Handler Spotlight – Dennis Edwards 2012 Meeker Classic Reserve Champion
Dennis tips his hat as he and Ben complete their run in the 2012 Finals.
Reserve Champion – 2012 Meeker Classic
Dennis Edwards & Ben, 8 year old Male
Sundance, Wyoming
For the second year in a row, Dennis Edwards, Sundance, Wyoming captured Reserve Grand Champion honors at the 2012 Meeker Classic. This year he did it with 8 year old Ben. Running at the end of the day for both the Semi-Finals and Finals, Dennis and Ben were able to master the Meeker sheep and get good scores. Running second to last on finals day, with the hot sun and heavy sheep, Dennis and Ben kept the sheep moving during the shed and placing them second with a score of 130.
Dennis has been competing at dog trials for about 14 years. He started going to a few small arena trials with encouragement from fellow handler, Gerald Bunny, and later got hooked on field trials when he competed at the Kaycee Challenge in Kaycee, WY. Gerald’s dog Leo is the sire of Ben with the bitch, Jasmine, going back to Charlie Erringtons Imp Jeff. Ben and Dennis won the Double-Lift at the Kaycee Challenge in 2009.
Says Dennis of Ben, “Ben loves attention and enjoys being around people. Ben loves to talk. My wife and Sue Noll love to hear Ben talk, so, they encourage him every chance they get. It drives me crazy!” When working stock he hates to make a mess. Ben’s ability to move his stock in a firm workman like manner when needed helped Dennis bunch late in the day on Sunday when the sheep were proving to be so difficult.
Dennis’ first trip to Meeker in 2008 was his first introduction to one of the really big field trials. “What an experience it was for me. I was in over my head, but what cool place to run dogs. It also showed me the level I needed to be training my dogs to. That has been quite a challenge.” Dennis has met that challenge by taking Reserve honors in 2011 and 2012 with two different dogs.
Outside of the Dog World, Dennis works for the local electric co-op, Powder River Energy Corp, in the metering department. He and his wife Marlene have made their home in Sundance and raised two sons, Joshua who is a Range Specialist for the Forest Service in Mackay Id. and Lucas who is serving as pastor at a Missouri Synod Lutheran tri-parish in South Dakota while continuing his work on a theological PhD Concordia Seminary in St Louis Mo. Marlene recently retired as the school nurse in Sundance and now works at a surgical center in Rapid City. She looks forward to travelling with Dennis to Meeker in 2013. Dennis and Marlene have 7 wonderful grandchildren and are very proud of their family.
We congratulate Dennis on his achievements and wish him all the best for 2013!