LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The final day of competition at the ESPN Sporting Dog Challenge attracted more than 600 fans to Little Rock's Murray Park. Retriever trials and big air dog competitions rounded out the weekend's events, which attracted nearly 2,000 spectators interested in seeing who would qualify for the ESPN Great Outdoor Games set for July 11-14 at Lake Placid, N.Y.

"We want to thank the people of Little Rock and all of Arkansas for the support they've shown our event throughout the weekend," said ESPN Manager of Operations Eric Matijevich. "The event was a success, many people were newly exposted to the sports and the rain stayed away!"

The retriever trials competition, a hunting test simulator that teams handler and dog in a retrieve for "birds" launched into a meadow, was won by Dr. Phillis Giroux, a veteraniarian from Goldvien, Va., his 11½-year-old Tardy.

"The course was very challenging and we appreciated the opportunity to compete against the best dogs in the country," said Giroux, who earned an invitation to the ESPN Great Outdoor Games.

Jerry Holden of Clinton, Miss., and Take, his black Labrador, took second place and also received an invitation to Lake Placid. Goldvein, Va.'s Jack Jagoda and yellow Labrador Elvis placed third.

The big air competition was one of the most exciting events of the weekend. Black Labrador Wally, handled by Melissa Holden of Clinton, Miss., made the longest jump of the day at 21 feet, 5 inches.

"I'm so excited; we drove five hours to find a way to qualify for the Great Outdoor Games and we did it!" said Holden.

The ESPN Great Outdoor Games will feature competitions in fishing, target sports, timber events and sporting dogs. For more information, visit www.greatoutdoorgames.com.