2024 BHCA National Specialty

HEADS UP ON ROOMS AT NATIONALS!

The hotel cut off date for club rates is AUGUST 5th!

I talked with the hotel today and there are still rooms available. But the negotiated rate of $139/night will expire after August 5th. After that, the average room rate will shoot up to $200/night!

Please book your room NOW! It's a nice hotel, good rooms, walking distance across the parking lot to the show site, full hot breakfast included.

Looking forward to seeing you in Albany!

Only a few days left to place an ad in the 2024 Nationals Catalog!

Please consider advertising in the catalog to show your support.

Please note the deadline of July 1st.

Covers are all sold. You can order online on the BHCA website or reach out to Terri Ralenkotter, Catalog Ad Chair, to order and send a check.

Online orders:

2024 Nationals Catalog Ads All ads are color. Full page ads: 4.5″ wide X 7.5″ high. Half-page ads: 4.5″ wide X 3.5″ high. Ads must be hi-res (300 dpi) .jpg or .pdf files. All ads are due by July 1, 2…

Time to book your room!!

Oh my goodness, it’s summer! It’s time to make your Nationals trip plans!

The Comfort Suites Linn County Fairground, our host hotel, is literally ACROSS THE PARKING LOT from the show site! You will be able walk your dog over to the conformation, obedience, and rally rings and even the agility trial! Don’t miss out on reservations at the hotel, which provides, in addition to comfortable rooms and a dog-friendly environment, a hot breakfast daily included in the room rate. Make your reservations online:

Lodging | 2024 BHCA Nationals Find out about lodging options for the 2024 BHCA National Specialty in Albany, Oregon.

Interested in getting involved?
Hospitality and Grounds

Chairs Needed!

Do you like to throw parties?

We need a Hospitality Chair!

A lot of work has already been done, but we need to put the finishing touches on!

Do you like to drive the golf cart?

We need a Grounds Chair!

Call or email Sylvie ([email protected]) to talk through these important Nationals Committee positions!

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!

Help us make the 2024 Nationals an awesome event. ALL National Specialties rely on volunteers from start to finish. Ever wonder how you can help? Do you have an hour or two you can offer to make this event rock and roll? Pitching in at Nationals is a great way to get to know other club members and make life-long friends!

Thursday, Sept 5 – Castlerock, WA - Fairgrounds – Field Trials will need help with RV parking and site set up. Contact Barb Fuller at [email protected]

Saturday-Sunday, Sept 7-8 – Castlerock, WA – Fairgrounds - Field trials can use help in the gallery to flush out the bunny, and Sunday afternoon will need help with clean up/pack up. Contact Barb Fuller at email above.

Sunday, Sept 8 – morning – Albany, OR – Linn County Expo Center - Melody Fair is looking for volunteers for the tracking trials, which are really fun to watch! Tracking – track layers and drivers are needed. Contact Melody at [email protected]



Sunday, Sept 8 - afternoon/evening – Albany, OR – Linn County Expo Center - multiple volunteers needed to set up the show – lay down matting, set up ring gates, set tables and chairs, and help lay out the grooming spaces. Many hands make light work, so please join us and pitch in.

Monday, Sept 9 - afternoon – take an hour or so to assemble Welcome Bags! Reach Sylvie at [email protected]

Tuesday, Sept 10 – Will need help at the Obedience/Rally ring (usually morning) for a variety of roles. Contact Chris Wallen at: [email protected]

Tuesday- Wednesday, Sept 10-11 -

Scent Work – watch them work! Erin Fosler says

“it takes a village to put on a scent work trial!” – opportunities for timers, for help with set up of courses, checking in teams. Erin could also use a volunteer to coordinate the volunteers! Contact her at: [email protected]

Tuesday, Sept 10. Welcome Party! Greet other members, hand out welcome bags, hand out bingo cards or be a caller for our Bingo game. Reach Sylvie at: [email protected]

Wednesday, Sept 11 – Are you an early riser?

