Monday, November 15, 2010

Brought to you by Purina

First & Second Series: Land Double with Retired and a Blind

We have awakened this morning to pouring rain which is expected to last through most of the day. We are providing a photo taken yesterday afternoon, so that you may more clearly see the test. The first and second series combination is a double with one retired and then a blind.  The field has beautiful rolling hills and well trimmed grass.  There are 8 to 10 hay bales scattered across the landscape.  All birds in this series are rooster pheasants.  The first bird thrown is 230 yards from the line and the bird thrower retires behind a well wrapped set of hay bales.  This bird is thrown from right to left. The flyer gunners are located 230 yards from the line.  The flyer is shot from the left to the right.  There are 2 small oblong ponds by the line. that the dogs might clip the corners going for the retired bird.  The blind is run from the same mat and is 225 yards to the right.  The correct line has the dog entering the small pond about 1/2 way down past a point.  They then exit the end of the pond and drive to a small bush. The blind in the 2nd series is NOT a water blind.  The judges have simply used the water as they would any other hazard. 



The sign in the last holding blind.



Test #1 in the rain (with raindrops on camera lense)

There are a dozen or so dogs left to start this morning. We start at 6:40 am as we did yesterday. STAY DRY, EVERYONE!!!



Everyone is fighting the rain and the mud today.

Field Trialers must really love the dogs!!

The last few handlers view the line.

No wardrobe quiz today...this is what everyone is wearing.
We call it "Mud Couture!"

It is 48 degrees and pouring rain, the ground committee has once again done an outstanding job. Committee
members have been busy putting out straw under the tents, in the holding blinds and filling potential slick spots. Everyone is in their rain gear, hats and boots making it difficult to make out who is who. There was one lone person in the gallery to watch the kickoff of day two. At 6:48 am, the test dog with Mark Medford has gone to the line and once again done an outstanding job. At 6:58 am, dog #26 came to the line to start day two. There has been a no-bird for dog #30. The work seems to be excellent today despite the conditions.

Callbacks for the Third Series:

1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97

Dogs Dropped:

2, 44, 50, 74, 76, 85

Dogs Returning: 89

At this point we are moving to another location on the Lampkin property. It's not raining as hard as it was but has created a muddy situation where Traffic is working very hard to accommodate the big rigs. We will update you on the next series as soon as we possibly can.

Nobody is moving, so you might as well catch up with your buddies.



The wagon train across the muddy field.

This day's report is brought to you by Purina.
Thanks, guys for all your hard work and donations.
Gailen Cooper and Mike Witt.



Third Series: Water Blind

Shot of blind to show rolling terrain.

The third series is directly behind the land owner’s home, located on a hill that overlooks a lake. The test has the mat on the hill. Dogs must go down, cross a levee road, drop off a hill and into the water. They then swim across an inlet and cross a large well-scented point. The dogs must be well up on that point. There are decoys on the back side of the point. The dogs then swim towards a fallen tree. The line is to swim under the trunk, get out on the other side and the bird is at a small bush up on the bank. The first test dog ran at 9:38 am, and the second test dog ran at approximately 9:50 am. The first running dog started at 10:08 am. The handlers have been advised that lateral movement is OK.

Suzanne and Mark Medford look happy, despite the conditions!

...and so do our three Judges!

Craig Stonesifer and Jim Carlisle.

The handlers have filled the holding blinds to get things moving.

Mitch Patterson has stated that because of the rain delay, we have lost about 30 minutes of time which means that we possibly might not finish this series today.

It is now 12:30 pm and the 20th running dog, #86, has come to the line. The rain has stopped but not before making some of the roads and fields a hazard. Luther Davis, the announcer, has broadcasted a message from the trial committee asking everyone to stay parked unless they are leaving.

This has proven to be a very difficult blind for some. The temp has dropped and a lot of dogs are not wanting to get wet, they are looking for a shortcut to land or not wanting to get back into the water off of the point. There has been only one pick-up but a wide range of performance for the judges to review. A few dogs have done exceptional work, including a wonderful effort by John Stracka and Mercy. With freedom to move laterally as needed the handlers have been very active. Dog #87 just completed the blind to applause.

The test is averaging 7 minutes per dog with 89 dogs to run, looking at 10 1/2 hours of water blind, so we know it will be a split test.

The calves were cut from the cows today. There were many complaints to be heard in the "cow" gallery and no amount of "shushing" was going to keep them quiet. Several made their way into the area of the test and parking. The newly formed "cowboy comittee" did their best to round 'em up. Some, however, got by these ranch hands!!

"Move 'em out.....R A W H I D E ! !" 

Danny Farmer kept his cool with the encroaching intruders!

Dog #94, FC-AFC Coolwaters Hurricane Alley, has had to scratch due to illness.

We have reached the halfway point and there was one pick-up, dog #71. The work has remained the same; some very good and some who continue to have troubles with the obstacles. But the handlers are working hard. Dog #17 is currently at the line...

ANNOUNCEMENT: Only contestants with dogs yet to run the water blind will be allowed to drive onto the grounds tomorrow morning. All other contestants and gallery must park at the landowners shed and walk in.

Jim Pickering and DeWitt Boice

Rick Dirmeyer and Jason Fleming.

We finished with dog #25.  The next 2 dogs in the holding blinds were excused and the test will resume tomorrow with #26.  One test dog will run at 6:40 a.m. and the test will resume with the first running dog at 7 a.m.