Saturday, November 18, 2006 |
Although cold and frosty with temps about 33 degrees, there was an air of excitement as all drove back to the Busch area for the final day. Twenty one dogs would face some of the most challenging tests of the stake to forge the 2006 National Retriever Champion. By 6;30 all had arrived on site and waited for the test dogs to demonstrate the series. Cold temperatures and a stiff, raw wind made the water very uninviting.
Test 9 was a water Quad held deep within the wildlife area The line faced a rather large pond with tulles and weed strips in the shallower parts. Around the shore to the left, three sets of gunners were positioned. The first was a short way down the shore. They shot and threw a dead hen mallard sharply back to the right. It fell at the shore's edge with a splash about 110 yards away. Deep beyond the pond's end a second set shot twice and threw a dead hen mallard back to the right. It landed in heavy marsh grass nearly 225 yards out. Closer and to the right a third group shot a flying drake well ridden out to the right. It fell in running water and was sluiced where it lay 200 yards out. A fourth pair of guns stood just off line to the right . They shot and threw a dead hen mallard nearly straight away where it fell in shallow water about 15-20 yards away.
Test 9 was a water Quad held deep within the wildlife area The line faced a rather large pond with tulles and weed strips in the shallower parts. Around the shore to the left, three sets of gunners were positioned. The first was a short way down the shore. They shot and threw a dead hen mallard sharply back to the right. It fell at the shore's edge with a splash about 110 yards away. Deep beyond the pond's end a second set shot twice and threw a dead hen mallard back to the right. It landed in heavy marsh grass nearly 225 yards out. Closer and to the right a third group shot a flying drake well ridden out to the right. It fell in running water and was sluiced where it lay 200 yards out. A fourth pair of guns stood just off line to the right . They shot and threw a dead hen mallard nearly straight away where it fell in shallow water about 15-20 yards away.
Test 9 - 3 marks, middle and left retire
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Test 9 - 4th mark just to right of line- very close
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The order was: long, left middle (retired) mark, short left shore mark, Long right middle shot flyer, short right mark. As the dog was sent for the short right mark, the long middle and short left gunners retired It took nearly 15 minutes per dog to complete. A stiff wind angled in from right to left across the pond. At 6:48 am, test dogs were called upon to demonstrate the series.
At 7:25 the first running dog, # 86 stepped from the holding blind and produced a very nice job. Others were not a lucky. The most prominent problem was the tight line between the short left shore bird and long retired mark. Some dogs over ran the former and drove to the latter. Some recovered but others were handled, Overall,there were 3 handles , two pick ups and a break. After the short right bird, handlers tried for the short left shore bird, then the shot flyer and, lastly, the long retired mark. A few dogs did it more creatively by themselves - with mixed success.
The long test completed at 12:16 when dog # 82 returned to line. Callbacks would be given at the new site.
Two caravans were organized for the trip to #10, a land quad. Workers left first followed by handlers a short time later.
Callbacks came as promised, sadly 6 dogs had been dropped. They were: 1, 14, 52, 54, 77 and 79 One of the fifteen would earn the NFC title in the next few exciting hours.
Gunners were in the field as the caravans arrived. It was a long walk from the parking area and judges waited until all were there before running the test dogs.
The line faced a gently rolling field that had been recently burned. Random, tall sparse weeds had been left standing while new , green growth sprouted on the ground. Four sets of guns were positioned in about a 180 degree pattern. To the left, and a fairly short distance from line a set of guns shot a flying hen pheasant to the left. It fell in the mixed cover 140 yards away. A second set deeper to the right shot a cock pheasant back to the left. It also fell in the field almost 225 yards from line. Again to the right, but closer to line, a third group shot and threw a dead hen pheasant almost flat to the left where it fell in the grass 148 yards out. The last set was again to the right, but deeper out. They shot a well ridden out,flying hen pheasant back to the left where it fell nearly 190 yards from line. The order was: short middle right mark, longer right mark, far left flyer, long, middle left flyer. As the dog was sent for the first bird, the short left and right middle guns retired. The wind angled back from right to left across the site. It took about 8-10 minutes to complete.