We’ll need help bringing agility equipment into the arena, setting the course, and during the day, running leashes. Contact Karin King at [email protected]

Tuesday–Friday, Sept 10-13 - Dinner ticket pick-up. Jean Dietrich is looking for one or two people to help with dinner ticket pick up each day. Most tickets are distributed on Tuesday at the Welcome Party, but as people come in Wed-Friday, there’s always a need to cover the table for an hour or two. Reach Jean at: [email protected]

LAST CALL FOR NATIONALS TROPHY DONATIONS!
Trophy Donations to be listed in the show catalog close on JUNE 12! All amounts are welcome - a donation of $100 or more receives a complimentary show catalog to be picked up at the show. Pay online today by clicking the link below. Thank you for your consideration and to all who have donated so far!

https://basset-bhca.org/product/trophy-and-show-donations/

You may have noticed, if you are ordering Nationals merchandise on the BHCA store, this notice in red:

PLEASE DO NOT ORDER NATIONALS MERCHANDISE, RESERVATIONS ETC IN THE SAME ORDER AS REGULAR BHCA MERCHANDISE (Books, Futurity/Maturity Nominations, etc...)! Submit as separate orders.

Why do we ask you to inconvenience yourselves in this way? It's because funds for Nationals goods/services go into a separate paypal account than funds for regular club goods and services. When people order in the same order, the treasurer not only has to transfer the funds, but has to do some fancy calculations to also adjust the paypal fees. Let's make it easy on those who have stepped up for our treasurer positions, please - just place these as separate orders - one for Nationals, one for everything else.

THANK YOU!!

Please support the 2024 BHCA Nationals by advertising in the Catalog. Please note the earlier deadline of July 1st.

You MUST let me know if you want a cover so I can verify availability. Covers are first come, first served. NOTE: ONLY THE INSIDE BACK COVER IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE!

As noted, your ad materials must be submitted BY JULY 1.

Thanks, Terri Ralenkotter, Catalog Ad Chair

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS!!

Please note, nominations for 2025 Nationals judges and petition candidates for this year's Board election are due in May and must be mailed (hard-copy, not email) to the Recording Secretary at her address:

Sue Smyth,
1101 Old York Rd.
Burlington, NJ, 08016-3831

2025 Nationals Judges: Due POSTMARKED no later than May 20.

Petition Candidates Petitions: Due RECEIVED no later than May 20.

Please allow sufficient time to meet these deadlines.

WE’VE GOT CLASSES!

Full class trophy sponsorship is still available for conformation, obedience, rally and agility (Field Trial classes are already covered). Show your support of the Nationals by sponsoring all placements in a class with a $100.00 donation that also includes a complimentary show catalog.

Full class sponsors will be listed in both the Premium List and Show Catalog. Sponsorship can be made by members and non-members in memory of a person or dog (kennel names will not be listed unless they are AKC registered). The deadline to sponsor classes is MAY 15. Donations can be made online at:

https://basset-bhca.org/product/trophy-and-show-donations/

From the drop-down menu choose the $$ amount and competition in which to sponsor a class. Once you are in the check-out section, notate three classes you would like to sponsor in the “notes” box (if none of your choices are available, we will contact you).

It takes a village of Basset lovers to continue our tradition of offering meaningful awards for all placements and we appreciate all who have already sponsored.

Thank you in advance for your support of the 2024 BHCA Nationals Trophy Fund!

WE’VE GOT CLASSES! 🏆 Full class trophy sponsorship is still available for conformation, obedience, rally and agility (Field Trial classes are already covered👏). Show your support of the Nationals by sponsoring all placements in a class with a $100.00 donation that also includes a complimentary show catalog. 📕

Full class sponsors will be listed in both the Premium List and Show Catalog. 📖 Sponsorship can be made by members and non-members in memory of a person or dog (kennel names will not be listed unless they are AKC registered). The deadline to sponsor classes is MAY 15 🗓️ Donations can be made online at:

https://basset-bhca.org/product/trophy-and-show-donations/

From the drop down menu choose the $$ amount and competition in which to sponsor a class. 💻 Once you are in the check out section, notate three classes you would like to sponsor in the “notes” box (if none of your choices are available, we will contact you). ✅

It takes a village of basset lovers to continue our tradition of offering meaningful awards for all placements and we appreciate all who have already sponsored. 🐶 Thank you in advance for your support of the 2024 BHCA Nationals Trophy Fund!🙏

OK, the 2024 Nationals store is starting to rock and roll! Not complete yet, but so far, we have up:

* RV Reservations! First come, first placed, so don't delay! ;)
* Raffle tickets for a 4000 Impact Crate!
* Trophy donations - sponsor the class of your choice now, before someone else does!
* Hospitality donations - those morning muffins and coffee ringside don't pay for themselves!

