1999 NRC

1999 NRC - Oakdale, CA

1999 NRC Stake Info
1999 NRC Callbacks

1999 NRC Qualifiers

1999 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP STAKE
DOGS IN ORDER OF DRAW

CFC-CAFC EL NINO, LM , Blair Down/Dave Rorem
FC MAXAMILLION OF GREEN ACRES , LM , Don Nindorf/Bill Fabian
FC-AFC COACH'S BIG RUFF, LM, William & Jon Parman/Jay Stine
FIRETAIL'S THREE BARS, LM, Marvin Blount, Jr.
FC TANK'S TOO LEGIT TO QUIT, LF , Shirley & Quinten Meland/Mike Ciero (Scratch)
FC-AFC GREENWING NO MOON, LF, Craig Stonesifer/Ed Forry
FC LOTTIE'S SHERMAN TANK , LM, Marion Stroud Swingle/Dave Mosher
FC DIAMOND D'S KLONDIKE , LM, Susan Kennedy MD/Merry Lake
FC ROUGHWATERS SNAP CRACKLE POP, LF, Monte Wulf/Bill Eckett
FC CANDLEWOODS RAMBLIN MAN, LM, Jim & Dr. Judy Powers/Dave Smith
FC-AFC CASHMAN'S FAT LADY ZINGIN , LF, J. M. & L.K. DuBose/Mac DuBose
DUAL CH AFC GAMBLER'S DILWYN-STACKED DECK , CHM, Bruce Mitchell, Jr.
FC-AFC WINDY CITY'S PERFECT ANGEL, LF, Charles Hines III/Wayne Curtis
FC HUNTING HILLS BLACK ICE , LM, T. & J. Thomas & A. Meisse/Merry Lake
FC EAGLE RIDGE ROCKET SAM , LM, P. Youngblood & S. Spalter/Danny Farmer
BELVEDERE FOREVER RAISIN' CAIN, GM, Van & Regina Weldon/Danny Farmer
FC-AFC-CFC-CAFC JAZZTIME'S FREQUENT FLYER, LM, Anna & Larry Calvert/Larry Calvert
FC-CFC-CAFC DAMN YANKEE II , LM, Gunther Rahnefeld/Bill Sargenti
NAFC-FC-CNAFC EBONSTAR LEAN MAC , LM , S. Scott & P. Shawver/Mike Lardy
FC-AFC-CFC-CAFC DB'S CRACKER OF CLUB MEAD, LM, Donald Berard
FC-AFC TRUMARC'S TOO HOT TO HANDLE , LF, William & Joanne Wilbanks/Jay Stine
NAFC-FC HATTIE MCBUNN, LF, J.M. & L.K. DuBose/Lynne DuBose
FC-AFC HAVE HANDLER WILL TRAVEL , LM, R.E. Kavanagh
FC-AFC CROW RIVERS HI RES SCANNER , LM, Roger Weller/Bill Fabian
PERPETUAL MOTION PINEY ,LF, Dirk & Betsy Nevin/Kenny Trott
FC CHENA RIVER WILD LADY, LF, Ann Rauff/Jim Gonia
FC LONESTAR'S SCARLETT OF TARA, LF, Russ Weiss/Bill Eckett
FC-AFC CANDLEWOOD'S TEXAS RANGER, LM, Bill Bowen & John Larkin/Danny Farmer
AFC HI COTTON'S AT WITS END, LF, Alanson Brown III
FC-AFC TRUMARC'S SUPER PURSUIT, LM, Sam Milton
FC MUGGAZULU, LF, Pete & Janet Drummond/Greg Lister
FC MONARCH'S DAMN YANKEE , LM, Annette Winburn/Hugh Arthur
FC-AFC PENMARK'S INTREPID, LM, Ken & Sandra Thorson/Ken Thorson
FC-AFC VALTOR'S O.C. PETE ,LM, Joe & Gretchen Augustyn/Bill Sargenti
FC MISS PINK, LF, Clint & Marion Stroud Swingle/Ed Forry
FC-AFC AUTUMN RUN'S LIL' TOOTS , LF, Irwin. & Susie. Purtell/Dave Smith
FC-AFC TRU LINE'S TOO LE GIT, LM, Glenda Brown
FC HARMONY'S HEY YOU HARRY, LM, Timbertown Kennels/Richard Roberts Jr.
FC-AFC GENERAL'S CALYPSO BELLE , LF, N.P. Larson & Dave Harter/N.P. Larson
RUDYDUCK'S VALENTINE , LF, Michael & Mary Nelson/Mike Cicero
FC REBEL WITH A CAUSE , LM, Ernie & Tina Sullivent/Bill Eckett
CFC-CAFC MELBERBY'S MAGGIE MAE , LF, Joe Renouf/Jamie Balesdent
FC-AFC TULE RIVER KODIAK , LM, G. Hammond & D. Vega/Dave Vega
FC GREENBRIAR'S DISCO DUCK, LF, Jack Love/Richard Bridges
FC-AFC TAILWIND'S TRAVELIN' GYPSY, LF, John Thomas & Andrea Meisse/Merry Lake
FC-AFC CROPPERS RIVER WATER BLACK TEAL , LF, M. Boatright & K. Naisbitt/Bill Sargenti
FC SOUTHWIND NIGHTHAWK, LM , Phil Clifton/Hugh Arthur
NFC-AFC ABE'S EBONY AND IVORY , LM, Sharon & Gary Hanvey/Wayne Curtis
FC-AFC CAERNAC'S KEEPER , LM, M. Kearney & M. Simonds/M. Kearney
FC-AFC CHICKAMAUGA CHOO CHOO, LF, J.M. & L.K. DuBose/Lynne DuBose
FC DOWNEASTER , LF, Marion Stroud Swingle/Dave Mosher
FC-AFC CANDLEWOOD REBEL RIDGE TNT , LF, Lyn & Larry Wharton/Lyn
FC DUBLIN'S IRISH MIST, LM, Tom & Nancy O'Brien/Ed Forry
AFC FORDLAND'S BORED OUT FORD , LM, Sam Milton & J. Hollingsworth/Sam Milton
FC-AFC ADAMS ACRES CHEROKEE ROSE , LF, John & Martha Russell/ Merry Lake
FC-AFC BLACKWATER RUDY , LM, Dave Harter/Bill Eckett
NFC-AFC STORM'S RIPTIDE STAR , LM, Marilyn Fender/Mike Lardy (Scratch - injury)
FC HUNTERS MARSH ABI , LF, A.C. Ray/Jay Stine
FC-AFC SOURDOUGH'S SLICK NICK, LM, Paul Brundige/Joe Harp
CNFC RAINBOW MOLLIE , LF, Harry Loyens/Al Arnold
FC-AFC TOPBRASS ROWDY YATES , LM, Joseph & Tal Broyles/Mark Smith
FC CLUBMEAD'S HEAD OVER HEELS, LM, Ronald Kiehn/Don Remien
FC MISS SCARLET, LF, Clint & Marion Stroud Swingle/D. Mosher
FC DOC'S WICKED PICKETT , LM, Annette Winburn & Sanna Carey/H. Arthur
FC-AFC HAWKEYE'S CANDLEWOOD SHADOW, LM , Marvin Blount, Jr.
FC CANDLEWOODS PREMIER RINGER , LM, Wm. & Bev Busler/Bill Eckett
FC-AFC DUST DEVIL'S SHOOT THE MOON, LM, Steve Bechtel/Bill Totten
FC-AFC CODE BLUE , LM, J.J. Heneghan/Jim Gonia
NAFC-FC CANDLEWOOD'S BIT O BUNNY, LF, Henry McNeil, Jr. (Starts First Series)
FC-AFC-CFC-CAFC SHWARZENBERG'S LUCKY BREEZE, LF, Ed Gibson/Wayne Curtis
FC-AFC CANDLEWOODS DESERT STORM MH, LM, Donald Wolf
FC-AFC SUN VALLEY NUGGET , LM, Harvey & Nancy Peterson/Harvey
FC-AFC PLOURDE'S FOX HILL'S MAVERICK JH , LM, Wm. & Sandi McCourt/Dave Mosher
FC-AFC MORGAN LE FAE OF BUCKSHOT, LF, Irwin & Susie Purtell/Mike Lardy
FC-AFC SNAKE'S PONY EXPRESS, LM, Hillary Rogers Brooks/Merry Lake
FC-AFC CROW RIVER COUGAR'S BP MAGGS, LF, Rick Van Bergan
FC-AFC LINK'S ROYAL TOUCH OF CLASS, LF, Beve Lincoln/Bill Eckett
FC CANDLEWOOD'S STORMY WEATHER , LF, Tom & Nancy O'Brien/Ed Forry
FC ZUBA'S ABBY DABBA DOO , LF, H. Knoblauch & B. Stawski/R. Stawski
FC-AFC VOLLWOOD'S MOLLIE, LF , Jack & Florence Vollstedt/Jack Vollstedt
FC-AFC DUST DEVIL'S QUANTUM LEAP, LF, Steve Bechtel/Bill Totten
FC-AFC CHET'S BWANA MOJOA, LM, Boyd Woodward
FC-AFC CANDLEWOODS REBEL RIDGE PDQ, LM, Larry & Lyn Wharton/M. Lardy
FC-AFC CHENA RIVER CHAVEZ , LM, Marion Stroud Swingle/Dave Mosher

