The seventh series was a land double run from a high bluff overlooking the valley. The test was a converging mixed bag double, with a live duck thrown from a manual winger on the right, shot 45 degrees back left. The left hand bird was a handthrown rooster pheasant shot laterally toward the duck fall. Only two dogs were lost--one switched, and one broke. All dogs picked up the right bird with no problems. The majority of the dogs did very good work on this series. The series concluded about 2:00 pm, and awards were passed out. The pheasants were breasted out and a barbeque was held back at the clubhouse. The trophy plates which were late getting into Butte were "misappropriated" from the treasurer, but miraculously turned up at the proper moment.

The judges announced that this year, they were intending to put the "hunt" back into the hunting test, and in this they succeeded. The handlers were extremely pleased with the format, the opportunity to run a test per day, and the attitude of the judges that the dogs were to be "tested, not eliminated."

Congratulations are in order to the Treasure State Retriever Club and its members for providing a beautiful setting for the event. The site, the tests, the judges, and the attitudes, were all factors in a successful 1997 Master National. See you in Seattle!

Woody Thurman, who sang his song "The Water Blind of Life" at the workers' party, said it well in his new verse:

"Remember last September, when we met in old St. Lou
When the test was over, we were all so sad and blue.
But Butte it is so beautiful, it sets my heart to spinning
When we learn from our mistakes, it's like a new beginning."

Congratulations to all those who qualified:

Section A:
1-3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 16-21, 28, 33, 35-38, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48-51, 57, 59, 60, 62-64, 67, 71, 76, 78.

Section B:
79-81, 83, 87, 91-93, 95, 105, 106, 113, 114, 127, 129-131, 133, 138, 141, 146-148, 150, 153, 154, 157.