Monday, June 16, 2008 |
11:45 am
Completion of 1st and 2nd Series
Contestants woke this morning to fog and a light mist that rolled over the city and the test site. Temps were a bit chilly, in the lower 60s, and dark clouds again threatened us with thunderstorms.
At 6:56 am, substitute test dog AFC Wind River's Most Wanted, LM, handled by Don Driggers, came up to the line to start off the morning. Felon completed the test in 5 minutes, and the remainder of the combined 1st and 2nd series was underway. The first running dog of the morning, number 74 FC-AFC Fat City Pacer with DeWitt Boice, came on line at 7:25 am, a bit earlier than expected.
Handles this morning in the remaining dogs included dogs 77, 79, 81, 82, and 90. Dogs 80 & 81 received no-birds and were asked to each come back after the next 6 had run. It was on this re-run that number 81 handled on the short retired. Almost all handles occurred on the short retired in the 1st.
Just before dog number 39, FC-AFC Volwood's Peaches and Cream with Jack Vollstedt, ran the re-run at the end from the previous day, announcer Larry Wharton let the gallery know that the callbacks would be given right there and to hang tight before handing over to the 3rd series.
#39 ended the combined 1st and 2nd with an impressive no-whistle blind at 9:29 am.
When callbacks were given, it was revealed that dogs 67, 90, and 125 had been dropped and would not be invited to run the 3rd series. Dog #118, AFC Alpha Minnie Pearl, would start off the 3rd series.
Completion of 1st and 2nd Series
Contestants woke this morning to fog and a light mist that rolled over the city and the test site. Temps were a bit chilly, in the lower 60s, and dark clouds again threatened us with thunderstorms.
At 6:56 am, substitute test dog AFC Wind River's Most Wanted, LM, handled by Don Driggers, came up to the line to start off the morning. Felon completed the test in 5 minutes, and the remainder of the combined 1st and 2nd series was underway. The first running dog of the morning, number 74 FC-AFC Fat City Pacer with DeWitt Boice, came on line at 7:25 am, a bit earlier than expected.
Handles this morning in the remaining dogs included dogs 77, 79, 81, 82, and 90. Dogs 80 & 81 received no-birds and were asked to each come back after the next 6 had run. It was on this re-run that number 81 handled on the short retired. Almost all handles occurred on the short retired in the 1st.
Just before dog number 39, FC-AFC Volwood's Peaches and Cream with Jack Vollstedt, ran the re-run at the end from the previous day, announcer Larry Wharton let the gallery know that the callbacks would be given right there and to hang tight before handing over to the 3rd series.
#39 ended the combined 1st and 2nd with an impressive no-whistle blind at 9:29 am.
When callbacks were given, it was revealed that dogs 67, 90, and 125 had been dropped and would not be invited to run the 3rd series. Dog #118, AFC Alpha Minnie Pearl, would start off the 3rd series.
Retriever News set up its own table of wares for the first time at this year's
National next to the Hostesses committee. We had many visitors stop by!
National next to the Hostesses committee. We had many visitors stop by!
3rd Series - Water Blind with Dry Pop
After callbacks were announced, everyone packed up their gear and headed over to the site of the 3rd Series. This was a gorgeous long, narrow pond, tucked behind the line of trees that were in the back of the combined 1st and 2nd. A beautiful tree-covered mountain background served as the back drop to the pond.
After callbacks were announced, everyone packed up their gear and headed over to the site of the 3rd Series. This was a gorgeous long, narrow pond, tucked behind the line of trees that were in the back of the combined 1st and 2nd. A beautiful tree-covered mountain background served as the back drop to the pond.
3rd Series - View from the line
|
Close up of the water blind
|
The 3rd series is a Water Blind with Dry Pop. Once the dog is on the mat, the hidden (only from the line) dry pop goes off and the handler is on his/her own. The water is a channel with grassy sloped edges. The line is down through some cover along the right side through a few trees.. There are several grassy points - the larger shoulder on the right was scented en route. Once the dog clears the stent of trees on the right, the dry pop gunner is visible to the dog. The dog must cross the scented shoulder and swim across a bay to the hen pheasant planted at the tip of the farthest point, below a green bush at 170 yards.
All handlers were invited to congregate around the judges tent as the test dogs ran. David Opseth and Contrails Bird Strike took the line at 10:20 am, shortly after at 10:28 am, second test dog team Margo and Ammo took the line. Both test dogs stayed on the land, but when cast into the water, stayed in the water. They both did an excellent job of demonstrating the handling required to accomplish this blind, taking approx. 5-6 minutes each.
