Callbacks to the 5th......

There were 10 dogs dropped and we have 78 back to the 5th series

Back to the 5th are:  2,3,4,6,8,9,12,13,14,15,16,17,19,21,22,26,28,29,30,31,32,34,35,37,39,40,
41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,54,55,56,57,60,62,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,73,74,76,
77,78,79,80,81,82,84,86,87,88,89,91,92,93,94,95,96,98,99,100,101,103,105

82. FC Moodys Jumpin Jack Flash “Jack” LM, Charlie Moody

Flyer: stepped on it
Right Retired: got wet and swam straight to the bird
Middle Retired: low light and the dog came up with the bird quick

That concludes the test at 5:26 pm

Callbacks to follow

81. FC-AFC Candlewood's Right On Ruby Reynolds “Ruby” LF, Ray Voigt

Flyer: had a tight area hunt and picked up the bird
Right Retired: got in the pond and straight to the bird
Middle Retired: went in on the left back to the right and behind the mound to come up with the bird

80. FC CK's Blue Velvet “George” LM, Alan Pleasant

Flyer: had a hunt but it was tight in the area to get the bird
Right Retired:stayed dry and went right to the bird
Middle Retired: went in on the right and came up with the bird quick

79. FC Ride Sally Ride III “Sally” LF, Paul Sletten

Flyer: nice mark on a long flyer
Right Retired:stayed dry and straight to the bird
Middle Retired: went in on the left and came up with bird quick

78. FC-AFC Nebo's Onyx Tornado “Twister” LM, Al Wilson

Flyer: drilled it
Right Retired: way left dry then looped big back to the bird.
Middle Retired: went right of the the brush pile and put on a hunt then finally come up with the bird.

77. FC Farmer's No Insurance “Dealer” LM, Tim Milligan

Flyer:big hunt short then came up with the bird
Right Retired:dry to the bales & then to the bird
Middle Retired:hunted & got over to the bird

76. FC-AFC Trumarc's Hollandaise “Holland” LM, Danny Farmer

Flyer: stepped on it
Right Retired: split the difference between the two and took a right turn to the bird
Middle Retired: went wide left and then hooked over to the bird for a nice mark

74. FC Seaside's Kingfish “King” LM, Mark Medford

Flyer: had a deep angle back flyer and went right to the bird
Right Retired: went out wide left of the bales and then to the bird.
Middle Retired: quickly in and out with the bird

73. FC Catalina's Trumarc “Trudi” LF, Rob Erhardt

Flyer: smacked it
Right Retired: stayed dry on the way out and made a good mark
Middle Retired: nice mark

71. FC-AFC Third Creek's Big Stick “Woody” LM, Paul Knutson

Flyer: nice mark
Right Retired: got into the pond straight to the bird.
Middle Retired: quickly picked up the bird

Back At The Line...62. FC RSK's Oohs And Aahs “Ozzie” LM, Alan Pleasant

Flyer: drilled it
Right Retired: got in the water and straight to the bird
Middle Retired: went in on left of the brush, hunted left and then came back to the bird.

70. FC Citori's No Holds Barred “Freedom” LF, Bill Sargenti

Flyer: straight to the bird
Right Retired: got into the pond and swam directly to the bird
Middle Retired: went in on the right of brush and put up a small hunt to come up with the bird.

69. FC-AFC Waterdogs Iron Diva “Diva” LF, John Stracka

Flyer: small hunt then came up with the bird
Right Retired: went wide left of the bales to make a big loop back to the bird.
Middle Retired: went in looking for the bird and came out with the bird quick

68. FC-AFC Candlewood GoldenDaze Louie “Louie” LM, Chuck Schweikert

Flyer: stomped it
Right Retired: straight to the bird
Middle Retired: very nice mark

67. FC-AFC Big Alfonse Capone Of Mo-Kan “Al” LM, Bill Eckett

Flyer: went straight to the bird
Right Retired: got in the water swam to the hunt put up a small hunt to the bird
Middle Retired:nice mark

66. Beadle's Turbo Nina “Nina” LF, Wayne Curtis

Flyer: nice job
Right Retired:got into the water and straight to the bird
Middle Retired: went in left disappeared on the top of the brush pile and then down to the bird.

