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Master
National Friday September 22, 2000 |
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Both groups had to finish this morning so they could
start series #5, where they combine to run the same
test at the same time. Group A started at
8:15 and ran 8 dogs. The finish time
was 9:20 and there was only 1 re-run this morning.
Group B was finishing a water test and they had
about 11 dogs to get through so they didn’t finish
until about 10:30. The wind this morning was
cold even though the skies were clear. The
weather really changed throughout the day from these
clear skies, windy and 60 degrees to overcast, slight
rain late afternoon, and I really don’t think the
temperature even changed 10 degrees from early morning
until we packed it in at 6 PM. |
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When the two groups came together to run series
#5, a toss of the coin decided that B group would
go first and then each group would send up 10 handlers
and rotate. The first dog to run this test
was #102B. We maintained the initial rotation
and started this series with the number closest
to 100. After group B’s ten dogs ran, group
A started with dog #101. We ran 40 dogs in
each group from the start of the test at 11:45 to
the end at 6 PM. Only 1 dog broke during the
test today and we had no pick-ups. In fact
most dogs were doing a great job. The big
“wow” on this test is the second bird, which is
a pop and throw from a winger. This bird is
getting a huge beautiful arc and a long hang time
to it. Plus it lands only 40 yards from the
line. What the digital pictures don’t show,
unfortunately, is that the handler and dog are on
a ridge and all the action takes place below.
The first bird down is back up on a slightly inclined
rise and the other 2 birds are in a grassy meadow.
Because the dogs really want that middle bird they
seem to blast off the line but most of them had
such speed they blew past the middle bird and ended
up picking up the long bird. A few took the
birds out of order but still did a fantastic job.
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Scenario Test #4 Land |
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Our buddies have been out duck hunting today and
they call you to come join them for a small pheasant
hunt in a meadow that they’ve found. When
you get there with your dog you find out they are
still hunting ducks that seem to have come in to
feed. (Or if you like, the “pheasants” are
the strange breed that have come from the Northwest
because they have webbed feet and flattened bill.
We hunt these pheasants a lot on the west coast!)
Anyway, as you approach the ridge to let them know
you have arrived, the group way to the back of the
meadow shoots a lonely duck that has circled in
from the right. Since there is a stick pond
beyond the trees, the first shot has scared up a
few more and your partners in the closest blind
get only one from this flock and it falls just short
of where you are. But never fear, because
the hunters to the left and slightly hidden by the
ridge nail the last duck flying over. Since
you haven’t yet made the trek to get into a blind
and both you and your dog saw all the falls, you
volunteer to pick up all of them and distribute
to your friends later. |
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This year is the prime time to thank several people
who are at the MN and have always been right there
to lend a hand and use their special talents when
and if asked. And trust me, when we need them
to help we never have to look far. I tend
to refer to them as the “medical team”. Fred
Nusbickel, Frank Prendergast, Russ Reavis, Steve
Elliott, and Jeff Schoonover for people and Becky
Malphus for our dogs. This year we had the
incident with Bruce, Doug Lindemer is not feeling
well at all, Tammy Adsitt is under the weather,
and this morning Terry Thomas had a small incident
with a manual winger. Apollo, Hawk, and a
few other dogs needed their doctors too for various
reasons. Like I said, we see these guys day
in and day out running dogs and just being there
when we need them. |
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