And the Winner Is …

And the Winner is …

98. FC-AFC Robbers’ Stray Bullet, “Bullet,” LM, Alan Pleasant 

Owned by Marion Stroud-Swingle, Elverson, PA

And the Finalists are …

10. FC Tucker Copy Of Carbon, “Tucker”, LM, Bill Eckett

11. FC-AFC Tealcreek Patton’s Saber, “Saber”, LM, Chris Hatch

26. NFC Trumarc’s Dot Come, “Dottie”, LF, Danny Farmer

38. FC Hyfl’n Turbo Jet, “Turbo”, LM, Ray Voigt

39. NAFC-FC Texas Troubador, “Tubb”, LM, Martha Russell

43. FC Baypoint’s Westminster Abbey, “Abbey”, LF, Kenny Trott

50. FC Maple Creek’s Spirit Warrior, “Levi”, LM, Wayne Curtis

63. FC-AFC Candlewoods Life Is A Highway, “Freeway”, LM, John Stracka/Paul Sletten

72. AFC Watermark’s Miss Kali Hart, “Kaylee”, LF, Bill Sargenti

77. FC-AFC Lubys and Whitewaters Pirate’s Jewel, “Jewel”, LF, Ray Voigt

82. FC Hunting Creek Classy Girl, “Classy”, LF, Alan Pleasant

93. FC Adams Acres Water Lilly, “Lilly”, LF, Bill Sargenti

96. FC-AFC Mercy Mercy Mercy Me, “Mercy”, LF, John Stracka/Paul Sletten

98. FC-AFC Robbers’ Stray Bullet, “Bullet”, LM, Alan Pleasant 

The Tenth Series is in the books at 4:27 pm

We are anticipating the announcement of the National Retriever Champion of 2014 !!

93. FC Adams Acres Water Lilly, “Lilly”, LF, Bill Sargenti

Rerun from two no-birds!

Left – Looped behind the hill and then got the bird.

Middle Retired Flyer – Through first cove and over the peninsula and out to the gunner's area, looping hill high, then low. Worked back up the hill to the bird.

Left Retired – Nice job, straight to the bird.

Right Flyer – Taking a very nice line across both pieces of water, got out below the guns, up hill to the fall area and missed it. Went deep left up hill before working her way back down to the bird.

NO BIRD – 93. FC Adams Acres Water Lilly, “Lilly”, LF, Bill Sargenti

This dog already had one no bird! "Lilly" is the last dog to run and has to come right back.

82. FC Hunting Creek Classy Girl, “Classy”, LF, Alan Pleasant

Rerun from a no-bird. 

Left – Nice.

Middle Retired Flyer – Went out and up left side, working her way right to the bird.

Left Retired – Heading out on a line, wide right. Had to be handled out of the Middle Retired Flyer area and out to the bird.

Right Flyer – Nice line up to just left of the guns. Over to the fall area and the bird.

50. FC Maple Creek’s Spirit Warrior, “Levi”, LM, Wayne Curtis

Left – One loop and got his bird.

Middle Retired Flyer – Into the water, over the peninsula. Up hill on left and hunted left, then right just over the ridge; came down on right side and got it.

Left Retired – Driving out – SMACK!

Right Flyer – Went out very wide left, then drove deep up the hill, hunted very deep right away from the bird before working his way back down the hill to his bird.

96. FC-AFC Mercy Mercy Mercy Me, “Mercy”, LF, Paul Sletten

Left – Stopped short, had to handle to the bird.

Middle Retired Flyer – Into both pieces of the water as she went to the area by the blind. Then back and low right. She hunted the right side of the hill and this one landed left. Had to be handled to the bird.

Left Retired – Out to just right of the gunner's blind. Circled it and then straight to the bird.

Right Flyer – Took a really good line straight to the bird.

