The "Hotwire" Publication of the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of Southern California www.gwpsocal.com October 2001 Karen Nelsen, Editor (310) 530-3264 e-mail: ruwyrd@aol.com Harvey Rawn, Webmaster (805) 386-1668 e-mail: rawn@loop.com Editor’s Note Please excuse the brevity of some information. I am leaving on Tuesday for the GWPCA Nationals. The November issue will be chock full of tid-bits and results. Many thanks to Linda Rice for printing and mailing this issue. THE FUN DAY ­ A GREAT SUCCESS The Fun Day was a rousing success. Thanks to Ruth and John Morrison, Cathy and Don Magoon for their great organization and preparation. About two dozen folks showed up with their dogs ­ all in various stages of hunting knowledge (both dogs AND handlers!). There were many familiar faces and it was good to see some new faces among the participants. After some beginning confusion regarding the location of the activity, everyone did some searching and found the new-last-minute-change location. Thank heaven for cell phones!! SOME BASIC INFORMATION Karla Weber and Linda Ercoli have mailed out premiums for the October Hunting Test. Please contact Karla at 661-285-2572 if you haven’t received yours. Lots of help is needed in order to make the events a big success. If you have some time, we’d appreciate your showing up and helping out! The refurbishing of the Club trailer will be on Sunday November 17 at Jimmy and Linda Rice’s in Palmdale (‘cuz that’s where the trailer is!). The work gets under way at 10AM under the direction of Jimmy, Dominic and Tom. Please bring a sander (if you have one) and scrapers. Don Magoon and I have submitted paperwork to AKC for the field trial. After checking with the GSP folks, we were informed that they would not be using our February dates, so we will be using February 16 and 17 for the Spring Field Trial. It will be held at Castle Butte Wells area in California City. More info later. In Memoriam The Club expresses its deepest sympathies to Linda Ercoli on the loss of her most cherished “son” Dallas, and to Stacy and Hector Barry on the loss of their precious friend Missy. Ch Weidenhugel Merlin V Nico, MH, CD Jay-Mar’s Beloved Mistress February 6, 1990 ­ September 15, 2001 July 27, 1998 ­ September 17, 2001 A Tragic Week The week of September 10th loomed bright and cheery. The summer, what we had of it, was coming to a close. Little can we comprehend the tragedy of September 11th, when the World Trade Center buildings were attacked and, ultimately, collapsed. Members of the California Brittany Club had already left for the White Mountains in Northern Arizona for a field trial. Upon their arrival, a branch from a large tree broke off, fell on one of Jimmy Berneathy’s dogs, killing the dog. On the final day of the trial, a single bolt of lightning stuck a tree, sending its electrical charge underground. At that moment, three riders who had just completed their brace in the Puppy Stake, crossed over the charge. Hank Hartnek, Paul Doiron and Dale Ellis were the riders. Dale was killed instantly; Paul was severely burned on his back and his eardrums were perforated; Hank received the lightest charge and experienced only numbing and tingling sensations. Both Paul’s and Dale’s horses were also killed. CPR was begun on Dale immediately, as it would take the paramedics 45 minutes to arrive at the scene. They also tended to Paul, who was able to move around. He was eventually “air-vacked” to a hospital in Phoenix where he stayed for three days. Paul is recuperating at home and others have jumped in to help train his dogs. Hank and his horse suffered no ill-effects. Dale was remembered at a wonderful service, at which it took 90 minutes for everyone to speak about him. The Brittany Club now has a de-fibulator (?) on hand should an event of this magnitude occur again. The Hot Wire Karen Nelsen, Editor 25821 Lucille Ave. Lomita, CA 90717   Return to Hotwire Archive Return to GWPCSC Home Page