Dawn came slowly. It had rained
most of the evening and more light showers were possible
for the morning. Temperatures were in the upper 30's
to low 40's. Only one test dog would be run prior to
resuming test 7. The rain ceased before the first test
dog , however it was too dark at 6:45 and the
team ran at 7 a.m. with the first competing dog #72
at 7:30.
The cold air, gray, and big water
discouraged dogs from taking a direct line to the far
bird across the lake. Most ran around the bank, some
well into the woods , then winded the bird once on the
far side and recovered it. A few took a beautiful line
to it and that took courage on the dog's part. It appeared
that once a trail formed to it, others trailed their
way to the bird.
The middle mark was well positioned
and it caused some hunting. One or two winded the far
bird drag back trail and had to be handled.
The flyer could be deceiving when
it fell in the creek bed or beyond it. Several long
hunts ensued and one handled.
There was also an honor to the left
of the running dog and none broke on it
Series 7 finished at 10:20 a.m.
and a move was made to the site of test 4 for a water
blind. Call backs listed 27 dogs still in contention.
Those dropped were: 15, 19, 21, 35, 57, 75, and 80.
Seven had been lost.
It took some time for the caravan
to arrive as several vehicles became mired in the mud
at the old site and had to be pulled out. The water
blind was ready to go when judges arrived and the test
dogs were called to line at about 11 a.m.
The duck was about 365 yds
deep, placed up on the side hill of a dike. There was
a long land entry and the line was between the
forth series point and island and continued back to
the shore beyond. On the left bank hill, a gunner station
just sat. - no shot or bird.( The first dog was run
with a poison bird from that station, but judges decided
not to use it) The handler was told he could move up
to the road to handle laterally between two red
ribbons once the dog entered the water. The test lasted
nearly 10 minutes and began with dog 51 at 11:20.
Wind, the old marks and prospect
of cold water attracted dogs to either and/or both shores.
Some dogs that preferred to seek the shore were reluctant
to leave it and there were cast/whistle refusals. The
line went over the point where the left middle guns
had stood and dogs were required to cross it. Some had
difficulty there and a one or two disappeared behind
it.
Because of the distance and time
factor, judges used an ATV to meet the handler and dog
at the gunner station. By 2:50, the test was completed
when dog #20 returned. An announcement was made
that callbacks would appear later that night at HQ.
Callbacks arrved about supper time
and 18 potential NFC's remained. They were: 3, 5, 10,
13, 14, 16, 18, 34, 41, 42, 45, 51, 52, 62, 65, 69,
79, and 89. Those lost were:9, 20, 44, 59, 60, 72, 78,
81, and 86.
Test #9 , probably watermarks will
run a test dog at 6:45, first running dog, #13, not
before 7:15 a.m.
