
Tests 1 and 2 Land
Double and Blind
A clear dawn broke
over Montgomery for the first day of the stake. A
pink sunrise with stars above were welcomed by all.
Temperatures were in the low fifties with little wind. The site was a fifteen minute drive west of town with
a well signed route.
Low fog hovered over the area as the test, a double
with a blind was formed. As the sun rose, the fog
quickly dissipated, revealing a rolling grassy pasture
with uneven terrain. There were patches of meadow
grass of different hights.The land rolled gently down
to a "draw" that ran horizontally half way through
the test. The line was located on about a 4' high
mound facing it.
To the right,
on the near side of the draw, a
set of guns was positioned net to a tree with a patch
of brush behind it . They threw a dead cock pheasant
to the left. It landed in the grassy cover in front
of and between a set of twin trees about 120 yards from
line.
Deep to the left, across the draw a set of live gunners
shot a cock pheasant ridden out well to the left. It
fell about 180 yards from line in mixed grass. The blind
was located between the marks, but on a tighter line
to the right fall and deeper than the marks. It
was a cock pheasant marked by a small bush about 215
yards from line. The order was right, left, blind. Since
the blind was planted after the last mark was recovered,
handlers received their dogs behind a blind alongside
the judges tent.
The first test dog was called to line at 7:28 a.m. It
was Kazam's Eager To Go Chica, LF, handled by Jon Monroe.
As they and each succeeding team came to line, announcer
Gay Houser gave their names and titles. The second
test team arrived at 7:35 and also turned in a good
job.( Dog # 27 was
ill and scratched.)
At. 7:55, the first running dog #38 stepped to line
only to receive a no bird.
There was nearly no wind at the beginning, but within
a hour it rose noticeably. It angled nearly into the
line, switching from left to right. The light was good
and the roosters exciting. The test appeared to be a
nice opening series, Do-able, but with enough terrain
and "decisions" to challenge both dog and handler.
Early, most completed with just a "bump" or two. By
noon, NFC's Patton, Max and Sam and NAFC Rose had run,
turning in good jobs. New NFTCH Gunnie had also completed
by then.
It became quite warm in the afternoon with temperatures
in the mid 80's. Water was kept in the holding blind
nearest the line and a canopy installed over it to cool
the waiting teams.
Building scent, changing light and deepening shadows
made the marks a bit harder to see at times. Starting
in mid afternoon, a spate of no- birds and a few very
long hunts slowed the stake. By 4:45 there were 11 dogs
left to run with at least 3 or 4 or them being reruns.
After #29 ran, the judges suspended the test for the
day.
It took about 6 -7 mpd to complete...
The test will resume on Monday with a rerun, #20. All
others will be run in numerical order wether a rerun
or not. No particl callbacks were given. A single test
dog will be run at 7:15 a.m.. Monday. The following
test was rumored to be a water blind .
Dog 58 would be first to run
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Announcer Gay Houser |
Judges (l to r) Bill Daley, Frank Kearney, Ron Ainley |
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Gallery, Tests 1 and 2 |
Jim Gonia, Creek Robber and( l to r) Jan and Tony Snow,
Jackie Gonia and Sandi McCourt |
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