I am hoping we will get the link to Nationals clothing up this week. We will announce the clothing sales when they OPEN - do NOT be fooled by the scammers who I'm sure will be posting fake ads momentarily!!

Did you miss out getting the 2023 BHCA Nationals T-shirt, sweatshirt, polo shirt or even a coffee mug (maybe a set of 4)? It is not too late some sizes still available. Contact Gene privately on FB or at [email protected].

I found a bracelet outside on the ground at the Holiday Inn near the 500 rooms. Please let me know if anyone is missing one. If you can describe it I will return to the original owner. Thanks Sherri Jeakins

Think Nationals is all about the dogs? Nope! Come for the party times too!

Results for the pre-National specialties, as well as each day's results from the National Specialty show are posted each evening on the show secretary's website at: www.k9specialt.com

Currently Monday's results are up for the Fort Dearborn Basset Hound Club, and results for the Basset Hound Club of Western PA, Futurity/Maturity and the Nationals Obed/Rally trial should be up sometime tonight. Thank you!

Entries R Specialty | Powell, OH 43065 Dog Show Entries; Show Secretary; Conformation Shows; Obedience Trials

Results from Sunday’s Field Trials. Congratulations to all!!

Bi***es

1st place - Topsfield Lebrera Funny Money of Vision - Claudia Orlandi & Guillermo Gonzalez

2nd place - CH Soundtrack Topsfield Lebrera Talking to the Moon - Ben Marley, Samantha Fox, Claudia Orlandi & Guillermo Gonzalez

3rd place - GCH CH Vision Topsfield Lebrera Sugar Plum - Nancy Richmond, Claudia Orlandi & Guillermo Gonzalez

4th place - Soundtrack Topsfield Lebrera Morning After - Sue Frischmann

NBQ - CK Parker - Cheryl Long

Derby

1st place - Bluefence Crossroads the Yodeling Cowgirl - Vicki and Michael LePenske

2nd place - CH SoLow Beachside This Side Up - Marianne Lovejoy & Linda Cain

3rd place - Three Creek Tallywhoa Alice Thompson - Lei Ruckle

4th place - SoLow Beachside Dream Big - Marianne Lovejoy

NBQ - Tallywhoa Chantilly Cream - Lei Ruckle

Absolute Winner - DC CJ’s Slo-Poke Dreams of Munchkin County - Barbara Fuller, Cheri Feldhausen and Mozelle Langford

I am writing to update the BHCA membership on what we know about Brian Visokay's dogs and plans for finding them good homes.

I will start by asking that if you have questions, that you contact me directly via email - [email protected].

I spoke this evening with Elisia, Brian's sister. She is glad that we are able to help identify homes that have a connection with Brian's dogs and are offering them good homes. This includes Bassets who are co-owned, under return contracts, or have dogs already who are related to Brian's dogs. We also have a member who is a close friend of Brian's who has offered to house any dogs not identified as connected while we continue to look at connections with BHCA members, and with volunteer homes as needed.

Brian's dogs are not in danger of being placed in a shelter or being placed in homes without first connecting with co-owners or original breeders. If you have a connection with a dog of Brian's, please contact me directly at [email protected].

Thank you - I know that we all have the welfare of Brian's dogs uppermost in our minds, and I know the family also has this foremost as well, and together we will make sure that Brian's dogs live out their lives in the kinds of homes he would want for them.

And Saturday’s Field Trial Winners!