QUALIFIED BUT NOT ENTERED
FC ANTE UP, L.F.
Owner: John and Clarita Emory
FC DANCES WITH WOLVES, L.F
Owner: Richard and Paula Colleoni
FC-AFC HIWOOD KLEEN SWEEP, L.F.
Owner: Roy and Jo McFall
FC-AFC HIWOOD TROOPER, L.M.
Owner: Roy and Jo McFall
NAFC-FC MC'S COTTON PICK'N CROPPER, L.M.
Owner: Newt Cropper and Karen Rabeau
FC-AFC REDLINE WILDERNESS HANNA GO, L.F.
Owner: Robert and Leta Rovelstad
RIPARIAN EASYRIDER, L.M.
Owner: Cliff and Jeanne Garland
FC TRUMARC'S IN PURSUIT AGAIN, L.M.
Owner: Kent Sweezey

Saturday, November 13, 1999

(Only a few highlights are presented here. A full report will appear in the January issue of RFTN)

The NRC annual meeting began at 3 p.m. following the Retriever Advisory Meeting. Present on the dais were '99 Officers; Bill Daley, Larry Wharton, Tony Snow, Jackie Mertens, Clint Joyner and Chief Marshall Kirk Naisbitt. It opened with the announcement that this Stake was being dedicated to the memory of Joe Boatright on whose land it would be held.