Back To The Line...57. FC-AFC Great Bunns Of Fire “Jerrylee” LF, Lynne DuBose

Flyer: straight to the bird
Right Retired: fast to the bird but dry
Middle Retired: went in looking for the bird came out quick with the bird

No-Bird 65. FC-AFC Huntersbest Sapphire Jubilee “Jacki” LF, John Henninger

Jacki will go back six dogs

64. FC-AFC Kimber VIII “Kimber” LF, Jerry Patopea

Flyer: drilled it
Right Retired: straight to the bird
Middle Retired: great mark

No-Bird 62. FC RSK's Oohs And Aahs “Ozzie” LM, Alan Pleasant

Ozzie will go back six dogs

How To Access Prior Posts...

Several of the Blog Followers have contacted us about accessing previous posts. On the left side of the Blog are previous dates that are links to a day. Below those are the word, "Older" -- if you click on that, it will take you back to earlier posts from that day. There are only so many posts allowed per page so keep clicking on "Older" to go back.  Enjoy!

60. FC Tower of Terror “Dragon” LM, Scott Harp

Flyer:smacked it
Right Retired:jumped the boat and swam to point directly to the bird.  
Middle Retired: pick it up clean even though it was a short throw

Wind.....

The wind has changed just enough to give the dogs a snout full of duck scent from the flyer. This is tempting the dogs to hunt short and making it difficult to come up with the middle retired bird.  However birds still remain very visible in the air.

58. FC Huckleberry Fen “Huck” LM, Eric Fangsrud

Huck has been ruled a pick up and will not get a re-run of series 4

59. FC Armagh's En Fuego “Hottie” LF, Don Remien

Flyer: drilled it.
Right Retired: went out wet straight to the bird
Middle Retired: dog went out looking like she was going to drill it then hunted short and got dangerously close to the fall of the flyer before Don began to handle to the bird. test completed with a handle.

58. FC Huckleberry Fen “Huck” LM, Eric Fangsrud

Flyer: nice

Right Retired: got wet and went straight to the bird for a nice mark

Middle Retired: The dog hunted the area very accurately and could not come up with the bird. Dave Seivert went out to the field to examine the mark and has now come back to discuss it with his Co-Judges

No-Bird 57. FC-AFC Great Bunns Of Fire “Jerrylee” LF, Lynne DuBose

Jerry Lee and Lynn waited in the holding blinds, through the gun change for at least 20 mins before it was her turn to the line. Jerry Lee then has a no-bird and will go back six dogs which doesn't seem to bother Jerry Lee who is as cool as a cucumber.

56. FC-AFC Lanes Lets Get Ready To Rumble “Ali” LM, Mark Smith

Flyer: scooped it up
Right Retired: dry to bale and then straight to the bird
Middle Retired: came in on the left and out on the right with the bird in mouth

Gun Change ....

after #55 at time 3:12 pm

55. FC Peakebrook's Brawny Force “Dozer” LM, Al Arthur

Flyer: stomped it
Right Retired: stayed dry to the bales and quick over to the bird
Middle Retired: over the mound out to the right side of the brush for an accurate mark

54. NAFC Paddle Creek's Pack Your Grip “Traveler” LM, Chad Baker

Flyer: front footed it
Right Retired: wide left of the bales to stay dry and hooked over to the bird
Middle Retired: went left of the brush and picked up the bird quick

Thoughts about the 4th Series....

Mark Edwards evaluates the marks for the 4th series Land/Water marks.

