Gallery Greetings 7 |
by Ken McCartney an avid Field Trialer
DAY SEVEN My bible learning is a bit remote now, but I recall something about how long it took the lord to make the world and then he resested on day seven (?) No rest for us today. A few dogs, starting with number nine rush back to the water blind and then we all caravan down to Cascade for what promises to be the first of three spectacular finishing touches on one of the best Nationals in recent times. It rained last night which will be a big help with the dusty roads back in to the water blind. The sky is overcast which may limit the lighting for the eighth series probably a mar.
Yesterday 160 of us guessed correctly with only two drops on the land blind. Not bad given the decision was a no brainer and the total all aged judging points probably exceeded 3000. There will be a cut here, but prediction will not be as easy. I sensed a probable 30, 20, 10 finish earlier in the week and being at an even 40 today does nothing to cause me to recant. Twenty-seven is right in line. That is, of course, the biggest cut we will see this week. I will know in about 45 minutes, when traffic calls in the players to the motel for caravan number two. Those of us who did not go back down to the blind this morning will leave from headquarters “around 8:15.” Did I mention cell phones when speaking with old timers about changes in the game? Everyone in every training group and committee has them.
I have enjoyed your feed back this week. Everyday someone comes up to me as says that they spoke to a mutual friend back home who is reading the RFTNews web coverage. Feel free to E-mail requests or suggestions [email protected] put DOGS in the “re” line if you will to help sort out the important stuff from the spam. Criticism can be E-mailed to maildameon.com.
I have made every effort to dwell on the positive this week and remain committed to that end. There is an issue that I am hearing more and more as the number of contestants dwindles that I feel compelled to mention and want you to take it in a constructive vain. The chairmen and maybe judges have decided this year to allow only contestants (wearing their numbers which is enforceable) to view the line after the test dogs and at gun changes. No Pros. No non contestants, save marshals, bird stewards, new reporters, hostesses, an occasional gun captain, etc. You know how that goes. You have a better view of the line through Mary’s excellent pictures than someone spending a week and several thousand dollars to vacation at the event. “Do you know how much time that saves?” YES I do. Since I answered that question answer me this one; “How can time be spent any better than enhancing the enjoyment of the trial?” The line to the land blind (oops I confess I snuck up there along with the contestants as I had not completely changed my mind set by that time) was fascinating. The judges chose a path that demanded real attention and I enjoyed watching dogs and handlers make tough decisions all morning knowing a little of what was involved. From the outside looking in, I recommend future administrations think hard about saving time at the expense of the spectators
The curse of a math degree: the judges have scored 906 retrieves so far and will see 81 more today. Contrast that with less than four hundred in a weekend all age stake. The youngest dog remaining in the trial is number 77, AFC Nick of Time Lone Ranger being sun by Charlie Hines. The oldest remaining contestant is number 92, FC-AFC Adams Acres Cherokee Rose being ably run by John Russell. Rumor has it that Rose is clean so far. John tells me he is not superstitious so it is ok to mention that fact.
John Cavanaugh and I revisited the handles while we waited for 9:15 to get here for the 8:15 call backs. Actually he had done more research and I took notes. In addition to the eight dogs that we thought had handled yesterday, dogs numbered 7, 16, and 39 confessed. That meant 11 of 42. If we are close, five dogs started the eighth with handles; 7, 38,47,93, and 99. One would think one quick handle will make it to the finals for the other 22 players. No double handles have been called back.
As the 27 stepped into the box: one double handled, and only a couple others single handled. We may have several finalists that do not handle this year. Lots of answers without handling, though, with many big hunts on the left and several dry dogs on the cheaty middle mark. Some hunted the flyer but none as hard as in the fifth where several failed the last bird down.
I heard several good judges say things to the effect that “the second holding blind was trickery, you could not have talked me into doing that if I were one of the judges.” It did draw several dogs into the big center field. It was not up for the test dogs and both test dogs ended up there as the natural result of a cheaty swim on the left. How do you feel about adding holding blinds to the field? Everyone seemed to have an opinion. I over heard someone quoting one of this year’s judges calling it “a tradition.” Evidently one was added in last year’s NARC….
