Monday, June 17, 2002 |
Blind from top of dike
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Zoom in showing planter
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Dawn arrived gray, cool , breezy and with the threat of rain. As posted, The combined first and second tests had been swiftly reset and the lone test dog ran about 7:20. She was quickly followed by the first running dog, 99, at 7:45 am.
The wind had decreased since the evening before and visibility was better also. The remaining dogs seemed to fare better with only an exception or two and the test was completed shortly after 9 am when dog 110 returned to line.
In the distance, a new line tent had been erected and workers were constructing the third series, a water blind. The gallery was advised to remain at the present site where callbacks would be given.
In a few minutes announcer Dean Ellis read them. 102 were called back with 6 dropped and two scratches missing among the numbers. Those dropped: 71,75, 77, 81, 93, and 106. Scratched were: 29 and 104.
Cars were quickly moved a short distance to the edge of a wet, grassy meadow. In the distance was the new series. A rather long walk down a dike brought participants to the new site. The line was located behind the dike which ran parallel to a winding irrigation channel. Unfortunately, the narrow dike did not permit the gallery to view much of the test and they had to observe from a good distance behind.
The line was below and behind the dike making it a "no see 'em" start for running dogs. Handlers were told they could move up once the dog crossed the top of the dike. To recover the blind, dogs had to angle over the dike and into the 30 or so foot wide channel and back up on to the grassy shore of the wet meadow.( In the distance to the right was a "decoy" gunner with a white coat who sat in a chair.) They had to angle across it for a good distance back toward the shore of the winding channel. There they had to re enter and swim down to the bird, a hen pheasant, which lay at the shore's edge about (guess) 275 yards away. There was a stiff, switching wind, which gusted even higher during the test, from left to right or straight into the line until mid afternoon.
By 10 am, the test dogs demonstrated the pitfalls and handlers were invited to get their dogs. The long walk to get them and return delayed the start a bit, but by 11:45 the first running dog, # 27 appeared on line. A number of dogs squared the channel and were drawn to the decoy gunner. A cast to the left, back on line, was also into or against the wind, and some hesitated to comply. Beyond, a few tried to re-enter the channel too soon which would also put them off line and difficult to see. Handlers had to direct them back to land on a tight line to the shore. After a cast or two away from the water, some slid down the distant right shore, ignoring the casts to send them back into the water for the swim to the far end of the channel. All these factors produced cast refusals and some rough work. There were a few exceptional jobs, too, despite the daunting conditions.
The test took about 6-8 mpd, depending on the work and although the estimated finish time was calculated at 7:30, it was near 8 when it finished.
The Eukanuba people were hosting a dinner for all participants in town at 6:30 and many attended the wonderful feast. About 9:30, the party animals returned to the Shilo to wait for the callbacks. First the Judges arrived followed by Suzanne King with the list. 85 dogs would run the fourth, a land/ water triple about 20 miles away on new grounds. 17 dogs had been lost. They included:1, 7, 15, 28, 32, 34, 37, 43, 45, 50, 66, 92, 97, 98, 102, 103, and 109.
The wind had decreased since the evening before and visibility was better also. The remaining dogs seemed to fare better with only an exception or two and the test was completed shortly after 9 am when dog 110 returned to line.
In the distance, a new line tent had been erected and workers were constructing the third series, a water blind. The gallery was advised to remain at the present site where callbacks would be given.
In a few minutes announcer Dean Ellis read them. 102 were called back with 6 dropped and two scratches missing among the numbers. Those dropped: 71,75, 77, 81, 93, and 106. Scratched were: 29 and 104.
Cars were quickly moved a short distance to the edge of a wet, grassy meadow. In the distance was the new series. A rather long walk down a dike brought participants to the new site. The line was located behind the dike which ran parallel to a winding irrigation channel. Unfortunately, the narrow dike did not permit the gallery to view much of the test and they had to observe from a good distance behind.
The line was below and behind the dike making it a "no see 'em" start for running dogs. Handlers were told they could move up once the dog crossed the top of the dike. To recover the blind, dogs had to angle over the dike and into the 30 or so foot wide channel and back up on to the grassy shore of the wet meadow.( In the distance to the right was a "decoy" gunner with a white coat who sat in a chair.) They had to angle across it for a good distance back toward the shore of the winding channel. There they had to re enter and swim down to the bird, a hen pheasant, which lay at the shore's edge about (guess) 275 yards away. There was a stiff, switching wind, which gusted even higher during the test, from left to right or straight into the line until mid afternoon.
By 10 am, the test dogs demonstrated the pitfalls and handlers were invited to get their dogs. The long walk to get them and return delayed the start a bit, but by 11:45 the first running dog, # 27 appeared on line. A number of dogs squared the channel and were drawn to the decoy gunner. A cast to the left, back on line, was also into or against the wind, and some hesitated to comply. Beyond, a few tried to re-enter the channel too soon which would also put them off line and difficult to see. Handlers had to direct them back to land on a tight line to the shore. After a cast or two away from the water, some slid down the distant right shore, ignoring the casts to send them back into the water for the swim to the far end of the channel. All these factors produced cast refusals and some rough work. There were a few exceptional jobs, too, despite the daunting conditions.
The test took about 6-8 mpd, depending on the work and although the estimated finish time was calculated at 7:30, it was near 8 when it finished.
The Eukanuba people were hosting a dinner for all participants in town at 6:30 and many attended the wonderful feast. About 9:30, the party animals returned to the Shilo to wait for the callbacks. First the Judges arrived followed by Suzanne King with the list. 85 dogs would run the fourth, a land/ water triple about 20 miles away on new grounds. 17 dogs had been lost. They included:1, 7, 15, 28, 32, 34, 37, 43, 45, 50, 66, 92, 97, 98, 102, 103, and 109.
Judges (l to r) Stan Safranski, Gary Ratzlaff
and Pat Martin - Lunch "Au Fresca" 
Gallery observing worried handlers watching test dog
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Handlers watching test dog
The lunch wagon - Good stuff!
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