Dede Goodrich was asked to draw the starting number for the Stake. She drew #69, NAFC-FC Candlewoods Bit O Bunny, Hank Mc Neil handler. Rotation will be 69, 6, 27, 48.

Highlights included the election of 2000 NRC Club Officers. They include:

        President - Bill Schrader

        V. Pres. - Clint Joyner

        Sec/Tres. - Larry Wharton

        Bill Daley

        Jim Cope

        Jackie Mertens

        Grayson Kelley

The 2000 Stake will be held in Ardmore, Oklahoma from November 12-18th. Chairman is Jim Cope and Chief Marshal, Mike Kammerer. Judges are: Chuck Kimbrell, Jan Andersen, and Dave Vega.

Sunday, November 14, 1999

The beautiful Joe and Marilyn Boatright Ranch, located in the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, is the site of the 1999 National Retriever Championship Stake. 82 dogs began with a double land mark and a land blind, to open the trial. The line was located on a road at the top of a draw with the test running down the draw and along both sides. The first bird was a dead cock pheasant thrown from right to left across a winding spring bed running down the middle of the draw, into 24 inch bunch reeds. The guns retired immediately into a fortress of hay bales next to their position. The line to the bird was down a 20 foot embankment over open ground across a ditch and into the cover. The second bird was a flying cock pheasant thrown square to the left. The guns were located on the right side the draw on the hillside, at a higher elevation than the line. The line to the blind was an angle off the embankment to the left from the same line as the marks, across an open area and into bunch grass, which threw many of the dogs off line. They then crossed a ditch and ran along the side of a high mound, off the back side and up a steep side hill to the blind, located on the same road as the line.

The handlers were instructed pick up the blind after retrieving the first bird of the marks. Then they would retrieve the remaining bird of the double. This had little effect on the dogs. The first test dog, AFC Cucamonga's Thunderbolt, handled by Jewell Easter, ran at 6:44 A.M. They were followed by AFC Duckpond's Sniper CD MH, handled by Alice Woodyard. Both dogs did the test very well. All of the dogs picked up the flyer first, the blind next and then the short retired bird. Almost all dogs that hunted the flyer, were on the dead bird side of the flyer. Generally the work was good on this bird. The wind had a great affect on the short retired bird and the blind. The early dogs had a cross wind from left to right that pushed them behind the retired gun station and they either winded it or picked it up after short to medium hunts. When the wind changed and the mark was down wind most of the dogs went directly to the area of the fall and found it with short to medium hunts.

On the blind, early dogs were pushed to the right because of the wind and the mound. There was less affect as the wind changed. Initial lines were fair to good with most dogs having several whistles. Two dogs were dropped after the series which was completed at 4:50 P.M.

80 dogs were called back for the third series, rumored to be a water triple. Dogs lost were numbers 7 and 82 with 5 and 57 scratched.

Monday, November 15, 1999

After a clear and gorgeous Sunday contestants, workers and gallery were met with wet roadways and a light ground fog. The Third Series, a water triple with a middle short retired gun, had to wait for mother nature. Alice Woodyard and AFC Duckpond's Sniper MH showed early contestant the test at 8:00 A.M. The long bird was adjusted after Alice ran. She was followed by Jewell Easter and AFC Cucamonga's Thunderbolt at 8:20 A.M. Both dogs did very well on the test. The first running dog, dog number six, FC-AFC Greenwing No Moon handled by Ed Forry, did well.

The first bird down was a dead pheasant thrown to the left from the long right hand gun station. The line to this bird, at 240 yards, was through the right edge of a small oblong pond. The middle bird, a dead drake, at 180 yards, was thrown from an spit on the near side of the pond to the left toward high deep tules on the left bank, landing in the open water for most dogs. This gun retired at their gun station. The left bird, at 150 yards, was a shot drake duck flying from left to right. The line to this bird was across a drainage stream running into the pond. The gallery was located 200 feet above and behind the line with an outstanding view of the test and surrounding country side.

Most handlers felt the test was designed to minimize swimming time and yet have some meat in it. The test was just down the draw (swale) from the first and second series enabling the judges a short move if the first series was not completed the first day. The test dogs took less than 6 minutes and averaged around seven minutes. It was possible to get all three birds, without getting wet, except for a few feet on the middle retired gun. Generally the dogs went by water on the two right hand birds with seven of the dogs handling (about 17%, in the first 40 dogs). Most of the handles were dogs that swam under the arc of the middle fall or behind the gun station and eventually landed near the deep right hand fall.

The third series was not completed and callbacks will not be given until the completion of the test tomorrow. A storm front is moving in and rain might greet tomorrow's early handlers. The consensus is that the first three series were not overly difficult, but the judges have been getting adequate separation, and time wise are ahead of the game.

