It Takes A Village …

It never ceases to amaze us how many volunteers it takes to put on an event of this caliber. This morning we left with the Worker's Caravan and were greeted by members of the Traffic Committee. Loads of people were already there setting up and preparing for the first Test Dog. Here are a few candids of the event so far …

41. FC-AFC Good Idea’s National Pair, “Dolly,” LF, Ken Neil

F: the flyer landed a bit inward. an extended hunt was put up before the dog retrieve the bird.

LR:ran a path toward the holding blind made a swing right then left to complete the retrieve.

LB: 3 quick whistles up front, 1 mid distance, with 4 additional near the end to complete the test.

40. FC-AFC Shelbie’s Liberty Bell, “Libby,” LF, Chris Byers

F: Made a couple quick loops and snatched up the bird.

LR: skimmed the left edge of the holding blind, made a big loop right, then a loop to the left to complete the retrieve.

LB: good initial line 1 whistle mid distance, 3 more to retrieve the bird for a job well done!

39. FC-AFC-FTCH Laird’s Cynful Wisdom, “Wiley,” LF, Chris Parkinson

F: est a small hunt in the area before retrieving the bird.

LR: traveled a path at the holding blind, made a loop around the blind drove a bit deep, worked inward toward to area to complete the retrieve.

LB: 1 whistle up front carried near the end with 3 more whistles near the end for a Good Job!

38. FC-AFC Wight’s Goddess of Victory MH, “Nike,” LF, Tracy Wight

F: swooped in and retrieved the bird quickly.

LR: straight to the right of the holding blind made a big loop to the right then made a turn to the left and retrieved the bird.

LB: good initial line, 1st whistle mid distance, then had several whistles near the end to complete the retrieve

37. FC-AFC Bluenorth’s Rock Hard Ten MH, “Ten,” LM, Barb Radtke

F: shorter shot bird. Front-Footed it!

LR: traveled a path at the holding blind, turned right made a couple loops before working to the left to complete the retrieve.

LB: 2 whistles up front, 3 to finish the blind and retrieve the bird.

Handle 36. Gunstock’s Harbor Houligan, “PJ,” LM, Yvonne or Charles Hays

F: short shot bird, (short of the general area of the majority of the other flyers) Pinned it!

LR: traveled a path wide right of the holding blind, near the woodline, est a hunt and then was Handled to the bird to complete the retrieve.

LB: was not performed

Gun Change & Conditions Report

 

The sky is bright & the breeze has picked up a bit making scenting conditions favorable.

 

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

F: short shot bird. small hunt to make the retrieve.

LR: ran just deep of the fall and quickly worked inward to make the retrieve

LB: 2 whistles up front, 4 whistles to complete the retrieve

34. Cold Black Jack, “Jack,” LM, John Stracka

F: est a small quick hunt to retrieve the bird.

LR: went into the mark under the arc, made a turn right then left to make the retrieve.

LB: good initial line, 1 mid distance, 2 to complete the retrieve.

33. Dottie McFizz, “Dot,” LF, Nancy White

F: Smacked it!

LR: skimmed the left side of the holding blind, made a turn right then left to retrieve the bird.

LB: nice and straight, 2 whistles near the end to finish the retrieve. Excellent Job!

32. FC-AFC Mitimat Rock Paper Scissors, “Rocky,” LM, Lydia Fekula

F: got a flyer falling a bit shorter than the rest, but Rocky Drilled it!

LR: traveled a path at the holding blind, made a turn to the left and retrieved the bird.

LB: 1 whistle up front, 1 more to complete the blind.

31. FC-AFC RMR’S I Have a Dream, “Marti,” LF, Joel Harris

F: Stepped on it!

LR: traveled a path at the holding blind, made a turn to the left once the dog reached the holding blind to retrieve the bird clean.

LB: great initial line. 1 whistle mid distance, 4 additional to complete the retrieve.

30. Bay Blue’s Indigo Girl, “Indy,” LF, Marv Baumer

F:  to the area put up a small hunt to make the retrieve

LR: skimmed the left side of the blind made a turn to the right then made a pass to the left before retrieving the bird.

LB: carried initial line mid way only needing one whistle to complete the retrieve. Nice Job!

28. FC Tremblin Earth’s Cosmic Rider, “Tex,” LM, Kate Simonds

F: made a few small loops to retrieve the bird

LR: Hammered it!

LB: 2 whistles mid distance, 2 whistles to complete the blind.

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

F: to the area, made a few quick loops to retrieve the bird.

LR: skimmed the left side of the blind, turned left and got the bird. Nice Job!

LB: 2 quick whistles up front carried on near the end needing only 3 more to complete the retrieve.

27. FC-AFC McKinley First Ascender-Hudson, “Hudson,” LM, Bill Barstow

F: Pinned it!

LR: traveled a path under the arc made a turn right then left to make the retrieve.

LB: Initial line carried mid distance, 1 whistle to put the dog on the bird for an Excellent Job!

26. FC-AFC Moxie Gunner, “Moxie,” LF, Russ Hardy

F: drilled it!

LR: got a bit deep then turned to the right and quickly worked left to make the retrieve clean.

LB:  good initial line, 4 whistles mid distance and was carried to retrieve the bird.

24. FC-AFC Valtor’s Hayseed Kid, “Kid,” LM, Breck Howard

F: Front-footed the mark!

LR: Pinned it!

LB: 1 quick whistle, carried near the end where several whistles were given to finish the retrieve

Re-Run 17. Road Tripp, “Tripp,” LM, Mark Medford

F: this bird fell where the majority have been falling. The dog hammered the mark.

