We started the 8th Series a
Water Quad with 2 Flyers, 2 Retired and a Honor 3:03 pm, Thursday, June 20th at the Libertyville test sight. Our first running dog #71 "Giddy" with handler Randy Whittaker started their series at 3:09 pm and our last running dog for the day was dog #114, "Hawk" with handler Earnest Hawkins at 7:12 pm. Our second day started at 6:56 am with dog #116 "Be" with handler Yvonne Hays and the last dog to run was #70 "Doc" with Erin O'Brien as handler at 12:29 pm.
The test took a total of about 9.5 hours to get all 37 dogs through. Roughly about 15 minute per dog.
During the two day test we had 17 handles, 2 double handles and 2 pick ups.
Callbacks to the 9th series will be given at the 8th series test sight. The 9th Series will be on the Howard's property - Bear Ranch! There will be a CARAVAN going to the new site. More information to follow....
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Showing posts with label 8th. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 8th. Show all posts
Friday, June 21, 2019
Handle - 70. FC-AFC DOCTOR CABERNET JUST IN CASE, "Doc" LM, Erin O'Brien
Fun Fact on Doc: shares the same sire as 3 other competitors (71, 110 & 116), furthermore he is competing against his sire #54 Tubb. Doc is the youngest dog competing at this point (10/28/14). He completed his FC in August 2018 and AFC in April 2019.
12:19 pm
Duck Flyer - Excellent Mark - Water; Land; Bird!
Rooster Retired - Doc got into the pond, headed past the mark, he quickly slowed down, got up by the blind and came down to the gun for his bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Went through second pond and angled across the field, went back to the left side then back right and to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Through the fall area and got deep. Had to handle back to the bird.
12:19 pm
Duck Flyer - Excellent Mark - Water; Land; Bird!
Rooster Retired - Doc got into the pond, headed past the mark, he quickly slowed down, got up by the blind and came down to the gun for his bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Went through second pond and angled across the field, went back to the left side then back right and to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Through the fall area and got deep. Had to handle back to the bird.
Handle - 68. FC-AFC 3R'S MR T SMOKEN JOE, "Smokie" LM, James Hurst
Fun Fact on Smokie: He completed his FC in October 2017 and AFC in June 2018.
Duck Flyer - Smokie got through the pond and weeks and went straight to the bird.
Rooster Retired - Going up the hill towards the blind, he turned right to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - He skimmed down the shore swimming towards the flyer guns. Going up the hill and with a straight line to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Great line up the hill, he just got past the bird, a quick handle back.
Duck Flyer - Smokie got through the pond and weeks and went straight to the bird.
Rooster Retired - Going up the hill towards the blind, he turned right to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - He skimmed down the shore swimming towards the flyer guns. Going up the hill and with a straight line to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Great line up the hill, he just got past the bird, a quick handle back.
67. BEAVER RUNS COOLHAND LUKE, "Luke" LM, Bert Windham
Fun Fact on Luke: He is a litter mate with #96 Oakley (2/19/14). And he is 0.5 point away from completing his AFC.
11:55 am
Duck Flyer - Very Good!
Rooster Retired - Good Mark!
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Luke too a line left of the hay bales, driving to the area without hesitation to pick up his bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Straight to the bird with no discussion!!!
11:55 am
Duck Flyer - Very Good!
Rooster Retired - Good Mark!
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Luke too a line left of the hay bales, driving to the area without hesitation to pick up his bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Straight to the bird with no discussion!!!
Pick Up - 63. FC MIDNIGHT TRAINS TEXAS RANGER, "Deets" LM, Cade Gentry
Fun Fact on Deets: Completed his FC in July 2018 and is 2 points from earning his AFC.
11:37 am
Duck Flyer - Deets went down the left side of the pond to the shore and got his bird.
Rooster Retired - Getting through the first pond, he got up the hill a bit deep. A quick turn, and Deets was back to the bird.
Deets was sent for the next bird, he went down low and into the second pond, he angled up to the retired gun station then got out to the gunners, circled and came back. He ended up getting picked up.
11:37 am
Duck Flyer - Deets went down the left side of the pond to the shore and got his bird.
Rooster Retired - Getting through the first pond, he got up the hill a bit deep. A quick turn, and Deets was back to the bird.
