Friday, September 12, 2008 |
We all enjoyed a great party at HQ last evening, a lobster dinner (with seconds) and all that goes with it. After dinner, John Sharpe and Nelson Spencer officiated at a draw for lots of Eukanuba merchandise. Fred and Marlene Saulnier followed up with a live auction and the closing of the silent auction items. Lorie Anderson did a great job as the auctioneer.
Our featured major sponsor for the day is Purina. Again Purina was kind enough to host breakfast for all in attendance. Diane Renouf continued to keep the judges and marshalls fed and content.
When we left Dan and Debbie Yeomans’ this morning the temperature at 6:00 AM was 4 C. The sun rose to show us clear skies with a light wind from the south west. The forecast was for possible light showers this afternoon. Our thanks to Debbie and Dan for putting up with those of us camping on their property and of course for hosting the party on Wednesday evening. Our thanks also to Dennis Voigt for providing some of the photos used in our reports.
Test 8 - Water Blind
The site for Test 8 was the same pond used for yesterday’s water triple (Test 7). The running line was moved about ten yards to the right. The blind was 245 yards long, down the left side of the pond. The bird was on a float board. On leaving the line the dogs had to descend a steep bank, cross about 100 yards of land and enter the water. There was a scented point to pass through and the route then passed a bay and paralleled the shore to reach the blind which was on a small point.
Our featured major sponsor for the day is Purina. Again Purina was kind enough to host breakfast for all in attendance. Diane Renouf continued to keep the judges and marshalls fed and content.
When we left Dan and Debbie Yeomans’ this morning the temperature at 6:00 AM was 4 C. The sun rose to show us clear skies with a light wind from the south west. The forecast was for possible light showers this afternoon. Our thanks to Debbie and Dan for putting up with those of us camping on their property and of course for hosting the party on Wednesday evening. Our thanks also to Dennis Voigt for providing some of the photos used in our reports.
Test 8 - Water Blind
The site for Test 8 was the same pond used for yesterday’s water triple (Test 7). The running line was moved about ten yards to the right. The blind was 245 yards long, down the left side of the pond. The bird was on a float board. On leaving the line the dogs had to descend a steep bank, cross about 100 yards of land and enter the water. There was a scented point to pass through and the route then passed a bay and paralleled the shore to reach the blind which was on a small point.
Test 8
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Diagram of Test 8
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The test dogs were AFTCH Grouse Of Drake Bay (Larry Anderson) and FTCH AFTCH She:Kon Kawera Hon:Tsi (Jim Green) They started at 8:00 AM. Both dogs were helpful in demonstrating the hazards in the test. The first working dog, # 28 Laird’s Cynful Elegance came to the line at 8:25 AM.
Generally the work was good on this blind. On average about ten or twelve whistles were required; there were three dogs that required only five whistles. There was one pick up, dog #55. The last dog ran at 10:25 AM.
The 15 dogs invited to Test 9, a land quad are #’s 6, 8, 17, 19, 20, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 36, 42, 46, 50 and 53. As we marked our programs with the call backs, I’m reminded what a great job Mark Astle and his committee did in producing a first-class catalogue.
Test 9 - Land Quad with 2 Retired Gunners
The move to the new site required only a five minute drive. Chairman Dan Yeomans and his club mates were ready when we arrived. The test was a land quad with two retired gunners, guns 1 and 2. Gun 1 was 400 yards from the line, thrown left to right, with the wind, before retiring. Gun 2 was to the right of Gun 1, 225 yards from the line and thrown left into a marshy area, before retiring. Gun station 3 was to the right of Gun 1 and thrown left, into the wind. Station 4 was to the left of station 2, and thrown right and uphill. Both Marks 3 and 4 were 160 yards long. The test faces east and the wind blew from the left across and away from the line, swinging from time to time and picking up as the afternoon progressed. The site was in a sparsely covered valley or bowl with birch trees covering the right slope of the valley where Gunner 2, retired. The long bird was on the left slope of the valley and extremely hard for the dogs to locate. The test would prove to be a challenge for the 15 remaining competitors!
