Saturday, July 24th |
The ninth series, a water triple, began with test dog, “Hobbes” at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday morning. “Hobbes” handled on one mark, then “Tess” ran, and did a good job. The sun shone on this beautiful, cool morning, and stayed out all through the test. These marks were launched from the shoreline where yesterday’s water blind had been run. Our first handler, Marg Murray, #44, ran at 8:30 a.m. with FTCH AFTCH Wingbuster’s Navigator. The order was centre, right, left.
Test 9 - Water Triple
The long, 210-yard gun threw a drake Mallard from a canoe from left-to- right along the shoreline. The bird landed behind some logs and clumps of reeds, with a bit of a splash, then both gunners sat down and “semi-retired” by removing their white coats. Suction to the 8th series water blind did affect the marking of the semi-retired gun for some dogs. The blind had been almost equi-distant between the left hand bird and the centre bird. Some dogs went back over the point to the blind and along the back shore of the pond to the bird, with or without a handle en route. Some that didn’t go over the point split the difference between the mark and the blind, but did come up with the bird. And, of course, there were a few who did a superb job on this mark. The dogs had to swim against a bit of a northwest crosswind.
The 168-yard right-hand gunner threw a drake Mallard right-to-left from a canoe and this bird also landed with a splash along the shoreline, then both gunners sat down. There was an invitation to cheat the shoreline on this mark, but none did. Most dogs did a great job on this mark.
The 100-yard “Go-bird” gunner threw a hen Mallard left-to-right, with another splash along the shoreline. There were a few hunts on this bird as some of the dogs swam past the bird and the canoe, then had to hunt back again.
There were 3 handles and dog # 21 was dropped, leaving ten anxious but very proud “Finalists” to go to the tenth series this afternoon, which will be another series of water marks, back at the pond where the third series shoreline water blind had been run.
I need to extend many thanks to those who helped me with the technical issues needing to be resolved, as I made my way through these sketches, write-ups and photos of the first National I have attended. The greatest help came from Sharon van der Lee, Carolyn Crosby, and Fiona Voigt.
Before I begin the write-up of the final series of the 2004 Amateur National, I think it very fitting that we thank the landowners who provided incredible and very challenging water and land to the Ottawa Club. They are Liz & Steve Rymel (water), Tom & Melanie Duncan (land) and Rob & Daisy Anderson (land). The Judges could, and did, set up truly national calibre tests on these magnificent properties.
The water triple was run in the same stick pond used for the third series water blind. The sun was shining and a coolish northwest breeze blew fairly steadily all afternoon.
Test 10 - Water Triple
Tenth series Test Dog, “Hobbes”, ran at 2:15 p.m. He handled on the long retired gun of this water triple. After that, the Judges decided to “semi-retire” the left-hand gunners by having them remove their white coats after throwing. Second test dog, “Tess”, handled on the long retired.
Long guns retire, then left-hand guns retire, while “Go-Bird” remains visible.
The first dog, Number 13, “Pilkingtons Kayte of Southgate”, handled by Bill Cumming, began this final series at 3:00 p.m., but had a “No-Bird”, so the first dog of the test became #18, Jerry Younglove, with FTCH AFTCH Jaybar’s Picture Perfect”. He ran at 3:05 p.m. The order was Centre, Left, Right.
The long gunners, out in a canoe at 277 yards, threw a drake Mallard Right-to-Left, sometimes with a splash, sometimes not, then retired. This was generally the bird that caused any handling that took place.
The left-hand gunners, out at 173 yards, threw a drake Mallard left-to-right, then semi-retired by removing their white jackets, then sitting in the canoe.
The right-hand “Go-Bird”, out at 148 yards, threw a hen Mallard right-to left, with a splash in the reeds and among deadfall.
After the bird change, there was a second “No-Bird”.
There were 4 handles, and 4 that were clean. The 2004 Amateur National ended at 7:30 p.m. All then went to the “Ag Hall” for a light supper, drinks, photos, and the big announcement! We all felt they really had to do some judging on this one. There were 4 handles.
All Finalists had pictures taken outside the hall, then a light supper was served and the Finalists received their prints, etc. At 9:00 p.m., the winner was announced. It was #22, Joe Renouf, with Maggie May, who will be retired at the end of this season. Maggie May was the oldest finalist dog at almost 10 and Bill Cumming’s “Kayte” was the youngest finalist at almost 3., by a full year.
Great fun was had by all, the Ottawa Club was outstanding, the judges were great and the best dog won the trial. Congratulations to Joe and Maggie!
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