2011 NARC Report: Thursday, June 23, 2011

Brought to you by Gun Dog Supply

Test 6 -- Land/Water Quad with Two Flyers, Two Retired and an Honor

The Sixth Series is a Quad. The line is on top of a hill, on the north end of the test. The first bird thrown is a hen pheasant at 323 yards long, retired island bird. This bird is straight in front of the line, down a hill, across a stream through heavy cover and mowed strips. The gunners stand on a small island and throw left into cover on the far bank. The line to this bird has the dog swimming under a small foot bridge into a larger pond and up to the bank. The second bird is a hen pheasant flyer at 175 yards. the gunners are also in front of the mat and slightly to the right. They are shooting to the right, up a hill with very heavy cover. They are riding the bird out a long distance. The first test dog had this hen land to the right of a dirt road that runs through the test. The judges were happier with the second test dog whose bird landed before the road. The third bird is a 200 yard retired bird to the left of the line. This hen pheasant is thrown left, landing on the second ridge. The line takes the dog tight to the back of the flyer gunners and then up and over the first ridge into the top of the second ridge. The fourth bird is a flyer station at the bottom of the hill to the left of the mat. A drake is thrown and shot to the left 90 yards from the line.

Danny Farmer discusses the test with Mark Rosenblum

Molly Schlachter and Dan Partington

The first set of Handlers view the test from the line.

Both test dogs handled on three birds each. Thest is taken approx. 12-15 minutes per dog. The first two dogs have completed the test without a handle.

Dust is still an issue even with all the past week's rain...
hence the water truck.

The lefthand flyer station.

Six dogs have run the test...eight dogs have come to the line--there have been two no-birds. There have been three handles and one pick-up...only two dogs have done the test clean.

12 dogs have completed the test. There have been three handles and three pickups including a break on honor. There have been four no-birds on the pheasant flyer causing the location to change constantly. Rain moved through the area with only a few sprinkles at the actual trial ground.

Tom Vaughn checks out the test.

Tom Vaughn, Judges Mitch Brown and Mary Howley

The wind has picked up so much that we have had to tie down the tents. Pheasant flyer gunners are having a very hard time. We have just had the last gun change for the day. We are hoping to get through 50 + dogs for this day.....leaving the remaining dogs to run tomorrow morning. It will be another late evening.

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Here are another series of questions asked by Retriever News Intern, Caitlin Furin on Thursday afternoon.....

Comments on the Fifth Series?

Comments on the Six Series so far?

What are your feelings at this point?

Comments on the test sites?

The morning of the Sixth Series dawns and 66 dogs have made it this far. Yesterday the Fifth Series proved to be a challenge for dogs and handlers alike. “I think when the wind died down the work changed dramatically,” said Pro Dave Rorem. “It was more water than I’ve seen in a fifth series water blind, but it worked for them.”

After two rocky Test Dog runs this morning, the Sixth Series has contestants and spectators on edge. “I’m nervous,” said last year’s National Amateur Winner Pete Hayes with NAFC-FC Fourleaf’s Ice Breaker ‘Buster.’” “It’s a big test and watching is worse than running sometimes.”

Marshal Chairperson and contestant Linda Harger ran first for the sixth series and completed the test in excellent fashion. A few tears were shed as she walked away from the line, obviously pleased with the work Yakity’s Shake Rattle ‘N’ Roll “Comet” had done. “Their tests so far have been very good for a National. They are judging the dogs well and it’s going smoothly,” she said.

Lynne DuBose also had a good sixth series with FC-AFC Great Bunns Of Fire “Jerry Lee,” but Jerry Lee took matters into her own hands with an unconventional pick-up. “After she picked up her two short birds, she decided she wanted to get the long one,” DuBose said. DubBse felt the pressure this morning along with a lot of her fellow handlers. “For me, the nerves part comes before I get in the holding blind. But after you step out of the holding blind and onto the mat, no more nerves.”

A few more dogs have run and we are seeing a lot of good work and the sixth series is at a good caliber for this point in the National. “I’m surprised at how well some of the dogs have done on it,” said Rorem. “But they are going to even out the field real quick.”

The weather is overcast and rain looms on the horizon, but the beauty of the Mission Valley still brightens our day. “If they ask ‘why are you out here with these dogs?’ just look around you,” said Harger. “That answers your question.”

Written by Caitlin Furin

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The Official Guns enjoy their mid-week treat of a lobster boil....who isn't jealous?