Jim Powers, Championship Handler by Jennifer Fullenkamp communication Specialist for the Iams Company. Printed in Eukanuba Outdoors, Fall 2001 p 12-13.   After more than 20 years in competitive field trialing, Jim Powers, handler of the 2001 National Amateur Retriever Championship winner, has seen a lot of things change. But some things will always stay the same. Like his competitiveness in the field and his love and respect for the Labrador Retriever. Powers' journey into the field began in the late 1970s when he got his first Golden Retriever. He decided to join the local Golden club, but wasn't interested in doing obedience or agility training and began to look into field trials. As his love for the sport grew, he got his first Labrador Retriever, FC AFC Candlewoods magnum Force. He felt the lab was stronger and had more of the attributes he wanted from a dog in the field. Since then there's been no turning back, and Powers' Labs have acquired quite an impressive list of accomplishments. Ramblin' to the 2001 Championship Candlewoods Magnum Force, Candlewoods Lighting Logan, Candlewoods Sporting Chance, and Candlewoods, Ramblin' Man have all earned Field Champion and Amateur Field Champion titles. In addition to their titles, the foursome have also run in numbers national opens and national amateur events. Topping the list is Candlewoods Ramblin' Man's win at the 2001 National Amateur Retriever Championship in Virginia, Minnesota. Competition Getting Tougher Of all the changes Powers has seen in field trialing over the last two decades, he cites a heightened level of competition as the biggest change. The dogs are better trained, and more is demanded from them in the field, he says. It is becoming increasingly difficult to separated the field trial champions from the rest of the pack. Powers expects great things from his dogs, and even though he takes part in some of their training, he suggests that it's wise to work with a professional trainer. He feels that a full-time professional trainer has the expertise, the resources, and the time to help bring the very best out of his dogs. With competition at an all-time high, he wants to help give his dogs that extra edge.   The Iams and Eukanuba Edge Having fed Iams and Eukanuba Dog Foods for more than 20 years, both to his personal dogs and in his boarding kennel, Powers will also tell you that part of the "edge" he gives to his dogs is in the nutrition. He feed his dogs Iams and Eukanuba because he knows they need high-quality food to help them perform at a championship level.   Family That runs Together, Stays Together Powers, and his wife, Judy, also a successful handler, enjoy field trailing as a team. They say it easier to be involved as a couple than it is to do things separately, due to the large commitment of time necessary to train and compete with the dogs. They find it gives them the opportunity to spend time together training, trialing, and traveling. It is quite obvious that for the Powers family, field trialing is a way of life.