Deets was sent for the next bird, he went down low and into the second pond, he angled up to the retired gun station then got out to the gunners, circled and came back. He ended up getting picked up.
62. NAFC-FC MULLIGAN OFF THE RAINY "T", "Mully" LM, Randy Spangler
Fun Fact on Mully: He competed his both his FC & AFC in 2014. He was the Winner of the 2017 NARC in Mondovi, WI.
11:24 am
Duck Flyer - Mully got out of the water right of the boat, he runs the base of the gunners but then he turned and came into the bird.
Rooster Retired - He squared out of the water and went up the hill. He came in behind the gunners and came down the hill to find his bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Getting through the water, Mully climbed the hill and went across the draw and into the area of the fall. A quick look and he was on the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Good Line - Good Bird!
11:24 am
Duck Flyer - Mully got out of the water right of the boat, he runs the base of the gunners but then he turned and came into the bird.
Rooster Retired - He squared out of the water and went up the hill. He came in behind the gunners and came down the hill to find his bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Getting through the water, Mully climbed the hill and went across the draw and into the area of the fall. A quick look and he was on the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Good Line - Good Bird!
Handle - 57. FC-AFC COOLWATER'S HOOKED ON SPRINGTIME, "Maya" LF, Alex Washburn
Fun Fact on Maya: She completed her AFC in April 2019 and FC in May 2019.
11:09 am
Duck Flyer - Maya hit the water at a nice angle, getting through the weeds, she got her bird.
Rooster Retired - Getting through the water, she angled the hill and hit it!
Pheasant Hen Flyer - She got out to the area in front of the guns and passed through up the hill to the right for a short turn then she came down to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - A great line angled up the hill, she passed the bird ten feet on the right and continued up the hill which lead to Alex having to handle her to get the bird.
11:09 am
Duck Flyer - Maya hit the water at a nice angle, getting through the weeds, she got her bird.
Rooster Retired - Getting through the water, she angled the hill and hit it!
Pheasant Hen Flyer - She got out to the area in front of the guns and passed through up the hill to the right for a short turn then she came down to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - A great line angled up the hill, she passed the bird ten feet on the right and continued up the hill which lead to Alex having to handle her to get the bird.
54. NAFC-FC TEXAS TROUBADOR, "Tubb" LM, John Russell, Jr.
Fun Fact on Tubb: He is the oldest dog competing now (1/12/09). He has two daughters #7 & 116 and two sons #70 & 110 still competing in the event. He was the 2015 Purina and Retriever News High Point Amateur Dog in 2015 and the Winner of the 2014 NARC.
10:55 am
Duck Flyer - Tubb squared out a little early but corrected on the exit to go right to the bird.
Rooster Retired - He entered the area behind the return guns, turned down hill and into his bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Very good line to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Tubb's line carried him through the draw. He then turned to establish a hunt deep into the draw. Eventually coming out at the base of the draw to turn towards the gunners and work his way to retrieve his bird.
10:55 am
Duck Flyer - Tubb squared out a little early but corrected on the exit to go right to the bird.
Rooster Retired - He entered the area behind the return guns, turned down hill and into his bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Very good line to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Tubb's line carried him through the draw. He then turned to establish a hunt deep into the draw. Eventually coming out at the base of the draw to turn towards the gunners and work his way to retrieve his bird.
49. FC-AFC KERRYBURKE'S MARSH MADNESS MH, "Maddie" LF, Kerry Lavin
Fun Fact of Maddie: She completed her AFC in April 2015 and FC in March 2018.
Duck Flyer - Maddie got into the pond through the weeds and to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - She got in right of the rooster and kept going to the are end of the draw, water and up the hill. She grabbed the bird on her way back.
Rooster Retired - She went right of the fall area and got deep. She came back for her bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - she swam left and ended up hunting the draw with the holding blind for the retired hen. She went over and moved back several times before she got her bird.
Duck Flyer - Maddie got into the pond through the weeds and to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - She got in right of the rooster and kept going to the are end of the draw, water and up the hill. She grabbed the bird on her way back.
Rooster Retired - She went right of the fall area and got deep. She came back for her bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - she swam left and ended up hunting the draw with the holding blind for the retired hen. She went over and moved back several times before she got her bird.
