Gallery Greetings 1 |
by Ken McCartney, an avid Field Trialer
In an effort to expand the experience for those of you who enjoy this wonderful National electronically, I will write a few columns this week as I have a few times in the past. This is the 20th year since my first NARC qualification. The first NARC I qualified for was here in McCall, too. My wife and I are both qualified this year and we are going to have fun. Hopefully these written efforts will help share the experience with those of you who enjoy the sport.
Without further delay - Day One: Test One.
Let me sum it up in one word - WOW!
Only occasionally as a judge or even as a contestant there comes along a test that you are especially proud of for many many good reasons. Today we met just that test. What makes a good test? More than just compliance with all the rules is involved. We had weather that matched that with which we were blessed last week-perfect for the dogs and people-a light breeze and low 70's. The gallery had a great view. The walk in was not long and very rewarding with good views. The judges were pleasant to be around and enjoyed give and take with the marshals, contestants, reporters and most importantly even the contestants.
The timing was right, the test ended in one day. The conditions were fairly consistent from
start to finish. And the test worked really well. The judges loved it. It was tough and got good answers for the right reasons. The dogs had to be on to do it. Enough of my thoughts. Here is what some of the contents and spectators had to say about it. Remember a good test gets answers and some of these folks dogs did not do all that well. At dog fifty, one seasoned handler had 15 handles (maybe two more) and most of these came after ugly hunts. I heard the word "tough" a lot. That is a compliment from this group of trialers.
"If I were the judge would be saying the test is a dandy. Both birds are hard. Across the ditch
throws are always marvelous. Excellent use of terrain.
Lynne DuBose (41)
"Well placed retired bird-tough. Perfect wind [they got lucky, it held all day!. Ken]. Good first test. The little piece of water right in front will end the tiails shore of the retrieve."
Charlie Hays
The test was so perfect it has a porta potty right next to the judges on line. Speculation was rampant as to the purpose. Judges? Nervous contestants last chance? Or a perk for the press?
Contestants remained in a retrained silence through the first fifteen dogs as the possibility of doing
the test was weighed and analyzed.
"It is a mark! The dogs have to know where it is and go and get it." Barb Ornbaum
"I like it. Great use of terrain." Bill Sargenti
"Hell of a test. It really makes you want to step up to the plate for your turn. You don't know if you will
be able to get a hit, but you want to get up there to try."
Jim Smith (52)
"Beautiful test. Difficult" Maury Smith (54)
"The short bird falls next to water where the dogs do not like to spend their time looking. That is a very nervous hunt area. Great placement."
Lee Jolly (23,73)
"It is getting a lot of answers for the judges." Bill Fruehling (26)
"Especially well placed birds. The work should get better. [ It did not all that much]. Greg Bartlett
"Fair, nothing at all wrong with it." Ron Ainley (78) [that is a hell of a lot said! Ken]
"Not having a blind with it is what is great about it. Conditions will be more consistent for the blind over a shorter time period now."
Mike Lardy
"The big opening to the right of the short bird and the space to the right of the flyer seem to invite hunts where the birds aren't."
Bill Speck- AKC [who says these guys are clueless?]
"Lots of scribbles in the book" Nelson Sills [Judge Glenda Brown was teased about not having a big
enough bag to carry her pencils for the week if this trend continued.].
"Picturesque. I thought there would be a lot more distance." Mary Howely (84)
"There is a lot of stuff between the handler and the birds." Jack Vollstedt ( 29,75)
And so it went.
Without further delay - Day One: Test One.
Let me sum it up in one word - WOW!
Only occasionally as a judge or even as a contestant there comes along a test that you are especially proud of for many many good reasons. Today we met just that test. What makes a good test? More than just compliance with all the rules is involved. We had weather that matched that with which we were blessed last week-perfect for the dogs and people-a light breeze and low 70's. The gallery had a great view. The walk in was not long and very rewarding with good views. The judges were pleasant to be around and enjoyed give and take with the marshals, contestants, reporters and most importantly even the contestants.
The timing was right, the test ended in one day. The conditions were fairly consistent from
start to finish. And the test worked really well. The judges loved it. It was tough and got good answers for the right reasons. The dogs had to be on to do it. Enough of my thoughts. Here is what some of the contents and spectators had to say about it. Remember a good test gets answers and some of these folks dogs did not do all that well. At dog fifty, one seasoned handler had 15 handles (maybe two more) and most of these came after ugly hunts. I heard the word "tough" a lot. That is a compliment from this group of trialers.
"If I were the judge would be saying the test is a dandy. Both birds are hard. Across the ditch
throws are always marvelous. Excellent use of terrain.
Lynne DuBose (41)
"Well placed retired bird-tough. Perfect wind [they got lucky, it held all day!. Ken]. Good first test. The little piece of water right in front will end the tiails shore of the retrieve."
Charlie Hays
The test was so perfect it has a porta potty right next to the judges on line. Speculation was rampant as to the purpose. Judges? Nervous contestants last chance? Or a perk for the press?
Contestants remained in a retrained silence through the first fifteen dogs as the possibility of doing
the test was weighed and analyzed.
"It is a mark! The dogs have to know where it is and go and get it." Barb Ornbaum
"I like it. Great use of terrain." Bill Sargenti
"Hell of a test. It really makes you want to step up to the plate for your turn. You don't know if you will
be able to get a hit, but you want to get up there to try."
Jim Smith (52)
"Beautiful test. Difficult" Maury Smith (54)
"The short bird falls next to water where the dogs do not like to spend their time looking. That is a very nervous hunt area. Great placement."
Lee Jolly (23,73)
"It is getting a lot of answers for the judges." Bill Fruehling (26)
"Especially well placed birds. The work should get better. [ It did not all that much]. Greg Bartlett
"Fair, nothing at all wrong with it." Ron Ainley (78) [that is a hell of a lot said! Ken]
"Not having a blind with it is what is great about it. Conditions will be more consistent for the blind over a shorter time period now."
Mike Lardy
"The big opening to the right of the short bird and the space to the right of the flyer seem to invite hunts where the birds aren't."
Bill Speck- AKC [who says these guys are clueless?]
"Lots of scribbles in the book" Nelson Sills [Judge Glenda Brown was teased about not having a big
enough bag to carry her pencils for the week if this trend continued.].
"Picturesque. I thought there would be a lot more distance." Mary Howely (84)
"There is a lot of stuff between the handler and the birds." Jack Vollstedt ( 29,75)
And so it went.
