Monday, November 10, 2003 |
Monday arrived as forecast - Clear, little wind and cold, with temperatures in the low 40's. A full moon shone overhead as dawn slowly arrived. The test had remained standing overnight and gunners and throwers were in place by 6:30. By 6:50 it was light enough to run the single test dog Willow, handled by Suzanne king. After, Judges waited for about 15 minutes until the rising sun was higher.
At 7:31, the first running dog, #24 stepped to line. The test appeared similar to the day before except more seemed to have trouble locating the flyer and less the retired mark. Several had trouble seeing the handler at the end of the blind, also. There were three handles and a pick-up as the last 21 finished. The combined test completed when dog 4 (2 no-birds the day before) returned with the blind about 10:30. The next test was located a short way down the road to the west. Call backs would be given there when participants arrived.
At 7:31, the first running dog, #24 stepped to line. The test appeared similar to the day before except more seemed to have trouble locating the flyer and less the retired mark. Several had trouble seeing the handler at the end of the blind, also. There were three handles and a pick-up as the last 21 finished. The combined test completed when dog 4 (2 no-birds the day before) returned with the blind about 10:30. The next test was located a short way down the road to the west. Call backs would be given there when participants arrived.
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Left mark closer
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Middle mark closer
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Test 3 - Land /Water Triple w/ 2 Retired Guns
The third series was well organized as contestants arrived. It was a mixed bag land/ water triple with two retired guns. Callbacks were given when most were parked. 10 dogs had been dropped with 77 remaining in contention There were 2 scratches before the stake - 21 & 43). Those dropped were: 9, 34, 37, 48, 58, 75, 76, 83, 84, and 88. Dog 67 would initiate the third.
The configuration of the marks was nearly inline and the order was left, middle, right.. On a side hill to the far left, a set of guns threw a dead hen pheasant to the right. It fell in a short stubble field 257 yards away. Next, a set located across from them and a medium size, irregular island studded pond threw a dead duck left, across the water where it fell on a grassy island about 168 yards from line. The last mark was a flyer a short distance to the right of the line. They shot a duck to the left that landed in a stubble side hill 93 yards out. It was also a small area of swimming water, like the middle mark. As the dog was sent for the flyer, the two other gun stations retired behind naturalized blinds. It took about 8-9 minutes to complete and probably would not finish by dusk.
The short flyer dimmed the memory of the other two marks. Most took the middle bird second. It was very challenging because of the water and terrain involved. Dogs had to go toward the pond and swim across to the island, but on the way they had to angle across a Y shaped gravel road that tempted them to run down it, and rolling terrain. A number ran toward the water, then up the road to the right where the gunner's blind stood. After a hunt, they either worked their way back to the water and island, or were handled there. Several appeared confused and required a handle or two to locate the mark
The line to the left bird just sliced the end of the same pond that the middle mark involved. It was very tempting to cheat and run around (which occurred frequently). However, they had to be deep of the bird to wind it and a line to the left could make that difficult. Combined with the fact that a pheasant was there, caused some to shop for the bird. A few ran out of the area and were unable to recover and needed handling
The day was breezy, clear and cool - good dog working conditions.By dusk, nearly half the dogs had run. The third was suspended shortly after 5 p.m. after dog 20 ran, 41 were left for Tuesday morning. There would be only one test dog at 6:30 and dog 22 would start. Six dogs had handled - one on two marks. No partial callbacks were given.
The configuration of the marks was nearly inline and the order was left, middle, right.. On a side hill to the far left, a set of guns threw a dead hen pheasant to the right. It fell in a short stubble field 257 yards away. Next, a set located across from them and a medium size, irregular island studded pond threw a dead duck left, across the water where it fell on a grassy island about 168 yards from line. The last mark was a flyer a short distance to the right of the line. They shot a duck to the left that landed in a stubble side hill 93 yards out. It was also a small area of swimming water, like the middle mark. As the dog was sent for the flyer, the two other gun stations retired behind naturalized blinds. It took about 8-9 minutes to complete and probably would not finish by dusk.
The short flyer dimmed the memory of the other two marks. Most took the middle bird second. It was very challenging because of the water and terrain involved. Dogs had to go toward the pond and swim across to the island, but on the way they had to angle across a Y shaped gravel road that tempted them to run down it, and rolling terrain. A number ran toward the water, then up the road to the right where the gunner's blind stood. After a hunt, they either worked their way back to the water and island, or were handled there. Several appeared confused and required a handle or two to locate the mark
The line to the left bird just sliced the end of the same pond that the middle mark involved. It was very tempting to cheat and run around (which occurred frequently). However, they had to be deep of the bird to wind it and a line to the left could make that difficult. Combined with the fact that a pheasant was there, caused some to shop for the bird. A few ran out of the area and were unable to recover and needed handling
The day was breezy, clear and cool - good dog working conditions.By dusk, nearly half the dogs had run. The third was suspended shortly after 5 p.m. after dog 20 ran, 41 were left for Tuesday morning. There would be only one test dog at 6:30 and dog 22 would start. Six dogs had handled - one on two marks. No partial callbacks were given.
Judges L to R, Larry Wharton,
Jackie Mertens, Myron Chidester 
Paul Sletten with Tara
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Ken Andrews "shooting" Bill Totten /#37
Danny Farmer and "training partner"
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