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NAGDA National Championship: A Family Tradition
Posted by Junior Shooters
By: Quade Joseph Erker, 13 years old.
(Junior Writer For Kids By Kids) Photos BY: Scott Sayles
My first year in the North American Gun Dog Association (NAGDA) was a great experience. My first qualification trial was in January 2008 at Eastern Colorado Hunting Opportunities (ECHO) in Stratton, Colorado. I hunted with a truly amazing dog named Becca, owned by my Aunt and Uncle, Mike and Kim Hatfield (the owners of ECHO). Becca is a seven-year-old English Pointer.
On my very first trial, Becca and I won a second place red ribbon. This was phenomenal because in order to make it to nationals, you must compete in at least two trials and place in at least one, so on my first trial,
I was already guaranteed a spot in nationals (hosted by the creators of NAGDA, my Aunt and Uncle). But, I still had to compete in at least one other trial. So in February, I competed in my second qualification trial. Once again, Becca did an outstanding job putting us in fourth place.
Becca and I had the pleasure of advancing to nationals in my first year of NAGDA. Our first trial in the nationals was on April 4th. Becca and I had the opportunity of hunting with many other lucky youth hunters. On the first day, Becca and I had a score of 148, which was shocking because in the qualification rounds we scored a 108 and a 98, which is good, but 148 is quite a bit better. This score put us in first place for the day. 
The next day (April 5th) was an even better day. Becca and I scored a 188, our highest score yet for our complete first year. This score not only put us in first place for the day, but also put us in first place for the first two days of nationals, an all together score for the first two days of 336. Because of our score, Becca and I had the honor of advancing to the final day of nationals (April 6th).
We were more excited 
than you could possibly understand, but we didn’t let it go to our heads. The next morning, Becca and I woke up excited to be in the top five. We got dressed, grabbed our gear, and headed to the blind to wait for our run. At 10 o?-clock, Becca and I headed out to the field. We ran a great hunt, found, and shot several birds, and wound up with a score of 168. This put us in second place for the 2008 NAGDA Nationals. We were overwhelmed with excitement. Becca and I had a truly phenomenal first year. I couldn’t have asked for a better first year.
I would like to thank my Aunt and Uncle for giving me the opportunity to hunt with their outstanding dog, Becca. I would like to especially thank my Uncle for being my mentor during all of my trials and for encouraging me to try hard and more importantly just to have fun.
I would also like to thank my parents for encouraging me and helping me practice. Finally, I would like to thank Hi-Viz Sights. Hi-Viz actually gave me a green neon sight that just clipped on to the end of my gun. On my first day of nationals I scored a 148. The next afternoon was my first day with the sight and it improved my score by 40 points.
All in all, hunting with NAGDA and ECHO was a wonderful experience and I look forward to seeing you there next year.
//Copyright and Published Bu Junior Shooters and Junior Sports Magazines Inc. January 2009//
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