53. FC-AFC Candlewoods Life Is A Highway “Freeway” LM, Paul Sletten

Flyer: hunted the bird before picking it up
Right Retired: stayed dry and went straight to the bird
Middle Retired: Picked this bird 2nd and had a hunt before picking up the bird

52. FC-AFC Hardscrabble Carbunnation “Fizz” LF, Karl Gunzer

Flyer: smacked it
Right Retired: went over the point over two points straight to the bird
Middle Retired: she had a very long throw, and went in wide left and came up with bird

51. FC Salty Paws Hammerin Hank “Henry” LM, Bob Starford

Flyer: perfect
Right Retired: stayed dry and went straight to the bird
Middle Retired: hunted by the pines on the right and came up with the bird

50. FC Trumarc's Dot Come “Dottie” LF, Danny Farmer

Flyer: hit it hard
Right Retired: jumped the boat straight in the water and to the bird
Middle Retired: went in left of the brush and came up with the bird quick

49. FC Millforge On A Roll “Lucky” LM, Bill Sargenti

Flyer: made a small loop then picked up the bird
Right Retired: stayed dry put up a small hunt on the point then had the bird
Middle Retired:  went left of the brush out of sight then back with the bird quick

48. AFC Texas Troubador “Tubb” LM, Martha Russell

Flyer: front footed it
Right Retired: stayed dry and straight to the bird
Middle Retired: went left of the brush then out of site to re appear with the bird.

47. Road Warriors Dieter Brock “Deets” LM, Ty Rorem

Flyer: short hunt to get the bird
Right Retired: stayed dry and straight to the bird
Middle Retired: went to left side of brush pile to come out quick with the bird.

Test Conditions.........

The clouds have moved in and the North wind has picked up.  There is a chill in the air and the gallery has thinned.  The dogs are picking up the birds but the route to them has change in order to attain the bird.  Some are going toward the pine tree or toward the mound only to go out of sight and come up with the bird or remain hunting out of sight and then reappearing on the opposite side of the brush pile. The test is about 5 mins a dog.

46. FC-AFC Coolwater's Knockout “Punch” LM, Alex Washburn

Flyer: long flyer and he stomped it
Right Retired: went in at the boat and paralleled the shore straight to the bird
Middle Retired: went right of the brush to come up quick with the bird.

45. FC Bluenorth's Davey Crockett “Davey” LM, Alan Pleasant

Flyer: nice
Right Retired: stayed dry straight to the bird.
Middle Retired: came in just left of the pine tree and picked up bird quick and clean

Back To The Line.....39. Lock Five's My Mother's Keeper “Keeper” LF, Andy Attar

Flyer: picked bird up quick
Right Retired: stayed dry to the bales and then went out to the bird
Middle Retired: went right of the brush, then out of sight to the then appear quick with the bird

44. Carronade's Esprit De Corps “Cori” LF, Ray Voigt

Flyer: stepped on it
Right Retired: hit it hard
Middle Retired: went out wide right of the pine tree to pick up the bird quick

43. FC Forry's Charmed One “Piper” LF, Ed Forry

Flyer: nice
Right Retired: big splash straight to the bird.
Middle Retired: picked up clean

42. NFC Watermark's Running Back “Emmitt” LM, Jim Gonia

Flyer: very nice
Right Retired: went out dry and came back wet for an accurate mark
Middle Retired: went out wide left of the brush went out of sight for a bit and then came up with the bird

41. FC-AFC-CNFC-CNAFC Nightwings Marsh Leader “Guide” LM, Bill Totten

Flyer: crept out 10 ft and had to be re-heeled. Then went out and smacked it
Right Retired: had a huge entry in the water straight to the bird.
Middle Retired: went over the mound straight to the bird.

Back To The Line....39. Lock Five's My Mother's Keeper “Keeper” LF, Andy Attar

Flyer:
Right Retired:
Middle Retired:

40. NFC-AFC Candlewood's Something Royal “Windy” LF, Ken Neil

Flyer: straight to the area
Right Retired: got in the water and right to the bird.
Middle Retired: left of the brush small hunt and got it

No-Bird 39. Lock Five's My Mother's Keeper “Keeper” LF, Andy Attar

will have to go back six

37. FC-AFC Bayou-Star Beyond Independent “Tia” LF, Danny Farmer

Flyer: front footed it
Right Retired: got wet had excellent mark
Middle Retired: went wide right of the pine tree and came up with the bird quick.

