January 21, 2008

29^th Chicagoland Outdoors Show – January 16 – 20, 2008
This Show is the largest consumer fishing event of its kind in the greater Chicago area. People come from all over the Midwest to view and purchase fishing and hunting products, plan outdoor vacations, shop for boats, RVs, ATVs and 4WDs.

Team STIHL's Tom Dropik and his high flying dog Rocky participated in yet another First for sports of Dock Jumping. For the 2^nd year in a row, DockDogs was the featured attraction at the famous Outdoors Show in Rosemount, IL and this year they offered something special. This event introduced a brand new sport to the Dog Jumping arena call the “Speed Retrieve”. This sport combines 3 disciplines, SPEED, JUMPING, and SWIMMING. The dog/handler team that can produce the perfect combination of these disciplines and produces the fast time to the object wins. It’s very simple, line your dog up at the 20’ mark on the dock, get him to mark the object on the other end of the pool and let him go. The fastest dog to the object wins.

The first ever “Speed Retrieve” was a huge spectator event and drew hundreds of people to watch over 25 dogs come out to try their skills. Team STIHL's Tom Dropik and Rocky were amongst the speedsters ready to give it a try. Round 1 offered 2 chances for each team and the top 8 dogs would advance. At the end of Round 1 Team STIHL's Tom Dropik and Rocky found themselves in 4^th place over all. Round 2 gave the Top 8 dogs another 2 chances to earn a spot in the top 3. At the end of Round 2 Team STIHL's Tom Dropik and Rocky found themselves in 3rd place over all. The Finals offered the Top 3 dogs a shot at Gold, Silver and Bronze. At the end of the Finals Team STIHL's Tom Dropik and Rocky had enough left to move up as position and ended up wining the Silver Medal in the First ever “Speed Retrieve”

RUN, JUMP, SWIM. That’s Speed Retrieve. Team STIHL's Tom Dropik and Rocky have proven that they will be a force to recon with in the upcoming 2008 Dock Jumping Season.