Rappahannock River Retriever Club, Inc., (RRRC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-stock Virginia corporation who's roots trace back to a small group of waterfowl enthusiasts who in 1997 joined together to encourage proper dog training and conservation of game. The rapidly growing club has recently enjoyed a membership surge from both hunters eager to try hunt tests and novices eager to train their retrievers.

If you are interested in running your retriever in any of the various testing formats, or are interested in learning more about these events, attending RRRC's training sessions and seminars as well as working at retriever trials is an excellent means by which you can be come aware of the capabilities of a trained retriever, training problems that may be encountered along the way, and approaches one can take to overcome these issues and therein make their best friend a most competent retriever and an excellent conservation tool.

Members come from all over Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania as well as the District of Columbia and West Virginia. By a special arrangement with Shady Grove proprietor R. Neil Selby, the Club has headquarters and training grounds at his Shady Grove Kennel & Hunting Preserve, which is located south of Warrenton near Remington. Members generally meet the first Saturday of the month for the months of March through August, and the first Sunday in the month for the months of September through February. Realistic hunt-test scenarios are set up for dogs and handlers to practice from master level on down to puppy retrieves.

RRRC welcomes novice and experienced hunters and hunt-test competitors alike. Any breed that will retrieve and age of dog is welcome, be it pups just starting out to Master and field trial hopefuls. Members' dogs, in addition to black, yellow and chocolate Labradors, include many Chesapeake Bay and Golden Retrievers. We also have Boykin, Springer, Cocker and Irish Water Spaniels, Flat-Coated  Retrievers and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.

RRRC has held licensed hunt tests in all 3 major venues--AKC, HRC and NAHRA. RRRC is also a member of the Master National Club.

In addition to offering various hunt tests or field tests, RRRC also actively supports the education of its participants through various judges' and handlers' seminars/clinics and through supporting apprentice judges at licensed events.  To that end, we thank the many participants that attended the AKC Judges' and Handlers' Seminar in July.

RRRC is indeed very excited and honored to have been selected to host 2007 Master National Retriever Trial. With such a prestigious test being so close at hand, all interested individuals are encouraged to start making plans today to attend this most special event.

Photos, courtesy of Dennis Glennon Photography.

© 2008 Rappahannock River Retriever Club Inc.