36. High Peak Rebel Ridge's Outlaw “Jesse Jane” LF, Sammie Thompson

Flyer: hunted short then went to the bird
Right Retired: Picked up as the last bird. Dog went way deep of the bales established a hunt and made her way back to the bird
Middle Retired: Picked up 2nd. dog went to the left end of the brush pile and up with the bird quick

35. Backwater Smokin Turq “Turq” LM, Kenny Trott

Flyer: great mark
Right Retired: got in the water deep of the bird and came back in the water to pick him back
Middle Retired: Picked this bird up 2nd and smacked it.

No-Bird 34. AFC Skywatch Cowboy “Cowboy” LM, Ray Vreeland

will go back six dogs

32. FC 3RS's Carbon Calie “Calie” LF, Bill Eckett

Flyer: nice
Right Retired:  left of  the bails made a tight circle to the bird.
Middle Retired: very nice mark

31. FC Merlyn IV “Merlyn” LM, Jerry Patopea

Flyer: excellent
Right Retired: dry going out picked up bird quick wet on the way back
Middle Retired: circled the pile to come up with the bird quick

30. FC-AFC Tru's Little Cruiser “Cruise” LM, John Henninger

Flyer:  good
Right Retired: got wet straight to the bird
Middle Retired: Pick this bird up 2nd nice mark

29. FC Madison Hadagun “Madison” LF, Bill Sargenti

Flyer: nice
Right Retired: good mark
Middle Retired: went out right of the pile circled around to pick up the bird

28. FC-AFC Lil Bit's Cote D'Or Pinot Noir “Bart” LM, Alan Pleasant

Flyer: nice
Right Retired: stayed dry but hit it hard
Middle Retired: lined out to the brush pile and then got the bird quick

27. FC-AFC Chatanika's High Water Haylee “Haylee” LF, Patti Kiernan

Flyer: nice
Right Retired: dry to the bails then quick to the bird
Middle Retired: came out right of the brush went out of site awhile then popped up with the bird

26. FC Dominator's Autumn Creek Gamble “Betsy” LF, Paul Sletten

Flyer: nice
Right Retired: took off between the guns & picked up the right retired clean.
Middle Retired: took a similar line to go & pick up the bird quick

24. FC Candlewood's Man In Black “Cash” LM, Danny Farmer

Flyer: good
Right Retired: Cash split the difference between the guns and ended up picking up the Middle Retired bird.
Second send on the Right Retired: got in water went out to sea got to the levy and had to be handled back to the bird.

22. FC Yankee Fork Yancy “Yancy” LM, Eric Fangsrud

Flyer: smacked it.
Right Retired: got wet and went to the bird.
Middle Retired: right of the brush out of site for a moment and then came up with the bird

Gun Change....

After dog #31 they will change out the gunners.

Back To The Line.....14. FC Honky Tonk Take It Easy “Tie” LM, Ty Rorem

Flyer: stepped on it
Right Retired: went right of the bails swam to the levy and then turned and swam back to the bird
Middle Retired: excellent job

21. FC-AFC Shadows Sweet Something “Sugar” LF, Mark Medford

Flyer: excellent
Right Retired: left of the bails dry and looped back to the bird
Middle Retired: right of the brush with a quick pick up of the bird

20. Biggun's Wild Rose Warrior MH “Rosie” LF, Rob Erhardt

Rob had to pick up Rosie who could not find the Middle Retired bird.

19. FC-AFC Calculated Risk “Chance” LM, Al Arthur

Flyer: nice job

Right Retired: went out deep to the levy jumped in and swam back to the point to pick up the bird.