Generally the work was good on this blind. On average about ten or twelve whistles were required; there were three dogs that required only five whistles. There was one pick up, dog #55. The last dog ran at 10:25 AM.
The 15 dogs invited to Test 9, a land quad are #’s 6, 8, 17, 19, 20, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 36, 42, 46, 50 and 53. As we marked our programs with the call backs, I’m reminded what a great job Mark Astle and his committee did in producing a first-class catalogue.
Test 9 - Land Quad with 2 Retired Gunners
The move to the new site required only a five minute drive. Chairman Dan Yeomans and his club mates were ready when we arrived. The test was a land quad with two retired gunners, guns 1 and 2. Gun 1 was 400 yards from the line, thrown left to right, with the wind, before retiring. Gun 2 was to the right of Gun 1, 225 yards from the line and thrown left into a marshy area, before retiring. Gun station 3 was to the right of Gun 1 and thrown left, into the wind. Station 4 was to the left of station 2, and thrown right and uphill. Both Marks 3 and 4 were 160 yards long. The test faces east and the wind blew from the left across and away from the line, swinging from time to time and picking up as the afternoon progressed. The site was in a sparsely covered valley or bowl with birch trees covering the right slope of the valley where Gunner 2, retired. The long bird was on the left slope of the valley and extremely hard for the dogs to locate. The test would prove to be a challenge for the 15 remaining competitors!
Test 9
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Diagram of Test 9
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Test dogs were Cash with Jim Ling and Grouse with Larry Anderson. Cash retrieved all four birds without a handle and Grouse handled on the short retired bird. The test dogs started at 12:20 PM.
The first running dog was #36, FTCH AFTCH Pilkington Casper Of Mt. Granit; he started at 12:55 PM. The test was extremely difficult and despite the valiant efforts of the dogs, some had long hunts before retrieving the retired birds. The last dog completed at 4:05 PM. There were four or five good/excellent jobs and six dogs handled, dogs # 36, 53, 50, 6, 28 and 22. The judges retired to HQ to review their records and to determine which dogs would be called to Test 10.
The finalists in the 2008 National Retriever Championship are:
#6 - R.P.M.Hard As A Rock
#8 - FTCH AFTCH Sally’s South Paw
#17 - FTCH Watermarks All Riled Up
#19 - FTCH AFTCH Buckshot’s Rock Your World
#25 - FTCH AFTCH Jaybar’s Madison Avenue
#31 - NAFTCH FTCH AFTCH FC AFC Prairiemarsh Madness
#34 - FTCH AFTCH Mjolnir’s Daisy Mae
#46 - FTCH AFTCH FC AFC Miss T, MH
#50 - FTCH AFTCH Fifth Avenue’s Mighty Maximus
Dog # 8 will start the last series.
The first running dog was #36, FTCH AFTCH Pilkington Casper Of Mt. Granit; he started at 12:55 PM. The test was extremely difficult and despite the valiant efforts of the dogs, some had long hunts before retrieving the retired birds. The last dog completed at 4:05 PM. There were four or five good/excellent jobs and six dogs handled, dogs # 36, 53, 50, 6, 28 and 22. The judges retired to HQ to review their records and to determine which dogs would be called to Test 10.
The finalists in the 2008 National Retriever Championship are:
#6 - R.P.M.Hard As A Rock
#8 - FTCH AFTCH Sally’s South Paw
#17 - FTCH Watermarks All Riled Up
#19 - FTCH AFTCH Buckshot’s Rock Your World
#25 - FTCH AFTCH Jaybar’s Madison Avenue
#31 - NAFTCH FTCH AFTCH FC AFC Prairiemarsh Madness
#34 - FTCH AFTCH Mjolnir’s Daisy Mae
#46 - FTCH AFTCH FC AFC Miss T, MH
#50 - FTCH AFTCH Fifth Avenue’s Mighty Maximus
Dog # 8 will start the last series.
