Wednesday, June 21, 2006 |
Once again Wednesday dawned as beautiflul as the preceeding days. It was beginning to resemble "Groundhog Day", but no one was complaining. Warm and sunny with nary a cloud in the sky, it was the perfect beginning of summer and welcomed for the stake.
The new site was a bit closer than the previous one, less than 45 minutes from HQ off of Hwy. 62. The test was completely ready at least a half hour prior to test dog time. The fifth was a land quad with two flyers and two retired marks. There was also an honor box to the deep left of the running mat. The line was located on a small mound that faced a lush, grassy field containing patches of thicker, higher grass and clumps of bushes.
The new site was a bit closer than the previous one, less than 45 minutes from HQ off of Hwy. 62. The test was completely ready at least a half hour prior to test dog time. The fifth was a land quad with two flyers and two retired marks. There was also an honor box to the deep left of the running mat. The line was located on a small mound that faced a lush, grassy field containing patches of thicker, higher grass and clumps of bushes.
Test 5, left mark (More distance between it
and other marks shown) |
These three marks had some grass cut prior to running.
|
To the left, a set of guns threw a dead head pheasant angled a bit back to the right. It landed on the down slop of a gentle hill about 135 yds from line. To the right and deeper in the field, another set shot a flying mallard duck to the left. It also fell in the fairly tall (18" +) grass about 190 yds. away. A third group was located to the right, but closer to line. They shot a flying hen pheasant well ridden out to the right .where it landed in the pasture grass, 145 yards out. Between the two flyer guns, but closer to line, a fourth set threw a dead drake angled sharply back to the right. about 110 yards from line. The order was: Left dead bird, left middle flyer, short dead mallard, right pheasant flyer. As dogs were sent for the first bird, the short (RM) and far left guns retired. It was nearly a down wind test as it began. Judges also requested that any dogs picked up must honor on lead.
It looked like a lot of test and by 7:30 test dogs were called to demonstrate the series. Both handled on one mark. Handlers were allowed to view the test and then called to the holding blinds. The mood seemed a bit somber. At 8:00 a.m. dog 48 initiated the series and also handled as did the next several, some on 2 birds! Long faced handlers re-examined their strategy as they moved through the holding blinds. It wasn't pretty.
Early handlers tried to pick up the right flyer, then either the short middle or left middle flyer, leaving the far left bird for last. When the first dogs, recovered the left middle flyer when sent for the short bird and required a handle back to it afterwards,future handlers took the two flyers, then the indented short mark. That did not prove real successful either. It took 8-10 mpd depending on hunts and handles.
The short bird seemed to affect marking on the flyer, pulling dogs to the left instead of the far right where the bird lay.Some had huge hunts on the flyer, while others pinned it. Early dogs had little scent and blew right through the short mark. Those that recovered it, would pass it again when resent and needed a handle to recover it. The left middle flyer could be difficult to find also. . A few dogs seemed influenced by the left , retired mark and ridden out flyer and went between the two before deciding which to pick up. Eventually needed a handle on one or the other.
Of the first 13 dogs to run, there were 4 double handles, 5 single handles and four excellent jobs. As more dogs ran there were better results as is usually the case - but it still was a challenging series. Unfortunately it did not improve as much as expected By mid afternoon 52 dogs had run and 30 handled or double handled plus there was one pick-up. It was brutal.!
At 5:30 p.m. the last dog, #44 completed with a fine job. None of the dogs had broken on the honor, however statistics illustrated the outcome.. Of the 66 starters, there were 34 handles (6 handled on 2 birds), and one pick-up -a 50% ratio. In all fairness the test also produced a number of excellent marks also.
Call backs were to be given later, perhaps at the workers party. Test six was scheduled for a new area, but the type of test was unknown at 6:45 p.m.
Callbacks arrived about 10 p.m. There were 51 survivors. The fifteen who succumbed to the fifth were: 6, 7, 34, 37, 42, 48, 50, 52, 53, 55, 57, 71, 73, 91, and 96 . The sixth series would be land marks and dog 81 starts.
It looked like a lot of test and by 7:30 test dogs were called to demonstrate the series. Both handled on one mark. Handlers were allowed to view the test and then called to the holding blinds. The mood seemed a bit somber. At 8:00 a.m. dog 48 initiated the series and also handled as did the next several, some on 2 birds! Long faced handlers re-examined their strategy as they moved through the holding blinds. It wasn't pretty.
Early handlers tried to pick up the right flyer, then either the short middle or left middle flyer, leaving the far left bird for last. When the first dogs, recovered the left middle flyer when sent for the short bird and required a handle back to it afterwards,future handlers took the two flyers, then the indented short mark. That did not prove real successful either. It took 8-10 mpd depending on hunts and handles.
The short bird seemed to affect marking on the flyer, pulling dogs to the left instead of the far right where the bird lay.Some had huge hunts on the flyer, while others pinned it. Early dogs had little scent and blew right through the short mark. Those that recovered it, would pass it again when resent and needed a handle to recover it. The left middle flyer could be difficult to find also. . A few dogs seemed influenced by the left , retired mark and ridden out flyer and went between the two before deciding which to pick up. Eventually needed a handle on one or the other.
Of the first 13 dogs to run, there were 4 double handles, 5 single handles and four excellent jobs. As more dogs ran there were better results as is usually the case - but it still was a challenging series. Unfortunately it did not improve as much as expected By mid afternoon 52 dogs had run and 30 handled or double handled plus there was one pick-up. It was brutal.!
At 5:30 p.m. the last dog, #44 completed with a fine job. None of the dogs had broken on the honor, however statistics illustrated the outcome.. Of the 66 starters, there were 34 handles (6 handled on 2 birds), and one pick-up -a 50% ratio. In all fairness the test also produced a number of excellent marks also.
Call backs were to be given later, perhaps at the workers party. Test six was scheduled for a new area, but the type of test was unknown at 6:45 p.m.
Callbacks arrived about 10 p.m. There were 51 survivors. The fifteen who succumbed to the fifth were: 6, 7, 34, 37, 42, 48, 50, 52, 53, 55, 57, 71, 73, 91, and 96 . The sixth series would be land marks and dog 81 starts.
Deb Bredesen and Patton cooling off
Developing a "game" plan (L to R) Mike Smith,
Bill Kohlstad, Chester Koeth, and Gary Zellner |
Gallery, test 5 - perfect backdrop -wonderful view
Official Announcer Dean Ellis
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