Dogs:

1st place - “Sal” - JR Salamander - Lei Ruckle
2nd place - “Otis” - Three Creek Otis II - Lei Ruckle
3rd place - “Decker” - CK Decker - Cheryl Long
4th place - “Pow Wow” - Ch Topsfield Lebrera Pow Wow - Sue Frischman
NBQ - “Cooper” - Ol’ South’s Cooper & Brass - Ann & Joshua Swarens

Champions:

1st place - “Dorothy” - DC CJ’s Slo-Poke Dreams of Munchkin County - Barbara Fuller, Cheri Feldhausen, Mozelle Langford
2nd place - “Milo” - GFC GCH DC Houndrosa Tried & Ahroo Milo MHE - Ben Marley & Samantha Fox
3rd place - “Pumpkin” - GFC Soundtrack Smashing Pumpkins - Miriam & Michael Tefts
4th place - “Chips” - DC Topsfield Ledrera Vision Foodbye Mr.Chips - Claudia Orlandi, Guillermo Gonzalez, Nancy Richmond
NBQ - “Oden” - CK Oden - Cheryl Long

My apologies for the delay getting theses results posted.

HPT Qualifiers!

* Bluefence Crossroads The Yodeling Cowgirl RN - Vicki and Michael LePenske
* SoLow Beachside The Side Up - Marianne Lovejoy and Linda Cain
*CK Rex - Cheryl Long
* CK Oden - Cheryl Long
* TCB Gunther - Lei Ruckle
* Three Creek Otis II - Lei Ruckle

This is a very hard message for me to write to send the sad news to BHCA members that Brian Visokay passed away at home yesterday unexpectedly.

Cherish the memories you have of Brian, he was a good person, always ready to step in and help both people and dogs. I will miss his friendship terribly, as I know others will as well.

The authorities have been able to reach his family and I have been in touch with them to offer support of the club in finding homes for his dogs, which several members are already organizing to arrange. We will need to wait for his family to make decisions about that, but the animal control folks have our contact and know that we have identified co-owners and potential homes. Please be patient as the family processes this loss and their next steps.

ATTENTION ALL EXHIBITORS!! CORRECTION TO TIMES PURINA BUILDING WILL BE OPEN ON SUNDAY AUG 27!

Arrangements have been made with Purina to allow dogs in the building overnight. The building hours will be 5PM-10PM Sunday, Aug 27 (WE WILL ALLOW SET UP EARLIER IF POSSIBLE) 6AM -10PM Monday, Aug 28 through Thursday, Aug 31. You MUST be out of the building by 10PM as the doors will be locked and cannot be reopened until 6AM. Dogs must also be out of the building no later than 6PM on Friday, Sep 1 as there is another group coming in Saturday morning and the custodial crew must get the building cleaned.

Thank you for understanding and doing what we ask.

Bev and Gene

ATTENTION ALL EXHIBITORS!!

Arrangements have been made with Purina to allow dogs in the building overnight. The building hours will be 6AM-10PM Sunday, Aug 27, through Thursday, Aug 31. You MUST be out of the building by 10PM as the doors will be locked and cannot be reopened until 6AM. Dogs must also be out of the building no later than 6PM on Friday, Sep 1 as there is another group coming in Saturday morning and the custodial crew must get the building cleaned.

Judging Program for Futurity/Maturity Stakes

Here's the Judging Program for the Independent Specialty

Here's the Judging Program for the National specialty

Check out our new page on the Nationals website - Latest News!

Tonight we're featuring information on some fabulous educational events at this year's National Specialty:

* Tuesday the Rally Thrills and Skills seminar by Norine Noonan immediately after Rally at the Rally ring. Bring your dogs, get them ready for this fun sport!

* Wednesday after dog judging, the Health Committee has organized a forum on living with dogs at risk/affected by Lafora or MPS1, and how to make responsible breeding decisions given what we know about these mutations in our Bassets. This is an opportunity for open sharing between members. The forum will be held in the Founders' Room.

* Wednesday after the Health Committee Forum, Member Education will offer a workshop on Canine Fitness and Conditioning by Cheryl Cielinski. Learn how to give your dog the advantage of top fitness and condition no matter WHERE they are competing! The workshop will be held at the show ring on the ground floor at Purina.

Stay tuned for news updates on the website - and stay safe traveling to St. Louis! See you there soon!