A water triple was set -up in the mallard pond, a large impoundment with islands and sticks throughout. A long walk down a dike brought the gallery to a tight water triple with 3 boat birds. The first gunners were on the left and threw a mallard to the right landing on an island and then they sat down to retire. The second gunners were in a canoe deep and to the right and they threw a duck angled back to the right. The middle gunners were in a canoe that was closer to the line and they threw to the left. The first test dog ran at 11:00 and showed that the left bird would be scented first and the confusion that could, as he handled on 2 birds. The test had taken 20 minutes so the judges moved the long bird in closer and tight to the middle boat. The next test dog also handled on the second bird and while being sent for the 3rd bird the skies opened up with a downpour. The action went into Pause mode as the dog was picked up and everybody huddled under the Iams tent while it poured. Eventually, the judges moved everybody out and then shortly afterwards hit the Stop button as the rain and lightening continued. Word came back to reconvene at 2pm and the Klaus and Pat chuck wagon enjoyed brisk business. Rumors about water blinds versus land marks were finally answered as the judges hit the Play button and set up a land quad-originally slated for the 9th series..
A large field with extensive wild cover of goldenrod and grasses had been partially mown in an irregular pattern. Scrubby willows were scattered throughout. The line mat was atop a dike with a watery ditch at its base. The middle right gunners were the shortest at 158 yards. They threw a duck to the right and retired behind a blind. Next the longest gun at 230 yards and just to their left threw a duck angled back to the left. Another short gun (168) yards on the right threw a duck to the right and also retired behind a brushy blind. Finally, the guns on the left at 175yards threw a duck angled back to the right. The wind from left to right was not strong although scenting was fairly good.
The first test dog at 2:25pm handled, as did the second. The peril was stopping short on the two retired guns as well as getting the line to the right hand duck. At the base of the dike and right online a large thick clump of willows acted as a barrier.
The first running dog at 2:25 was # 4 and did a good job as did dog number 5 next. Thereafter results were erratic as 8 dogs handled, and 3 picked up while several excellent jobs were turned in. Almost all handlers picked up one of the short birds after getting the go-bird. Some were able to get the other short retired station duck next but many went long and then tried for the last retired. As the test progressed, the skies gradually cleared although scattered showers did occur. By 6 pm the sun was out and everybody started to forget about the earlier weather except for trial organizers who knew the forecast was for more rain. The possibility of a Sunday finish was discussed in the gallery since rumors of 2 big water marking tests and a long water blind persisted.
Callbacks showed 14 dogs invited back to the 8th at 7:30 tomorrow morning. Dogs dropped were #'s 6, 16, 21, 24, 29, 31, 34, 42, 47, 51, and 57
The plan was to do a combination water triple and water blind for the 8th and 9th. Dog #10 will start.