TEST 3
Water Triple With Retired Middle Gun

Dick Kavanaugh and Trav

Gunner HQ

L to R - Judges Goettl - Garland - Talley

Jim Gonia

Tuesday, November 16, 1999

Completion of Test Three
The last dog to run, at 5:05 P.M., Monday, on the water triple, was dog number 76. Twelve dogs remained to run Tuesday morning. Eleven dogs had handled in the first 68.

The weather is predicated to change, for the worse, with storms hitting the High Sierras and rain in the valley later today. Jewell Easter and AFC Cucamonga's Thunderbolt were called to the line at 6:40 A.M. He was the only test dog to run. Dog number 74, a re run was called to the line at 7:00 P.M. There slight delays between dogs because of early morning sun. When the sun went behind a cloud a dog was run. The wind had changed and was blowing from left to right and pushed some dogs to the right resulting in some hunts behind the long right hand gun. There were no hunts behind this gun on Monday. Two dogs handled on the middle retired gun this morning, for a total of 13 (16 per cent) and the test was completed at 8:39 A.M.

Dogs dropped were 20, 25 and 60, with 77 dogs remaining to run Test Four, a water blind.

Test Four a Water Blind

A short distance from the water triple a water blind had been set up and the gallery, workers and contestants were quickly moved to a site overlooking a series of ponds, with low dams between them. The dogs were run from a mat and could not see the water, down a gradual side hill sloping to water on the right, across a road, by two ponds on the right and a gunner, sitting in a chair on the left, just before the entry to the water. The entry was over a low mound and the dogs would be out of sight for two or three seconds in swimming water. Running water was immediately to the right, near the far right hand bank. The dogs would then go through a few yards of running water, cross an island very close to the right hand bank, and parallel the bank, in running water, for about 50 yards. They then crossed a point and narrow running water channel to the blind, immediately out of the water. The distance to the water was 150 yards and total blind 250 yards where a drake duck was planted. The blind planter was located to the right and slightly deeper. Handlers were allowed to move forward after their dogs had gone over the hill. The wind was from left to right.

Jewell Eater and Thunderbolt started at 9:15 A.M. with Alice Woodyard and her test dog Sniper following.

Bill Eckett and dog 27 were the starting team and began the series at 9:35 A.M.. Early dogs showed that there was tremendous push to the right, because of the side hill, pull of the ponds on the right, person in the chair and the wind blowing to the right. Several early dogs had a lot of left overs and ended up on the bank to the right edge of the island. It was obvious the judges were going to get plenty of separation and finish the blind this afternoon. The average time will probably be less than four minutes per dog. Of the early dogs 32, 34 and 35 had very good blinds.

This test ,like all of the previous tests, allowed the gallery to have an excellent view of the test. This was a primary concern in setting up the tests.

Completion of Test Four

Test four ended at 3:05 P.M. with dog number 26. The dog work during the last part of the test was similar to the first. Most of the dogs wanted to go to the right. There were several dogs who wanted to avoid the water all together and went left. The major traps in the test were probably the person sitting in the chair and the crosswind. They pushed most dogs, forcing them to the right of the island. The cast to the left, off of the island, was very difficult, with most of the dogs going straight back and ending on the land behind the island. Code Blue, number 68, had a very good blind. Call backs will be given at the Ramada Inn. A water triple that will take all day will start at 6:30 A.M., Wednesday morning.

There were 62 dogs called back with 15 dropped. Those dropped were; 9, 26, 28, 31, 37, 44, 64, 66, 69, 71, 73, 74, 75, 78 and 84.

Test Four Water Blind

Wednesday, November 17, 1999

After a rain Tuesday night, Wednesday was a clear cool day. The 5th series is a water triple, run from close to the same line as the fourth series, but the opposite direction, facing a long narrow pond. An in line triple with all birds thrown to the left. The right hand gun, at 200 yards, was first with a hen duck thrown from a slight elevation above the water down into the pond, and then retired. The middle, number two gun station, at 180 yards, was located on the far bank of the long narrow pond and thrown square up hill at at the flyer station. The flyer, at 200 yards, was shot last, from low brown cover into well grazed green cover. The first test team, of Alice and Sniper, was run at 6:50 A.M. They handled on two birds. After minor test changes Jewell and Thunderbolt picked up the birds without a handle. Number 48 started at 7:28 A.M.

Of the 62 dogs called back 6 had handled in a previous series. Dogs had trouble with all three birds and took them in ever possible order. Before the first gun change 19 dogs had run and 9 handled. After the gun change 6 more out of 10 had handled. The middle bird caused the most trouble. Early wind was from right to left but soon changed and blew from left to right or from left and toward the line. Later dogs could wind the middle bird from behind the gun, but that often threw them off line to the retired right hand bird. It is not likely that the test will be completed today. The wind blowing in the gunners faces caused several no birds. Retrieval of the right hand bird in the water was slow during no bird situations. The test took between 9 and 10 minutes per dog. Chief Marshal Kirk Naisbitt predicted there would be about 3 dogs left to run in the morning. He stated no partial callbacks will be given. If they finish, callbacks will be posted this evening.

Comments on the trial:
"Set up was great, the judges get along very well and all tests have been set, with the gallery location in mind". Tony Snow - President of the National Retriever Club.

