he American Kennel Club has indicated a willingness to approve a dog show that will be limited to conformation champions that also possess field titles, the first of its type to ever be approved by the AKC.

The show, a "special attraction" under AKC regulations, has been named "The Granite City Kennel Club 'Field of Champions' Invitational Dog Show," and will be held in St. Cloud, Minnesota on Friday, December 4, 1998, the day before Granite City's two all breed dog shows.

In order to be eligible to enter, dogs must have met both the conformation and minimum performance standards for their breed. What this means for this year that dogs entered must be AKC conformation champions and have either an AKC hunting, herding, earthdog, lure-coursing title. For breeds where there is no formal AKC performance testing program, dogs must possess an AKC conformation championship and a working certificate from the parent club, provided the parent club is a member of the American kennel club. Spayed and neutered dogs can compete in this show provided they meet the eligibility requirements for their breed.

There will be five groups judged in this show -- sporting, hound, herding, working, terrier. Dogs in the nonsporting and toy groups that are eligible for this show will be judged in the group where their working title applies, ie, Poodles and Airedales will be judged with the sporting group and Silky Terriers with the terrier group.

There are no points connected with this show because AKC has approved it a "special attraction." But there are certainly some bragging rights on the line because this is, for all intents and purposes, *the* national show for dual titled dogs. Competition will be for best of breed, best of opposite, group placements and best in show. Judges may choose to award up to five awards of merit in competition for best of breed. The show will also be a partial sweepstakes in that 40 percent of the entry fees will be returned to the dog taking best in show and the four placing dogs in each group.

GCKC is seeking trophy donations for Best of Breed and Best of Opposite. The trophies are silver tankards with the breed head and cost $15.00 each. GCKC is also seeking donations for the awards of merit (green sun catchers with the breed head $7.50 each) and seven rosettes for each breed (7 for $20). GCKC would also welcome any donations to the trophy fund or for group placements. Contact the trophy chair @ 3593 75th St., Swanville, MN 56382 (320)573-2153.

This is an exciting development on the part of the American Kennel Club and Granite City Kennel Club hopes to pave the way and put on a class act to showcase these dual dogs. We hope there are some dogs in your breed that meet the eligibility requirements for this show. For information concerning the "Field of Champions" show on Friday December 4, 1998, please contact the show secretary: James Parrish, 5989 Hobe Lane, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. The all-breed shows on Saturday and Sunday December 5 6 is superintendent Jack Onofrio, PO Box 25764, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.

We hope you will pass this information along to your club members either through your newsletter or via the Internet. You have permission to reprint this letter. Please contact me at (320) 573-2153 for further information.