<p> 2015 National German Shorthaired Pointer Association National Championships Preview</p><p>Greetings From The NGSPA Board of Trustees (BOT);</p><p>The purpose of this preview is to give all of you a quick look at how things are shaping up for the National Championships in 2015, to give you a heads up on some changes that were made at the BOT meeting in June and to encourage all of you to let us know if you have ideas to make the Nationals better.</p><p>WHEN: The 2015 NGSPA National Championships will start Saturday February 21, 2015 with the 40th National Amateur Championship, followed by the 57th NGSPA Futurity, the 62nd National Championship, and will conclude with the 46th National Shooting Dog Championship.</p><p>WHERE: As usual, the National Championships will be held on the Blue Mountain Conservation area just outside Booneville, Arkansas. </p><p>JUDGES: Amateur National Championship – Randy Hopkins Fred Smith 56th Futurity - Jack Sanchez Ronnie Miller National Championship - Jack Sanchez Ronnie Miller Shooting Dog Championship - Larry McConnell Kevin Stonehouse</p><p>ENTRY FEES: 40th National Amateur Championship - $175.00 plus a $25.00 Grounds Fee.</p><p>62nd National Championship - $200.00 plus a $25.00 Grounds Fee</p><p>57th NGSPA Futurity - $150.00 plus a $25.00 Grounds Fee</p><p>46th Shooting Dog Championship - $200.00 plus a $25.00 Grounds Fee</p><p>QUALIFICATION STANDARDS TO COMPETE IN THE NGSPA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: At the NGSPA Board of Trustees (BOT) Meeting in June 2014, the BOT made several changes to the standards that must be met for a dog to be eligible to run in the National Championships. Those changes are:</p><p>1. The Amateur Ownership/Handling rule for the National Amateur Championship was changed to allow Professionally Trained and Handled dogs to meet the qualification standards but the dog must still be Amateur Owned and Amateur Handled when running in the National Amateur Championship.</p><p>2. The rule prohibiting cross over entry between the National Shooting Dog Championship and the National Championship was eliminated. Dogs may now be run in both Championships.</p><p>3. The language requiring yearly participation in NGSPA Championships, annual first place wins in NGSPA sanctioned trials and referencing qualification of AKC Field Champions and Amateur Field Champions was removed to comply with current NGSPA and American field policies.</p><p>4. Language involving DNA certification was brought into compliance with current NGSPA and American Field Policies.</p><p>THE REVISED NGSPA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATIONS ARE NOW AS FOLLOWS:</p><p>NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP</p><p>A. Qualification for life: The following qualifies a dog for life:</p><p>(a) A win (Champion or R/U Champion) in an NGSPA or American Field Championship of at least an hour in length or more.</p><p>(b) A 1st place in a broke dog stake in any NGSPA or American Field sanctioned trial of at least an hour in length or more.</p><p>B. The current years NGSPA National Futurity Winner qualifies for the next year’s Championships (one year only).</p><p>C. The dog must be Amateur handled and Amateur Owned in the National Amateur Championship.</p><p>D. The dog must be registered in the American Field Stud Book and have a Field Dog Stud Book (FDSB) DNA number or an American Kennel Club (AKC) DNA number. A dog will be allowed to run if it has applied for a FDSB DNA number but no win will be recognized or recorded for the dog until a FDSB number has been issued for the dog. NATIONAL SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP</p><p>A. Qualification for life: The following qualifies a dog for life:</p><p>(a) A win (Champion or R/U Champion) in an NGSPA or American Field Championship of at least an hour in length or more.</p><p>(b) A 1st place in a broke dog stake in any NGSPA or American Field sanctioned trial of at least an hour in length or more.</p><p>B. The current years NGSPA National Futurity Winner qualifies for the next year’s Championships (one year only).</p><p>C. The dog must be registered in the American Field Stud Book and have a Field Dog Stud Book (FDSB) DNA number or an American Kennel Club (AKC) DNA number. A dog will be allowed to run if it has applied for a FDSB DNA number but no win will be recognized or recorded for the dog until a FDSB number has been issued for the dog.</p><p>NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP</p><p>A. Qualification for life: The following qualifies a dog for life:</p><p>(a) A win (Champion or R/U Champion) in an NGSPA or American Field Championship of at least an hour in length or more.</p><p>(b) A 1st place in a broke dog stake in any NGSPA or American Field sanctioned trial of at least an hour in length or more.</p><p>B. The current years NGSPA National Futurity Winner qualifies for the next year’s Championships (one year only).</p><p>C. The dog must be registered in the American Field Stud Book and have a Field Dog Stud Book (FDSB) DNA number or an American Kennel Club (AKC) DNA number. A dog will be allowed to run if it has applied for a FDSB DNA number but no win will be recognized or recorded for the dog until a FDSB number has been issued for the dog.</p><p>NGSPA NATIONAL FUTURITY</p><p>A. Dogs eligible for the NGSPA National Futurity must be properly nominated by the breeder and the owner. B. The dog must be registered in the American Field Stud Book.</p><p>CATALOG ADVERTISING:</p><p>Individuals, businesses and Clubs are encouraged to advertise in the National Championship Catalog. The BOT is making a concerted effort to hold costs in check to prevent the necessity of future entry fee increases and catalog advertising is one way to accomplish that. Notices concerning deadlines, cost, layout, etc. will be forthcoming. John Lunseth will be coordinating publication of the catalog and questions can be directed to him at [email protected] </p><p>RAFFLE: Plans are underway for a raffle to help defray costs involved with the National Championships. Details are being worked out and will be announced as soon as plans are complete. If you have anything that you would like to donate to the cause (equipment, goods, services, hunts, etc.), please contact Mike Patrick at [email protected] </p><p>SUGGESTIONS: The BOT takes the running of the National Championships very seriously and is doing everything they can to make the Championships a success, but, in the end, the Championships belong to the participants. If you have suggestions, we welcome them. </p><p>UPCOMING PREVIEWS: </p><p>I will be sending out two more 2015 NGSPA National Championship Previews (early December and early January). If you didn’t receive this one directly and want to, let me know and I will add you to the mailing list. Conversely, if you don’t want to receive them, tell me at [email protected] </p><p>On Behalf of the NGSPA Board of Trustees, Dean Crabbs, Chairman, 2015 NGSPA National Championships [email protected] Cell Phone: 208-739-0644</p>