Middle Retired: got the bird quick

17. FC-AFC Mercy Mercy Mercy Me “Mercy” LF, John Stracka

Flyer: nice

Right Retired: dry to the bails then over to the bird

Middle Retired: excellent mark

16. FC-AFC Bo Ford's Full Bird Colonel “Colonel” LM, Karl Gunzer

Flyer: stepped on it

Right Retired: got in the water straight to the bird.

Middle Retired: right to the area circled the pile and straight to the bird.

15. FC-AFC Bayou Teche Eye On The Ball “Slider” LM, Lauren Hays

Flyer: excellent

Right Retired: nice

Middle Retired:picked up bird clean

Finding the Test Descriptions/Diagrams

Just a Reminder...

All the Tests we have run so far will have a link on the left side of the Blog, just click the link to any Test that you want to see.

No-Bird 14. FC Honky Tonk Take It Easy “Tie” LM, Ty Rorem

will go back six dogs

13. FC Drake's Bay Parting Of The Sea “Moses” LM, Wayne Curtis

Flyer: small hunt

Right Retired: Moses parted the sea and got in fat to go straight to the bird.

Middle Retired: picked up the bird quick

12. FC Lubys and Whitewaters Pirates Jewel “Jewel” LF, Ray Voigt

Flyer: stepped on it!

Right Retired:dry to the hay bails then straight to the bird

Middle Retired: went left of brush pile & came back quick to the bird

9. FC Premier's RSK Powerstroke “Diesel” LM, Alan Pleasant

Flyer: bird went straight up in the air and landed near the gun station. dog put up a small hunt and came up with the bird
Right Retired: dry to the bails then hooked over to the bird quick
Middle Retired: excellent mark

Test Conditions.............

The wind is now blowing North to Northwest making the middle retired bird directly a down wind bird.  Dogs are starting to put up more of a hunt on the middle bird and some handlers have decided to pick that bird up 2nd instead of last.  The sun is shinning bright and the birds are very visible.  The Gallery is cheerful in these pleasant but brisk conditions. They are clapping for almost every dog and the crowds vantage point is no better than The Retriever News so we are all in the same boat as far as not always being able to see the dogs pick up the birds. 

Handlers viewing the starting line

8. FC Jazztime Empty Wallet “Cash” LM, Bill Totten

Flyer:stepped on it
Right Retired: deep and left of hay bails to circle back in and go to the point to pick bird up
Middle Retired: went left of the of brush made a quick turn back to the bird

6. FC Valtor's Hayseed Kid “Kid” LM, Don Remien

Flyer: good
Right Retired: straight to the bird 
Middle Retired: went out made a loop short of the bird and came up with it quick

5.. FC-AFC Atlasta Winner “Lassie” LF, Scott Harp

Flyer: very nice

Right Retired:  handled to the bird

Middle Retired: sent for this bird 2nd. went left of the pile came back around and picked up the bird.

4. FC-AFC In The Hunt Farm's Executive Sweet “Sweet” LF, Tom Bogusky

Flyer: excellent

Right Retired: got wet and straight to the bird.

Middle Retired: nice mark. came up with the bird quick.

3. FC Bayou Teche Tex “Tex” LM, Mark Smith

Flyer: smacked it
Right Retired: went out deep and out of sight came out wet with the bird
Middle Retired:went out left of the brush pile out of sight and came up with the bird

2. FC Escalera's Black Explosion “Nitro” LM, Al Arthur

Flyer: went behind guns and put up a small hunt to the bird.

Right Retired: got wet on the way out straight to the bird. and returned wet.

Middle Retired: went left of brush and worked it out from behind the pile

105. FC Mitimat You Go Girl “Diva” LF, Paul Sletten

Flyer: nice

Right Retired: went out left of the hay bails hooked out to the bird

Middle Retired:left of the brush hunted deep & came up with the bird

Gun Change....

There will be a gun change after dog #3

104. FC-AFC Wingover's Pedro II “Pedro” LM, Dolores Smith

Flyer: nice

Right Retired: got wet and went straight to the bird.

