An Interview With Ray Voigt - Handjem Retrievers

Today we interviewed Ray Voigt of Handjem Retrievers. Ray has been a professional retriever trainer for over 15 yrs. Ray explains some of the handler errors and pitfalls to the Series 7 Water Triple.

Part 2

Part 3

Callbacks to the 9th Series

2. NAFC-FC Texas Troubador, “Tubb,” LM, Martha Russell

7. FC-AFC Texaco’s High Tesse, “Star,” LF, Alex Abraham 

17. Road Tripp, “Tripp,” LM, Mark Medford 

19. FC-AFC Good Idea’s Outta Sight, “Stevie,” LM, Ken Neil 

21. FC-AFC In The Hunt Farm’s Executive Sweet, “Sweet,” LF, Linda

50. FC-AFC Mulligan Off The Rainy “T”, “Mully,” LM, Randy Spangler 

58. FC-AFC Choco Lickity-Split, “Choco,” LM, Don Brawley

70. FC-AFC Greenwing Tall Timber, “Krumz,” LM, Craig Stonesifer 

72. FC-AFC Fresh Squeezed Juice, “Juice,” LM, Mark Medford 

73. FC-AFC Lubys and Whitewaters Pirates Jewel, “Jewel,” LF, Jeffrey Schuett 

78. FC-AFC B Bumble, “Stinger,” LM, Fred Kampo 

82. FC-AFC Coolwater’s Hawkeye Legend, “Legend,” LM, Alex Washburn 

92. FC-AFC-AFTCH Jaybar American Idol, “Reuben,” LM, Barbara Younglove

93. FC-AFC Dottie Ray’s League Of Her Own, “Dottie,” LF, Andy Kahn

94. FC-AFC Contempt of Court, “Ruckus,” LM, Susan Bledsoe

102. FC-AFC Atlastastar, “Rinny,” LF, Martha Blank 

105. FC-AFC Contrails Sky Queen, “Reina,” LF, David Opseth 

107. FC-AFC Windy City’s Mighty Mouse, “Mickey,” LM, Charlie Hines 

108. FC-AFC Buck IN Bobby, “Bobby,” LM, Mary Ahlgren

Dog #93 will start the 9th Series

Dogs Dropped - 11, 30, 39, 40, 59, 101

19 dogs called back to the 9th Water Quad

Test Dog at 7:45 am

Location - Kate Simonds Stick Pond

59. FC-AFC Maple Creek's Mattie Mae, "Mattie," LF, David McMahan

1 to get in, 1 to tighten to the shore, 1 to get on the point, 1 to get off the point, 1 to re-enter the second piece, 6 to hit the second point, needed a few more to the end.

58. FC-AFC Choco Lickity-Split, "Choco," LM, Don Brawley

lined into the pond, 1 to tighten to the shore, 1 to skim the point, 2 to re-enter the second piece, 3  on the far point, 2 at the end.

50. FC-AFC Mulligan Off The Rainy "T", "Mully," LM, Randy Spangler

lined into the water, 1 in the water, 1 to get off the point, 1 to re-enter in the second piece of water, 2 to get on the second point, 2 to get off the point, 1 at the end.

40. FC-AFC Shelbie's Liberty Bell, "Libby," LF, Chris Byers

1 up front, 2 to tighten to the shore, 1 to get on the point, 1 to get off the point, 2 to get over the land bridge, 1 to re-enter, 4 to get off the right-hand shore, 2 at the end.

39. FC-AFC-FTCH Laird's Cynful Wisdom, "Wiley," LF, Chris Parkinson

lined into the water, 2 to tighten to the shore, 1 to get on the point, 1 to get off the point, 3 to get off  the hillside, dog got wide right out of sight reappeared in the woods on the right-hand shore, needed a few more whistles to finish.

30. Bay Blue's Indigo Girl, "Indy," LF, Marv Baumer

initial line carried near the point, 1 to get on the point 2 to get off the point carried to the land bridge, 2 on the land bridge to re-enter the dog then went out of sight reappeared on the land in the woods hunting, a few more given near the bird to complete the blind.

21. FC-AFC In The Hunt Farm's Executive Sweet, "Sweet," LF, Linda Bogusky

1 to get in, 1 to tighten to the shore, 1 to run past the point, 1 to get out on the land bridge, 1 to re-enter, 2 to get off the second point, 1 at the bird.

