Submitted by Brooks McMullin
Photos courtesy of Dennis Voigt

FOURTH SERIES - WATER BLIND

Series 4

The fourth series was a 223 yard water blind which was run directly to the north.  The test began from a mound and the dogs had to make a long land entry and cross two spits that ran at an angle to the line.  The second spit was scented with a duck approximately 7 yards upwind of the line to the blind.  The weather was cloudy with light rain and a light wind from the southwest.  Many dogs had difficulty obtaining an initial line, being influenced by the suction the shore provided.  Dogs 1, 4, 15, 19, 30, 32 were dropped leaving 29 dogs to run the next series, a land quad that would start soon thereafter with dog number 8 running first.

FIFTH SERIES - LAND QUAD

Series 5

By the time the fifth series was started the sky cleared, giving another hot, sunny day with a light southwest wind.  The fifth series was a land quad involving three long marks in a field of medium to light cover pocked with dry swales and a go-bird thrown 15 yards from the line into a narrow irrigation ditch.  All birds were thrown left to right.  The third gun at 184 yards threw a cock pheasentThe go-bird ten yards to the left of line threw a duck into the water of an irrigarion canal that separated the running line from the rest of the test.  The test proved difficult for many dogs. The current in the canal and its position square to the line caused many dogs to square the bank and lose their line when they emerged from the water onto the dyke road. In a way some dogs "fell" into the test. Others appeared to switch while some had to be handled. At separate times a running dog and honor dog broke.   The test was shut down at 5:30 for the worker's party with dog 38 being the last dog to run.  The test was to be resumed Thursday morning with dog 39 running after two test dogs.  No partial callbacks were given.