An early announcement was made that this will be the only test for today which pleased many tired contestants and lots of workers, too. Tomorrow promises that special “seventh game in a seven game series suspense.” No one is making a convincing argument for a winner yet, so we are all watching every dog now.
Yesterday 160 of us guessed correctly with only two drops on the land blind. Not bad given the decision was a no brainer and the total all aged judging points probably exceeded 3000. There will be a cut here, but prediction will not be as easy. I sensed a probable 30, 20, 10 finish earlier in the week and being at an even 40 today does nothing to cause me to recant. Twenty-seven is right in line. That is, of course, the biggest cut we will see this week. I will know in about 45 minutes, when traffic calls in the players to the motel for caravan number two. Those of us who did not go back down to the blind this morning will leave from headquarters “around 8:15.” Did I mention cell phones when speaking with old timers about changes in the game? Everyone in every training group and committee has them.
I have enjoyed your feed back this week. Everyday someone comes up to me as says that they spoke to a mutual friend back home who is reading the RFTNews web coverage. Feel free to E-mail requests or suggestions [email protected] put DOGS in the “re” line if you will to help sort out the important stuff from the spam. Criticism can be E-mailed to maildameon.com.
I have made every effort to dwell on the positive this week and remain committed to that end. There is an issue that I am hearing more and more as the number of contestants dwindles that I feel compelled to mention and want you to take it in a constructive vain. The chairmen and maybe judges have decided this year to allow only contestants (wearing their numbers which is enforceable) to view the line after the test dogs and at gun changes. No Pros. No non contestants, save marshals, bird stewards, new reporters, hostesses, an occasional gun captain, etc. You know how that goes. You have a better view of the line through Mary’s excellent pictures than someone spending a week and several thousand dollars to vacation at the event. “Do you know how much time that saves?” YES I do. Since I answered that question answer me this one; “How can time be spent any better than enhancing the enjoyment of the trial?” The line to the land blind (oops I confess I snuck up there along with the contestants as I had not completely changed my mind set by that time) was fascinating. The judges chose a path that demanded real attention and I enjoyed watching dogs and handlers make tough decisions all morning knowing a little of what was involved. From the outside looking in, I recommend future administrations think hard about saving time at the expense of the spectators
The curse of a math degree: the judges have scored 906 retrieves so far and will see 81 more today. Contrast that with less than four hundred in a weekend all age stake. The youngest dog remaining in the trial is number 77, AFC Nick of Time Lone Ranger being sun by Charlie Hines. The oldest remaining contestant is number 92, FC-AFC Adams Acres Cherokee Rose being ably run by John Russell. Rumor has it that Rose is clean so far. John tells me he is not superstitious so it is ok to mention that fact.
John Cavanaugh and I revisited the handles while we waited for 9:15 to get here for the 8:15 call backs. Actually he had done more research and I took notes. In addition to the eight dogs that we thought had handled yesterday, dogs numbered 7, 16, and 39 confessed. That meant 11 of 42. If we are close, five dogs started the eighth with handles; 7, 38,47,93, and 99. One would think one quick handle will make it to the finals for the other 22 players. No double handles have been called back.
As the 27 stepped into the box: one double handled, and only a couple others single handled. We may have several finalists that do not handle this year. Lots of answers without handling, though, with many big hunts on the left and several dry dogs on the cheaty middle mark. Some hunted the flyer but none as hard as in the fifth where several failed the last bird down.
I heard several good judges say things to the effect that “the second holding blind was trickery, you could not have talked me into doing that if I were one of the judges.” It did draw several dogs into the big center field. It was not up for the test dogs and both test dogs ended up there as the natural result of a cheaty swim on the left. How do you feel about adding holding blinds to the field? Everyone seemed to have an opinion. I over heard someone quoting one of this year’s judges calling it “a tradition.” Evidently one was added in last year’s NARC….
An early announcement was made that this will be the only test for today which pleased many tired contestants and lots of workers, too. Tomorrow promises that special “seventh game in a seven game series suspense.” No one is making a convincing argument for a winner yet, so we are all watching every dog now.