NO BIRD – 93. FC Adams Acres Water Lilly, “Lilly”, LF, Bill Sargenti

NO BIRD – 82. FC Hunting Creek Classy Girl, “Classy”, LF, Alan Pleasant

77. FC-AFC Lubys and Whitewaters Pirate’s Jewel, “Jewel”, LF, Ray Voigt

Left – Nice line to the bird.

Middle Retired Flyer – Into the first piece of water over the peninsula, drove deep and missed it, then drove down to the bottom and worked her way back up to the bird.

Left Retired – Cut the left end of the cove over the peninsula and went deep right. Turned halfway up the hill and came back down on the left hand side and then to the bird

Right Flyer – Into the first piece of water, crossing the right end of the peninsula before entering the back piece of water. Drove up the hill and had to work to get her bird.

72. AFC Watermark’s Miss Kali Hart, “Kaylee”, LF, Bill Sargenti

Left – 2 quick loops and had her bird.

Middle Retired Flyer – Into the first cove. Over the peninsula and into back water, up the hill and smacked it.

Left Retired – Wide right up the hill. Hunted deep right and had to come back down to the bird on the left.

Right Flyer – Into the first cove, over the tip of the peninsula. She drove up the hill deep of the bird and had to loop her way back down to it.

11. FC-AFC Tealcreek Patton’s Saber, “Saber”, LM, Chris Hatch

Left – Nice.

Middle Retired Flyer – Into the first cove over the peninsula and out of sight. The dog was swimming the back piece of the water. He went out to the gunner's blind area, hunting low. He got back into the water and swam around. When he got out of the water, 2 whistles put him on the bird.

Left Retired – The dog got hung up low at the Middle Retired Flyer station and had to be handled out to the bird.

Right Flyer – Dog swam across first and second pieces of water. Up the hill straight to the fall area and the bird.

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

Left – Deep right turn and got it!

Middle Retired Flyer – Over the first piece of water to the peninsula and on to the area around the blind. 1 pass right, then high and deep over to the back side to hunt back over the ridge to the bird.

Left Retired – Caught first piece of water over the peninsula and wide left, handled back to the bird.

Right Flyer – Swam the first cove, then over the peninsula and out into the back cove. Up the hill, to fall area and the bird.

NO BIRD – 50. FC Maple Creek’s Spirit Warrior, “Levi”, LM, Wayne Curtis

GUN CHANGE at 2:10 pm – CONDITIONS Report

The afternoon has warmed up to 70 degrees with a SE wind at 10 mph hitting the handlers in the left shoulder.

43. FC Baypoint’s Westminster Abbey, “Abbey”, LF, Kenny Trott

Left – Nice job.

Middle Retired Flyer – Into first cove, angle left across the peninsula. Out to the tree looped left then worked her way wide right and then up and all the way down. Had to handle to the bird.

Left Retired – Took first piece of the water – SMACK!

Right Flyer – Out across the first piece of water. Tight tip of the peninsula, got out on the second piece of the water. Straight up the hill behind the guns. Hunted the hillside deep and wide and worked her way back to the bird.

39. NAFC-FC Texas Troubador, “Tubb”, LM, Martha Russell

Left – SMACK!

Middle Retired Flyer – Into the first cover over the peninsula, then into the back piece of water. Looped low and worked his way up the hill, looping left and right to his bird.

Left Retired – Driving out to the area of the fall and his bird.

Right Flyer – Over the peninsula and into the second piece of the water. Drove up hill deep of bird, hunting hard. Came back down the hill to the bird.

38. FC Hyfl’n Turbo Jet, “Turbo”, LM, Ray Voigt

Left – Right to the bird.

Middle Right Flyer – Into the water and over the peninsula. Came out left at the tree. Hunted right and left, then low and deep left with loops in the middle of the hill then got his bird.

Left Retired – Over the peninsula's left side. Straight to the bird.

Right Flyer – Took the right end of the peninsula after crossing the first cove, back into second piece of the water on an angle that looks like a great line. Got out, driving up the hill, looping just right, then deep of this belly up bird.

