2010 NRC Report: Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Brought to you by Tri-Tronics

Third Series: Water Blind

Shot of blind to show rolling terrain.

Today we continue the third series water blind with about 37 dogs left to run. 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 handlers have been advised that lateral movement is OK.

Alan Sandifer and his "hand-warmer" Rosie direct trafffic.
Alan was a set-up week landowner. THANK YOU, ALAN!!

The Gallery maintains a vigilant watch dispite being rained on periodically through the morning.

Bill Sargenti and Kippy Swingle.

The Test dog will be at 6:40 a.m. and the first running dog will be at 7:00 a.m. Yesterday, it was announced

that 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. The last dog yesterday was dog #25, so today we begin with dog #26, Pike and Bill Sargenti.

The weather is supposed to be cooler today, so we are all going to be bundled up! Currently it is 57 degrees with a light mist. We will have a high of 59 and expect the sun to come out after lunch.

Molly Schlachter in the heat of the action!

Laura Owens takes the Team Portraits.

Molly Schlachter of MCS Photography will be on the grounds today to show her pictures. Please be sure to stop by her table to take a look at the shots she has taken of the handlers and dogs. This year, she is featuring portrait AND action shots...not to be missed! You can also view the 2010 National pictures on her website http://www.mcsphotography.com/

We are now on dog #47, the test has been stopped twice to chase the cows out of the area. We have had a misty rain come through, but right now it's cloudy, cold and windy and conditions are muddy and miserable.

Callbacks for the Fourth Series:
1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 41, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 64, 66, 68, 69, 72, 75, 77, 78, 82, 83, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 95, 96, 97

Dogs Dropped:
4, 5, 8, 10, 14, 20, 26, 28, 30, 33, 37, 40, 42, 43, 55, 59, 63, 65, 67, 70, 71, 73, 79, 80, 81, 84, 93

Dogs Returning: 63

This does not bode well....

A large storm came through as everyone was trying to get the 4th Series set-up and blew over The Retriever News and Hostess tents. As the 4th Series is underway, many are recuperating after the quick weather change.

The Retriever News tent has seen better days......

Gwen Jones and Test Dog handler, Mark Medford.

Vickie Lamb and Gwen Jones blog away through it all!

Fourth Series: Water Triple with an Out of Order Flyer

The 4th Series is a Water Triple with an out of order flyer. The line is on a hill and the flyer is on a hill 175 yards to the left side of the line with a deep draw between the two. The flyer is a hen pheasant thrown right to left and is the first bird down. The middle bird, a hen pheasant, is thrown second; it is 150 yards across the pond thrown right to left, retiring behind a well brushed blind. The right-hand bird, a duck, is the go-bird. This bird is also thrown right to left; it is across the pond and has the gunner retiring behind another brushed blind. The pond has two decoys placed so that the dogs must pass them on the way to the marks. There is an honor. Starting dog #87 handled, #90 and #21 have handled and both #92 and #95 have picked-up. The next dog is now going to the line.

The best place in town for catfish and corn muffins...YUMMY!!!

Jane and Jerry Patopea take a moment to refuel.

Rowdy's is the food wagon on the grounds. It sure is nice to have a hot meal when the temperature is in the forties and fifties!! THANK YOU, ROWDY and BUD the grill master.

The fourth series shut down for the day with the last running dog #31. Unfortunately, #31 had a handle. The fourth series will continue tomorrow morning with a test dog at 6:40 a.m. and the first running dog at 7 a.m. The first running dog to continue the 4th series will be dog # 32. The series ran 32 dogs this afternoon with 2 pick ups, 4 handles and several large hunts.

Luther Davis adjusts the loudspeaker.

We waited near the equipment barn for the callbacks.

Lynne DuBose and Scotty Seward.

Mark and Becky Edwards send a message to their girls.
Hugs 'n' kisses......

Jim Cope catches some (rare) rays.

The handlers and gallery make their way to the line.

Babs Lopez, Suzanne Medford and Dennis Bath.

It was so muddy today that even the chairs wore boots!!

The Gallery braved the wind and rain to see the dogs run the Fourth Series.

Everyone was cold and wet after the rain and wind today. The mud seemed to cover clothes, purses, boots and anything else that was carried out on the grounds. Late this afternoon our gracious land owners wife brought out a homemade sour cream pound cake. It was still warm. I can not tell you how good a warm piece of rich pound cake can make you feel when you are freezing to death! A picture of this family and highlights of the day will follow.