Tribute to the founding members of the Master Amateur Retriever Club at the 2025 Master Amateur Invitational in Waterville, Maine. The photos below show the founding members on the holding blinds as handlers come to the line.
From Anne Millane:
While you were waiting with your dog in the holding blinds on the opening day of the Master Amateur Invitational, you may have noticed some beautiful photos in the center of each of the holding blinds leading up to the line. Paying homage to the founding board members of the Master Amateur Retriever Club who are present at the 2025 MI, including Frankie Prendergast, Bob Montler, Bob Swift (Judging Flight B), Jace Tramontin, and Ed Sullivan.
Bob Montler of Lee Industries generously sponsored these holding blinds, created by DogStar, in recognition of the five founding board members. The holding blinds will be given to each of these individuals after the event. Some of the holding blinds feature dogs that have held special meaning for these MARC members.
The visionaries for an amateur only AKC national club included Jace Tramontin, Frankie Prendergast, Dave Kress, Bob Montler, Bob Swift, Keith Winch and Elaine Goodner were the actual exploratory committee to discuss the idea and formulate a plan to get AKC approval and licensing as a new club known as the Master Amateur Retriever Club.
The original board members of MARC then included Frankie Prendergast, Bob Montler, John Blackbird, Ed Sullivan, Bob Swift, Dave Kress, Paul McGinnis, Dave Christianson, Steve Elliot, and Laura Judd.
Thank you for the vision and commitment to get our precious club off the ground and running.