LR: skimmed the left side of the holding blind, ran a deep of the area to then turned to work into the area to complete the retrieve.

LB: 1 mid distance 3 to finsih the blind. Nice Job!

23. FC-AFC FWR’S Wood River’s Highest Summit, “Denali,” LF, Mark Brashear

F: was shot much further than the previous birds shot. Dog ran straight to the area for an accurate mark.

LR: went in under the arc, turned right and began to hunt eventually working his way over to the left to retrieve the bird.

LB: 1 whistle mid distance, 3 to finish the blind for a job well done!

22. FC Topbrass Linekin’s Riptide, “Rip,” GM, Cam Clark

F: smacked it!

LR: traveled a path to the bush then made a quick left to the left and retrieved the bird clean.

LB: 2 up front, 1 mid distance, 2 to complete the blind. Smooth Operator!

No-Bird 21. FC-AFC In The Hunt Farm’s Executive Sweet, “Sweet,” LF, Linda Bogusky

No bird on the flyer

will run after dog 27

20. NAFC-FC Dottie Ray’s Ivy League, “Ivy,” LF, Andy Kahn

F: straight to the area and scooped it up

LR: traveled a line wide and right of the holding blind, wide right then turned left making a big loop to the bird.

LB: 5 whistle mid distance, then 2 more to complete the retrieve.

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

F: drilled it ( that means its an accurate mark)

LR: drove deep of the ;holding blind, est a hunt on the right side of the blind then worked his way to the left to complete the retrieve.

LB: great initial line 1st whistle mid distance, 2 whistle to check down on the bird. Good Job!

18. FC-AFC Son Of A Preacher Man, “Billy Ray,” LM, Duncan Christie

F: drove deep and worked in to the bird.

LR: skimmed the left side of the blind made a move to the left and snatched the bird.

LB: 1 up front, 3 mid distance to carried all the way to the bird. Nice Job!

No- Bird 17. Road Tripp, “Tripp,” LM, Mark Medford

17 will run after 23

No bird flyer

16. Mac’s Sweet Eleanor Rose, “Rosie,” LF, Mike McDaniel

Came to the line at 7:55 am

F: drove a bit deep and worked to the bird quickly

LR: went into the mark under the arc worked back and fourth a bit to retrieve the bird.

LB: (land blind) : nice initial line, 2 whistles mid distance, 1 to retrieve the bird. Good Job!

Test Dogs

Test Dog to the line at 7:15

FC Hardscrabble's Seaside Shutterbug "Bug" LF
Owners Margret & Mitchel Brown - Handler - Margot Brown

Flyer: went into the mark left of the gun station then turned left to  scoop up the bird.

LR: entered under the arc of the mark then turned to the left to make a clean retrieve.

Blind: dog ran tight to the tree-line on a straight path had a couple whistles at the end to complete retrieve

Time: 4mins 41 sec

Test Dog #2

AFC Colonial's Hubba Bubba "Bo" LM
Owners Michael and Johanna Coutu - Handler - Michael Coutu

Flyer: straight to the bird.

LR: went under the arc turned to retrieve the bird. 

Blind: traveled tight to the tree-line then had several whistles at the end to complete the retrieve.

Time 6 mins 32 sec

National Anthem

Andy Kenneally sang an impromptu National Anthem while joined by the gallery on the hillside.

Series 1 & 2. A Land Double & A Land Blind

We are settled against a tree-line looking due North from the mat. The wind is calm out of the South. The test is situated in a uncut hay meadow. The first bird to be thrown is a long retired straight-up the middle of the meadow from the mat at 203 yards. This station will be referred to as the (LR). The gunner is throwing a rooster pheasant to the left in medium to heavy cover. The gunners then retire behind a well-concealed holding blind hidden by a large bush. The next station to be thrown is situated shallow and slightly left of the LR's line of sight. This station is shooting a Rooster pheasant flyer (F). to the left at 118 yards. It is also landing in medium to heavy cover. The dog is sent to retrieve the marks. Once the marks are complete, the dog must then perform a land blind of 150 yards to the far right of the test near the tree-line we are sitting against.

Pat Burns -

Day one of the 2016 National Amateur Championship started with a land double and a blind.   It is a fairly tight long hip pocket double.  The retired gun is slightly over 200 yards and the flyer is a bit over 115 yards.  There is a land blind well over to the right.  The marks are pretty much downwind with maybe slightly angling right to left.  The blind has a right to left crosswind.  The wind is very light right now.  The temperatures are cool but expected to reach the mid 80’s this afternoon.  Here are the challenges I see from both of these tests.  First of all, anytime you shoot pheasants you will have varying fall areas.  They are using roosters and that will make the birds a little easier to find.  I believe the success rates will be high here.  The test is producing small to medium hunts in the fall area.  The greater risk is getting deep or hunting to the right of the retired gun.  The danger on the blind is curling left around the point of woods and getting out of sight.  The field is very flat and the depth perception on the blind is a bit challenging.  Both test dogs had trouble locating the end of the blind.  The judges then took out a dead pine tree to better mark the end of the blind.  That made a huge difference for the handlers.  All in all this is a pretty typical 1st and 2nd series.  You won’t win this national here but you can sure lose it.

The Marks

Flyer

Right Retired

 Blind

Greeting The Morning With A Smile

Purina reps- Jerry Cacchio & Dean Reinke

Sue Morejon & Carol Morehouse 

Don Driggers & Dana Stonesifer 

First Day Weather Conditions

Here we FINALLY are! The first day of the National Amteur Retriever Championship. Until we get situated at the 1st and 2nd Series, here are the weather conditions.