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

Came to the line at 10:29 am

RR: est a hunt very short of the boat along the left-hand shore, then swam across the pond to the right-hand shore shallow. Then the dog was Handled to the RR and retrieved the bird.

HF: took off on a path at the gun station, est a hunt along the shore in the marsh grass then went up to the treeline, curled around the tree-line out of sight, came out of the treeline still hunting shallow of the fall area before working into the fall to retrieve the bird.

DF: swam a path thru the middle of the pond under the arc, began to veer to the left seeking shore, exited wide and left of the gun station went deep of the gunners and hunted to the bird.

GO/Boat: the was sent and then handler attempted to handle to the bird but could not and ended up having to Pick the dog Up before completing the test

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

Came to the line at 10:29 am

GO:swam toward the boat from the get go, got to the point made a left and had the bird.

HF: slogged thru all the marsh grass under the arc of the fall, exited and went straight to the bird.

RR: traveled a path toward the gun station, then pounced on the bird.

DF: swam just under the arc the whole way arrived on shore under the arc made three quick loops and grabbed his bird.

View From The Duck Flyer Station

Photo by Sam Anderson …

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

Came to the line at 9:54 am

GO: put her nose on it!

HF: est a hunt short of the area near the gun station, then est a hunt deep and left of the fall area, then gradually worked her way right into the fall area and got her bird.

RR: traveled a path at the gun station, then out on the point and put her front-foot on it!

DF: swam a picture perfect line at the bird exited the bird and stepped on it!

A Trip Down Memory Lane ...

Anyone you know?   :-)

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

Came to the line 9:27 am

GO: jumped in the water angling to the right, made a move left midway toward the bird, then exited on the point to put her front-foot on it.

HF: traveled a path under the arc, drove to the top of the hill, came down to the holding blind back up to the hill top and then down to the area to snatch up her bird.

RR: ran at the gun station pushed to the left off the treeline and then slowed on the point to put her nose on it!

DF: pretty, pretty, pretty the dog swam a perfect route at the bird, exited the pond at the bird and pinned it! picture perfect performance.

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

Came to the line at 9:05

GO: nailed it!

HF: est a hunt short of the fall, then hunted his way to the area and had his bird.

RR: traveled a path under the arc and put his nose on it!

DF: exited the pond wide and left of the DF, drove to the treeline left,came down to make a couple loops around the gun station then scooped up his bird.

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

Came to the line at 8:41 am

GO; jumped in the water toward the RR, made a 90 left across the pond, swam to the point and had the bird.

RR: traveled a path at the gun station, then went to the shore, and hunted into the area to snatch up her bird.

HF: jumped into the pond swam a path in between the GO and the fall, exited the pond, and head for the point the GO lands, The dog was then Handled to the HF

DF: straight to the area made a quick pass for a rapid retrieve.

Series 9 -- Test Dog

Test Dog # 1

Margot & Bug

Came to the line at 7:49 am

GO: Straight to the bird

HF: Nice mark!

RR: ran a path at the gun station, jumped into the woods, down to the point to scoop up the bird.

DF: arrived on the far shore to the left of the gun station, the dog popped and was Handled to the bird.

Test Dog # 2

Micheal & Bo

Came to the line at 8:13 am

HF: drilled it!

RR: reached the area then went a bit deep and was Handled to the bird.

GO: hammered it!

DF: Nailed it!

Series 9 Water Quad with an Honor

This morning the Series 9 Water Quad is being held on Kate Simonds' Stick Pond. As we meander thru the woods on a two-track road, all of sudden the trees opened to reveal our location. The most beautiful setting yet to appear in this 2016 NARC. Tucked away in a rolling valley is the most magnificent stick pond and marsh we have ever seen! It is big and there are many places to put birds where dogs will get lost en route, may not make the swim, or just plain forget where it is.

The mat is facing due West and the wind is calm out of the East at 2-4 mph. Previously mentioned, we are over-looking a large stick pond that is even busier than the one the dogs were tested in yesterday. This stick pond boasts soggy marsh grasses, heavy cover, and about 500 sticks sprinkled throughout the water. The first mark to be thrown in this water quad is a Drake Mallard Flyer near the end of the pond. The drake is thrown hard angle back right and lands in short to medium native grasses. This the longest mark in the test measuring 314 yards. We will refer to this mark as the Drake Flyer (DF).

The next mark to be thrown is also a Flyer. A swing to the left of the pond reveals a gun station that appears from behind a single large pine tree near the water's edge. This station is holding a Hen Pheasant Flyer and shoot it to the right as well. The gunners then retire into a holding blind concealed by the large pine tree. This flyer is measuring a distance of 220 yards and is also landing in short to medium native grasses. We will refer to this mark as the Hen Flyer (HF).

The third bird to be thrown in this water quad swings us to the same shore as the mat. The gunners are standing in front of a treeline that extends to the water's edge. This station is throwing a dead Hen Mallard to the left and the bird is landing on the right-hand shore at the tip of a point in heavy marsh grass. This mark is measuring a distance of 180 yards and then vanishes into the treeline to retire. We will refer to the this mark as the Right Retired (RR).

The final bird to be thrown comes out of a boat in the middle of the test placed at a distance of 180 yards from the mat. The gunners in the boat are throwing a dead mallard drake to the left. This bird is landing on a marshy point that extends off of the left-hand shore of this magnificent stick pond. This station remains visible during the test and will be referred to as the go bird (GO).

This test is taking 19 to 21 minutes a dog. We will only hold the 9th Series today. The 10th Series is planned for Saturday.

Hen Pheasant Flyer - 220 yards

Right Retired - 180 yards - Hen Mallard

Drake Flyer - 314 yards

Go  ( Boat ) Bird - 180 yards - Dead Drake

*** Note: some of the distances/birds are a little different from this original "Test Book" sketch

Pat's Perspective

I feel like we are at the Kentucky Derby and we are watching the race in the final turn.  There are a handful of dogs locked up leading into the home stretch.  The excitement is intense.  Instead of taking 2 minutes it spans 8 days.

The rumor is that we are going to see a water quad.  I am familiar with the pond.  It is a large natural piece of water.  It has a lot of cover in it.  I am hearing they will have one of the marks thrown out of a boat.  You gotta love going "Old School".  A boat bird can be one of the most challenging retrieves.  When placed well,  the dogs will have to display lots of perseverance.  I am like a kid on Christmas Morning.

This has been one of the best run nationals I have ever witnessed.  The time has been managed magnificently.  By being so efficient, they will be able to test these remaining dogs thoroughly on the water.  A 20 minute water quad will separate the men from the boys.  I can't wait!

Pat Burns

Greetings Retriever Fans

The 2016 NARC is in the 9th Series, with only the two series left to run the tests are gonna be super tough! The Judges have been in control the entire trial! They have managed their time excellently. This will allow them to put up a test that may take all day long to run! These Judges have done an amazing job testing these dogs and handlers on their retriever skills. The Judges have put up tests that are both challenging and fair.

Today is no exception with the 9th Series Water Quad!!! The 9th Series is being held at Kate Simonds' Stick Pond - directions are in the online training/test site manual.

Hope to see you there !!!

Trivia Question & Prize Give Away

Heres some trivia for our fans:

Answer in the comments on the 2016 NARC BLOG under this post. ANSWER RECEIVED BY ANY OTHER METHOD WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PRIZE.

We will award prizes, but you must log in to Blogger with your real name ... after all, how will we send you a prize if you are "Unknown" or "Anonymous?"

GOOD LUCK!

In what year did the AKC start to award points for 4^th place in All-Age stakes?

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.