26. NFC Trumarc’s Dot Come, “Dottie”, LF, Danny Farmer

Left – Nice!

Middle Retired Flyer – Across first cove, over the peninsula and out to the fall. Hunted wide right and then back up the ridge. The bird landed on the backside and she got it.

Left Retired – Directly to the bird and the area, very nice.

Right Flyer – Into the first cove, over the peninsula angling to the right. Swam second piece of water and headed up the hill. Went directly to the fall area and the bird

NO BIRD – 11. FC-AFC Tealcreek Patton’s Saber, “Saber”, LM, Chris Hatch

10. FC Tucker Copy Of Carbon, “Tucker”, LM, Bill Eckett

Left – 1 loop and picked it up.

Middle Retired Flyer – Swam first cove over the peninsula.. Up to the area, heading away and handled back to the bird.

Left Retired – Clipped the left end of the cove, driving out for a perfect mark

Right Flyer – Into first cove, over the peninsula. Into second cove and across, beached on a good line to this flyer. Right to his mark.

98. FC-AFC Robbers’ Stray Bullet, “Bullet”, LM, Alan Pleasant

Left Dead Bird – SMACK!

Middle Retired Flyer – Into the first piece of the water into the peninsula to the left of the fall. Quickly right and got his bird.

Left Retired – Ran to the right of the holding blind. Looped deep right and turned back left and down to the bird.

Right Flyer – Dog crossed the first cove, then peninsula and the second cove exiting the water on line. Drove up the hill, straight to the bird.

Tenth Series Land/Water Quad with Two Retired

The Tenth Series is a land water quad with two retired. The mat sits on a hill overlooking the left side of a large lake with two coves in front of us. (We were on the other side of this lake for the 7 - 8 - 9 Combo Series.) The order of the birds is the far right flyer first, a drake mallard, shot to the left up the hill away from the dog at 405 yards. The dog must swim across two coves of water and a wide peninsula to get the bird. These are stand-out guns. The next bird thrown, dead hen duck, we will refer to as the left retired. It is thrown to the left of the tree where the guns stand at 315 yards. The line to that bird is to the left end of the cove up over the peninsula, driving up the hill to the bird. The third bird, a hen pheasant, is shot to the right angle back up the hill at 225 yards and retires. The dog must cross water and go up the far shore to get the bird on the hillside. The fourth bird, is on the far left of the test. It is a dead hen pheasant, thrown to the left angle back from the line at 125 yards. These are stand-out guns. The dog runs the land to this bird.

This test takes approximately 15 minutes per dog.

Here is an aerial of the Tenth Series provided by Jeff Schuett.

Callbacks to the Tenth Series …

10, 11, 26, 38, 39, 43, 50, 63, 72, 77, 82, 93, 96 and 98.

There are a total of fourteen back to the Tenth.

GOOD LUCK TO ONE AND ALL!

The starting dog will be dog number 98.

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The Test is in the Books at 11:27 am

The Callbacks will be given at the next test site …

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

Land Blind – 5 whistles to the water and 1 to the bird.

Flyer – Nice.

Water Blind – 2 whistles to the water; 3 to the point; 2 off the point and 2 in the water to get to the bird.

R Dead Bird – Nice.

57. FC-AFC Hardscrabble Roxie McBunn, “Roxie”, LF, Ray Voigt

Due to the no-bird that the handler had with another dog, this dog ran out of order.

Land Blind – 2 whistles to the water and 3 far shore to the bird.

Flyer – Nice one – a few loops to a very long bird.

Water Blind – 2 whistles in the water; 1 in the water to the point; 3 off the point and 3 to the far shore and the bird.

R Dead Bird – Scooped it up!

62. FC-AFC Un Petit Peu Canaille, “Canaille”, LF, F. Lee Jolley

Land Blind – Would not cast away from the marks … this dog was picked up.

