Thursday 17 September 6th Series Land Quad

Note re Wed. tests- Fiona now has sketch up of Series 4 and 5 at the end of yesterday's report. Go back and have a look.

Early this AM it was clear, cold at 40 degrees and we still had a strong northerly wind. However, by the time the sun was rising it was getting cloudy and the wind had died. But before we tell you about the 6th series, you should know what you missed last night.

Fish Fry

Last night, we had a great fish fry, a Pine Ridge Retriever Club signature tailgate party. The Wall-eye and Rainbow trout were obtained by Jim Green but it was Randy Van Norman and his crew including Wingman Alias Wingding, Peter Thorne that put on the show. They had fries, fish and wings all done to perfection. Folks came back again and again and at the end Randy treated us to strips of goose breast superbly cooked.

Series 6-Land Quad

Upon arrival at the site were greeted with an amazing line set-up. Landowner Jeff McCann had arranged a bank of large square bales behind the judges and in front of the gallery. The Purina tents and line were tucked into an alcove.





Landowner Jeff McCann behind his alcove of hay bales. Jeff and Cathy run a large mixed farm operation specializing in market steers. They also use these steers in Team Penning and Ranch Sorting everyweek and Fiona and I have often enjoyed that with our horses. Kathy used to field trial but now their dogs are cowdogs. I wanted Jeff to run his Heeler, Bull as test dog but he declined! It's landowners like the McCanns that make it possible to conduct Nationals like this on new grounds.A huge thanks from all!

In the large pasture field to the north, 4 gunner stations were placed with 3 of them in an Inline configuration with a 4th to the left. The 3 Inline birds were all thrown to the left and the order was middle, long left, far left and short right go-bird. The two middle gunners retired into well-camouflaged holding blinds. All birds were mallards. The distances 110, 160, 215 and 295 yards (see photo) There was an honour on the left.
The first test dog, Diva, picked up the inline first, from short to long before getting the long stand up last. It was clear that it was easy to drive deep on the middle retired.
The second test dog, Hon:sti, picked up the go-bird and then went long. On being sent for the middle retried, he again went long and was handled. He got the left stand-up last
As we started the cloud cover was 100% and a very light breeze from the NW contrary to the forecast which promised NE swinging to south..
The first dog came to line at 8:15 am. The test soon started to take it’s toll. By the time we had a first gunner change after 13 dogs, we had 4 handles and 1 pick-up. There were also considerable hunts. Most handlers are taking the go-bird and then the middle retired. There is no consistency yet in which of the longer bird is picked up 3rd. By 10 pm we saw signs of the wind shift to the NE and by 10:30 there was an easterly angle to it although it is still variable. An easterly wind could help the dogs going wide and long for the retireds. We’ll report back in a few hours, as indications are the test is going better for the handlers now.

1:00 PM Quick update- We've had 4 more handles bringing the total to 8 plus the pick up. Quite a few good jobs mixed in. The consitins are quite sunny now woth scatered puffy cumulus clouds. It's warmer up to almost 70 degrees and the wind reminas quite light. It is also variable from the NW, N and NE often changig between dogs. If one bird gets wind saved the next doesn't. I'm off to gun the last rotation so I probably won't update until it's over.

The test finished at 3:30 pm. Work continued to be erratic as we has a few more handles, a few over-run and loose backside hunts as well as a break. Stay tuned for Callbacks.

Meanwhile we’d like to thank our volunteer gunners and throwers once again single-handedly rounded up by Jacqui Pepper. Included today were Peter Martin, Dennis Harwood, Ann Steer, Larry Coe, Medie Robinson, , Chris Mason, Glynn Matthews, Ron LeDuke, Bruce Kelly, Jim Green, Shirley Greener, Rich Dresser, Richard Davis, Les Oakes, Pierre Matthieu, Marg Murray Ray Smith, Katie Dygos, Heather Stewart, Lori Walsh, Jane Thompson, Tony Schiller, Jim Ling, Dennis Voigt, Gerry Burmaster, Lorne Langevin, Chris LaCross, Dana Young.

Tonight we are off to the Worker’s Party in town. That’s the deal about Canadian Nationals –it’s either dog work or party time- either way we like to work hard or play hard.

