Thursday, June 17, 2004 |
The workers party was held in a wildlife art museum located in a 18th century village reconstruction. People strolled the grounds viewing many sculptures, gardens and quaint buildings. Inside, paintings, Remington sculptures, a live band and snacks were enjoyed by all. A wonderful supper followed and content, mellow participants returned to their "homes" as a light rain began.
Morning came a bit early for many revelers. A persistent rain added a touch of misery to the pre dawn darkness.. However, a sturdy group of workers found their way to the site and number 5 resumed.
Light rain remained throughout the balance of number 5. The results were similar to the day before. Of the remaining dogs, 7 fo the 18 handled or picked up. The last dog , #56 returned to line at about 11 am. All were told to remain at the site as a land blind would be run in the same area. After a test dog and some discussion, Judges decided on a water blind in a different area and all were told to wait to caravan to the new series. Callbacks came about noon and the 15 minute trip began shortly thereafter. 21 dogs had been lost to the demanding fifth and one, #76 had been scratched due to being in season. 51 potential NFC's remained. Those lost were:4, 5, 21, 26, 49, 50, 51, 54, 60, 61, 66, 67, 72, 73, 75, 78, 79, 81, 82, and 96. The sixth would start with dog #93.
Morning came a bit early for many revelers. A persistent rain added a touch of misery to the pre dawn darkness.. However, a sturdy group of workers found their way to the site and number 5 resumed.
Light rain remained throughout the balance of number 5. The results were similar to the day before. Of the remaining dogs, 7 fo the 18 handled or picked up. The last dog , #56 returned to line at about 11 am. All were told to remain at the site as a land blind would be run in the same area. After a test dog and some discussion, Judges decided on a water blind in a different area and all were told to wait to caravan to the new series. Callbacks came about noon and the 15 minute trip began shortly thereafter. 21 dogs had been lost to the demanding fifth and one, #76 had been scratched due to being in season. 51 potential NFC's remained. Those lost were:4, 5, 21, 26, 49, 50, 51, 54, 60, 61, 66, 67, 72, 73, 75, 78, 79, 81, 82, and 96. The sixth would start with dog #93.
Blind as seen from behind the dike line mat
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Blind from top of dike
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Sixth Series Water Blind
It took a bit of time to organize the sixth, a water blind with a poison bird. The blind began with a no-see-um line behind a dike. Up on the dike, on the right side, a set of guns shot and threw a dead duck back to the left. It fell at the water's edge about 40 yards from line. It was a long angle entry over the dike into the water on the right shore of a large pond. The line continued tight past the poison bird and up on the point formed by the same shoreline. There was heavy cover on the shore and a bay to the right where a dog could quickly disappear then easily reappear at the poison bird. All the suction was toward the shore on the right. However the duck lay deep within the pond beyond,on a float about 160 yards from line. Two trees on the point served as goal posts to mark where the blind was. A small sapling was on the left, with a dead trunk on the right. The poison bird lay near the water just past the cattails. The wind came into the line from left to right.
Handlers were instructed that the poison bird would be thrown as they arrived on the mat. They could tell their dogs to sit and must wait for judges to call a number. After, they were on their own - no restrictions. Shortly before 1 p.m., the test dogs illustrated the perils of the sixth and by 1:15, the first running dog, #93 appeared. It took about 8 mpd.
It was difficult to get a good line because there was no "picture" from the starting line. Dogs were naturally drawn to the right where the poison bird fell. A number of dogs had to be handled up short to get the proper line into the water. After passing the tempting poison bird, it was critical to cast the dog off the point to the left. Dogs with cast refusals that disappeared behind the point usually did not recover . A few dogs were unable to resist the temptation and recovered the poison bird.
Beyond the point it became difficult to see the dog, especially because of cloudy conditions.. Binoculars were used by quite a few to observe their dog in that area.
The sixth was completed when dog 92 returned with the blind at shortly before 8 p.m. Callbacks and tomorrow's test would be available later at the Holiday Inn. As of 9 p.m.EDT the info had not arrived. Shortly after 10:30 the call backs were posted. Only 38 contenders remained. Thirteen had been lost. They were: 7, 12, 15, 19, 27, 30, 42, 48, 58, 62, 69, 70, 93 and 98. Unfortunately both Patton and Carbon had been lost to Thursdays tests.
The seventh was said to be a land blind back at the 5th series field. Test dogs would run at 7:30, no starting number was given.
Handlers were instructed that the poison bird would be thrown as they arrived on the mat. They could tell their dogs to sit and must wait for judges to call a number. After, they were on their own - no restrictions. Shortly before 1 p.m., the test dogs illustrated the perils of the sixth and by 1:15, the first running dog, #93 appeared. It took about 8 mpd.
It was difficult to get a good line because there was no "picture" from the starting line. Dogs were naturally drawn to the right where the poison bird fell. A number of dogs had to be handled up short to get the proper line into the water. After passing the tempting poison bird, it was critical to cast the dog off the point to the left. Dogs with cast refusals that disappeared behind the point usually did not recover . A few dogs were unable to resist the temptation and recovered the poison bird.
Beyond the point it became difficult to see the dog, especially because of cloudy conditions.. Binoculars were used by quite a few to observe their dog in that area.
The sixth was completed when dog 92 returned with the blind at shortly before 8 p.m. Callbacks and tomorrow's test would be available later at the Holiday Inn. As of 9 p.m.EDT the info had not arrived. Shortly after 10:30 the call backs were posted. Only 38 contenders remained. Thirteen had been lost. They were: 7, 12, 15, 19, 27, 30, 42, 48, 58, 62, 69, 70, 93 and 98. Unfortunately both Patton and Carbon had been lost to Thursdays tests.
The seventh was said to be a land blind back at the 5th series field. Test dogs would run at 7:30, no starting number was given.
Andy Attar and Leta Rovelstad
Test 5 Gallery
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Retriever cooling pool - Wednesday
Purina Rep Roy Pelton with goodies
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