From Steve Beyer

Congratulations to all qualifiers and good luck to anyone still trying to qualify for the 2004 National Open Championship. We are ready to welcome you to the 2004 NOC Trial which will be held south of McPherson, Kansas on November 28, 2004. We have a great trial planned and hope to make it an enjoyable time for all involved. 

Don Bramwell’s welcome letter explains most of the necessary details about location, lodging, etc. The cover will be a mixture of native grasses and CRP and we will vary locations to provide a good test for the dogs. 

Training will be held Saturday the 27^th and we will have maps at the hotel with directions to the grounds and training area. No training will be held on the actual trial grounds before the trial. These are private grounds so let’s respect the owner’s wishes and show them we appreciate them letting us use their land. 

John Knowles will be in charge of training and pheasants will be available for $9.00 each. Please let John know how many pheasants you would like so we may have a count. You can e-mail John at jknowles@road.cflhd.gov or Mhari Peschel at parafarm1@mindspring.com. 

We will have lunches at the grounds for the 1^st and 2^nd series, and lunches available nearby for the 3^rd and 4^th series. You will be on your own for breakfasts each morning and the hotel has a restaurant which will have breakfast available that opens at 7:00 A.M. There is a Perkins restaurant close to the motel that opens at 6:00 A.M.

from Bob Murdock  "the person who is catering lunches will be at the trial locations each morning with homemade cinnamon rolls, breakfast burritos and other goodies."

We still could use more items for the silent auction so if you have any items please call Phyllis Beyer at 402-289-2516.  

 Gun raffle tickets will be sold in cooperation with the Springer Spaniel Exhibit at the Bird Dog Hall of Fame by Dave Hopkins. Proceeds will help both NOC and the Springer Spaniel Exhibit so please support this raffle. 

 I am available if anyone has any questions so please don’t hesitate to contact me. 

 Good luck and we will see you in McPherson! 

Letter from President Don Bramwell 

Welcome to the 2004 National Open Championship!!! 

The 2004 National Open will be held at McPherson, KS, located between Wichita and Dodge City, which obviously lends itself to a western theme.  Cowboy boots, hats and blue jeans are in order. 

Training will be held November 27, with the trial starting on November 28.  The trial will be ran in prime KS pheasant cover that ranges from knee high to patches of shoulder high native grass.  The trial grounds are part of Quail Valley Hunt Club.  They have a small heated clubhouse where lunch will be served as well as sporting clay set up, should anyone desire. 

McPherson is located about 1 hour north of Wichita, which is the closest commercial airport.  The trial grounds are located about 20 minutes south of McPherson or 20 miles north of Hutchinson. 

Best Western Holiday Manor, McPherson, KS, has been selected as our headquarters.  Our group rate is $59.00/day plus tax.  Reservations must be made by November 12, 2004 to get the group rate.  They will honor the group rate through the end of the trial if they have rooms, however, rooms cannot be guaranteed without reservations by November 12. 

They have a normal charge of $10.00/night for dogs in your room, however, we have negotiated a waiver of this charge and dogs are welcome in your room at no charge. 

Amenities include indoor heated pool, whirlpool, fitness room, data port phones with voicemail, internet access, in room coffee, hairdryer and iron.  A Continental breakfast is served in the lobby. 

They also have plenty of motor home parking. 

The website is www.bestwestern.com  From there you will have to type in McPherson, KS. 

I am honored to have Steve Beyer as Field Trial Chairman and we both look forward to putting on a national that you will be proud to have attended. 

Looking forward to seeing you all in Kansas 
 
 

Don Bramwell