Friday, January 4, 2008 Dachshund field trialers from Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, and New Jersey began gathering at the Dixie Springs Beagle Club (Showbarn Road Running Grounds) in Prentiss, Mississippi for the Bayou Dachshund Club of New Orleans, Inc. 10th Anniversary of Field Trialing and Dachshund Club of America Region V field trials. The fun began on Friday night with the first ever "Swamp Rabbit" potluck cook-off. Dachshund people sure can cook up a fine mess of "Swamp Rabbit"! First Place and winner of the cook-off was Janet Schwalbe with her Rootin Tootin Swamp Rabbit Stew (Bean Soup!). Jan took home the Top "Swamp Rabbit" Chef Apron prize and a little prize money donated by those who joined us for dinner but cared not to cook something! Second Place went to another Top Chef – Will Guillot with his Swamp Rabbit Casserole (Cabbage). A tie breaker vote had to be conducted for Third and Fourth with Sharon McDonald's "Swamp Rabbit" Mold (Shrimp mousse) taking Third Place and Ashley Dumas was a close Fourth Place with her delightful Pink "Swamp Rabbit" Bunny Fluff (Cherry yummy stuff) dessert. It was tough to vote for one's favorite. We plan to try this again in the future. We have started a collection of recipes for a possible cookbook. What a great way to kick off Bayou's 10th Anniversary weekend with food, fun, and fellowship!

Saturday morning dawned with frosty, cool temperatures which gradually rose to a perfect mid-60s with nice cloud cover in the afternoon. During announcements in the morning, to help remind attendees of the normal list of do's and don'ts, we played a little game of Announcement Charades. Prizes were handed out to the "actors" and to the person who correctly guessed the answer. Bayou also gave to every attendee a commemorative pin in the form of the "Swamp Rabbit" for luck and a keepsake program booklet featuring the ads of our Sponsors and stories of past trials, including statistics and results of past trials. Many sponsors wore their pins which were the new Bayou Field Trial round logo created just for the 10th Anniversary events which began in November 2007.

Special guests in attendance from the American Kennel Club were Doug Ljungren, AKC Director of Performance Events and Mel Stewart, AKC Executive Field Director of Hounds. We even pre-arranged with Doug and Mel to judge our Mardi Gras Float and Costume contests following the end of the trial. The trial went well with 64 entries concluding just before 3 PM.

Just prior to the awards ceremony, the club presented its new Spirit Award to the first recipient, Tina Knoll, for her Dual Ch. L And C Mayflower Madame CDX, ME, CG, VC "Maddie". The award will be presented to the owner of any dachshund who wins 3 or more Absolutes in its lifetime at Bayou Dachshund Club of New Orleans field trials to be presented at a trial following the dog's journey over the bridge. As of this writing, Maddie was the only dachshund in the 10 year history of the club's trials to have accomplished this feat. The club also presented a plaque of appreciation to Joe Hollingshead, the grounds owner. Ken Hagmueller and Sandi Myers with Pro Dog Crates manufactured a custom fitted dog box for Joe's golf cart as a Thank You for all the many trials he has hosted for Bayou over the years! You should have seen how excited he was to have those crates! He talked about them for hours afterwards, his wife even came down to the grounds to see what all the fuss was about!

Following this, the club awarded the ribbons and prizes for the day. All of the prizes were donated by Victoria Burton and Bill Claycomb in honor of Victoria's cousins 10th Anniversary of being cancer-free. All prizes had a pink ribbon theme or portions of the purchase of trophies were donated to Breast Cancer research. We thank Victoria and Bill for their generosity. After awards, we rolled right along into the Mardi Gras style Float and Costume competition judged by Doug Ljungren and Mel Stewart. Participants rolled their floats carrying dogs in costumes while they threw beads, dog toys, and other goodies to the crowd of bystanders. It was a hoot!

AKC's Web Photographer, Robert Young was on hand to capture the Awards presentation and the Parade that followed. His photos and write up can be found at http://www.akc.org/events/field_trials/dachshunds/bayou_dachs_club_new_orleans/2008/

Following the parade, the club celebrated the conclusion of the day with our resident "Swamp Rabbit" human (Victoria Burton) serving Margarita cocktails during Happy Hour followed by a terrific Gumbo dinner by our resident Cajun Chefs Will Guillot, Randy David, and Ken David. Anniversary Logo Custom Label Champagne was provided by Ken Hagmueller & Sandi Myers. The bottles kept cold by Randy's ice sculpture Mardi Gras Beaded ice bucket. We all rose a cup to Sandi's toast – "Here's to Good Friends and Good Dogs, May we Never Run Out of Either!" The evening concluded with rounds of Victoria Burton's games of Scavenger Hunt, Field Trial Trivia, and Field Trial Word Hunt, winners took home bottles of the custom label champagne, various wines, and Sharon McDonald's "Oh My Gosh" almond champagne, which Gloria LaTour, as the winner, so generously shared since the bottle was already chilled. Many of us delighted in the tasting! These prizes were donated by Ken Hagmueller, Sandi Myers, Victoria Burton, Bill Claycomb, Randy David, Will Guillot, Sharon McDonald, and Kate & Charlie Snider. It was the conclusion of a wonderful day where some earned first points on their dogs to putting a new title on another. The committee is proud of the fun event they planned and carried out for the participants.

Sunday's DCA Region V trial with 64 entries again, opened with foggy, muggy conditions changing to clouds to sun back to clouds with some sprinkles thrown in for good measure. A little on the warm side reaching highs in the 70's but cooling off for the afternoon finish. The AKC Photographer joined us again on Sunday morning capturing the event in action and the awards ceremony wrapping up the weekend at around 3:30 PM. Swamp Rabbit pins and program booklets were given to new attendees joining us on Sunday.

The Chairman, Randy David, Secretary, Sandi Myers, committee members, Ken David, Will Guillot, Victoria Burton, Sharon McDonald, and Bill Claycomb, along with assistance from Bayou Club Member, Marci Forrester, would like to thank all of our sponsors, our exhibitors, field marshals, kitchen assistants, our visitors and all who contributed in one way or another to making our club's 10th Anniversary of Field Trials a success.

Submitted by Sandi Myers, Trial Secretary

Bayou Dachshund Club of New Orleans, Inc. 10th Anniversary Field Trial