2026 Fall Grand Stats and Site Interviews

In this conversation, Larry McMurry shares his extensive journey in dog training, highlighting his experiences with various retrievers and his significant contributions to the Hunting Retriever Club (HRC). The discussion covers his early influences, training philosophies, and the establishment of training facilities, culminating in the evolution of the Super Retriever Series (SRS). In this conversation, Larry McMurry and Kevin Jackson discuss the evolution and community aspects of the Hunting Retriever Club (HRC), emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and engagement in dog training. They also share personal experiences from competitions and insights into dog breeding and training.TakeawaysLarry's journey in dog trainingImpact of HRC on dog training Importance of community in HRCEngagement in dog training enhances bondChapters00:00 Introduction to Larry McMurry02:53 Larry's Early Experiences with Dogs06:07 Transition to Duck Hunting and Training08:54 The Journey to Grand Champion11:58 Training Philosophy and Techniques14:54 Hall of Fame Dogs and Their Achievements18:11 Involvement with HRC and Community Contributions24:03 Building Pepper's Pond and SRS30:00 The Evolution of SRS and Its Impact39:47 The Great Outdoor Games Experience41:08 HRC's Inclusive Approach43:39 Aging Judges and Responsibility45:51 Engagement in Dog Training47:06 Favorite Tests and Locations51:20 Challenges in Competition59:22 Reflections on Training and Breeding01:03:41 Callback Questions and Insights

This week we learn about the HRC Foundation from HRC Foundation President Ray Caito.Thanks to the HRC Foundation SponsorsPurina, Garmin, Priefert, Perfectmarc, and Gunners Up !

We close out the Fall Grand 2026 with Tracy Stubbs, and then are joined by Dalton and Hannah to hear about their first attempt at the Grand and what they learned along the way.

We cover the final stats of the 2026 Fall Grand along with interviews from the Grand sites with the Grand Committee members.

This episode Kevin and Glen are joined by one of the HRC founders Butch Gandy to talk about the history of HRC and Butch gives his thoughts on what HRC has become.

On this episode of The Holding Blind Kevin and Glen are joined by Tracy Stubbs Grand Committee Chair to give you the information you need for the 2026 Fall HRC Grand.

On the pilot episode we introduce our hosts and the plan for the podcast.