Monday, June 14, 2004 |
Test 3 from line
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Close up showing planter
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Third Series - Water Blind
Monday morning was cloudy, humid and breezy. with temperatures in the high 60's.
By 6:30 a.m., gunners were back in the field, ready to complete the combined test. Unfortunately, upon arrival they found all 4 porto pots had been knocked off the trailer by some evening revelers..
By 7 am the lone test team ran and were quickly followed by the first contestant , # 66, a rerun from the previous day. Although still cloudy, the sun appeared briefly from time to time.
The work appeared better than the previous day and the test was completed by 8:25 p.m. The test was quickly dismantled and all were directed to a field about 1/2 mile down the road, across the main highway. While the next test was being organized, the call backs were announced. 9 had been either scratched or lost to the series. Scratches were 10, 13, and 31. Dropped were: 20, 33, 36, 87, 95 and 97. 89 remained for the third, a water blind.
Clouds cleared and the day became sunny, warm and bright.
The line for the blind was located on the backside of a dike facing the left shore of a pond. In front of the line (almost a no-see-um-) was a 2' pile of grass and hay. It was on line to the blind
To recover the bird , a dead hen pheasant. dogs had to stay on line past the mound, go down the dike into a flooded field and angle into tightly to the shore of the pond. Beyond was a point of sparse cattails right in front of a small bay that had a large stand of trees edging the shore. Dogs could easily get lost behind them if the refused a cast. The wind angled in toward the shore from right to left and provided another excuse to land. Once past the point, they had to skim the shore in lunging water to where the bird lay, marked by a small bush about 145 yds. from line.
The test dogs ran shortly after 9 a.m. and both completed with little difficulty.
At. 9:30 a.m., the first dog, #7 tried the third. After a few ran, it appeared the test could be successfully completed with 4-7 whistles, although some were cliff hangers! It moved quickly taking about 4-5 mpd. The gallery was told if they wore white, roving marshals armed with spray paint would color them orange. He he......
The work remained generally good throughout the series. There were a few that virtually lined it, but most had several whistles. Later dogs had paths to choose from, however not all led to the desired area. It was announced that no other test would be started after the blind. By 4 p.m. the test was completed and callbacks followed a short time later. Only 3 dogs had been lost. They were 24, 38 and 44. Eighty Six remained for the fourth.
By early afternoon, Gary McIllwain had mistakenly worn a white sleeveless shirt into the gallery and was promptly sprayed orange. Effective, maybe - but there may be retribution later.
Tuesday the fourth series would begin in an adjacent area with test dogs at 7:15; first running dog, # 32 at 7:30. It was rumored to be land marks.
By 6:30 a.m., gunners were back in the field, ready to complete the combined test. Unfortunately, upon arrival they found all 4 porto pots had been knocked off the trailer by some evening revelers..
By 7 am the lone test team ran and were quickly followed by the first contestant , # 66, a rerun from the previous day. Although still cloudy, the sun appeared briefly from time to time.
The work appeared better than the previous day and the test was completed by 8:25 p.m. The test was quickly dismantled and all were directed to a field about 1/2 mile down the road, across the main highway. While the next test was being organized, the call backs were announced. 9 had been either scratched or lost to the series. Scratches were 10, 13, and 31. Dropped were: 20, 33, 36, 87, 95 and 97. 89 remained for the third, a water blind.
Clouds cleared and the day became sunny, warm and bright.
The line for the blind was located on the backside of a dike facing the left shore of a pond. In front of the line (almost a no-see-um-) was a 2' pile of grass and hay. It was on line to the blind
To recover the bird , a dead hen pheasant. dogs had to stay on line past the mound, go down the dike into a flooded field and angle into tightly to the shore of the pond. Beyond was a point of sparse cattails right in front of a small bay that had a large stand of trees edging the shore. Dogs could easily get lost behind them if the refused a cast. The wind angled in toward the shore from right to left and provided another excuse to land. Once past the point, they had to skim the shore in lunging water to where the bird lay, marked by a small bush about 145 yds. from line.
The test dogs ran shortly after 9 a.m. and both completed with little difficulty.
At. 9:30 a.m., the first dog, #7 tried the third. After a few ran, it appeared the test could be successfully completed with 4-7 whistles, although some were cliff hangers! It moved quickly taking about 4-5 mpd. The gallery was told if they wore white, roving marshals armed with spray paint would color them orange. He he......
The work remained generally good throughout the series. There were a few that virtually lined it, but most had several whistles. Later dogs had paths to choose from, however not all led to the desired area. It was announced that no other test would be started after the blind. By 4 p.m. the test was completed and callbacks followed a short time later. Only 3 dogs had been lost. They were 24, 38 and 44. Eighty Six remained for the fourth.
By early afternoon, Gary McIllwain had mistakenly worn a white sleeveless shirt into the gallery and was promptly sprayed orange. Effective, maybe - but there may be retribution later.
Tuesday the fourth series would begin in an adjacent area with test dogs at 7:15; first running dog, # 32 at 7:30. It was rumored to be land marks.
Gary McIllwain after spray encounter
Announcer Dean Ellis
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Food Truck
Judges, (L to R) Gary Zellner, Tim Coulson, Mitch Patterson
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