Comments about the First and Second Series Combination Land Marks and Blind:
"This is the first National Open that I have seen a blind run before all of the birds of the marks were retrieved". Nelson Sills - Spectator and handler/owner of a past National Amateur Champion..
"When I first saw the test I thought the blind would cause a lot of trouble with the sort retired gun but it didn't seem to bother my young dog at all". Jack Vollstedt - Contestant
"Vollwood's Molly did a great job. Best job of the early dogs. A beautiful opening test with good use of the terrain". Charlie Hill, only handler to win the National Open, National Amateur and Canadian National in a twelve month period with one dog, Wanapum's Dart Dandy.
"Those are the biggest, toughest pheasants I have ever seen. They were biting me on the fingers". Gary Zellner - Thrower
"I thought they would have more trouble with the short retired gun. They made up for it with the blind, it provided many answers". Larry Culvert - Contestant.

Comments on the Third Series Water Triple.
"That bird we missed went into the sun and zinged just as I shot, I don't know how I missed it". Dave Vega - Contestant and Gunner.
" Not one dog went behind the right hand gun and hunted, on Monday, but a few have already hunted there today (Tuesday)". Alice Woodyard - Field Trial News Reporter and Test Dog handler.
" I hope this is their worst test". To remain anonymous.

Comments on the Fourth Series Water Blind.
"This test is only going to take 4 minutes and get all of the answers they want". Gray Snipes - Co Chairman of the Marshals
"The fastest blind was planted in 44.6 seconds". Jewell Easter a Marshal at the 4th series.
"Of the 77 dogs to run the blind, 15 had handled on marks in the previous series". Jewell Easter.
"You should have seen Code Blue's blind. It was something to see". Gray Snipes - Co Chairperson of the Marshals.
"The wind and the person in the chair had the greatest effect on the blind". Pat Burns - Professional Dog Trainer.
"My wife said they are saying nice things about us on the internet". Cliff Garland - Judge
"Lynne DuBose is in the holding blind without any whistles". A Marshal to Mike Larry just before she was to run the blind.

Update on Test Five
Four dogs remained to be tested, Thursday morning, on the water triple. Dog 42 was the last dog to run and absolutely pinned the test. Dog 2 did not handle but after 4 excellent series had two hooks behind the right and middle guns. At the completion of the test the Judges plan to run a land quad. Updates and callbacks will be posted tomorrow morning.

Land - Water Triple
Fifth Series

Mike Lardy and Bill Fabian checking the line at Test Five.

Bill Sargenti, from Escalon, after a Very Good
water blind, with FC-AFC Valtor's O.C. Pete.

Rick Stawski ready to call for the birds at Test Five.

Suzanne King and Robin Gulvin, Chairpersons of the Hostess Committee, the glue that hold's the trial together.

Thursday, November 18, 1999

Update and callbacks of the Fifth Series Water Land Triple with Honor.
Of the last four dogs, to run the water triple, only one handled. Number 46, handled by Bill Sargenti, probably had the best job of the series. Callbacks were quickly announced, by Public Address Announcer Dean Ellis. Of the dogs starting the fifth series twenty nine had handled before the start of the series. Twelve of the fifteen dogs dropped had handled in a previous series. Seventeen of the remaining dogs called back for the sixth series have handled. The middle bird, in the fifth series water triple, was the nastiest one. It was thrown very tight against the back of the flyer guns. The right hand retired gun, also caused problems but was thrown to a spot dogs would often go to without a mark on the bird. The cross wind caused several dogs to accidentally stumble on both birds. With a straight down wind, casualties would have, probably, been much higher. Several big hunts were needed to recover the flyer, where dogs tended to cross the pond, at the narrowest point, rather than the correct line. This set up cheating on the two right hand birds.
Dogs dropped were 4, 12, 14, 21, 36, 41, 48, 50, 51, 53, 58, 59, 76, 79 and 81, a total of 15 dogs. 47 Dogs were called back for the Sixth Series Land Quadruple.

Sixth Series Land Quadruple with Honor
The caravan moved a short distance and parked in a barnyard on the Boatright Ranch. Test Six is a Land Quadruple, with honor, run from the top of an "L" shaped, 30 yard high dike, with a15 yard wide ditch at the bottom directly in front of the line, which was the bottom of the "L". The left side of the "L", at the same elevation, was an elevated road along the bank of a side hill. Gun one, on the far left, at 180 yards, threw a dead hen pheasant, to the right, from the left side of the road down the hill, and slightly toward the line, into heavy cheat grass. The left middle gun, at 184 yards, threw a dead cock pheasant square to the right. The gunners retired into a green, brush camouflaged blind. Deep and to the far right, at 225 yards, the third bird, a shot hen pheasant, was thrown, to the left, from a live gun station, into open to sparse cover. The last bird down, at 76 yards, across a second ditch was a hen duck thrown straight back. This station was way in and to the left of the flyer guns. A huge 20 yard diameter fig tree was to the gunners left and they retired immediately behind it. The wind started from left to right and by the fifth or sixth dog had changed from right to left or in toward the line from the right. The field was weeds and cheat grass randomly mowed leaving cover from 1 to 3 feet high.

