Tuesday, September 12, 2006
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Headquarters came alive long before 6 am as generators were started and workers arrived for the day’s tests. Before 7am, judges had set up a water blind on the ponds in front of the headquarters. The blind had a 65 yard entry into the corner of a pond and then a shoreline swim over one point before driving up a hill to a duck- a total distance of 166 yards. A gunner sat in white off to the right on the road-they also directed traffic.
Test 3 - Water Blind
The first test dog Kosmos had great difficulty making the entry. The corner water, shoreline cover, cool temperatures and raw east wind (left to right towards shore) made the entry a challenge. The second test dog, Maddy, got the easier fat entry to the left, but then required a quick whistle to get back on line. After test dogs, judges wisely scented the point since returning dogs crossed it. This made the test more equal for early and late dogs.
The first dog, #53 ran at 7:20 and had a good job. Throughout the test the wind blew easterly although it gradually got stronger. The early sun rise had promised approaching weather and by 8:30, the complete cloud cover, brisk wind and temperatures brought out the heavy jackets. Work varied considerably but many dogs completed the 5 minute test with about 4-6 whistles. The last dog ran at 12:30. Eight dogs had picked up when they ran down the dyke and shore and wouldn’t get in the water. Others had poor work but only the pickups were dropped. They were dog numbers. 19, 22, 23, 28, 35, 40, 45 and 69.
The first dog, #53 ran at 7:20 and had a good job. Throughout the test the wind blew easterly although it gradually got stronger. The early sun rise had promised approaching weather and by 8:30, the complete cloud cover, brisk wind and temperatures brought out the heavy jackets. Work varied considerably but many dogs completed the 5 minute test with about 4-6 whistles. The last dog ran at 12:30. Eight dogs had picked up when they ran down the dyke and shore and wouldn’t get in the water. Others had poor work but only the pickups were dropped. They were dog numbers. 19, 22, 23, 28, 35, 40, 45 and 69.
Test 4 - Water Triple
Judges moved the line about 100 yards to the left and quickly set up a water triple. The first gunners on the right were across the pond on the far hill and threw a drake (135 yards) to the right amongst some scattered cut hay. The middle gunners (166 yards) at a round hay bale threw a hen to the left and retired. The last bird down on the left (114 yards) was also across a pond and gunners threw a drake slightly in and to the right. A roadway separated the two ponds and invited “roadrunners to avoid water on the right and middle birds.
First test dog, Kosmos ran at 1:40 and found the road route easier and thus went wrong side of both birds on the far hill. The second test dog, Maddy ran the road once and hunted wrong side on the right bird but took water and got the left bird cleaner. First dog, #66 ran at 2pm and had an excellent job. Generally work was fairly good with a few quick wrong side hunts. There was quite a bit of cheating but also some excellent work when dogs took honest lines to each bird. One dog had handled by 5pm as it became quite evident that the test wouldn’t be finished today. Estimates were that as many as 15 dogs might run tomorrow. Heavy rains are forecast overnight so conditions could be very different in the morning. Meanwhile all will head for The Eukanuba National Party. More tomorrow!
First test dog, Kosmos ran at 1:40 and found the road route easier and thus went wrong side of both birds on the far hill. The second test dog, Maddy ran the road once and hunted wrong side on the right bird but took water and got the left bird cleaner. First dog, #66 ran at 2pm and had an excellent job. Generally work was fairly good with a few quick wrong side hunts. There was quite a bit of cheating but also some excellent work when dogs took honest lines to each bird. One dog had handled by 5pm as it became quite evident that the test wouldn’t be finished today. Estimates were that as many as 15 dogs might run tomorrow. Heavy rains are forecast overnight so conditions could be very different in the morning. Meanwhile all will head for The Eukanuba National Party. More tomorrow!