SERIES #7 and #8

The weather was rainy, at times heavy, with moderate to high winds from the south.  The temperature was about 20?.  Rain was expected for the entire day as the tail of hurricane Floyd passed through.  The judges selected a short and very “doable” water blind for Test 7.  The site was a gravel/sand pit which is flooded by springs.  The pit is an old one and the islands have trees growing on them.  All of the water is swimming water.  There was a strong cross wind blowing from the right.  There was a seated gunner to the left of the blond, but no shot was fired.  The line to the blind required a 40 yard water entry with a re-entry and to touch first a scented point at 90 yards and then a small island at 111 yards.  The blind, located on a larger, high island was 139 yards long.  Some handling was requried and generally the work was good.

There were 39 dogs invited to run the test including the eight dogs favoured by the wagerers.  Dog 23 was the first to run.

The series concluded at 1:00 p.m. and ten dogs were lost: #’s 6, 8, 15, 29, 47, 52, 53, 57, 72 and 73.

The judges decided to return to the area of tests 3, 4 and 5.  For Test 8, a land triple, with two retired guns.  The test was in a large grassy bowl with a small pond at the bottom.  There was a steep hill down from the running line and a rise to guns 1 and 3 across a dirt road.  All guns were in areas of thin shrub trees.  The test was almost straight downwind.  Bird 1 (left bird) was a drake mallard thrown right to left (199 yards) uphill with the guns retired.  Bird 2 was a hen pheasant and thrown left to right, 127 yards from the line at the right of the test.  These guns also retired.  Third and middle gun was a hen mallard thrown downhill right to left at 195 yards.  Work by the 29 dogs remaining was generally good.  The pick up order for most handlers was 2 then 1 then 3.  Dogs lost in Test 8 were: #’s 7, 12, 17, 23, 25, 40, 44, 48, 50, 51, 63, 65 and 67.

Test has not been received by WRC