The first test dog, Jewell Easter and Thunder, came to the line at 8:37 A.M. and took eight and one half minutes to turn in a good job. Alice and Sniper followed with a better job, that took six and one half minutes. The first running dog, number 1, was off the line at about 9:00 A.M. Of the first fifteen dogs about half had done it without a handle and two had picked up. Dog, number 17, stumbled onto a dead cock pheasant on his way to the second bird thrown and was given a re run. It was taking about ten minutes per dog and they could finish today.

The left hand bird thrown down the hill created most of the problem for the early dogs. They wanted to hunt on top of the hill near the gunners. It was difficult for them to get down the hill, across the road and into heavy cheat grass to retrieve the bird, once they had crossed the fall area going up the hill. The judges asked handlers who had dogs with extra long hunts to handle their dogs.

Updates

A better diagram of the Fourth Series Water Blind is in Tuesday's page.
The missing picture has also been added to Tuesdays pictures.
There was an Honor on the Fifth Series Water Triple.
Dog number 1 started the sixth not dog 80 as previously listed.

Sixth Series Completion

The wind started blowing, from right to left, about the time of the first gun change and the dogs began winding the left hand bird, going up the hill. A total of seven dogs were handled and three picked up on the test. There were long hunts on both sides of the flyer gun and behind the left middle bird, as well as hunts on the hill on the left bird. The fig tree tended to divide the test into two doubles. The test would probably have been much harder if the tree wasn't there. The judges were not happy with the wind change but they got a lot more out of the middle left bird after the change because of the wind pushing the dogs left behind the retired gun and deep. Dog number 46 was the only dog to take the flyer first and short gun last and had her second bang up job in a row. Dog 56 also had little trouble on the test.

There were fourteen dogs dropped after the Sixth Series. They were 1,3,11,13,15, 24, 30 33,39,47,52, 63,65,70. Thirty three were called back for a Double Water and Land Blind in the Seventh Series. Dog 17 will start. Test Dogs will run at 6:30 A.M.

Sixth Series
Land Quad with Honor

Left side of the Sixth Series Land Quadruple with Honor.

Bill Eckett and The Midwest Mob watching Six.

Right side of the Sixth Series Land Quadruple with Honor.

Pat Burns explaining to a client?

Friday, November 19, 1999

Seventh and Eighth Series Land Water Blind Combination

A cold overcast morning greeted the contestants, gallery and workers. The line for the land blind was located way to the left and high on the hillside to the left of the Fourth Series water blind. The line was perpendicular to the line to the previous water blind. The dog had to leave the line go down a long gradual slope cross a road, out 100 yards, go into a pond, at 200 yards and cross the line of the previous water blind just beyond its initial entry and short of the island in that blind. The dog then went up the hill past a white coated person sitting in a chair and to the blind at 250 yards. The water blind was on almost the identical line but a few degree to the right of the land blind and up a gradual hill to a swimming water pond. The dog then crossed the pond between a point on the right and an island on the left. The blind was at the waters edge, at 380 yards. Handlers were instructed they could move laterally but not forward or backward. Alice Woodyard and Sniper were the first test dog at 7:02 A.M. After she had a good job the judges moved the line to the right and ran Jewll Easter and Thunder. Jewell handled her dog a few extra times to give the handlers a good idea whether whistles could be heard at the end. The wind was directly from behind the mat for early dogs. Dog number 17 started at 7:31 A.M. 10 of the 33 remaining dogs have handled on a mark. The wind began to change after about 10 dogs and blew from left to right but did not seem to have much affect on the blinds. Shortly after it began top rain and continued to do so the rest of the day. Most dogs had very good jobs on the land blind and there were several good to very good performances on the water blind. Dog 68, Open High Point Dog of 1968, Code Blue, did not fair well on this blind. Some of the dogs who had very good jobs were 19, 45, 55 and 67. Several of the dogs had spectacular water entries on the second pond. Most of the trouble was caused by dogs who did not want to go back on nearly the same line as the land blind. The wind also played a factor and those dogs who had trouble were almost always pushed right on the water blind.

The test was completed at 11:45 A.M. Callbacks were given, nearby, at the site of the Ninth Series Water Triple. Dogs dropped were 10, 17, 23, 29, 32, 49, 62, 68, 72 and 77. Twenty three dogs are back for the Ninth Series Water Triple. Dog 35 started.

Seventh and Eighth Series
Double Land and Water Blind

by Missy Bell

Saturday Completion of the Ninth Series Water Triple and the Tenth Series Land Quad with Two Flyers

Seventh and Eight Series Land Water Blind

Ninth Series Water Triple

Cal Cadmus, Official Veterinarian; Bill Kolstad, Chair of
Bird Stewards; Kirk Naisbitt, Chief Marshal; and
Don Oliver and Umbrella

Marshal Terry Woods and Contestant Larry Calvert

Dean Ellis, P.A. Announcer, Jerry Collingham
Gamebirds Northwest and Chairman Bill Daley

Our Test Dog Teams

Comments on the Trial

"At the beginning of the trial there were 21 Amateur handlers handling 23 dogs and 25 pros handling 58 dogs." Jewell Easter - Test Dog Handler

"The Seventh and Eighth Series Land Water Blind combination was a very mechanical test, hurting good line running dogs the most, because they usually won't go back on the same line." Several handler and galleryites.