Middle Retired: went back to the Right Retired and had to be Picked Up

103. FC Dogwoods Fear Factor “Boo” LM, Tim Milligan

Flyer: stepped on it

Right Retired: took water on the way out straight to the bird.

Middle Retired: got a deep angle back throw. dog went out left and came up with the bird quick

Back To The Line....94. FC-AFC Fen Wizzard “Fen” LM, Eric Fangsrud

Flyer: nice
Right Retired: went out a little deep stayed dry and turned back to the bird.
Middle Retired: went right of the mound went out of sight and came up with the bird.

101. FC Wing Magic's Standpipe Moon “Piper” LF, Mark Edwards

Flyer: made short work of the bird.

Right Retired: went left behind the holding blind got deep and picked up the Middle Retired.

Sent for Right Retired again: got the bird clean

100. FC Rock River Benjamin “Ben” LM, Bill Eckett

Flyer: very good
Right Retired: couple quick loops on the point to pick up bird then jumped into the pond on the way back
Middle Retired: very short throw, went right of the mound mid way out put on a big hunt then got the bird.

99. FC-AFC Trulines Walla Walla Sweet “Pink” LF, John Henninger

Flyer: nice

Right Retired: dry to the hay bails and then took a 90 degree turn to the bird

Middle Retired: went wide right, hunted a bit and got the bird.

98. FC-AFC Land Ahoy “Pirate” LM, Jerry Patopea

Flyer:clean

Right Retired:dry all the way to the bird

Middle Retired:got a short throw, he came in left of the mound mid-way to the bird and then took some time to find it but got the bird.

96. FC Indi Go Girl “Indy” LF, Chris Ledford

Flyer: hunted short where the no-bird went then came up with the bird.

Right Retired: got wet and went straight to the bird.

Middle Retired: went right of the brush and drilled it 

95. FC Sweetie's Easy Rider “Ford” LM, Jim Gonia

Flyer: smacked it!

Right Retired:  jumped the boat at the edge of the pond got in the water straight to the bird

Middle Retired: scooped it up quick

No-Bird 94. FC-AFC Fen Wizzard “Fen” LM, Eric Fangsrud

will go back six dogs

93. FC-AFC-CFC-CAFC L And L Just A Gigolo “Deuce” LM, Howard Simson

Flyer: nice

Right Retired: stayed dry but got the bird quick

Middle Retired: went right of the brush and came up with bird quick

92. FC Adams Acres Water Lilly” Lilly” LF, Bill Sargenti

Flyer: nice

Right Retired: got in the water with a perfect line to the bird.

Middle Retired: got a short throw. Dog went wide right of the bird and hunted back to the bird

91. FC-AFC Maple Creek's Mattie Mae “Mattie” LF, David McMahan

Flyer: excellent

Right Retired: Quickly snatched the bird

Middle Retired: went left of the brush and back to the bird

89. FC-AFC Hilltop's High Society “Gracie” LF, Danny Farmer

Flyer: good

Right Retired: good mark but lined down the shore

Middle Retired: clean

88. FC-AFC Seaside's Pelican Pete “Pete” LM, Steve Yozamp

Flyer: nice

Right Retired: perfect

Middle Retired: out of sight quite awhile and came up on the bird.

87. FC Shadow's Whiteshoes “Billie” LM, Karl Gunzer

Flyer: very nice mark

Right Retired: Perfect

Middle Retired: quick pick up on the bird

86. CFC Backwater's Boomer “Boomer” LM, Kenny Trott

Flyer: small loop at the base of the mound and out to the bird.

Right Retired: Primary Selected to pick up this bird last. Picked up clean

Middle Retired: nice job

85. FC-AFC Lil Chin Music “Lil” LF, Don Remien

Flyer: Nice

Retired Right: ran past the point on the left Don blew whistle and handled to the bird.