19. FC-AFC Good Idea's Outta Sight, "Stevie," LM, Ken Neil

1 to get in, 3 to tighten to the shore, 1 to get on the point, 2 to get off the point, 1 to get out on the land 1 to re-enter the second piece, 2 to tighten to the right shore, 1 to get on the second point, 1 to get off 2 to get the bird.

17. Road Tripp, "Tripp," LM, Mark Medford

carried initial line down the shore tight to the point, 1 to skim the point, 2 to get from the front pont tot he second piece, 1 to stay in and out of the PB, 1 to hit the goal post, 1 at the bird.

11. FC-AFC Aksarben's Black Skyy MH, "Skyy," LM, Alice Woodyard

1 to get in 3 to tighten the line to the shore, carried the line to the point, 1 to get off the point carried to the path on the land bridge, 3 to re-enter into the second piece of water, the dog got up on the land near the pb, went out of sight then reappeared near the end of the blind and needed just 1 whistle to retrieve the bird

7. FC-AFC Texaco's High Tesse, "Star," LF, Alex Abraham

lined into the water, 2 to tighten to the shore, lined up on the point 2 to get off the point, 1 deep of the point to carry to the land bridge, 2 to re-enter the water,1 to get the second point, 2 at the end.

2. NAFC-FC Texas Troubador, "Tubb," LM, Martha Russell

lined into the pond, 3 up front to tighten up to the shore, 1 to get on the point, carried over the point to the land bridge, and re-enter the second piece, got to the point, 1 off the second point, 2 whistles on land to the bird.

108. FC-AFC Buck IN Bobby, "Bobby," LM, Mary Ahlgren

lined into the water, paralleled the shore got on the point and blew the first whistle to cast off the point, carried to the land bridge, 1 to re-enter into the second piece,1 to get on the second point,1 to get off and a few more to finish the blind.

107. FC-AFC Windy City's Mighty Mouse, "Mickey," LM, Charlie Hines

1 in the water, 2 to tighten up to the shore, 1 to get on the point carried to the land bridge, 1 to re-enter the second piece, 2 to get the second point, 1 close to the base of the sticks getting thru the "goal posts"and needed a few more to finish the blind.

105. FC-AFC Contrails Sky Queen, "Reina," LF, David Opseth

1 to get in, 1 to tighten up to the shore, 1 t get on the point, 1 to get off the point, carried it to the path on the land bridge, 1 to get off the path, 1 in the second piece of water, 1 to get on the point, drove over the point, needing only 2 more to finish.

102. FC-AFC Atlastastar, "Rinny," LF, Martha Blank

came to the line at 4:02 pm

lined into the pond, 1 to tighten to the shore, lined onto the point,2 to get off the point, carried the cast to the land bridge, 1 to get of the path, 1 to re-enter, carried to the second point, 2 to get off the point, 1 to get the "goal posts" and 1 at the end.

101. FC-AFC Lanes Lets Get Ready To Rumble, "Ali," LM, Bobby Lane

came to the line at 3:56 pm

lined into the water, 1 to tighten the line to the shore, 3 to stay tight to shore, 1 to get on the first point, 1 to get off the point carried over the land bridge and to the second point, 1 to get off the point 2 in the water hitting the "goal posts" of trees and 1 at the bird.

94. FC-AFC Contempt of Court, "Ruckus," LM, Susan Bledsoe

 1 to get in the water, 1 in the water to tighten the line to the shore, 3 to get on the first point, dog did not get the point, 1 to tighten up next to the shore carried to the land bridge, 2 to re-enter the second piece of water carried to line onto the second point, 1 to get off the point and carried to the end to finish the blind.

92. FC-AFC-AFTCH Jaybar American Idol, "Reuben," LM, Barbara Younglove

came to the line at  3:36 pm

lined into the water, 2 to get parallel the shore, 1 to get on the point, 1 to re-enter, 1 to get on the land bridge, 2 to get into the next piece of water, 2 to get off the second point, carried all the way to the bird.

T O T A L L Y C U T E ! ! !

Minnie "Me"

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82. FC-AFC Coolwater's Hawkeye Legend, "Legend," LM, Alex Washburn

lined into the water, 1 in the water, 2 to tighten his line to the shore, 1 to get the point, 1 to get out on the land bridge and carried to re-enter the water, 1 to get over another point went out of sight reappeared on the right hand shore near the bird to make the retrieve

78. FC-AFC B Bumble, "Stinger," LM, Fred Kampo

lined into the pond, 1 to parallel, 1 to tighten up the to the shore, 1 to get on the point, 1 to get back in, 1 past the point, carried to the land bridge, 1 to re-enter, missed the second piece all together and took a path on the right-hand shore to retrieve his bird.