"Web Site looks like they are holding the trial on the moon." Can't remember who.

"The judges were very disappointed with the wind change in the Sixth Series Land Quad. It gave away the left bird an excellent bird." Gray Snipes - Chief Marshal.

"A lot of dogs accidentally stumbled on two birds, in the Fifth Series Water Triple." Jim Gonia - Contestant.

"Those birds were as tight as they come. I was on one station and they were really close together." Gary Ahlgren - Gunner. (On the Sixth Series).

Saturday, November 20, 1999

Completion of the Ninth Series Water Triple

We apologize for getting your news up so late last night. Couldn't get back to a telephone connection any sooner. Saturday, at 5:30 A.M. it was low fog again, but usually isn't at the test site. Good luck! It is not raining again.

Jewell and Thunder were the early morning Test Dog and again did the test without handling. They quickly showed, the remaining 5 dogs, the pitfalls of the right hand shoreline. Bill Sargenti and dog number 18, were the first to run. The lighting conditions were much better and it was sunny and warming. Three, of the remaining five dogs, went directly to the left hand bird, which was rare yesterday. They generally did about the same as yesterday, on the long bird, hunting all around the retired gun station.

The series was completed at 9 A.M. Eight dogs were dropped. They were numbers 18, 27, 35, 38, 43, 45, 54 and 61. Fifteen were called back for a Tenth Series Land Quadruple.

Tenth Series Land Quadruple
The judges were in a quandary, last evening, not knowing if they would be able to get the cars into the site they planned to use. The one drawback, of the Boatright Ranch, is one steep hillside road that leads to many of the test sites. It can get slick in a hurry. Judges and workers have had few problems mechanically throughout the ten or eleven days they have been together.

The Tenth Series was located a very short distance from the Ninth Series. Cars were moved, quickly, and the Tenth Series Land Quad was started at 9:50 A.M., when Test Dog, Alice Woodyard and Sniper, were called to the line. The birds all had fluorescent red streamers trailing in the breeze, Sniper handled on the retired gun. Alice was asked by the judges and handlers to take the birds in a different order than the competing dogs took them. Jewell Easter and Thunder were next and did the test without handling.

The test was a Land Quadruple, with the middle right guns, shooting a cock pheasant, to the right, at 322 yards. The middle left bird, at 190 yards, was a dead hen duck thrown to the right. This gun retired a short distance to a flyer station, which was on the far left. They shot the third bird, a duck hen flyer to the right, at 152 yards. The fourth gun station was to the right and a dead hen pheasant was thrown to the left. The line was at the same elevation as the right hand birds, across rolling knolls. The left hand birds were down in the bottom of the bowl across a road. The test was wide open except for the retired gun station. Guns that stayed up were retrieved easily by several dogs, but some of the stronger dogs, like Shooter, number 67, had big hunts on at least one of the flyers. The key bird was also picked up with little effort by several of the dogs. It was a test that appeared to be easier than it was. It is likely that it was much harder, than it looked, but the best 15 dogs at the trial were exceptional markers and some of them made the key bird look easy.

Dog number 67, FC-AFC Dust Devil's Shoot the Moon came to the line at 10:14 A.M. and had a no bird. He was followed by number 80, Volwoods Mollie, who had an excellent job. The test was concluded at 12:00 P.M. Dog's number 2,16, 40, 42, 46, 55, 67 and 83 had not handled in a previous series. Dogs 2,16, 40, 42, 46, 55, 67 and 83 finished the trial without handling. (Ed.note:Number 16 was inadvertantly missed as not handling throughout the Stake - He did not handle.)

Tenth Series Land Quadruple

By Missy Bell

The Award Presentation Ceremony was held back at the Ninth Series site. Chairman, Bill Daley thanked all involved in the trial; the Official Sponsor of the 1999 National Championship Stake, Ralston Purina Company; the other sponsors Tri Tronics, Iams and Kent Ammunition and contestants. A special thanks was given to property owners Marilyn Boatright and Ray and Dede Goodrich The trial had been dedicated in memory of Joe Boatright, who passed away last year. He then introduced National Retriever Club President, Tony Snow. Tony announced the finalists and Winner, Number 46 - 1999 NFC-AFC Cropppers River Water Teal, Labrador Female, Ownered by Marilyn Boatright and Kirk Naisbitt and handled by Bill Sargenti, of Escalon, California. The win was very popular with contestants and gallery. It seemed fitting that Joe Boatright's dog, should win this National, with Bill Sargenti who has been training dogs, in this area, since grade school days handling this wonderful Female Labrador. I am sure it was a very proud moment for Rex Carr, watching Bill win a National Championship. Bill started as a bird boy for Rex Carr, at age 10.

