WELCOME TO THE 2012 INVITATIONAL
MAY 29th - JUNE 1st

Congratulations to all of you who qualified to come to this event. It is so great that the Invitational is going strong again! After writing letters, talking with handlers, trainers and NAHRA officers in 2004 and finally getting permission to hold the Invitational after 4 years of none, we held it in Colorado at Scenic Mesa Ranch in 2006. Since then, there has been an Invitational every single year.

I look back now and wonder how it actually worked. There was absolutely no 'start up' money anywhere, no club to sponsor it, was told to hold it in a central location where no one had been before and I was asked to use committee members scattered across the United States and Canada. When I started the project I was told there would be someone to get sponsorships, someone to be secretary for the event, make the catalog, etc. and yet 9 months prior to the event, there was no one to take on these responsibilities. It took a lot of letters to clubs across the country, a lot of sitting in front of sporting good stores selling raffle tickets and a lot of help asked of my friends from Arizona that helped at the event but it all worked out. The Invitational made money and it was on the move again. And that is the most important thing! After all the hard work the Invitational is not only going again but going strong. There are now specific 'guidelines' to follow when doing an Invitational, rules set forth by NAHRA and even as of this year, a specific time table of where the event will be held.

We are so lucky this year to have the Invitational sponsored by Copperstate Hunting Retriever Club in Arizona. The site for the test this year will be held at Foxboro Ranch Estates, minutes from Munds Park, AZ. Munds Park is just 90 minutes North of Phoenix on Interstate 17 so it makes it easy for those flying in from out of state. The indoor facility we will be utilizing is wonderful and we are very lucky to have such a unique location to hold our test. Arizona has it's own special type of terrain and water sources so it may appear different than other states but that is the best part about moving across the country each year.

This location is perfect for those who like to make a 'vacation' out of the Invitational. Be sure to check out the section on our website about "Things to do in Arizona". Arizona has an unlimited amount of places to see and things to do. We also have fantastic rates on Hotels, RV sites and Meals for our event. If you get a chance, please thank Foxboro for their wonderful hospitality and also introduce yourselves to the Invitational Committee. We would be very honored to meet each and every one of you who will make this journey to get to Arizona.

Lenda Barker

IC Charman

Good luck and may you go home with a good feeling about the NAHRA Invitational and that you look forward to attending the next one.

Here is something each of you might think about when coming to this event.