Here Comes the Sun …

 

93. FC-AFC Dottie Ray's League Of Her Own, "Dottie," LF, Andy Kahn

lined in the water, 1 in the water to tighten to the shore, lined on the point, 1 to get off and carried to the land bridge, 2 to re-enter the second piece, 3 to get on the second point, 1 to get off the point, 1 at the bird.

73. FC-AFC Lubys and Whitewaters Pirates Jewel, "Jewel," LF, Jeffrey Schuett

1 to get in, 1 to tighten the line to the shore, 2 to get out on the point, 1 to re-enter, 1 to get out on the land bridge, 2 to get in the second piece, 1 to get off another point in the second piece of water, 1 to get off, then went thru a slot between three tall sticks, 1 at the bird.

72. FC-AFC Fresh Squeezed Juice, "Juice," LM, Mark Medford

lined into the water, 1 in the water to parallel the shore, 1 to tighten up the line to the shore, 1 to get on the point, 1 to get off the point, 1 to get out on the land bridge, 1 to get in the second piece, and 3 to finish the blind

70. FC-AFC Greenwing Tall Timber, "Krumz," LM, Craig Stonesifer

1 whistle to get in, 1 to parallel the shore, 2 whistles to get on the point, 2 whistles to re-enter, needing several whistles to finish the blind.

Test Dogs -- 8th Series

Test Dog #1

Micheal & Bo

Came to the line at 2:18pm

lined into the water near the point, re-entered and then went out of sight due to high grasses, the dog was picked up to do some trimming.








Test Dog #2

Margot & Bug

Came to the line at 2:45pm

1 to get into the pond, 1 in the water, missed the point and stayed in the water, re-entered, had a few more whistles in the second piece, to keep on-line and complete the blind

Series 8 Water Blind With A Poison Bird Test Description

We arrive at the Series 8 Water Blind on the opposite end of the ponds where we ran the Series 7 Water Triple on Kent Sweezy's Stick Pond property. The mat is situated on the hill-side tight against the treeline in between the RR & LR of the 7th series. We are now facing due west standing at the end of the land bridge about 25 yards from the water's edge. This is where so many dogs exited early in and hunted. The line to the blind is entering the first pond to then parallel the shore, clipping a small point in the first piece of water located on the left-hand shore. The dog then exits the pond in the corner at the land bridge. The dog must then re-enter into the second pond. However, the nifty element added to this blind is a poison bird. The bird is thrown away from the line to the blind and is virtually out of the picture. The two gunner's are at a distance of 170 yards. They are sitting deep and to the right of the path on the land bridge. If the dogs decide to take the path, it will carry them up the hill and to the poison bird. After the dog's re-enter they must carry a line parallel to the right-hand shore of the second pond. The bird is planted in medium length marsh grass about 70 yards deep and to the left of the poison bird station at the end of the second pond. Total yardage is 240 yards and the blind is taking 4 to 5 mins a dog to complete.

Good Luck To All!

The blind at the base of the tree between the left stump and the middle stump

The Poison Bird

Callbacks To The 8th

Callbacks to the Eighth Series :

2, 7, 11, 17, 19, 21, 30, 39, 40, 50, 58, 59, 70, 72, 73, 78, 82, 92, 93, 94, 101, 102, 105, 107, 108

25 Dogs callback to the 8th Series

28 dogs were dropped : 1, 9, 12, 13, 20, 24, 26, 32, 33, 35, 37, 38, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 56, 63, 64, 80, 85, 87, 88, 89

Dog #70 Starts the 8th Series Water Blind

Series 8 will be held at the Kent Sweezy Test Site, directions are in the on-line Training/Test Site Manual


Good Luck To All!!!

Rerun 21. FC-AFC In The Hunt Farm's Executive Sweet, "Sweet," LF, Linda Bogusky

Flyer: pinned it!

RR: straight to the fall made a couple tight loops in the area and dug out her bird.

LR: took off tight to the flyer gunners began to veer right exiting on the land bridge right of the rock, re-entered out of sight, then reappeared hunting the hillside near the treeline to the right of the holding blind, then went out of sight in the treeline and reappeared at the fall retrieving her bird.

Handled 37. FC-AFC Bluenorth's Rock Hard Ten MH, "Ten," LM, Barb Radtke

Flyer: nice mark!

RR: smacked it!

