MISSOULA, MT. — Veteran Big Air competitors came out to play in Missoula, but a rookie made the leap to the number one spot in qualifying. The Super Retriever Series Big Air competition saw newcomer Will Gutman and his Black Lab Daisy June jump 22 feet to lead the pack for tomorrow's finals.

Super Retriever Series Big Air Qualifiers

Team — Hometown — Length Will Gutman/Daisy June, Missoula, MT, 22'0" Tom Dropik/Tucker, Lonsdale, MN, 21'8" John Kline/Haley, Bloomington, MN, 20'7" Jeff Harsch/Gunnison, Alberton, MT, 20'7" Robin Braaten/Ms Ruger, Duluth, MN, 19'8" Wade Copeland/Dwight, Stevensville, MT, 19'8" Andy Knapp/Sam, Missoula, MT, 19'8" Scot Marcin/Delta, Gallaton, TN, 19'7" Keith Cantillion/Spike, Ronan, MT, 18'10" Matt Chisholm/Sadie, Spokane, WA, 18'9" Brady Roberts/Packer, Missoula, MT, 18'7" Rick Oswald/Thunder, Diamond Lake, OR, 18'2"

Forty-four dogs vied for 12 spots in the finals from the Western Montana Retriever club. Previous Great Outdoor Games medalist Tom Dropik and Tucker (Bronze 2001) qualified in second with 21 feet, 8 inches, while John Kline and Haley (5th place 2002) posted 20'7" for third.

While most of the field was made up of Montana teams, competitors drove as far as 2500 miles, from Mt Holly, NJ, to try to win a coveted spot in the 2003 ESPN Great Outdoor Games.

"It's kind of like bass fishing," said Kline, who made the trek from Bloomington, MN. "All those guys want to make the BASSMASTERS Classic, so they fish a lot of tournaments to get there; some that aren't even qualifying events. They just want to stay sharp. Well, it's the same with Big Air — we want to stay sharp and it's more experience for the dog in front of cameras and big crowds. Plus, it's fun."

A crowd of more than one thousand watched local handler Guttman cast Daisy June from the dock. Guttman watched the Great Outdoor Games on ESPN and started training his Lab at Flathead Lake in Montana.

"She loves to jump, she'll jump off anything. She hunts with me for ducks and geese and she'll jump off anything, including cliffs into the river…which I don't encourage."

Robin Braaten traveled from Duluth, MN to give her German Wire-haired Pointer, Ms. Ruger, a shot at qualifying. They placed fourth in the 2002 Great Outdoor Games with 22'7", but only jumped to 19'8" today. "My son lived in Bozeman last winter and had a few things in storage to pick up, so we timed the trip with the Super Retriever Series event so we could be here for the competition."

Competitors came from such far-flung places as Kansas City, KS, and Diamond Lake, OR, but the crowd favorite was another local dog who won the hearts of Montanans on hand. Ronan, a Karelian Bear Dog, handled by John Gallegher of Missoula, had a slight handicap — literally. She lost one of her back legs to amputation after an accident when she was a puppy, but that didn't stop the three-legged dog's determination to pick up the stick Gallegher threw for her. She didn't make the cut today, but she made many fans smile as they watched her determination.

"It's amazing, she doesn't even seem like she knows she's handicapped," remarked one observer. Ronan jumped 13'6".

The overall Super Retriever Series champion will win an automatic berth to the 2003 Great Outdoor Games. The champion is determined by the average of each dog's top five jumps.

Guttman has his sights set on the Great Outdoor Games.

"We'd really like to make it to the Games next summer," he said.

Asked whether Daisy June would receive any special treatment after her performance today Guttman offered, "Maybe she'll get to sleep on the bed tonight."