While we wait for Callbacks here's some snapshots.

Under the Tent of the Inner Circle


View from the field back to the line -click to enlarge


The Gallery behind the bale wall- this test was worth watching every dog because of all the variability.

CALLBACKS

We're down to 36 dogs with 14 dropped. They were 13, 26, 28, 29, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 53, 56, 72, and 73. Tomorrow is a Water Triple at Headquarters with dog # 54 starting.

Wednesday 16 September-Test 4 and 5

We awoke to the coolest morning yet with a northerly breeze and light cloud cover. By 7:30am, the gallery was gathered on a high hill over-looking a pond and large pasture hills with scattered bushes, trees and lots of little ups and downs. The judges had set up combined Test 3 and 4-water and land blinds with a poison bird. Two gunners were placed at 135 yards in the valley. They threw a poison bird. After the judges gave the handler a number, the Water blind was picked up first and then the Land Blind. The water blind (175 yards) to the left of the gunners was an entry down a hill into a corner of the pond. The line angled across an isthmus and angled back in just past a small point for an angle exit and on shore for about 10 yards to a hen duck. The land blind (305 yards) was to the right of the poison bird, down into the valley and then up the hill. As the dog climbed the hill, trees on each side and various rolls created hazard. It was easy to loose a dog to the right or left of the key-hole. handlers were allowed to move forwards about 35 yards after their dog crested the hill in front. The poison bird was not picked up. The wind was angling in from the NE making it a cross-wind for the water blind and almost at the line for the land blind. It was steady at about 10 mph which made it cool in the shade where the handlers were at the start.

The first test dog, Diva, handled by Gerry Burmaster, had trouble on the water blind, being influenced by the poison bird. Her land blind showed how easily a dog could disappear. The second test dog, Hon:sti, handled by Jim Green had controlled blinds on both land and water but showed that at the end of the land blind, it was easy to get into trouble. There were a few early delays as vehicles got relocated. The first dog, #35 started and showed that the water blind could cause problems. Handlers went to school quickly and didn’t gamble on the land blind. Most dogs needed at least 4-7 whistles on each blind. A few did get in trouble and unfortunately by noon after almost 30 dogs had run, there were two pick-ups, # 51 and # 61. We should be done by late afternoon. I’ll report if the test changes. The wind is picking up a bit now which may cause more problems.

2:00 pm. The test has made a turn for the worse over the last hour or so. We’re at dog # 7 now. # 1 picked up the poison bird and #’s2, 5 and 6 have just picked up. Even before that there were several dogs lost to the left but eventually they got the bird. Some are speculating that the backlit handlers are harder to see with the sun now overhead. But even the water blind is causing trouble. Strong winds now appear to be making the dogs “wilder” and less responsive. The luck of the rotation is always a factor at Nationals on all day tests.

3:00 pm The cloud cover has been gradually buiding all day from the clear skies this am. Now for the first time the shadows are disappearing and the handlers might be more visible. We're at dog 13 and the last several have done quite well.

4:30 pm The wind dropped a bit and the sun is off to the side. Work is generally better although the hazard of dragback in the last 1/3 of the land blind persists.

Dog # 34 was the last dog and came to line at 5:10pm. Unfortunately it was a pick-up.

Today's volunteer gunners and blind planters were Mike Prechitko, Al Moroz, John Chevalier, Ann Steer, Medie Robinson, Chris Mason, Shirley Greener, Gerry Burmaster, Paul Lalley, Ted Gadawski, Tim Crone and Pearl McGinn.

Callbacks soon!

Everything is going very smoothly at this National. Field Trial Chairman Jim Green haas put together an excellent team. It means he can watch over the whole operation, steering the boat and letting others do the rowing. So far no one overboard!

Here's a rare shot, Equipment Chairman, Albert Coles paused long enough to be in focus. Albert is everywhere and totally on top of all the necessary stuff to keep a National moving smoothly. Great Job!

Callbacks Just In! We are down to 50 dogs.

The following dogs were dropped:
1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 14, 21, 24, 34, 51, 60, 61, 68, 69, 74