LR: swam a path veering to the right corner of the first piece of water, exited the pond drove to the trees est a significant hunt in between the LR & RR. the almost reached the area near the RR before the dog was Handled to the bird.

35. FC-AFC Lil Chin Music, "Lil," LF, Chester Koeth

Flyer: hammered it!

RR: got to the point on the right just shallow of the fall on the right shore, est a hunt but gradually worked deep to the area to retrieve her bird.

LR: swam the middle of the pond, got to the land bridge ran the shore to the right, then reached the trees came down to the second piece of water, re-entered and went out of sight for a good while before reappearing near the fall area to dig out her bird.

Rerun/No-Bird 21. FC-AFC In The Hunt Farm's Executive Sweet, "Sweet," LF, Linda Bogusky

Flyer : No Bird. the bird was still alive.

33. Dottie McFizz, "Dot," LF, Nancy White

came to the line at 12:07 pm

Flyer: pinned it!

RR: smacked it!

LR: swam across first pond and then started turning to the shore, got to the land bridge, and turned right up the hill to the tree line. Dog then came back down the road to the land bridge. The dog went across the middle of the field then turned up to the trees and out to the gunners made a loop and worked it out.

A Family Affair

Retriever field trials are a family effort: a competitor's perspective 

By: Jamie Woodson #63

Our prenational training group partner and friend, Chris Byers #40, snapped this shot yesterday as Keeper, Bill, and I were headed back to the truck after Keeper completed the seventh series watermarks. 

I love this picture. For me, it's worth so much more than a thousand words. Retriever sporting (and all sporting with dogs really) is one of the few where men and women compete equally. Bill happens to be the spectator this week, but we are commonly trading places from competitor to cheering spouse, depending on the weekend and the running order. 

There are so many incredible couples in this sport. For some couples, both the husband and wife compete. Couples like Lynne and Mac DuBose, Trudie and Tony Kuka, Judy and Jim Powers, Martha and John Russell, Lydia Fekula and Jeff Schuett, Linda and Mitch Patterson, Margo and Mitch Brown, Gwen and Milton Jones and many, many, more. 

For others, one spouse competes and the other cheers/worries from the gallery/truck/home like Sue and Fred Kampo, Nancy and Jonathan White, Brenda and Ken Neil,  Cheryl and Mike Robicheaux, Valerie and Bobby Lane, Suzanne and Mark Medford, Mary and John Stracka, Paige and Chad Baker and many, many more. 

There is also a third group, lovely couples like Zan and Jake Fredricks and Kara and David McMahan, where one spouse cheered from the sidelines for years and now both are stepping up to the line and cheering for each other from the gallery (or will be soon). 

Bill and I came to retriever sports via duck hunting. B.R. (before retrievers), Bill was an avid golfer and I was an eventer traveling the southeast competing with my horse, Mo Chroi. We worked and lived in two different cities (and still do). We realized pretty quickly that if we wanted to actually see each other, we might need to find hobbies that we could enjoy together. Since we both love to hunt and fish, we knew there were lots of ways to go. Needless to say, golf and the horses are in the rearview mirror for this season of our lives, but duck hunting, retriever sports and fly fishing have filled the gaps and made for some pretty incredible memories over the last 12 years or so. 

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I went out after the fourth series last year at the #2015NARC in Montana. Bill and his 3 year old dog, Baby, completed all ten series and were national finalists! It was one of the coolest experiences of our lives together so far. And not just because it was the first time in our marriage we were together for three weeks in a row! 😳

Retriever News follower Trevor Toberny commented that he always wondered if husband and wife competitors like Martha and John Russell are competitive with each other and if they like to beat each other 😜. I haven't asked Martha and John that question yet but I imagine they feel much like we do. 

These dogs are so amazing, the venues are continual and stunning examples of the beauty of rural America, and this sport is so freaking hard. To have your best friend, your partner, and your sweetheart, experience the highs and lows, the great days and the tough ones WITH you - it is truly a wonderful gift.

I also happen to know that it is way harder to be in the gallery than up on the line. Without question, it is more unnerving to be a spectator than a competitor. It is like the world moves in slow motion and you have to watch each test unfold like its an out of body experience. At least when I am on line, I am distracted by working with my dog and the whole process of competing/handling. Watching someone you love is unequivocally harder. 

As I sit in my truck on a gorgeous 60 degree morning in rural Vermont, typing my thoughts into my iPhone notes and trying to not be anxious about callbacks, I have this thought on my mind:

Whether you are a competitor, a spectator, or both, this is a great sport for couples and families. 

