Another clear crisp morning greeted Master National participants as both groups resumed the tests begun on Monday. Temperatures were in the low 40s and there was no wind for the first several hours.
Group B resumed their wood duck hunt from the previous day. It was apparent that the lack of wind made this test more challenging as the first few dogs had extended hunts on both the flyer and the center bird. Numerous dogs had handles on the middle bird and a few double handled. The bird stations worked efficiently; a tribute to the hard work of volunteers. Overall, the test went smoothly and concluded at 2:30PM. It was announced that callbacks would be given at the Shady Grove, the site of Series 3. After judges Lynn Morrison and Kevin Bunnell reviewed their books it was announced that 97 dogs would get to see the next test.
Water Test at Shady Grove, Triple with Blind
Group B’s third series was a water triple with a single blind. Judge Kevin Bunnell explained to the handlers that he was out late the night before and had participated in a little too much libation. His friend Bubba called him early that morning to go on a blue wing teal hunt at Shady grove because they needed a dog. Kevin arrived early but found himself on the wrong dike from where his friend Bubba was setup. Of course the teal started to fly and Bubba was able to knock three down. The order was Right, Middle, Left. When your dog returned with the RH bird another errant teal buzzed the spread and Bubba knocked it down setting up the blind. The line to right hand bird skimmed the back side of Bubba crossing the peninsula was 84 yards from the away. Bird # 2 landed was thrown right to left and landed on the middle island. Both Birds 1 and 2 were thrown from the closest island of a three island group. Bird #3 was a left to right throw and landed behind a peninsula at 59 yards. The line to the blind was between the falls of birds 2 and 3, skimmed an island, and was 118 yards from the working line. It was announced that the blind would be by invitation. Twelve dogs ran this test before it was suspended because of darkness and demonstrated that the MNRC setup crew had accurately timed this test at 10 minutes per dog.
Over at Group A the day did not go as smoothly. This group was back at C. F. Phelps WMA for a pheasant hunt that included a walkup and three marks. The first bird came from your right and landed 20 yards from the line in another of the cut strips of sorghum developed especially for this event by the dedicated staff at Phelps. Bird #2 was straight out in front of the dog and landed 119 yards away, requiring the dog to push thru three separate strips of sorghum. The last bird was the pheasant flyer to the left and about 100 yards from the line. This bird was designed to land in a strip of green grass between that sorghum covers. The erratic fall of the flyer, sometimes landing in heavy foxtail cover, caused judges Sam Ferguson and Rich Pyka to call many no-birds. Accordingly, Group B pace slowed and even though they ran until 6:40 they were unable to complete their second test on Tuesday. They will resume Wednesday morning with only 14 dogs to run and then will move to the Checkerboard Field to start their 3rd series.