All handlers were invited to congregate around the judges tent as the test dogs ran. David Opseth and Contrails Bird Strike took the line at 10:20 am, shortly after at 10:28 am, second test dog team Margo and Ammo took the line. Both test dogs stayed on the land, but when cast into the water, stayed in the water. They both did an excellent job of demonstrating the handling required to accomplish this blind, taking approx. 5-6 minutes each.
Handlers watch the test dog team of David Opseth and Talla
Once the test dogs were finished running, the first 25 handlers were invited to view the line, then the rest of the handlers. Once Chief Marshal Pat Martin and his assistant Chief Marshals Mitch Brown and Phyllis McGinn successfully ushered everyone back into the gallery, the blinds were filled and series 3 was ready to get underway.
Handlers viewing the line of the 3rd series
At 10:44 am, dog number 118, AFC Alpha Minnie Pearl, was on line and the 3rd series began.
6:15 pm Update
Though some thunder and dark clouds threatened to put a damper on the day and slow the competition down around 3:40 pm, dogs continue to trudge through the 3rd series water blind. It is now sunny and humid, but a slight breeze is helping the comfort level.
6:15 pm Update
Though some thunder and dark clouds threatened to put a damper on the day and slow the competition down around 3:40 pm, dogs continue to trudge through the 3rd series water blind. It is now sunny and humid, but a slight breeze is helping the comfort level.
RSC's Susie of Fox Hollow and Stan Chiras on line at the 3rd
The current dog running is dog number 109, Carolina's Acoustic Storm. This indicates that there are only about 7 dogs left to run today. It is looking very good that the 3rd series will be completed sometime before 8:00 pm.
The work has generally been good and some have done exceptionally well. Nothing has stood out as being much worse than another.
Announcer Larry Wharton stated over the sound system that callbacks to the 4th would be posted at Headquarters, as would directions to the next location. The caravan for workers would again leave from Shaw's Supermarket at 5:30 am, and the caravan for contestants would leave from the same place at 6:15 am. Test dog would run at 7:30 am and the first running dog at 8:00 am. The first dog to run will be number 17, FC-AFC Crow Rivers Cougar's Mad Max, with handler Jessie Kent.
6:38 pm Update
There are only 3 dogs left to run! The series is sure to wrap up around 7 and we will get you the callbacks to the 4th as soon as they are available.
9:15 pm Update
The 3rd Series of the National Amateur Retriever Championship came to a close at 6:46 when dog number 117, DC-AFC Genny's Yakity Yak Don't Talk Back, retrieved the blind.
The 4th Series will commence tomorrow morning, though it remains a mystery what the test will be. We do know that it will be held on the Hoermann Property in Wolcott, about 35 minutes from Stowe. Cell phone and internet signal is reported to be marginal, if at all available.
Callbacks from the 3rd series remain unavailable. We've heard that they may not be available until as late as 11:00 pm.
11:05 pm Update
The Callbacks are finally in!
There are 94 dogs called back to the 4th series. Those dropped are numbers 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 16, 23, 28, 29, 33, 42, 62, 63, 72, 74, 79, 98, 106, 109, 110, 113, 115, and 124.
Good Night!
The work has generally been good and some have done exceptionally well. Nothing has stood out as being much worse than another.
Announcer Larry Wharton stated over the sound system that callbacks to the 4th would be posted at Headquarters, as would directions to the next location. The caravan for workers would again leave from Shaw's Supermarket at 5:30 am, and the caravan for contestants would leave from the same place at 6:15 am. Test dog would run at 7:30 am and the first running dog at 8:00 am. The first dog to run will be number 17, FC-AFC Crow Rivers Cougar's Mad Max, with handler Jessie Kent.
6:38 pm Update
There are only 3 dogs left to run! The series is sure to wrap up around 7 and we will get you the callbacks to the 4th as soon as they are available.
9:15 pm Update
The 3rd Series of the National Amateur Retriever Championship came to a close at 6:46 when dog number 117, DC-AFC Genny's Yakity Yak Don't Talk Back, retrieved the blind.
The 4th Series will commence tomorrow morning, though it remains a mystery what the test will be. We do know that it will be held on the Hoermann Property in Wolcott, about 35 minutes from Stowe. Cell phone and internet signal is reported to be marginal, if at all available.
Callbacks from the 3rd series remain unavailable. We've heard that they may not be available until as late as 11:00 pm.
11:05 pm Update
The Callbacks are finally in!
There are 94 dogs called back to the 4th series. Those dropped are numbers 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 16, 23, 28, 29, 33, 42, 62, 63, 72, 74, 79, 98, 106, 109, 110, 113, 115, and 124.
Good Night!