Sorry, no photo - camera failed, too cold
Both test dogs were called to the line to be introduced and were greeted by a barrage of all four stations firing and throwing ribbon festooned bird. Judges briefly appeared in English judges wigs as they were introduces "Here comes 'da judge".
At 1:36 the test dogs ran a genuine test and both did well. At 1:54, the first dog #51 stepped to line ad did a good job. Most took the last bird down, then the short left one, the long right flyer and the retired Right middle one last. A few dogs over ran one or another and required a handle. .
At 3:55 the National became history when dog #49 completed. Awards would be given at Busch HQ and all were told to meet there. Outside, Ken Andrews and other busily snapped photos of the finalists while judges deliberated and signed the :"book". A short time late in the welcome warm building, finalist ribbons and Purina product gift certificates were presented to all finalists. Then came the highly anticipated announcement. The winner was dog 51, FC AFC Dr. Copper PHD MH ! All applauded the overwhelmed handler/owner, Wayne Dodson and his non plussed canine champion, Copper. Everyone there had run a magnificent trial and were congratulated on their feat.
Wayne, however, announced a party for all back at the Holiday Inn to celebrate the occasion.
At 7:25 the first running dog, # 86 stepped from the holding blind and produced a very nice job. Others were not a lucky. The most prominent problem was the tight line between the short left shore bird and long retired mark. Some dogs over ran the former and drove to the latter. Some recovered but others were handled, Overall,there were 3 handles , two pick ups and a break. After the short right bird, handlers tried for the short left shore bird, then the shot flyer and, lastly, the long retired mark. A few dogs did it more creatively by themselves - with mixed success.
The long test completed at 12:16 when dog # 82 returned to line. Callbacks would be given at the new site.
Two caravans were organized for the trip to #10, a land quad. Workers left first followed by handlers a short time later.
Callbacks came as promised, sadly 6 dogs had been dropped. They were: 1, 14, 52, 54, 77 and 79 One of the fifteen would earn the NFC title in the next few exciting hours.
Gunners were in the field as the caravans arrived. It was a long walk from the parking area and judges waited until all were there before running the test dogs.
The line faced a gently rolling field that had been recently burned. Random, tall sparse weeds had been left standing while new , green growth sprouted on the ground. Four sets of guns were positioned in about a 180 degree pattern. To the left, and a fairly short distance from line a set of guns shot a flying hen pheasant to the left. It fell in the mixed cover 140 yards away. A second set deeper to the right shot a cock pheasant back to the left. It also fell in the field almost 225 yards from line. Again to the right, but closer to line, a third group shot and threw a dead hen pheasant almost flat to the left where it fell in the grass 148 yards out. The last set was again to the right, but deeper out. They shot a well ridden out,flying hen pheasant back to the left where it fell nearly 190 yards from line. The order was: short middle right mark, longer right mark, far left flyer, long, middle left flyer. As the dog was sent for the first bird, the short left and right middle guns retired. The wind angled back from right to left across the site. It took about 8-10 minutes to complete.
Sorry, no photo - camera failed, too cold
Both test dogs were called to the line to be introduced and were greeted by a barrage of all four stations firing and throwing ribbon festooned bird. Judges briefly appeared in English judges wigs as they were introduces "Here comes 'da judge".
At 1:36 the test dogs ran a genuine test and both did well. At 1:54, the first dog #51 stepped to line ad did a good job. Most took the last bird down, then the short left one, the long right flyer and the retired Right middle one last. A few dogs over ran one or another and required a handle. .
At 3:55 the National became history when dog #49 completed. Awards would be given at Busch HQ and all were told to meet there. Outside, Ken Andrews and other busily snapped photos of the finalists while judges deliberated and signed the :"book". A short time late in the welcome warm building, finalist ribbons and Purina product gift certificates were presented to all finalists. Then came the highly anticipated announcement. The winner was dog 51, FC AFC Dr. Copper PHD MH ! All applauded the overwhelmed handler/owner, Wayne Dodson and his non plussed canine champion, Copper. Everyone there had run a magnificent trial and were congratulated on their feat.
Wayne, however, announced a party for all back at the Holiday Inn to celebrate the occasion.
Wayne Dodson and Copper - Test 9
Dave Rorem with # 52, "Reggie"
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Reporter Jean Wu
Rob Young, AKC Photographer
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