Friday, July 21, 2006 |
Conclusion of test 7 –
Conditions for the water blind today were more favorable, especially the lighting. Even though the wind had picked up, most handlers were able to cast the dogs off the points. The test resumed with dog number 37 as the first running dog. There was a higher ratio of success.
The water blind concluded at 10:25 AM. Temperatures had climbed to 28 degrees by then, expecting to get hotter in the afternoon.
The caravan moved to another spot in the same general area for a water triple. Callbacks were delivered there and 12 dogs had been dropped from the seventh series, leaving 24 remaining. Dogs dropped were 1, 2, 12, 21, 25, 36, 56, 57, 63, 68, 73 and 74. There were 6 pick-ups on the water blind, several getting the poison bird. Of the dogs remaining, 5 have handled.
Conditions for the water blind today were more favorable, especially the lighting. Even though the wind had picked up, most handlers were able to cast the dogs off the points. The test resumed with dog number 37 as the first running dog. There was a higher ratio of success.
The water blind concluded at 10:25 AM. Temperatures had climbed to 28 degrees by then, expecting to get hotter in the afternoon.
The caravan moved to another spot in the same general area for a water triple. Callbacks were delivered there and 12 dogs had been dropped from the seventh series, leaving 24 remaining. Dogs dropped were 1, 2, 12, 21, 25, 36, 56, 57, 63, 68, 73 and 74. There were 6 pick-ups on the water blind, several getting the poison bird. Of the dogs remaining, 5 have handled.
Test 8 - Water Triple
The water triple was an in-line with 2
retired guns, the middle station and the long station. A hen mallard
was thrown first at the middle station at 155 yards. Then, the long
mark at 215 yards was thrown second, a drake mallard. Last, a hen
mallard was thrown off the short station at 90 yards.
Don Pollock and Tommy ran male test dog and handled on the long mark, as the dog was going wide to the right and wouldn’t recover. Marlene Benn and Reba ran as female test dog and she handled on the long mark as well, as the dog was going to return back to the middle bird.
Dog number 14 was called as the first running dog at 12:12 PM. The test was taking about 15 minutes per dog.
At first, it appeared that the only problem bird was the long retired, as there were a few handles on it. Then, the middle mark started coming more into play as dogs were missing it and going long. Then the handlers had to put them back into it. Dogs seemed to be confused between the right side of the middle mark and the long mark, which is where a lot of problems occurred
In all, there were 12 handles and a couple of double-handles
Callbacks came at the campground later. Dogs dropped from the eighth: 4, 9, 31, 40, 46, 49, 72 and 75. 16 dogs remain. Of the dogs remaining, there are 8 handles and 1 handle on two series. 7 dogs have not handled.
Tomorrow, a land quad is expected for the ninth and then a water quad. Temperatures could become an issue, as they are climbing with the high pressure system that is sitting over the area right now.
Don Pollock and Tommy ran male test dog and handled on the long mark, as the dog was going wide to the right and wouldn’t recover. Marlene Benn and Reba ran as female test dog and she handled on the long mark as well, as the dog was going to return back to the middle bird.
Dog number 14 was called as the first running dog at 12:12 PM. The test was taking about 15 minutes per dog.
At first, it appeared that the only problem bird was the long retired, as there were a few handles on it. Then, the middle mark started coming more into play as dogs were missing it and going long. Then the handlers had to put them back into it. Dogs seemed to be confused between the right side of the middle mark and the long mark, which is where a lot of problems occurred
In all, there were 12 handles and a couple of double-handles
Callbacks came at the campground later. Dogs dropped from the eighth: 4, 9, 31, 40, 46, 49, 72 and 75. 16 dogs remain. Of the dogs remaining, there are 8 handles and 1 handle on two series. 7 dogs have not handled.
Tomorrow, a land quad is expected for the ninth and then a water quad. Temperatures could become an issue, as they are climbing with the high pressure system that is sitting over the area right now.
Marlene Benn and test dog Reba
Eighth series gallery
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Chuck Dygos in holding blind
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