As a commitment to finding ways of growing the VIRC through training opportunities and licensed trials, the Club will be offering organized training days. To ensure that this change would be beneficial to all, guidelines were developed in consultation with members and with those who have shown a willingness to lead the training days. We were extremely pleased that so many members voted to try out this new format.
Please take the time to read the guidelines below and check out the location of these monthly events. As you will note, the majority of our experienced handlers have volunteered their time to provide handlers of every level with quasi trial experience and we thank them for stepping up. Thanks to those who are providing grounds and how lucky we are to have Swallowfield for three of these events!
We encourage all members to come out and participate. Our aim is to accommodate all retrievers no matter what their performance level.
Guidelines for VIRC Training Days
Goal: To provide VIRC members with a high value structured training day hosted by experienced members, where they can participate at a variety of grounds throughout Vancouver Island. As much as possible and not in conflict with other retriever events, training days will be hosted monthly for a nominal fee.
Cost is $10 for first dog, $5 for extra dogs. Members are encouraged to pre-register by email and send fee by etransfer to viretrieverclub@gmail.com. Fees will also be collected on site by the Treasurer (if in attendance) or by a selected designate.
A registration reminder will be sent out 1 week in advance to get a count for attendance and bird and equipment needs.
Dogs may be run with training equipment.
The following are not hard and fast rules but set out as guidelines so that both members volunteering to lead a training day and the members attending have some consistency about expectations.
Responsibilities of the Organizer
Each training day organizer be responsible for delivery of birds and equipment adequate for the set up that day; this may be done by delegating and/or communicating needs with other members. Some people are OK with using their own equipment and would even prefer, but they should not be expected to use their own consumables (i.e. primers). Unless there are some unforeseen circumstances, the club will provide:
| Birds | Guns | Primers | Radios |
| Holding blinds | Mat | Buckets |
Test Setup:
Marking and blind setups will be done in accordance with the level of dogs attending (Puppy, Junior, Qualifying, and Open). Where time and conditions permit, two setups are desirable.
The organizer will start by providing a group discussion on the test setup such as:
A) What are the factors, such as wind, terrain, obstacles, cover, sun, suction?
B) How the set up can be run by dogs of different levels and the potential influences of the factors.
C) Where appropriate interject rule book requirements from a judging perspective.
The order of which level of dogs will run will be determined by the organizer and the setup will be adjusted to accommodate as many level of dogs in attendance.
Where possible run a test dog or members should be encouraged to watch the first dog run on each level test. Follow up discussion after the first/test dog is encouraged.
The organizer will be at the line to provide feedback or instruction when asked. If the organizer is running their own dog(s), ensure there is a designate to assist at the line in their absence.
Responsibility for Attendees.
Register in advance; this helps greatly with planning the set up as well as bird and equipment needs.
Be punctual- Be considerate of other people’s time.
Be helpful setting up and taking down set ups.
All participants will be asked to gun for their fellow members.
If you ask for assistance, be open to feedback and coachable – Everyone is there to be helpful.
