Posted by birddawgger on 7/6/2026, 5:19 pm Ken Delong
It is with humility and some shame that I post this afternoon, acknowledging my failure to faithfully execute the duties of my position as Field Trial Chair/Secretary of N.B.O.G.C.A.
At our Spring Trial at the end of April, English Setter Dun Roven's Hippie Girl put down a very fine performance in the Open Derby, stylishly pointing a grouse to take first place in the 21 dog stake. Although results were quickly posted on this board, yours truly was remiss, and Essential Data Forms were submitted to the Cover Dog Points Chair 5 days late. This grave error on my part cost her the Cover Derby Dog of the Year award. Understanding that there is no way I can make this right, and with all due respect to the Cover dog Points Committee, I nonetheless accept full responsibility for this unfortunate outcome and offer my most sincere apologies to both owner Chal Curtis, and professional handler Rich Hollister for dropping the ball mishandling this matter. It is my understanding that the Cover Dog Points Committee will be reviewing the by-laws to ensure this does not occur going forward. That being said, I extend my hearty congratulations to all Cover Dog Award winners and deeply apologize to the entire Field Trial Community.
Ken, thank you for the heartfelt explanation of events concerning Hippie Girl. I would like the rest of the community to know some more of the story from what I have learned. While Ken did not mentioned it to make an excuse, I learned from others that he had to go to the hospital right after the trial for a surgery; and as Hippie Girl’s owner I completely understand given the stress of that ordeal given the pre and post operation necessities.
What is disappointing to me is that Rich Hollister should be given the recognition for the accomplishments of his breeding, training and trialing of Hippie Girl. I remain shocked that there was no accommodation for anything other than that the results came in past the due date. The Coverdog community is a small group of like minded people with common goals and I don’t understand, recognizing the timeline, why a call to Ken requesting the data couldn’t have been made out of courtesy knowing the trial had been conducted and the results even having been reported on this very website.
Ken, I have no ill will whatsoever in this unfortunate circumstance. I would like this conversation to at a minimum recognize Dun Roven Hippie Girl as the terrific prospect that she is and Rich Hollister / DunRoven Kennels as champions in my book. Chal Curtis
on 7/6/2026, 5:19 pm