Pat’s Perspective – 8th Series
Pat’s Perspective
8th Series
We have 9 dogs left in the 8th
series. This test will play a huge roll
in deciding this year’s National Amateur Champion. The front runners have about been cut in
half. The right hand retired gun has
proven to be the downfall of many. It
has been strategically placed in a little saddle about half way up the
hill. There is a small square pond and a
patch cover that diverts the dog’s route.
This is a very well placed bird.
I have witnessed some incredible displays of problem solving on this
mark. After 35 years of watching the
greatest retrievers in the world, I never get tired of seeing them sort out a
complicated mark. This is one of those
scenarios. As a thunderstorm was bearing
down on us, I watched Wayne Carey and Jack crush the test under very difficult
conditions. Wayne is the gentleman I
interviewed earlier. He is running his
1st national. Their dream story
continues. We have dealt with rain,
sleet, wind and lightning on this test.
It has taken its toll on everyone involved. We are getting ready to move to the 9th
series. The home stretch is in
view. We will keep you posted as things
unfold …
36. FC-AFC BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, "Petey" LM, Anne Marshall
Fun Fact on Petey: He completed his FC in August 2015 and AFC in March 2018.
10:25 am
Duck Flyer - Petey got out a little early. His initial line put him running past the gunners. He worked his way down the hill and to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - The line took him behind and deep of the pheasant flyer guns. He hunted the draw and area on the hillside to come up with the bird.
Rooster Retired - Good line to the area. He had a brief hunt deep of retired gun. Petey then worked it out and got the bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Petey's line made him arrive through the draw and into the area of the fall. A brief couple of turns and Petey had his bird.
10:25 am
Duck Flyer - Petey got out a little early. His initial line put him running past the gunners. He worked his way down the hill and to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - The line took him behind and deep of the pheasant flyer guns. He hunted the draw and area on the hillside to come up with the bird.
Rooster Retired - Good line to the area. He had a brief hunt deep of retired gun. Petey then worked it out and got the bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Petey's line made him arrive through the draw and into the area of the fall. A brief couple of turns and Petey had his bird.
Handle - 34. FC-AFC LOCK FIVE'S GOT HER BLUE GENES ON, "Baby" LF, Bill Woodson
Fun Fact on Baby: She is a litter mate with #125 Marvin. She completed her FC in March 2016 and AFC in October 2016.
Duck Flyer - Straight to the bird.
Rooster Retired - Baby got into the first pond, getting out she ran up the hill wide but quickly retured for her rooster.
Hen Pheasant Flyer - Taking a low line through the water, Baby got just left of the far right hay bale. She made a loop then up the hill in front of the guns and right to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Baby was swimming towards the flyer, so Bill had to handle her to the bird.
Duck Flyer - Straight to the bird.
Rooster Retired - Baby got into the first pond, getting out she ran up the hill wide but quickly retured for her rooster.
Hen Pheasant Flyer - Taking a low line through the water, Baby got just left of the far right hay bale. She made a loop then up the hill in front of the guns and right to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Baby was swimming towards the flyer, so Bill had to handle her to the bird.
Pick Up - 33. FC-AFC INDIGO HELLO DOLLY, "Dolly" LF, Doug Cybula
Fun Fact on Dolly: She is a litter mate with #107 Limit. She also completed her AFC in September 2018 and FC in October 2018.
9:52 am
Duck Flyer - Good Bird
Rooster Retired - Very good bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Established a large hunt pattern that worked her up the hill to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Very good line but note quite to the bird. Dolly set up a hunt pattern that went wide left and deep, finally swimming through the pond and to her bird.
Dolly honored on lead.
9:52 am
Duck Flyer - Good Bird
Rooster Retired - Very good bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Established a large hunt pattern that worked her up the hill to the bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Very good line but note quite to the bird. Dolly set up a hunt pattern that went wide left and deep, finally swimming through the pond and to her bird.
Dolly honored on lead.
31. FC-AFC SEASIDE'S GORGEOUS GEORGE, "Clooney" LM, Michael Robicheaux
Fun Fact on Clooney: He was the Purina and Retriever News High Point Derby dog in 2015 with 75 points. He also received the Dottie Metcalf Memorial Trophy in 2015 with Rita Jones. He completed his FC in May 2017 and AFC in May 2019.
Duck Flyer - Straight to the bird through the pond and angle the hill.