Who are your favorite couples to watch? Who did I miss? (I know my quick list is very incomplete.) Can't wait to hear your perspective on couples who are crazy enough to be part of this wacky sport and all the other family members who love and support us on the wild ride!

All my best,

Jamie

Handle 32. FC-AFC Mitimat Rock Paper Scissors, "Rocky," LM, Lydia Fekula

Flyer: smashed it!

RR: straight to the fall to step on the bird.

LR: swam toward the land bridge veering hard right, exited the pond in the right corner of the first piece est a hunt between the RR and LR, in and out of sight several times before, reappearing more toward the RR and was Handled to the bird.

30. Bay Blue's Indigo Girl, "Indy," LF, Marv Baumer

Flyer: good mark!

RR: put her nose on it!

LR: got in just right of the flyer gunners, swam the middle of the first pond,exited just left of the rock on the land bridge, re-entered the second piece and swam at a path toward the fall area. exited the pond at the big rock on the end made a loop around the rock made a couple passes deep of the rock before making her way over to the fall to retrieve her bird.

Handle/Handle 26. FC-AFC Moxie Gunner, "Moxie," LF, Russ Hardy

Flyer: Great Job!

RR: Swam to the point and hunted the area up by the blind. Got deep, then back to the blind. Kept her hunt on the point. Handled across the channel to the bird.

LR: Swimming in the first piece of water with an angle left. Crossed the land bridge halfway between the rocks and the left shore. Made a strong move as crossed turning right. Adjusted the swim more towards back left corner. Got out left of the rock both in and out of the water, had to Handle.

Handle 24. FC-AFC Valtor's Hayseed Kid, "Kid," LM, Breck Howard

came to the line at 10:58 am

Flyer: Smacked it!

RR: traveled a path to the right of the fall area made a pass over by the holding blind before quickly making way over to the area to snatch up the bird.

LR: swam the middle of the pond, exited left of the rock re-entered and swam down the second piece of water to the end of the pond est a hunt left of the large rock at the end of the pond, then the dog popped and was Handled to the bird.

Rerun 11. FC-AFC Aksarben's Black Skyy MH, "Skyy," LM, Alice Woodyard

Flyer: drilled it!

RR: straight to the bird!

LR: swam the pond to the land bridge exited on the land bridge just left of the big rock, re-entered and veered to the right and went out of sight, the dog reappeared swimming toward the fall, exited the second piece of water on a chalk-line path to the bird and put his nose on it!

No-Bird 21. FC-AFC In The Hunt Farm's Executive Sweet, "Sweet," LF, Linda Bogusky

No-bird on the RR

20. NAFC-FC Dottie Ray's Ivy League, "Ivy," LF, Andy Kahn

Flyer: pinned it!

RR:est a hunt short of the fall in the beginning of the channel before making his way deep to the fall to retrieve the bird.

LR:went to the left of the flyer station, exited on the land bridge just left of the big rock, swam nearly to the end of the pond, est a hunt at the end of the pond before working over to the fall to retrieve her bird.

19 . FC-AFC Good Idea's Outta Sight, "Stevie," LM, Ken Neil

No-bird, a popper shell did not fire, the dog and handler came right back to the line

Flyer: crushed it!

RR: straight to the bird.

LR: veered right of the flyer guns, angling to the left up the middle of the pond, exited on the land bridge just to the left of the big rock, got out of the second piece just to the right of the holding blind drove up to the trees and over to her bird.

17. Road Tripp, "Tripp," LM, Mark Medford

Had a no bird, came right back up to the line to run the test after the mechanics were corrected.

Flyer: Drilled it!

RR: Smacked it!

LR: Carried a nice line straight to the bird!

13. AFC Jorja's Tarbaby Tempest, "Tempy," LF, Jake Fredericks

Came to the line at 9:44 am

Flyer: smacked it!

RR: exited on left bank est a hunt on the left bank, then made way toward the fall to snatch up her bird.

LR: skimmed the back side of the flyer station, exited on the land bridge just right of the rock on the land bridge, re-entered the second piece out of sight then reappeared and was exiting on a path at the holding blind, went just deep of the shore est a hunt gradually hunting way right of the holding blind before hunting her way to the fall to dig out her bird.

Conditions Report

Take notice of the wind & dog work now in comparison to the first handful of dogs who have run. This am it was as quiet and as still as it could be. The pond had a gorgeous mirrored image of our blue skies.

This am