58. FC-AFC Dominators High Spade, “Ace”, LM, Scott Harp

Land Blind – 2 whistles to get down the slope and across to the water and 2 more to the bird.

Flyer – Covered a lot of ground looking for his bird, but got it.

Water Blind – 4 whistles to get in; 2 to the point; 2 to get off the point; 3 in the water to the bird and 1 whistle at the end.

R Dead Bird – SMACK!

38. FC Hyfl’n Turbo Jet, “Turbo”, LM, Ray Voigt

Rerun from the no-bird.

Land Blind – 1 cast down the shore to get in and 2 more to the bird.

Flyer – Hunted deep and left before he found a short flyer.

Water Blind – 2 whistles to the water; 1 in the water to get to the point; 2 to get off the point. Carried this cast all the way to the far shore where one quick whistle put him on the bird.

R Dead Bird – SMACK!

54. FC-AFC Candlewoods Skyrocket, “Sky”, LF, Chris Ledford

Land Blind – 4 casts – toenailed water and 1 more to the bird.

Flyer – Pounced on it!

Water Blind – 2 whistles to the water; 3 in the water to the point; 11 casts to get off and he popped his head up on the back side. Got way up the hill past yesterday's mark. Many whistles and handled back to the bird.

This dog was not allowed to run the last mark.

50. FC Maple Creek’s Spirit Warrior, “Levi”, LM, Wayne Curtis

Land Blind – 2 whistles out by the bird.

Flyer – Nice!

Water Blind – 1st whistle in the water, got in wide right. 4 to get left back to the point; 3 to get off the point and 2 in the water between the point and the bird.

R Dead Bird – SMACK!

The Retriever News Tent

Thank You to Avery Sporting Dog for supplying us with our tent this week … It kept us dry last Sunday and keeps the sun out of our eyes as the weather improves with every day.

The Judges Relax on Their Time Off …

L to R: Chairman Mitch Patterson, Alan Madsen, Linda Patterson, Gary Ahlgren and Bill Goldstein

49. FC Ashland’s Annabella, “Bella”, LF, Alan Pleasant

Land Blind – 2 to get to the water and 2 in the water to the bird.

Flyer – Line was very wide left but right and then went to the bird.

Water Blind – 7 to get in the water; 3 in the water to the point; 3 off the tip of the point – very nice – 4 in the water between the point and the bird.

R Dead Bird – Quick turn left of the bird, then right to the bird.

43. FC Baypoint’s Westminster Abbey, “Abbey”, LF, Kenny Trott

Land Blind – 5 whistles to the water; 2 to the shore and 1 over to the bird.

Flyer – Straight to the bird.

Water Blind – 1st whistle in the water; 2 off the point; 1 in the water to the bird and 1 at the bird.

R Dead Bird – Good job!

41. Candlewoods He Hula Wahine, “Hula”, LF, Don Bovers

Land Blind – 6 to get in and 1 to the bird.

Flyer – Had a hunt on the flyer.

Water Blind – 3 casts to get in; 2 on the water; 2 to get off the point; 6 whistles in back piece of water got no response, but the dog was visible and 1 on the far shore to the bird.

R Dead Bird – Nice job.

A Little COMIC Relief …

Randy Spangler sent this picture from his tree stand in Northern Wisconsin.
The Blog goes EVERYWHERE!!

The " Bemidji Brothers" (Louie Churack and Doug Hood) wish they were there!!

39. NAFC-FC Texas Troubador, “Tubb”, LM, Martha Russell

Land Blind – 3 to the water; 1 in the waster and 1 to the bird.

Flyer – SMACK!

Water Blind – 1 to get down the slope and 1 in the water. 1 in the water to the point; 2 in the water going between the point and the bird and 1 on the far shore.

R Dead Bird – Very nice!

NO BIRD – 38. FC Hyfl’n Turbo Jet, “Turbo”, LM, Ray Voigt

32. FC Tremblin Earth’s Cosmic Rider, “Tex”, LM, Al Arthur

Land Blind – 3 to the water and 3 more to the bird.

