Sunday, June 19, 2005 |
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Test 1 From Line
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Closeup of Gun Stations
Sunday arrived clear and mild with temps in the upper 50's. The caravan left on time, and arrived at Gary McIllwains land off hwy 169 about 6:30 a.m. After a brief parking snafu, the test dogs were called to line shortly after 7:30. One handled while the other just hunted. It took about 5 mpd to complete. Two additional scratches were announced. They were 68 and 110. The starting dog, number 96 arrived on line at 8 a.m.
The test, a double with a retired long gun on the left, was set in a rolling pasture type field with the tip of a channel on the near right and a winding dirt road on the left. A heavy tree line was a short distance behind them.The line was on the top of a slope overlooking the test. There were separate holding blinds for male and female canine competitors and marshals were careful to insure each was occupied by the proper sex.
The left, retired mark was located on the far side of the dirt road. A set of three guns shot twice while throwing a dead rooster pheasant at a sharp angle back to the right. It fell across parallel and close to the tree line about 185 yards from line. Closer in and a good distance to their right, a set of guns shot a flying rooster to the right. It landed in 10-16" mixed pasture grass about 130 yards away. The order was left- dead;right, flyer. A soft breeze blew into the line from right to left.
The flyer caused some hunting, but most recovered it will little difficulty. However, those that did not take the piece of water could be deflected from their original mark The retired mark was in the shadows for early dogs and not that easy to see. Several had trouble with it. While some winded it, others had a fickle switching breeze and ran past the bird, unable to wind it. Dogs had to make a decision on which side to pass a stand of brush at the bottom of the hill. Those that went right appeared less likely to be successful. Handlers quickly adopted a left preference. Dogs influenced by wind and/or cover, not having a firm mark, hunted deep past the fall. A few threatened to switch, possibly winding feathers from the shot flyers that were blowing between the marks. Others methodically hunted it up after breaking down to the far left of flyer guns.
By noon, 44 dogs had run and there were 9 handles, including 2 pick-ups. (20%)
The afternoon became hot and windy with temperatures rising to the low 90's. A switching wind would penalize dogs on one mark while aiding on the other. Work seemed a bit better in the afternoon.
By about 5:10 p.m (CDT). the third test ended when #88, a rerun, returned to line. In all 18 dogs of the 106 starters had handled and there were some substantial hunts also.
Workers began setting up a blind (s?) in the same area. However, about 5:30 an announcement was made that there would be no other test today.- welcome news to man and beast alike. Test dogs will run at 7:30 a.m. on Monday. It is probably going to be the blind(s) that were planned earlier. Judges announces that call back would be posted later at HQ. (As soon as they are available, they will be posted here) The starting dog for #2 will be dog 12, or the next running dog after.
Callbacks came about dark, There are 97 invited to run the second series Six were scratched leaving dogs 40, 49, 56, 84, 97, 98, 103, and 111 lost to the first.
The test, a double with a retired long gun on the left, was set in a rolling pasture type field with the tip of a channel on the near right and a winding dirt road on the left. A heavy tree line was a short distance behind them.The line was on the top of a slope overlooking the test. There were separate holding blinds for male and female canine competitors and marshals were careful to insure each was occupied by the proper sex.
The left, retired mark was located on the far side of the dirt road. A set of three guns shot twice while throwing a dead rooster pheasant at a sharp angle back to the right. It fell across parallel and close to the tree line about 185 yards from line. Closer in and a good distance to their right, a set of guns shot a flying rooster to the right. It landed in 10-16" mixed pasture grass about 130 yards away. The order was left- dead;right, flyer. A soft breeze blew into the line from right to left.
The flyer caused some hunting, but most recovered it will little difficulty. However, those that did not take the piece of water could be deflected from their original mark The retired mark was in the shadows for early dogs and not that easy to see. Several had trouble with it. While some winded it, others had a fickle switching breeze and ran past the bird, unable to wind it. Dogs had to make a decision on which side to pass a stand of brush at the bottom of the hill. Those that went right appeared less likely to be successful. Handlers quickly adopted a left preference. Dogs influenced by wind and/or cover, not having a firm mark, hunted deep past the fall. A few threatened to switch, possibly winding feathers from the shot flyers that were blowing between the marks. Others methodically hunted it up after breaking down to the far left of flyer guns.
By noon, 44 dogs had run and there were 9 handles, including 2 pick-ups. (20%)
The afternoon became hot and windy with temperatures rising to the low 90's. A switching wind would penalize dogs on one mark while aiding on the other. Work seemed a bit better in the afternoon.
By about 5:10 p.m (CDT). the third test ended when #88, a rerun, returned to line. In all 18 dogs of the 106 starters had handled and there were some substantial hunts also.
Workers began setting up a blind (s?) in the same area. However, about 5:30 an announcement was made that there would be no other test today.- welcome news to man and beast alike. Test dogs will run at 7:30 a.m. on Monday. It is probably going to be the blind(s) that were planned earlier. Judges announces that call back would be posted later at HQ. (As soon as they are available, they will be posted here) The starting dog for #2 will be dog 12, or the next running dog after.
Callbacks came about dark, There are 97 invited to run the second series Six were scratched leaving dogs 40, 49, 56, 84, 97, 98, 103, and 111 lost to the first.
Announcer Gary Sorenson
Hostess Merchandise Tent
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Handlers Viewing Line
L to R: Pat Lamantia -Purina; Jerry Mann,
AKC and Roy Pelton, Purina |
