(Sorry, No Photos will be sent until Sat.)

After an overnight rain...so what’s new...the eighth test began Friday morning, under a clear sky.  The test was a land quad with two retired guns; on a newly developed area of the terrific MGDA grounds; where a canal had been cut for drainage from the large “Two Island Pond”.  The test was run to the South, with a light NW wind, that picked up as the day went on.

Bird #1 was retired on the right at 118 yards and thrown right to left across the canal. The line to this bird was basically a channel swim.  Bird #2, center right at 245 yards was also retired and was thrown right to left from a stand of trees into a large field. Bird #3, far left at 234 yards, was thrown from left to right into the open grassy field.  Bird #4, at 130 yards, was also thrown left to right onto a treed mound.  The line to the left, center left and center right birds meant crossing the canal.

Generally speaking the early morning work was very good, but as the sun rose and shone towards the line, it changed the test, making the long bird more difficult to see.  The test ended at noon, on what was turning out to be a beautiful fall afternoon in sunny Manitoba.  The weariness of the workers was also becoming quite evident.

Callbacks came at 1:30, with 14 dogs (7, 17, 25, 29, 32, 36, 46, 53, 54, 56, 61, 62, 68, 70) being called back for the ninth test.  Dog #46 would run first.

The ninth test was a 206 yard water blind with a poison thrown on an island to the left of the line to the bird. The line began in a very narrow tree/bush lined corridor to the water, and continued past an island with the poison bird directly left of the line, then over a point and a long swim to the bird which was on another island.  The line brushed the trees and bushes on the right, where the dog could easily go further right and out of sight of the handler.  The handlers were allowed to move up eight yards between two ribbons about ten feet apart, once the dog hit the water.  If the dog did go to the right out of sight, the handler was allowed to go around the left bank of trees, all the way to the gallery if he wished...but the judges were not leaving their chairs.  The test was completed at 4:00 p.m.

Callbacks were announced at 5:15 p.m.  11 dogs were called back for the tenth and final test scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning.

The dogs called back to the 10th test were 7, 17, 25, 29, 32, 46, 54, 56, 61, 68 and 70