Flyer – Straight to the flyer.

Water Blind – Initial line was nice down the hill. 5 to get on the point and 4 to get off with a strong vocal; out in the corner on the far bank and ran right to the bird.

R Dead Bird – Into the area of yesterday's mark, then out to the bird.

31. FC Magic Tricks Autumn Creek Tazz, “Tazz”, LM, Paul Sletten

Land Blind – 5 to get wet and 1 to the bird.

Flyer – SMACK!

Water Blind – 4 to get in the water; slipped 3 in first piece of lunging water putting him wide left on the point; 3 to get off the point; 2 whistles he heard and several he missed while lunging and on the bird.

R Dead Bird – To fallen tree, took a turn around and around, then out to the bird.

30. NAFC-FC Dottie Ray’s Ivy League, “Ivy”, LF, Andy Kahn

Land Blind – 6 casts to toenail the water; carried line to the bird.

Flyer – Nice!

Water Blind – 4 casts to get in the water; 3 to the point; 1 to get off; 2 to try to keep her right and 2 in the water to the bird.

R Dead Bird – Out to the blind and hunted the stake twice. Stayed low by the water to hunt behind the guns, then worked her way to the bird.

FINAL TRIVIA QUESTION …

Who does this hat belong to?

By the way, the answer to the last question was "Yogi" … FC-AFC The Bear XVII. It was first correctly answered by Caroline (Kine) Torinus via email. She commented "I recognized Ty's legs and pants. :-)  … and I knew it before I read your hint!

29. NFC-AFC Seaside’s Pelican Pete, “Pete”, LM, Steve Yozamp

Land Blind – 8 casts to get in the water; 1 in the water to get out and 3 on land to the bird.

Flyer – Out to the area; 1 big turn and got the bird.

Water Blind – 4 to get in; 4 in the water; 4 to get off the point; 4 in the water to the bird and 1 at the bird.

R Dead Bird – Hunted fallen tree from yesterday, then out to the bird.

GUN CHANGE at 8:25 am

The sun has risen in the sky and the wind has changed direction, SE at 9 mph.

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

Land Blind – 4 to the water and got the cast all the way to the bird.

Flyer – SMACK!

Water Blind – 1 cast to get in; 3 casts to the point, then many whistles trying to move him from the back side. Came out in the cove; 3 more; right down the shore to the bird.

R Dead Bird – Nice job.

26. NFC Trumarc’s Dot Come, “Dottie”, LF, Danny Farmer

Land Blind – 3 in the water carried the line to the bird.

Flyer – Looped and got it.

Water Blind – Carried line to the bottom of the hill. 4 casts to get in the water; 4 in the water to get on the point; 2 to get off; 3 on the way to the bird and 1 at the shore

R Dead Bird – Through oak and the root ball; one pass on yesterday's fall area, then out to the bird.

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

Land Blind –  1 at the water and 1 on the far shore to the bird.

Flyer – Had a hunt for the flyer.

Water Blind – Lined into the water. 4 casts into the water, but got our early. 5 casts off the point. 3 casts to try to keep him right; auto cast when lost between point.

The Judges asked the gunners to pick up their birds

17. FC Forry’s Charmed One, “Piper”, LF, Ed Forry

Land Blind – 2 on the slope and 1 in the water and 1 to the blind.

Flyer –  Had a hunt on this bird.

Water Blind – 7 or 8 whistles … 3 to try and stop in the water, but got out early. 4 casts on the point to get back in, but lost behind the point to far shore where she ran bank to the bird.

The Judges would not allow the "Piper" to get her last bird.

16. FC-AFC Ragin Eye Of The Storm***, “Cane”, LM, Alan Pleasant

Land Blind – 7 whistles to get in the water and 1 on land to the blind.

Flyer –  Passed on left, then quick turn to the bird.

