Just Do It

Posted on July 01, 2004 by SuperRetrieverSeries.com Staff 

Jerry Day's history with the Great Outdoor Games started in 2001 with the legendary Super Sue. Super Sue brought home the Gold medal in 2001 and followed it with a Silver medal in 2002. In 2004, Super Sue finished fourth just seven minutes from capturing one of each medals.

In 2004, Jerry Day returns to his fourth straight Great Outdoor Games, but without Super Sue. Day's younger dog Nike qualified for the games and was seeded second behind 2003's Gold medal winners Chris Akin and Boomer. We caught up with Jerry Day and this is what he had to say.

What got you started in Competitive Dog Trials?
One of best friends, Phillip, who is past away, got me started. We grew up together and hunted together and he was the one who got me to go and shoot at the field trials together.

We were on a duck hunt with another friend of ours who had a black lab. It was an early season teal hunt on a federal draw hunt. We got to our blind and it really wasn't big enough for all of us and our canteens and coffee mugs and all our other stuff along with the Black lab.

I looked out maybe 60 to 70 yards out at the end of the pond and there was a flooded peninsula with some tree branches. I had my full size waders on and I waded out and climbed into that point with my gun on my shoulder. I sat up on some of those tree branches and I was in good shape.

About 15 minutes after shooting time a group of teal came in and we all shot. We killed a couple of birds and my friend set up his dog and yelled "Fetch!" The dog put his foot in the water and then backed up. He wouldn't get the birds.

My friend Philip says, "By gallee my retriever would go get them birds." He then looked over at me and said, "Fetch Big Boy!" I just kind of got up and waded over a got within about and inch before the water went into my waders, put my gun out and pulled the duck to me. I picked up the other one on the way back to the blind. I went over and just dropped the birds in the blind and walked out. While I was sitting back out there in my spot I thought to myself," I am gonna get me a dog. I ain't gonna be my best friend's retriever no more."

Before that season was over I went to a Ducks Unlimited hunt and a fellow there had a little yellow female. After my wife and I picked her up I found out that she had descended from

What was your first memory of a trained retriever?
I was fortunate enough MD Houston about 18 years ago.

What dog is the greatest dog you have ever seen?
Mike Lardy's dogs. Lottie and Hattie McBunn from her about 7th year of age to about her 9th year of age. She was incredible.

Who is a great marking dog in your eyes?
MD Houston and Sue are both great markers. I have seen a lot of them and it is hard to say but I would MD Houston.

Who is the stronger you or Nike?
She is really coming around and I am starting to trust her on her marking and she is starting to trust me on my handling.

Who has a really great shot at winning Great Outdoors Games?
Everyone can have there day but If I had to bet on two people I would bet on Dave Opseth or me.

Windy works so well in her handling. They are a tremendous team.

Last year I thought that Dana Giovanello and Windy would have taken it last year but went out in the second round. It was just one of those bad things. Every dog has its achilles but I have not seen David's dog's achilles.