Tuesday, November 14, 2006 |
Rain was forecast for Tuesday, but early risers were happy to find dry pavement although cloudy skies held the future. At 6:15 am It was in the low 40's with low hazy fog hanging over the Busch area Test three was ready to go and as it became lighter , the single test team of Susan and Tara were called to line at 6:45. It was somewhat had to see her at the end, but Tara did a respectable job. At 7:52, the first running dog, #27 stepped to line.
The work was quite similar to Monday's but about 7:30 a cold, miserable rain began to fall.The eleven dogs remaining quickly completed the series with dog # 37 being the last at 7:42 am Callbacks came as the test was organized. Seven had been lost. Those were: 8, 9, 23, 27, 34, 73 and 80. Seventy-six remained for the fourth series
A move was made to an entirely new area off of 94 a short distance north of "D". Upon arrival, a water triple with two retired guns and an honor (on the left) was nearly ready.
The work was quite similar to Monday's but about 7:30 a cold, miserable rain began to fall.The eleven dogs remaining quickly completed the series with dog # 37 being the last at 7:42 am Callbacks came as the test was organized. Seven had been lost. Those were: 8, 9, 23, 27, 34, 73 and 80. Seventy-six remained for the fourth series
A move was made to an entirely new area off of 94 a short distance north of "D". Upon arrival, a water triple with two retired guns and an honor (on the left) was nearly ready.
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Test 4 - Water Triple Two Retired Guns and an Honor
The line was on the far edge of a gravel road overlooking a medium sized pond that had a long, narrow spit angling slightly back from left to right. A short distance fro the tip was a small brushy island. Two sets of guns were in that area. The first was at the left base of the spit. The shot and threw a dead duck to the right. It landed on the back side of the slope about 60 yards form line. The second station was in a boat against the island and well camouflaged . They shot and threw a dead duck across the water that landed on the tip of the grassy island nearly 100 yards out. To the far right a third gun station was located on the same side of the road as the line. They shot a flying mallard back to the left where it fell in mixed grass about 110 yards away. The order was: Middle, Left, right. As the dog was sent for the flyer, the other two guns retired. Handlers were told that judges would signal after the dog arrived on line. There was an honor mat to the left.
Test dogs were called to line an at 8:30 am, Dallesasse and Duke did well as did Susan and Tara. It took about 5 minutes per dog. At 8:50, dog # 61 initiated the series.
Flyer falls were varied and there were a number of hunts early. The . converging middle birds presented most of the challenges. Handles nearly all tried for the outside birds first, however some though the fall was on the near shore of the pond, not on the spit and hunted there. A few went behind the gun station, then hunted their way back, sometimes in the water, too
The middle mark was the most contentious. Some dogs stayed in the water and drove deep between the island and point. A few found their way back, but a number of others handled. As the test progressed there were more successful performances. The weather, however remained miserable and damp with intermittent cold rain.
Test 4 became history when dog 42, a rerun, was excused from his honor at 4:08 pm.
Callbacks came about 7 pm and listed 67 dogs left in contention. Nine were dropped. They were: 15, 36, 38, 42, 46, 50, 62, 66, and 74. About 12 dogs had handled and one broke on the honor.
The 5th series will be a land /water quad back at the Busch area. Dog number one will start. Test dogs at 6:45, first running dog about 7 am.
Test dogs were called to line an at 8:30 am, Dallesasse and Duke did well as did Susan and Tara. It took about 5 minutes per dog. At 8:50, dog # 61 initiated the series.
Flyer falls were varied and there were a number of hunts early. The . converging middle birds presented most of the challenges. Handles nearly all tried for the outside birds first, however some though the fall was on the near shore of the pond, not on the spit and hunted there. A few went behind the gun station, then hunted their way back, sometimes in the water, too
The middle mark was the most contentious. Some dogs stayed in the water and drove deep between the island and point. A few found their way back, but a number of others handled. As the test progressed there were more successful performances. The weather, however remained miserable and damp with intermittent cold rain.
Test 4 became history when dog 42, a rerun, was excused from his honor at 4:08 pm.
Callbacks came about 7 pm and listed 67 dogs left in contention. Nine were dropped. They were: 15, 36, 38, 42, 46, 50, 62, 66, and 74. About 12 dogs had handled and one broke on the honor.
The 5th series will be a land /water quad back at the Busch area. Dog number one will start. Test dogs at 6:45, first running dog about 7 am.
(L to R) Danny Farmer, Vickie Diehl and Kathy Berdan
FC Abby's Little Cooper (chocolate!) and John Henninger
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2006 NRC President Judy Powers
(L) Joanne Mackey and (R) Linda Waco
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