateur Stake

Sharon Gierman

Martha McCool

Qualifying Stake

Butch Green

Joanna Mackey

Derby

Chris McCool

Nancy White



WC Land – Angie Becker and Kay Scott


WC Water – Ron and Judy Cerney


WCX Land – Jim Drager and Steve Bolton


WCX Water – Peter Zelechoski and Cindy Vinzant



CCA EVALUATORS – 42 Total entries

DIVISION 1

Ainslie Mills

Hach Hachtell

Laura Weinmann

Ainslie Mills


DIVISION 2

Marcia Schlehr

Pluis Davern

Laureen Kinney

__________________
Ann
"Sawyer", Merichase Tails of Mark Twain
"Colt", C-R Gemini's High Flying Cowboy

I'm so looking forward to the nationals too Ann & Kelli!! I'm hoping to be ready to compete in something with Bella!! She and I had a blast at our first nationals last year in St Louis ~ getting her RN title and CCA! How can I top that? lol!

__________________
Kimberley

GROOMING AND RV RESERVATIONS OPEN UP TOMORROW 2/1/13:

2013 GRCA National Specialty - Wichita Falls, Texas - October 20 - 30

__________________
Ann
"Sawyer", Merichase Tails of Mark Twain
"Colt", C-R Gemini's High Flying Cowboy

Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2013 10:16:35 -0800
From: Patti Branch Caldwell
Subject: 2013 Golden National

Have you checked out the National website lately??!? There are new updates being posted all the time!! 2013 GRCA National Specialty - Wichita Falls, Texas - October 20 - 30

The Catalog Ad Page is up!

The Grooming Reservation form is up!

The RV Reservation form is up!

There is new information on RV's for the WC/WCX and Field Trial exhibitors on the RV
Reservation page.

You don't want to keep putting off.......

Ordering your 2013 National merchandise. You can order through the RSVP page or
online at 2013 National Specialty Items

Sponsoring a Trophy -- the conformation choices are filling fast, so be sure you
get to donate the one or class you would like. Come on, all you Obedience and
Agility fans.....the selection is wide open!

Purchase your raffle tickets - Information is on the Raffles page

The incredible "Return to Guisachan" Quilt

6-night stay at the Holiday Inn

Beautiful 14kt pin featuring a Golden Retriever jumping toward a Pheasant.

Keep an eye on the Raffle page.......We will have more wonderful raffle items
available soon!!

This may be just my way of thinking, but ordering your merchandise, raffle tickets, trophy donations, etc. a little at a time now will allow you extra money at the National for all the unique vendors we have coming to tempt you!)

Again, please check the website often, but if you have any questions not answered there, please write me at branchcaldwell@gmail.com It has been great hearing from so many of you expressing excitement over our upcoming National!!!

Patti Caldwell
"Answer Gal"

__________________
Ann
"Sawyer", Merichase Tails of Mark Twain
"Colt", C-R Gemini's High Flying Cowboy

"When in Rhome".....Texas that is

Wondering what to do in Wichita Falls, TX? Our new Hospitality Booklet is now online.

Want to celebrate that big win, or just feeling lucky? The casinos are 15 minutes away. If 40 or more people sign up, the casinos will pay for a bus, buffet and $10 in game credit.....can't beat that!

Or go visit the Denim and Diamonds (love the name!) country western nightclub, live bands on Thursday night. Sushi? Yep, they've got it. And also where to get your R.V. repaired or find that off-leash dog park.

Some people say Texas is like a whole 'nuther country. Well, feel like a native with our "How to Talk Texan" guide. Crash course: "Haire yewe", is just another way to say "hi".

Everything is here: 2013 GRCA National Specialty - Wichita Falls, Texas - October 20 - 30

__________________
Ann
"Sawyer", Merichase Tails of Mark Twain
"Colt", C-R Gemini's High Flying Cowboy

How exciting! I'm only 1.5 hours from Wichita Falls. That's where Newman was born, actually.
If I were to go watch, are doggy spectators permitted?

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