Sunday May 4th at Vogelsang Park, 136 N. Church St, Sullivan, MO (30 minutes from Purina Farms)
All Breed, Malinois Preferred
Chair and Secretary: Annette Lynch
Judges: Inge Suchanek & Darlene Barnard
Opens: Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Closes: Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Draw for entries at 6:30 p.m.
Premium (Combined Tests Exchange & Specialty Club Option 2 in place)
Judging Program (will be linked when available)
Tracking is a Most Versatile Malinois event.
Tests Offered:
2 TD, 2 TDU., 2 TDX, and 2 VST
Draw for TD/TDU tracks at HQ at 7:00 am
Draw for TDX /VST tracks at HQ at 9:30am.
Tracks will run after the draw once they are ready.
Volunteers Needed: please contact chair Annette Lynch.
Plotting Day is Saturday, May 3rd.
Inge Suchanek
My love for dogs and dog sports started early. The first titles earned were on my Shetland Sheepdogs in obedience when I was a junior handler. Since that time
I’ve had many Shetland Sheepdogs and Labrador Retrievers. I enjoy competing in many dog sports, obedience, rally, agility, herding and of course tracking! After earning my first CT (Champion Tracker) title on my Labrador “Trapper” I applied to be a judge. Since then I’ve earned two more CTson my Shetland Sheepdogs
“Finn” and “Reid”. Three more shelties are in the wings working toward the same accomplishment. Throughout my assignments I’ve met wonderful people, seen amazing tracking teams and gorgeous fields. Memories of passing teams still make me smile. The tracking journey may be long but it is filled with great memories!
I am honored to judge the 2025 American Belgian Malinois Club national tracking tests and look forward to watching great dogs in action.
Darlene Barnard
I have always loved dogs and had several dogs, mostly mixed breeds, while growing up, but my first love is the German Shepherd Dog. I got my first one in 1976 and immediately started obedience training with him. I gradually added more German Shepherds to the household and continued my obedience training. I got interested in tracking around 1984 and have trained every dog I’ve had since then in tracking and put a tracking title on most of them. I started training tracking classes around 1990 and still do it and still love it.
I became intrigued by Variable Surface Tracking when my husband, John, started introducing it at the workshops he presented as the Executive Field Tracking Representative for the AKC. By 1993 I had been incorporating it into my training for some time. Now I start all my dogs and my students’ dogs in VST at the inception of their training. I became involved in formulating the rules for VST and assisting in its implementation in 1995. I became a tracking judge in 1995.
On September 10, 1995, my Annie became the first dog in the country to earn the VST and Champion Tracker title, a title we all covet and cherish. To date I have trained and handled a total of five dogs to their Champion Tracker title. I am currently working at number 6.
I have also participated in Schutzhund, herding and worked with the DuPage County, Illinois’ Sheriff’s canine unit in tracking and protection work with their German Shepherds and Bloodhounds.
John and I were instrumental in helping Canada develop their urban tracking program and providing judges’ education for their judges prior to being approved to judge urban tests.
I reside in Batavia, Illinois with my husband and current dogs, Tango and Dixie. Tango recently finished his Champion Tracker title. Dixie is on her journey to Champion Tracker.
I am excited to be at the Belgian Malinois National Specialty this year and look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.