| Ninth
Series - Land/Water Quad
The first bird down was a dead pheasant. It was thrown
to the right and was the longest mark at about 260 yards.
It fell deep of an irregular pond. To recover it successfully,
dogs would have to remain in the water through a channel
past a point and into big water. The second mark was
a flyer to the left, closer to line and on a hill. It
was also thrown right. The third station, also toward
the left, then threw a dead bird to the right which
landed very tight to the back of the flyer guns. The
last mark was a dead bird thrown to the left only 30
- 40 yards from the handler. As the dog was sent for
it the first and third gun stations retired.
Only one dogs stayed in the water for the long retired
mark - Prize. Others exited at various distances and
many "shopped" for the bird. Some had to handle to it.
One or two recovered the deeper, dead bird first. After
the short bird, handlers seem to try for the flyer second
(with varying success) the one deep behind it next and
the long swim , distant pheasant last. The test began
around 8 a.m. and completed near noon.
Callbacks came swiftly and 15 potential champions remained.
They are: 7, 13, 25, 34, 35, 37, 43, 47, 48, 54, 69,
73, 76, 79 and 80. Those lost: 24, 31, 66 and 87.
Number 10 is rumored to be a land triple with two shot
flyers. |