Middle Retired: nice quick work

84. FC-AFC Robbers' Stray Bullet “Bullet” LM, Dave Rorem

Test dog completed running at 8:58 am

First dog running at 9:04 am #84 Bullet

We are in a poor vantage point to see the test, so bear with us til we can find a better location. We can not actually see the pick up of the bird on the middle retired bird. 

Flyer: Quick pick up

Right Retired Gun: perfect

Middle: last bird to be picked up clean

The 4th Series Water/Land Marks

Series 4 will be a triple with two retired guns and one  bird is wet.  The right retired gun is measuring at 149 yards and throws a duck to the right on a the point.   The gunners are retiring behind two well-placed large round bails.  The dogs must angle into a piece of water to get to the bird. The middle bird is a hen pheasant thrown to the right in front of a brush pile at 192 yards. The gunners retire to the left and behind the brush pile where there is ample cover. The final dry bird is the flyer shot to the right at a tempting at 75 yards and it being a drake mallard flyer picking up in the wind and getting a good distance from the gun station. This may cause some dogs to start pounding their paws on the mat.  A short exciting flyer that is sure to get the dog's focus away from the two right birds which are retired. The test is shot from right to left around the horn. The wind is blowing steadily out of the Northeast and the mat is facing the South. It appears the birds are somewhat downwind to slight crosswind depending on the time of day.

Other views from our Gallery supporters....Thank you!

Callbacks to the 4th......

88 dogs are back to the 4th series water marks. The Judges dropped 12 dogs.

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37 ,39 ,40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60,
62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104, 105

56. FC-AFC Lanes Lets Get Ready To Rumble “Ali” LM, Mark Smith

Ali took 3 whistles to get on the levy, then 3 whistles on the land bridge to get Ali into big water. He then had 2 whistles while swimming which carried him to the point and to the bird for a fantastic job. 

 

55. FC Peakebrook's Brawny Force “Dozer” LM, Al Arthur

Dozer had 3 whistles to middle of  land bridge where it only took  1 whistle to put Dozer in  big water. Dozer carried a great line to the point coming out just right of the tree for a quick whistle to finish the end strong.

54. NAFC Paddle Creek's Pack Your Grip “Traveler” LM, Chad Baker

Trav was fast keeping Chad on his toes. Trav took 3 whistles up front which carried him to the middle of the land bridge. Only 1 whistle to put him in the big water where he quickly got out on the right shore and needed a quick whistle back into the water. Trav had 2 whistles in the water while swimming to the point and required 3 more whistles to maneuver the end for a compliant blind.

53. FC-AFC Candlewoods Life Is A Highway “Freeway” LM, Paul Sletten

Freeway had one of the best blinds of the morning. Freeway had 1 whistle to get to the middle of the land bridge where he only required 2 whistles to convince him to take a big leap into the water.  Freeway carried his line to the point where he only required 1 whistle to pick up the bird.

 

52. FC-AFC Hardscrabble Carbunnation “Fizz” LF, Karl Gunzer

Fizz took 4 whistles to get to the levy, 1 whistle with a big verbal cast to get to the middle of the land bridge. Then Fizz took 3 whistles to get in to the big water where she carried a great line to the point with 1 additional whistle at the end for an excellent blind. 

 

50. FC Trumarc's Dot Come “Dottie” LF, Danny Farmer

Dottie needed 3 whistles to get to the levy then she carried line to the edge of the land bridge where she required only 2 whistle to get into the big water.  Dottie took  5 whistles while swimming to the point where a  verbal cast put Dottie on the point and  3 additional whistles to the bird

51. FC Salty Paws Hammerin Hank “Henry” LM, Bob Starford

Henry had 2 whistles to the levy and 4 whistles to get into the big water. Henry had 2 whistles to tighten his line in the water and carried it to the point and on the bird. Great job.