Rooster Retired - Through the pond and up the hill and stomped on it.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Through the water and through the second piece aiming on a perfect line. Clooney stopped on a dime and picked it up.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Angled through the water and hill past the guns to the fall area.
Duck Flyer - Straight to the bird through the pond and angle the hill.
Rooster Retired - Through the pond and up the hill and stomped on it.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Through the water and through the second piece aiming on a perfect line. Clooney stopped on a dime and picked it up.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Angled through the water and hill past the guns to the fall area.
A Look at the Work on the 8th Series
Now on the 2nd half of the dogs on the 2nd day of this test at Libertyville and with over half the dogs having run, we have watched over half the field use handles on this test, including some double handles. The middle-right bird, a retired dead hen pheasant, has proven to be far and away the most troublesome bird.
All four birds are part way up the far side of the drainage and the mid-way-up-the-hillside picture the gun stations present to the dog is similar for all birds, making it impossible for a dog to rely on taught concepts such as "punch bird' and "check down bird" to differentiate them. The line to each bird is angles down a hillside, crosses water, then climbs the hill on the other side. There are also two small ponds up on the far hillside that can affect the dogs' navigation to the fall areas of the three memory birds. The water crossings are at an angle for each bird and can affect the dogs' navigation in various ways - with some "squaring out" early and a some even staying in too long when going for the farthest right bird.
The strategy on preferred order of bird pick-up has stabilized to the following for most of the teams: (1) go bird (flyer duck), (2) middle left retired bird (dead rooster), (3) far right bird (flyer pheasant), and finally (4) the bird that can cause most of the trouble, the middle right bird, a dead hen pheasant.
Now we'll take a look at some of the other influences on the dog work, going bird by bird and using the retrieval order the majority of the handlers seem to prefer when attacking this quad:
On the go-bird flyer duck, which is the left-most bird, we see very good work for the most part. When there is a hunt it can be caused by the fact that this bird is shot "down the hill," which is a place that dogs not experienced in finding hillside birds tend to hunt only after they have first climbed too high on the hill. For the most part the go-bird has not caused trouble.
The middle-left bird, a retired rooster, which is the shortest bird in the test, has proven straightforward for many. The line to it crosses a small pond at a friendly angle followed by a short hillside climb. The navigation needed to get to the fall area does not include a lot to confuse dogs trained at this level.
The right-most bird, a flyer hen pheasant, produces variable work, with some dogs virtually pinning it and others needing hunts which in some cases are rather lengthy. This flyer is shot away from the test (a diverging bird). With the three guns sitting out and visible, and with it landing in a defined bowl, most dogs anchor their hunts well and work the area until they find this hen pheasant. On day 2 we now have light variable winds (a new wind condition), and it has proven possible for a dog to wind the middle-right bird or throwing station while hunting for the right-hand bird, of course leading to need for an urgent handle.
The final bird retrieved, the retired middle-right bird, is a dead hen pheasant and depending on the time the dog runs, the grass where it lands can be wet. This is a notoriously difficult scenting challenge. But the line needed to get to this bird presents another challenge. The line to this bird crosses the same pond that the dog previously crossed to get to the middle left bird then continues at an angle up hill to cross the tip of another small pond (if the dogs stay on line). This second little pond and its dam face can influence dogs off course in many directions. Now thrown off the route to the bird, the dogs can respond in various ways - such as by "lining out" over the ridge above the test, hunting backside off the flyer and never enlarging to find the target bird, hunting in some "no-man's land" area, or switching. As noted above many handlers are opting for the quick handle rather than playing the lottery on recovery of this bird.
25. FC-AFC-CAFC BAYPOINTS THOUSAND FATHOM EDGE, "Ouuks" LM, Jim McFarland
Fun Fact on Ouuks: Completed his AFC August of 2017 (he already had his CFC) and FC in April 2019.
Duck Flyer - Ouuks squared out of the pond and drove left and got the bird.
Rooster Retired - Tight hunt and back with the bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Worked the hillside to come up with the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Ouuks got through the pond, brushing past the area of the rooster retired, he drives the hill and comes back with his bird.
Duck Flyer - Ouuks squared out of the pond and drove left and got the bird.
Rooster Retired - Tight hunt and back with the bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Worked the hillside to come up with the bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Ouuks got through the pond, brushing past the area of the rooster retired, he drives the hill and comes back with his bird.