National finalists are:
Number 2 - FC Maxamillion of Green Acres, LM, Owner - Don Kindorf, Handler - Bill Fabian
Number 6 - FC-AFC Greenwing No Moon, LF, Owner - Craig Stonesifer, Handler - Ed Forry
Number 8 - FC Diamond D's Klondike, LM, Owner - Susan Kennedy M.D., Handler - Merry Lake
Number 16 - Belvedere Forever Raisin' Cain, GM, Owner - Van and Regina Weldon, Handler - Danny Farmer
Number 19 - NAFC-FC-CNAFC Ebonstar Lean Mac, LM, Owner - Sherwin Scott and Pat Shawver, Handler - Mike Lardy
Number 22 - NAFC-FC Hattie McBunn, LF, Owner - J.M. and L.K. DuBose, Handler - Lynne DuBose
Number 34 - FC-AFC Valtor's O.C. Pete, LM, Owner - Joe and Gretchen Augustyn, Handler - Bill Sargenti
Number 40 - Rudyduck's Valentine, LF, Owner - Michael and Mary Nelson, Handler - Mike Cicero
Number 42 - CFC-CAFC Melberby's Maggie Mae, LF, Owner - Joe Renouf, Handler - Jamie Balesdent
Number 46 - 1999 NFC-AFC Croppers River Water Black Teal, LF, Owner - Marilyn Boatright and Kirk Naisbitt, Handler - Bill Sargenti
Number 55 - FC-AFC Adams Acres Cherokee Rose, LF, Owner - John and Martha Russell, Handler- Merry Lake
Number 56 - FC AFC Blackwater Rudy, LM, Owner - Dave Harter, Handler - Bill Eckett
Number 67 - FC-AFC Dust Devil's Shoot the Moon, LM, Owner - Steve Bechtel, Handler Bill Totten
Number 80 - FC-AFC Volwood's Mollie, LF, Owner - Jack and Florence Vollstedt, Handler - Jack Vollstedt
Number 83 - FC-AFC Candlewoods Rebel Ridge PDQ, LM, Owner - Larry and Lyn Wharton, Handler - Mike Lardy

Thank you for spending this week with us on Field Trial News', Working Retriever Central Web Site. We would like to thank Missy Bell, for her test drawings, Alice Woodyard and Jewell Easter for all of the data and statistics we used, the Workers and Judges who bent over backward to make our job easier.

Tenth Series

Owners and Handler of the Winner "Teal"

Tenth Series

Finally, The End!!!

1999 NRC Winner & FInalists

The Winner of the 1999 National Retriever Championship is:

NUMBER 46

FC-AFC CROPPERS RIVER WATER BLACK TEAL

OWNED BY

MARILYN BOATRIGHT AND KIRK NAISBITT

HANDLED BY

BILL SARGENTI

Left to Right: Judges John Goettl, Cliff Garland and Jeff Talley
Handler - Bill Sargenti and Teal
Owners - Marilyn Boatright and Kirk Naisbitt

National finalists are:
Number 2 - FC Maxamillion of Green Acres, LM, Owner - Don Nindorf, Handler - Bill Fabian
Number 6 - FC-AFC Greenwing No Moon, LF, Owner - Craig Stonesifer, Handler - Ed Forry
Number 8 - FC Diamond D's Klondike, LM, Owner - Susan Kennedy M.D., Handler - Merry Lake
Number 16 - Belvedere Forever Raisin' Cain, GM, Owner - Van and Regina Weldon, Handler - Danny Farmer
Number 19 - NAFC-FC-CNAFC Ebonstar Lean Mac, LM, Owner - Sherwin Scott and Pat Shawver, Handler - Mike Lardy
Number 22 - NAFC-FC Hattie McBunn, LF, Owner - J.M. and L.K. DuBose, Handler - Lynne DuBose
Number 34 - FC-AFC Valtor's O.C. Pete, LM, Owner - Joe and Gretchen Augustyn, Handler - Bill Sargenti
Number 40 - Rudyduck's Valentine, LF, Owner - Michael and Mary Nelson, Handler - Mike Cicero
Number 42 - CFC-CAFC Melberby's Maggie Mae, LF, Owner - Joe Renouf, Handler - Jamie Balesdent
Number 55 - FC-AFC Adams Acres Cherokee Rose, LF, Owner - John and Martha Russell, Handler- Merry Lake
Number 56 - FC AFC Blackwater Rudy, LM, Owner - Dave Harter, Handler - Bill Eckett
Number 67 - FC-AFC Dust Devil's Shoot the Moon, LM, Owner - Steve Bechtel, Handler Bill Totten
Number 80 - FC-AFC Volwood's Mollie, LF, Owner - Jack and Florence Vollstedt, Handler - Jack Vollstedt
Number 83 - FC-AFC Candlewoods Rebel Ridge PDQ, LM, Owner - Larry and Lyn Wharton, Handler - Mike Lardy

1999 National Retriever Championship
The Winner of the 1942 National Open Retriever Championship was
DUAL CH Shed Of Arden
Day by Day at the 1999 National Open Retriever Championship

A SPECIAL THANK YOU!

Information regarding the 1999 National Retriever Championship
Final Summary of Callbacks and Drops by Series - Through Tenth Series

Qualification Requirements: A 1st place carrying five Championship points plus two additional Championship points in Open, Limited, or Special All-Age Stakes in AKC Member or Licensed Trials in the current calendar year. Winners of the previous year's National Championship, current year's Canadian National and the current year's National Amateur Championship Stake are automatic qualifiers -- but the last named must be handled by an Amateur in the National.

Defending Champion
1998 NFC "Eba"

Gary & Sharon Hanvey, Owners,
Wayne Curtis, Handler
and 1998 NFC "Eba"