SportDOG Pro Staff Takes Top Honors at Super Retriever Series Crown Championship

The road to the Super Retriever Series (SRS) Crown Championship started last August at Fred Zink's (maker of Zink Calls) place in Port Clinton, Ohio and crowned a SRS Champion in Mayflower, Arkansas. After hundreds of miles driving, relentless hours of training, and uncountable days away from his family, Lyle Steinman owner of Castile Creek Kennels and handler was named 2008-2009 Super Retriever Series Crown Champion.

The SRS is the pinnacle of retriever trials in America. There is no other dog trial like it in the entire country. It is an event that if you think you have the dog that can run over 500 yards and pick up a little black and white foot long training duck, but yet not break on a Teal training duck whizzing in front of the dog's nose and only landing 5 to10 yards away... then this game is for you!!! If not, then stay on the porch. It's that simple. To this day it amazes me to watch these incredible animals to achieve at this level. This is not your ordinary hunt test or field trial. The SRS is a combination all retriever trials rolled in to one big event. In addition it takes an amazing handler to train for these trials and to keep it mentally together through four or five series per event.

The SRS Crown Championship had 33 of the top dogs in the country competing. To get to the Crown Championship a team had to finish in the top three at last years Crown Championship, place in the top three at one of the qualifying event during the season, or win a fan favorite vote. Lyle was able to accomplish winning this year SRS Crown Championship with "Jack" SRSC SRS Fargo's Gulf Coast Jack-Son QAA. In addition, to finishing in first with Jack, he earned bragging rights to being the first handler to have seven dogs qualified for the Crown and having two of those seven dogs finish in second and third place. Steinman finished second with "Rebi" SRS Dymamite's Ms Yankee Rebel MNH HOF, and third with "Coot" SRS Taylorlab Downtown Cooter Brown MNH QAA. There is other handler in the 10 year history of the SRS that has ever finished first, second, and third in the Crown Championship. After talking with Lyle, he said, "This years goals were to qualify as many dogs possible for the Crown, which means we must win and finish in the top three at all the events. I know I could not have done this without the support of my family and the great owners of these amazing dogs. It is an honor to just win one SRS Championship, but to be able to win two in three years." To give you a little background on Lyle's three year stint and his numbers while competing in the SRS, he has been able to win 10 qualifying events and place dogs in the top five over 25 times in three years. This is an amazing feat for his team considering that there is usually 100 or more dogs at each qualifying event.

The SportDOG Brand® Pro Staff Team was well represented at the SRS Crown event by having almost having half of the field trained by SportDOG Brand® training collars. To mention a few that were qualified for the Crown Championship, Chris Akin with Webb Footed Kennels, Lyle Steinman with Castile Creek Kennels, and Clint Johnson with Clint Johnson Retrievers. On behalf of SportDOG Brand®, I would like to congratulate all of these great trainers for making it to the SRS Crown Championship. In addition, I would like to congratulate Clint Johnson and Rudy for winning this years Avery® Sporting Dog Cup. The Avery® Sporting Dog Cup is won by being the most consistent team throughout the season.

I speak for all of the SportDOG employees when I say congratulations to all of the competitors for making this a great season and giving us great television to watch this fall. We all look forward seeing everyone back next year competing for this great honor of being a Super Retriever Series Crown Champion. Good luck and happy training for next year.

Contact:
Kevin Lee, SportDOG Brand (865) 218-4089