Water Blind –  5 whistles to get in the water; 3 to the point; 5 and a vocal to get off; 3 in far piece of the water and 1 to the bird.

R Dead Bird – SMACK!

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

Land Blind – Initial line from the mat to the bird – lined it.

Flyer – Nice job.

Water Blind – 1 on the slope for direction; 8 off the point and 6 behind the point. Lost on the far shore where yesterday's marks kept her deep left hunting. Finally got it.

R Dead Bird – Did not run.

Judges advised that he was no longer in contention and asked the gunners to pick up the dead bird and bring out the flyer.

"SUNRISE" … "SUNRISE" …

As the sun rose this morning, it treated us to an ever-changing, beautiful sky … Enjoy!

13. FC Sundog’s Maximum Pursuit, “Max”, LM, John Henninger

Land Blind – 1 whistle on the slope; 1 in the water and 2 on the shore for a nice blind.

Flyer – Straight to the fall area, quick right turn to the bird.

Water Blind – Initial line into the water; 3 to the point and 1 on the point that carried him all the way to to the bird.

R Dead Bird – Went through the gap between the oak and the root ball then turned R out to the bird.

11. FC-AFC Tealcreek Patton’s Saber, “Saber”, LM, Chris Hatch

Land Blind – 2 whistles on the slope and 1 on the far shore for a nice blind.

Flyer – Several turns, then got it.

Water Blind – Initial line to the edge of the pond; 2 in the water; 2 off the point; 4 whistles, then a change of whistle to stay right of the point – very nice finish.

R Dead Bird – Good job.

10. FC Tucker Copy Of Carbon, “Tucker”, LM, Bill Eckett

Land Blind – INitial line was very nice and with very few whistles; he completed the blind.

Flyer – Large hunt for his flyer, got it!

Water Blind – 2 whistles to navigate the slope into the water; 3 in the water for position; 2 to get off the point and 3 whistles between the point and the bird – nice.

R Dead Bird – SMACK!

Test Dogs to the Line …

At 6:30 am, Test Dog, "Diva" and Tim Thompson came to the line …

Land Blind – Wanted her birds, but Tim worked hard and she got it.

Flyer – Nice.

Water Blind – Diva did not want to get wet and was picked up.

Tim Thompson and "Diva" – a blur in the early morning light!

At 6:37 am, Peter Ketola and "Ace" stepped in and ran the water blind for the handlers. Ace did a very nice job up front. He slipped behind the point out of sight, but landed on the far shore in the cove and went straight tot the bird. Reshot the flyer and Right Dead Bird for viewing and Ace did a great job.

Combo Series – Double with a Land Blind and a Water Blind

This is a combo series. It is a double with two blinds (and two mats!) The handler has been given the instructions: The right long dead hen duck will be thrown first to the left at 290 yards. Then the short guns to the left at 150 yards shoot a rooster pheasant to the left, then they retire when the dog leaves for land blind. The handler then calls the dog off this exciting bird to run a land blind with a hen mallard at 250 yards. The land blind is off the back of the first bird thrown down at the water’s edge. Then it is the handler’s choice to pick up either of the marks that just fell. Then he moves to the mat at the far right to pick up the water blind, a water blind at 365 yards where the dog will find a drake mallard. And then he picks up the remaining bird.

The line faces southeast looking over the same area that we used in the Sixth Series. 

On this, the second day, it is cold at 54 degrees, with a gentle breeze hitting the handler in the chest. There is a haze visible on the water as the sun rises …

The rooster flyer guns, shooting to the left and retiring behind the tree.

The long guns and the land blind planter in the white and the water blind planter in the top right of the photo

Thank you to Jeff Schuett for these wonderful aerial sketches. 

SUPER SATURDAY –

We are on Day Seven of the 2014 National, finishing up this last series (with 24) dogs to run … Then on to the Tenth, later today. They say that we will finish around noon.