Tuesday, June 20, 2006 |
The field trial Gods smiled on the stake again. It was sunny and clear with temperatures in the low 50's at 6 a.m. By 7:30, a single test dog demonstrated that the marks were similar to yesterday, but it appeared some of the scent may have dissipated.
Note: There have been some changes and additions to the earlier report
Number 81, the first running dog stepped to line at 7:45 a.m. (Dog #80, a rerun from Monday, had to wait 6 dogs to run). It didn't take long to observe that, unhappily, the test produced the same consequences as the previous day. Of the sixteen dogs that ran, there were 2 handles and 2 pick-ups.
Because of several no-birds, dog #91 completed the third at 9:50 a.m. The fourth series, a water blind was being organized to the deep left of the present site when as call backs arrived.
Seventy Six contenders remained to try the fourth . Sixteen dogs had been lost to the demanding third series. They were: 5. 15, 18, 24, 35, 36, 38, 43, 45, 47, 68, 77, 85, 86, 92, and 98.
Afterwards participants were quickly moved to the next site down a dusty road. The fourth was a no-see-um water blind. The line was set behind an elevated shore which was covered with about 2 foot high sagebrush.It faced the right side of a narrow, flowing stream that had 2 points in the distance. The first protruded from the right, the other lay behind it and was from the left. The blind, a duck was placed at the shoreline of the farthest point and marked by a bare branch, 150-160 yards from line.The wind blew into the test from left to right. Handlers were told that once they launched their dogs, the could move up to the pile of logs sitting on top of the sage to handle . It also informed each that the point was ON LINE . Another note in the blind quipped "We are having fun now. Dig in!
Note: There have been some changes and additions to the earlier report
Number 81, the first running dog stepped to line at 7:45 a.m. (Dog #80, a rerun from Monday, had to wait 6 dogs to run). It didn't take long to observe that, unhappily, the test produced the same consequences as the previous day. Of the sixteen dogs that ran, there were 2 handles and 2 pick-ups.
Because of several no-birds, dog #91 completed the third at 9:50 a.m. The fourth series, a water blind was being organized to the deep left of the present site when as call backs arrived.
Seventy Six contenders remained to try the fourth . Sixteen dogs had been lost to the demanding third series. They were: 5. 15, 18, 24, 35, 36, 38, 43, 45, 47, 68, 77, 85, 86, 92, and 98.
Afterwards participants were quickly moved to the next site down a dusty road. The fourth was a no-see-um water blind. The line was set behind an elevated shore which was covered with about 2 foot high sagebrush.It faced the right side of a narrow, flowing stream that had 2 points in the distance. The first protruded from the right, the other lay behind it and was from the left. The blind, a duck was placed at the shoreline of the farthest point and marked by a bare branch, 150-160 yards from line.The wind blew into the test from left to right. Handlers were told that once they launched their dogs, the could move up to the pile of logs sitting on top of the sage to handle . It also informed each that the point was ON LINE . Another note in the blind quipped "We are having fun now. Dig in!
Test 4 - top of the shore (line to right, below)
Planter is standing at the blind |
Gallery view of the test
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To recover the bird, dogs had to make their way through the sage on an angle down to the bay beneath. There they had to cross a grassy point and stay in the water on a tight line to the shore. They continued over the first point ,then back into the water to the second point where the bird lay at shore's edge. The water was edged by eroded banks, some 2 or 3 feet high, others with a gentle slope. If off line, dogs could disappear around a corner and/or into the sage.(It was difficult to get a good initial line as the dogs could not see the terrain.)
The first test dog arrived at 10:42 and had several whistles as did the second at 10:50. It took about 5 md for them
At about 11:15 (PDT) the first contestant, dog 23 came to line.
Without a visual of the test, some dogs headed straight (safely, they thought) for the water while others preferred the shore. Both need early correction. Since the line was tight to the shore, it was tempting for dogs to want to exit the water. The steam's current combined with an into the wind situation also made the shore desirable. Others were quite "watery" and did not want to go too near the shore. Some dogs welcomed getting on to the point while others where gingerly handled on and quickly off again. Once on the near point, a number of dogs either slipped around the corner or drove up on the shore to the right where they quickly went out of sight and control. It was a "sudden death" predicament.
It was difficult to obtain and retain a straight line and many handlers used numerous whistles to do so. Test 5 ended at 5:35 when dog 22 returned with her bird. There had been some very precise blinds but a good deal of rough work also. In all, 6 dogs picked up on the challenging series .
By mid afternoon it was announced that test five would be at a new site and directions would be distributed at HQ. later. Call backs arrived shortly after 8:30. 66 dogs remained in contention. Ten had been dropped. They were: 13, 19, 20, 28, 32, 33, 46, 67, 70 and 82. The next test would start with #48. Possibly land marks.
The first test dog arrived at 10:42 and had several whistles as did the second at 10:50. It took about 5 md for them
At about 11:15 (PDT) the first contestant, dog 23 came to line.
Without a visual of the test, some dogs headed straight (safely, they thought) for the water while others preferred the shore. Both need early correction. Since the line was tight to the shore, it was tempting for dogs to want to exit the water. The steam's current combined with an into the wind situation also made the shore desirable. Others were quite "watery" and did not want to go too near the shore. Some dogs welcomed getting on to the point while others where gingerly handled on and quickly off again. Once on the near point, a number of dogs either slipped around the corner or drove up on the shore to the right where they quickly went out of sight and control. It was a "sudden death" predicament.
It was difficult to obtain and retain a straight line and many handlers used numerous whistles to do so. Test 5 ended at 5:35 when dog 22 returned with her bird. There had been some very precise blinds but a good deal of rough work also. In all, 6 dogs picked up on the challenging series .
By mid afternoon it was announced that test five would be at a new site and directions would be distributed at HQ. later. Call backs arrived shortly after 8:30. 66 dogs remained in contention. Ten had been dropped. They were: 13, 19, 20, 28, 32, 33, 46, 67, 70 and 82. The next test would start with #48. Possibly land marks.
Judges (l tor) Lee Jolley, Don Driggers, Brad Clow
Handlers scoping out the Fourth
Man in foreground is on the mat |
Lynne DuBose and Dyna
Spectators: front- Martha and John Russell
Back,(L-R) Dale Sweeney, Danny Farmer and Barb Howard |
