Another sunny, warm day was in store as the judges and competitors arrived at the trial grounds. The set up crew had everything prepared and at 0810 female test dog Pilkingtins Kayte Of Southgate, owned by Bill Cumming and handled by Sandie Bond ran.

Test 5 - Land Quad

The test consisted of a quad, on rolling pastureland, with a retired gun and an honour. The judges tightened up the left gun, and then male test dog She Kon Kawera Honti, owned and handled by Jim Green ran. The memory bird, center right, at 260 yards was a drake thrown left. At 203 yards, the right gun fired second, and was a cock pheasant thrown left landing behind a brush pile. The retired gun, center left at 165 yards, fired third, and was a drake thrown left. The go bird on the far left at 121 yards, was a cock pheasant also thrown left. At 0835 the first competitor, dog # 12 Blurnorth’s Under a Lucky Star, owner-handler Ted Gadawski started the fifth series. It soon became apparent, if a dog ran deep on the go bird it would scent the retired gun’s bird, and have to be handled.

Purina provided a complimentary breakfast for all competitors and workers, which was greatly appreciated. With the temperature hovering near 30 degrees celcius, the tents supplied by Purina and Iams were also put to good use and everyone was thankful for the shade they provided.

The following dogs were dropped. Dogs # 1, 12, 13, 71 and 72.

Test 6 - Poison Bird

The sixth series, a 295 yards blind with a poison bird, was set up in the same field. The crew of Jim Green, Gerry Pozzebon, Al Haggerty, Dick Roelofson and Larry DeLeemans, had everything moved over to the new running line in short order. At 1600, Female test dog Pilkingtons Kayte Of Southgate, handled by Al Haggerty ran and Male test dog Mjolnir Bluebill Of Allanport, owner-handler Scott Adams, followed.

Dog # 25 NAFTCH FTCH AFTCH Prairemarsh Madness, owner and handled by Dennis Voigt, was the first competitor.

The dogs had to run a side hill, under the arc of the poison bird, a drake at 95 yards thrown left to right, and across the lines of two of the previous marks to get the blind. The gallery was perched on the side of a hill like a herd of mountain goats with only their heads visible.

Most dogs did it fairly well, with two dogs picking up the poison bird and one switching .Dropped were dogs # 2, 25, 31 and 76. We are now down to four series with 31 survivors.

Gallery 5	Online - Test 5

 

After Test 5	Online Test 5