Gun Change - 8th Series - Review
We started Day 2 of our 8th Series - Water Quad with our female test dog "Kelley Lee" and handler, Lori Morgan coming to the line at 6:43 am. Soon after our first running dog #116 "Be" and handler Yvonne Hays started their 8th Series at 6:56 am.
Our gun change happened after dog #20 Lexie and handler Casey Adams finished this test at 9:19 am. We have completed 10 dogs today. So far we had 6 handles and 1 double handles.
In total for Series 8 we have 24 dogs that have completed this test. Out of those dogs we had 13 handles and 2 double handle.
We have 13 dogs left to run. The dogs are completing the test in about 13-14 minutes. So we are looking at just under 3 more hours to complete this series.
Our gun change happened after dog #20 Lexie and handler Casey Adams finished this test at 9:19 am. We have completed 10 dogs today. So far we had 6 handles and 1 double handles.
In total for Series 8 we have 24 dogs that have completed this test. Out of those dogs we had 13 handles and 2 double handle.
We have 13 dogs left to run. The dogs are completing the test in about 13-14 minutes. So we are looking at just under 3 more hours to complete this series.
20. FC-AFC KIRKWOOD'S ACE OF LONE STAR, "Lexie" LF, Casey Adams
Fun Fact on Lexie: She was the Purina and Retriever News High Point Derby Dog in 2013 with 77 points. She completed her AFC in May 2016 and FC in January 2018.
Duck Flyer - Lexie got through the pond on the right side. She cut up the hill towards the guns, then came down and got a little behind the mound to her bird.
Rooster Retired - Good Job
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Excellent line across the bottom of the field then she angled up straight to her bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Getting into the first pond she angled right to the back pond and swimming straight to the fall area. A tight hunt in the area and she got.
Duck Flyer - Lexie got through the pond on the right side. She cut up the hill towards the guns, then came down and got a little behind the mound to her bird.
Rooster Retired - Good Job
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Excellent line across the bottom of the field then she angled up straight to her bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Getting into the first pond she angled right to the back pond and swimming straight to the fall area. A tight hunt in the area and she got.
Handle - 14. FC-AFC SUNDOG'S MAXIMUM PURSUIT, "Max" LM, Paula Elmes
Fun Fact on Max: He has a litter mate #91 Buster (4/13/11). He completed his FC in October 2014 and AFC in August 2015.
8:53 am
Duck Flyer - Nice Flyer
Rooster Retired - Max got through the pond and drove the hillside and was on his bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Getting through the pond he got to the base of the hill. Sliding past the rooster retired he heads deep. He gets a quick handle back to his bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Moving out in a line similar to the hen retired, Max moves on with hesitation to cut across the draw and established a hunt for the flyer.
8:53 am
Duck Flyer - Nice Flyer
Rooster Retired - Max got through the pond and drove the hillside and was on his bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Getting through the pond he got to the base of the hill. Sliding past the rooster retired he heads deep. He gets a quick handle back to his bird.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - Moving out in a line similar to the hen retired, Max moves on with hesitation to cut across the draw and established a hunt for the flyer.
Handle - 12. FC-AFC ROUGH CREEK'S LIBERTY BELL, "Bella" LF, Mark Medford
Fun Fact on Bella: She completed her FC in March 2016 and her AFC in October 2017.
8:39 am
Duck Flyer - Bella got across the pond to the far shore, going around the boat and down the shore she got her bird.
Rooster Retired - Getting through the pond and to the top of the hill, Bella turned right and got her rooster pheasant.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - she caught the first pond and a piece of the second as she went towards the flyer. Getting in the draw between bird two and deep of the guns. She then got in front of the gun and her bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Bella got into the first pond then the second and caught a piece of the third. She had a a quick one whistle handle and she got her bird.
8:39 am
Duck Flyer - Bella got across the pond to the far shore, going around the boat and down the shore she got her bird.
Rooster Retired - Getting through the pond and to the top of the hill, Bella turned right and got her rooster pheasant.
Pheasant Hen Flyer - she caught the first pond and a piece of the second as she went towards the flyer. Getting in the draw between bird two and deep of the guns. She then got in front of the gun and her bird.
Pheasant Hen Retired - Bella got into the first pond then the second and caught a piece of the third. She had a a quick one whistle handle and she got her bird.
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