 

49. FC Millforge On A Roll “Lucky” LM, Bill Sargenti

Lucky had 3 whistles to first pond, 1 big cast with a verbal back off the levy and 1 big verbal cast out to sea. Lucky had a few whistles near the point while he was getting out and on 1 additional whistle to the end for a great blind.

48. AFC Texas Troubador “Tubb” LM, Martha Russell

Tubb had 3 whistles that carried him to the middle of the land bridge and 1 whistle to get in to the big water.  Tubb had 3 whistles while swimming that carried him to the point and all the way to the bird for a fantastic job. The Gallery commented "he always gets in the water."

Our Judges ...

We would like to thank our Judges for giving so much of their time to this 2012 National Open!

Tommy Parrish, Julie Cole and Dave Seivert

47. Road Warriors Dieter Brock “Deets” LM, Ty Rorem

Deets took 3 whistles to the levy, then carried a nice line to the left of the bush pile and 1 cast to get into the big water. Deets had 3 whistles while swimming and then drove to point to zero in on the bird with no additional whistles on the end for a spectacular job.

Alex Washburn Describes the Third Series Water Blind

We caught up with Alex after she ran "Punch" for comments ...

46. FC-AFC Coolwater's Knockout “Punch” LM, Alex Washburn

Punch took 3 whistles to the levy. Alex gave a loud verbal took back off the levy that carried Punch almost to the big water where he only required 1 whistle to get in and swim. Then 1 whistle on the point for an job well done. 

45. FC Bluenorth's Davey Crockett “Davey” LM, Alan Pleasant

Davey took 2 whistles to levy and carried line to the right of the brush pile and 1 to get into the water where Davey swam to the point with 1 whistle on the point to the end for a nice job. 

44. Carronade's Esprit De Corps “Cori” LF, Ray Voigt

Cori had 1 whistle to get in the first piece of water then carried that line to the middle of the land bridge.  Then 4 whistles to the get the dog left of the brush pile and in the big water.  A couple while swimming and 1 while on the point to complete blind.

43. FC Forry's Charmed One “Piper” LF, Ed Forry

Piper was quick to perform the blind.  The begin was smooth with few whistles to reach the first piece of water. Piper had 1 on the levy and a couple more to get in the water and then finished strong for a nice job.

3rd Series Continues......

The wind is calm but lightly out of the North and the mat is facing due South.  The sun has risen and temps are in the mid 30's warming to 65 degrees.  The dog starts behind the right edge of the mound where the handler is instructed to stay near the starting point until the dog enters the first piece of water.  At that time the handler may travel to the top of the mound to finish handling the blind.  The dog travels about 80 yards on land to the corner of a large pond (catches that piece) then must handle out and down the back side of the dam where the dog is out of sight of the handler for a brief moment.  After the dam the dog quickly pops up on a  large land bridge and must handle into a large pond.  There is a significant point protruding from the right hand shoreline a good way into the water where the rooster pheasant is planted.  Just shy about 50 yards of the large point is a small island to the left which hugs the left boundary of this blind.  Once the dog reaches the large point it gets a bit tricky.  The dog quickly encounters a small pot-hole of water where the handler looses site again for a moment and the dog exits quickly near the end. The handler must have a whistle ready because it is easy to loose the dog here.   This blind is measured at 305 yards and is taking 5:10 mins a dog.  

A Chilly Start to the Day....

"They aren't supposed to have weather like this in Texas!" is something that was overheard over and over yesterday...sort-of like a sunny day in Seattle. Local residents explained how cold it could really get and so today we are starting off in 37 degree temperatures with a high of 63 degrees. Us reporters have put every layer on we have and are hoping for sunshine to warm us up...or alternately that the weatherman gets it wrong!! We have to feel lucky, though, as it was snowing yesterday in Wisconsin where the Retriever News is located.

Thanking Our Sponsors...

At this time, we would like to thank our Official Sponsors, Purina and Avery Sporting Dog. They support the Retriever News, this blog and our sport in general.

We would like to also thank our other sponsors who provide goods and services to us retriever enthusiasts in the sport.