Sunday, November 14, 2010

Brought to you by Eukanuba

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

Another view in the afternoon sun of Series 1 & 2.

The start to the 2010 National has dawned clear and 45 degrees. At 6:35 a.m. the National Anthem was sung by Mark Edwards and Mark Smith on the PA system.  They did a wonderful job kicking off this years event. 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.

Mark Edwards and Mark Smith sing the National Anthem.

Luther Davis is the Official Announcer.

Test Dog #1: AFC Twinbranch Pilgrim's Pride with handler, Bobby Smith.

Test Dog #2: AFC Tequilla's Hot Tamale with handler, Mark Medford.



The sign in the last holding blind.

Our fearless Bird Stewards!

The first 20 handlers view the test.

Dana Stonesifer and Ginger Cope.

The first test dog to the line at 6:43 a.m. was Bobby Smith with Pride.  They did a nice job of paving the way for all of the dogs who followed.  Mark Medford was next to the line at 6:48 a.m.  Mark and his female Mollie, picked up the birds clean and had a one whistle blind..  The first running dog, #39, came to the line at 7:03 a.m.with  Luther Davis announcing.  Out of the first 7 dogs, we have had 2 no birds and a pick up for dog #44. Dog #48 has handled.

Pete Weidlein and Fred Rohr.

The Head Marshall has asked that I take the time for a special note.  The blind in the 2nd series is NOT a water blind.  The judges have simply used the water as they would any other hazard.  There will be a gun change every 20 dogs.  In the first group of 20, we had some problems with no birds.  Dogs # 42, 45, 49 and 54 all had a no bird.  Dog # 49 actually had 2 No Birds.  The rules for the Nationals state that the dog will move back 6 places in the rotation.  We had a pickup for dog #44 and .  There were applause from the gallery after #58 ran.

Jerry Mann, AKC,  Nelson Sills and Doug Ljungren, AKC.



Good to keep your sense of humor at these events!!

Can you guess who wore this delightful shirt today? He's a Packer fan AND a dolphin fan!!

As the 2nd group of 20 handlers came to the line to view the test, the temperature had warmed up to 58 degrees with a very clear sky and a brisk breeze blowing across the test from right to left.  Dog # 74 was picked up on the blind and there was a handle for dog #76 on the retired gun.  Several times the applause reached the line after some excellent jobs.  Lynne DeBose with Jerry Lee and Dave Smith running Viggi really seemed to please the crowd with their work.

Ginger and Jim Cope and Steve Carr.

Steve Tolson and Dan Partington wait for the change of the guns.

When the 3rd group of 20 handlers were allowed to come and view the line, it was 67 degrees and hardly a cloud in the sky.  The wind does not seem to be enough to cause issues and it is generally just a BEAUTIFUL day.  There is almost NO internet coverage at the test site and Verizon does not seem to play in this area.  We are having to travel back to town to be able to post this report and to add all of the pictures...more to come. 

Ray Voigt, Terri and Wayne Curtis and David Didier.

Rick and Lo Dirmeyer. Today's coverage brought to you by Eukanuba.
THANK YOU!!


First running dog will be #26 at 7:00 a.m. to resume the test. Test dog will be at approximately 6:40 a.m.