Hi Karen,
Why are you entering Open at Hall Barn and not Novice? Have you won a Novice test? As there is no age limit for novice and only a First in a novice GWT or a field trial award can disqualify you from entering.
With regard to the Gundog Club, the grade one and two would realy only get you through a puppy or easy novice GWT not an Open. ( Its alot of money for the basics IMO) Just to give you an idea, I used the grade one and two retriever `tests' to settle the dogs and handlers BEFORE I start a training class.
Peter