First Annual Training Day, Seminar, and Armbruster Pre-Evaluation in Martinsville Indiana
Location: Glenn’s Valley Conservation Club, Martinsville, Indiana
Date: Saturday May 10th, 2025
Hosted by: Cameron and Oscar Ritchie
Story by: Josh Logan
The Great Lakes Chapter held its first annual Training Day and Seminar at the Glenn’s Valley Conservation Club, and it was an outstanding success thanks to the hard work and hospitality of Cameron Ritchie and his father, Oscar.
If you haven’t met these two yet, make a point to—they went above and beyond to ensure every attendee felt welcome and had the opportunity to train their dogs in whatever areas they wanted.
The day began at 7:00 AM in the clubhouse with coffee and donuts provided by Oscar. After introductions—where members from Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri shared where they were from—it was clear we had a fantastic turnout of dedicated handlers ready to train and prepare their dogs for the upcoming Armbruster.
Cameron kicked off the event with a series of short, informative seminars. The first topic covered was how to correctly complete the Formblatt 1 test entry form. With tests filling quickly, it's crucial for handlers to submit these forms properly to avoid delays or missed opportunities. Cameron’s guidance was practical and timely.
Next, he walked through each section of the HZP test and encouraged open discussion. For questions he couldn't answer, we were fortunate to have experienced VDD-GNA judges Neal and Rhonda Feazel in attendance, who generously shared their expertise.
We then moved to another building where Kyle Heminger presented his force-fetching method. Using the club's training tables and his own equipment, Kyle demonstrated effective techniques and answered numerous questions from attendees. It was a hands-on and highly informative session.
The third seminar was led by John Richards, focusing on blood tracking. While condensed, this mini-session packed a punch. John introduced his signature "tracking box" method—a tool that many of us wished we had learned about years ago. John’s passion and experience in tracking were evident, and anyone interested in improving their dog’s tracking skills would benefit greatly from connecting with him.
The final seminar was a demonstration on steadiness, where Cameron introduced his use of the "whoa barrel." For many, this was their first exposure to the tool, and it was clear it would become a valuable addition to future training routines.
All of this rich content was delivered within just a few morning hours—before we’d even let the dogs out of the trucks.
After the seminar sessions, we split into groups for field and water work. The grounds at Glenn’s Valley were exceptional: expansive fields ideal for bird work and drags, and ample water for blind retrieves and duck searches. Many young dogs had their first successful experiences with water retrieves and searches, making the training day even more meaningful.
To top it off, any dog qualified for the Armbruster had the opportunity to receive a pre-evaluation from judges Neal and Rhonda Feazel. Their willingness to travel from Illinois and spend the weekend helping handlers and evaluating dogs was deeply appreciated. Their insight was invaluable, thank you both!
Of course, the day wouldn’t have been complete without Oscar’s incredible hospitality. From morning donuts to a delicious burger lunch, he made sure everyone was well-fed and comfortable throughout the day.
The Great Lakes Chapter is fortunate to have members like the Ritchies and other members (I’m looking at you Jim Smith, Marina and Scott Lover and other people that I’m forgetting but you know who you are) that put on great training days.
Everyone in attendance agreed: if Cameron hosts another event like this, they’ll be there. And after seeing the quality of the grounds and organization, many of us hope to see an HZP test held at Glenn’s Valley in the near future. Cameron and Oscar have already expressed interest in hosting. Let’s make it happen!