Tuesday, November 13, 2001 |
Like "Groundhog " Day, Tuesday's weather was a repeat of the previous several days. No one was complaining. Warm sunny days with cool nights were welcome by all. Locals, however, would have preferred some rain to alleviate the tinder dry conditions.
Light was good and the test dog was soon followed by the first running dog. At first the work seemed to be better, but soon the old hazards became apparent and there were handles and pick-ups. After noon, light flooded the guns and work again improved. The third ended at about 2:30 with call backs coming soon after. Twenty two dogs had handled and several of those picked up. One broke on the honor. Sixteen dogs were dropped. Those were: 10, 20, 21, 22, 24, 37, 40, 43, 51, 55, 60, 74, 77, 82, 83, and 86. Sixty now remained in competition.
The line was quickly moved a fair distance to the left. Surprise! It was the same line (and test) used for the water blind scrapped on Monday after 3 test dogs failed to complete it. Apparently the area had been re-groomed and two different test dogs were asked to run it again. It was a long angle entry through a depression into the water. From there it paralleled a brushy shore to the middle of a point beyond where a duck lay 347 yards from line. Both were well known Field Champions and could not complete the blind. It appeared they could not hear the distant whistles especially on the brushy shore or deep of the point. Judges then moved the bird a short distance to the left, providing more water and less bank on "line". A third Field Champion was then invited to try the test. When she did it, Judges had the dogs called to line.
Dog 33 was first on line and tried to channel down the water after a valiant attempt, far beyond the 347 yd blind and had to be recovered by the handler and a marshal with an ATV. Dog number 34 completed with some rough work and 35 picked up. At 3:50 p.m., Judges scrapped the test and announced they would begin new test 4 on Wednesday morning. The location would probably be announced at the IAMS hosted supper listed for 6:30 at the Hungry Fisherman restaurant.
During the delighful seafood supper sponsored by Iams (and open to all participants) word came that there would be a double blind with a poison bird in the same area . Test dog at 6:45, first running dog #36 at 7 a.m.
Light was good and the test dog was soon followed by the first running dog. At first the work seemed to be better, but soon the old hazards became apparent and there were handles and pick-ups. After noon, light flooded the guns and work again improved. The third ended at about 2:30 with call backs coming soon after. Twenty two dogs had handled and several of those picked up. One broke on the honor. Sixteen dogs were dropped. Those were: 10, 20, 21, 22, 24, 37, 40, 43, 51, 55, 60, 74, 77, 82, 83, and 86. Sixty now remained in competition.
The line was quickly moved a fair distance to the left. Surprise! It was the same line (and test) used for the water blind scrapped on Monday after 3 test dogs failed to complete it. Apparently the area had been re-groomed and two different test dogs were asked to run it again. It was a long angle entry through a depression into the water. From there it paralleled a brushy shore to the middle of a point beyond where a duck lay 347 yards from line. Both were well known Field Champions and could not complete the blind. It appeared they could not hear the distant whistles especially on the brushy shore or deep of the point. Judges then moved the bird a short distance to the left, providing more water and less bank on "line". A third Field Champion was then invited to try the test. When she did it, Judges had the dogs called to line.
Dog 33 was first on line and tried to channel down the water after a valiant attempt, far beyond the 347 yd blind and had to be recovered by the handler and a marshal with an ATV. Dog number 34 completed with some rough work and 35 picked up. At 3:50 p.m., Judges scrapped the test and announced they would begin new test 4 on Wednesday morning. The location would probably be announced at the IAMS hosted supper listed for 6:30 at the Hungry Fisherman restaurant.
During the delighful seafood supper sponsored by Iams (and open to all participants) word came that there would be a double blind with a poison bird in the same area . Test dog at 6:45, first running dog #36 at 7 a.m.
Merchandise, Stephanie Fullerton & Sara Goldstein
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Bill Fabian, Bob George, Bill Eckett,
Pat Burns and Wayne Curtis |
