Thomasville Scene January 2024 | Page 13

Jimmy Rogers ready to send out his dog Addy .
figured out the combination to unlock their dogs potential . Dogs and handlers spent a year qualifying for this event and those who made it are the best of the best
“ This is like putting together an NFL team , you know ? You ’ re looking for the one percentile and everybody ’ s got to check all the boxes and they have to be a been to do it ,” Akin said .
As for what this competition means for Thomasville , it ’ s economically fantastic . Hundreds of handlers and thousands of dog have to eat , sleep and cut loose from time to time , which means more business for Thomasville shop , restaurants and hotels . For three weeks handlers and their dogs became occasionally became tourists , enjoying the Rose City and all it has to offer .
The three week event was full of top notch competition and accomplishments . One dog by the name of Illa ran her last flight here in Thomasville as she retired after the last land and water competition . One of the few chocolate labs in the competition , it was bitter sweet moment for both Illa and her handlers .
The event was certainly a big success for the Master National Retriever Club with many dogs receiving passes and the handles having a good time . A fun filled three weeks with excellent competition , Halloween costumes and some cold mornings these pups certainly left their mark on the Rose City .
These elite retrievers fetch several ducks in any given run on land and in the water .
Thomasville Scene | January 2024 13