Upcoming Event — SOUTHERN WAY RETRIEVERS / FEB 20-22, 2026 / DUBLIN, GA
Super Retriever Series > About > Mission & History
Super Retriever Series

History

In 1999, ESPN created the ESPN Great Outdoor Games. The Great Outdoor Games was a combination of many outdoor sports such as Timbersports, Bass Fishing, Fly Fishing, Dog Agility, Fly Ball, Big Air Dogs, Shooting sports, Archery and Retriever Trials.

The retriever trials were made up of 12 competitive teams. Handlers with their dogs were invited to participate in a hybrid retriever trial game held in Lake Placid, New York in July of 2000. The hybrid game would consist of a number of tests that would include combinations of field trials, hunt tests and hunting scenarios. The teams would be judged on marking, memory, line and blind manners as well as control.

In the fall of 2001, the first qualifier for the Great Outdoor Games would be developed and its name would be the Super Retriever Series. The 1st, 2nd or 3rd placement in a qualifier would receive an invite to the ESPN Great Outdoor Games giving 12 teams to showcase. By 2005 ESPN changed their programming format and discontinued the Great Outdoor Games as well as the ESPN Outdoors block. That year the Super Retriever Series Crown Championship would be established in place of the Great Outdoor Games Championship.

The Super Retriever Series is a hybrid game to find just what it states… The Super Retriever… The retriever that can do it all… in field trials,  hunt tests, and in a hunting situation with a handler not only to take them there but to do it as a team.
Super Retriever Series

Mission Statement

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The mission of the Super Retriever Series is to advance the sport of retrievers by providing a competitive platform that develops the complete partnership between dog and handler. Through realistic hunting scenarios presented in hunt tests, field trials, and hunt-savvy formats, the SRS challenges teams to perform at the highest level with consistency, precision, and teamwork.

The Super Retriever Series is committed to fair and equal competition. By exclusively utilizing artificial or simulated birds, the SRS ensures consistency across testing environments, allowing every dog and handler to be evaluated under the same standards. Through integrity, professionalism, and innovation, the SRS strives to elevate retriever competition while supporting the growth of the sport across all organizations and levels.