Callbacks and Drops--Judges Cameo Moment As Well

Our judges for this National pose for me after the test is completed and just prior to their callbacks session: Left to right, Lou Vreeland, Peter Goodale, and Dr. Linda Johnson.

 
To the fourth series, called back:

1, 2, 3, 5, 12, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 66, 67, 68, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 112, 113, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122--89 dogs back

The dogs dropped from this test are:

4, 7, 8, 11, 13, 16, 19, 31, 32, 36, 39, 45, 65, 70, 77, 87, 94, 104

There is a walleye fish fry put on by the Minnesota Iron Range Club tonight and everyone is talking about it... Walleye happens to be the Minnesota State Fish. 

***And, an update on that dinner: The walleye was wonderful!!!!

Remember, test dogs run beginning at 6:30 a.m. Have a great night!

Focus--Intensity

...These intangibles are reflected in the faces of handlers as they exit the holding blind headed for the blind, as Charles Tyson and Randy Whittaker demonstrate here...

Soaring Temperature...

...relatively speaking. Forecast for today was 77 degrees and it's currently 82. Still, it's nice (especially compared to searing southern heat). 

Another external factor to contend with is all the heavy truck traffic (dump trucks and tractor trailer sized dump trucks) traveling in and out on the gravel road directly behind the gallery. The considerable dust generated by their endeavors (hauling rock from old mining operations) is blanketing the gallery, the line, everyone and everything.    

A LIttle Confusion in the Middle of the Day...

... Dog #64 was in the holding blind and ran the blind, although he wasn't on the official callback list. The judges raise their eyebrows and approached the line marshal because they didn't have a #64 in their books. 

In the meantime a situation was being handled about #66 not on the grounds to run because he was back at the hotel assisting in an emergency situation involving a woman on those premises. Hence the blind planter wasn't notified to plant the blind for #65, who was scored to the area.

Things are back to normal now with #67 having just run a nice blind and #68 on line currently. 

No confusion with the three men pictured in this photo, however, including Bob Lindgren, Announcer; Tom Vaughn, 2009 National Open upcoming judge; and contestant Louie Churack.

No Bird At The Tree...

...For dog # 59. The judges had the blind planter come out with a bird for the dog. 

And here is a snapshot of Game Steward Co-Chair, Joe Tonko, (who is quite a worker and always doing something, it seems) with an "evergreened" blind stake behind his ear.  

Water--The Great Equalizer

An update on the work for this test...

Dogs can see the piece of water out there, innocent and likewise not overwhelming in size, from the line.

Some dogs are veering quite a bit left on the initial send... "I don't want to go there."

Many others find the bank of land on the left of the middle of the S to be extremely attractive as opposed to getting in or casting into the water.  

All of this affects the overall flavor of performance. Throw in an often sturdy crosswind and it takes a strong constitution to bear down and get the ingredients to this blind down pat. 

Official Announcement--Co-Chairs of the National

Co-Chairs of the Marshal Committee, Rick VanBergen and Laura Parrott, are doing an admirable job of managing all the details necessary to make a National run smoothly. 

We've just learned that this will be the only test for today. 

Test dogs will commence at 6:30 a.m. in the "Horse Pasture" field where water marks (triple) await everyone.

First running dog will launch at 7 a.m.

Anonymous Quotes

...From the gallery regarding this blind

1) Tough blind, but I feel that in a National AMATEUR, as opposed to a National OPEN, when the dog does the blind well, he should get the bird when he gets close to it. At least in the early blinds of the National, which this is...

2) Are we testing the dog's abilities or the handler's eyesight?

3) It has a beginning, a middle, and an end, kind of ticky-tacky but you know where you should be, and overall it's about what you'd expect at this stage of the National. 

4) My dog is so big that if he gets in the water out there I don't think any water will be left. 

5) I just want my dog to do it. 

6) Wish there was a marker out there.

7) Gotta stay on your toes for this one all the way through, and don't be afraid to blow that whistle. Don't save a cast on this blind or you might be going home.

A Beginning, A Middle And An End...

...this blind has all three. While a few dogs are delivering exceptional initial lines and others are doing well at the start, some are veering to the left or the right. Then, in the middle are the perils of the ditch and the S channels, following by the long run up to the blind with the wind playing havoc all along... 

In the photo, handler Bob Byrum and #62 head up to the line. 

Here's A Gorgeous Cast...

...showing how it's done...Steve Bechtel and "Chad"

Put Your Hair Up...

Ladies, and men with long hair... let the wind be your friend! Men and women with short hair that have any affinity toward the importance of wind when running tests with dogs, particularly blinds, know that wind can change several times in the course of one time to the line...and where that wind is when you send your dog, or when you give a cast, can affect your dog's overall performance a hundred-fold, or more.  

A conscious nature to the clues from the wind on your neck or your ear can enhance team performance...

...and wind surely is playing into a lot of what we're seeing on this blind. 

Definition on the line to the blind...

...There is actually an earlier set of boundaries on the slot to the blind on the far land. About halfway to the bird from the far end of water, two equi-distant bushes or shrubbery/trees define goalposts, at least insofar as the line to the blind is concerned. This is not to say that this boundary or the farther one near the end of the blind are mandatory to successful completion of the blind, but they do define the line. 

A Little Wind Will Do Ya...

...And right now, we've got variable winds either from the south or southeast to east with the occasional westerly puff. With ESE or WSW direction, you have two versions of a crosswind for this blind. Overall wind description is definitely variable once again, and blowing about 5 mph on average.  

Nerves?

Maybe...does eating grass in the holding blind help?

Dicey at the end

This is no blind to fall asleep on at the end of the blind. A beauty of a line can deteriorate to nada in half a heartbeat with a whistle not blown. 

A Thing Of Beauty...

...The first dog lined 7/8 of the way to the blind...which is 265 yards distant from the line.

This water blind has an 80-yard entry to the first water, which is a straight ditch-type channel crossing the line and then winding around to the right and then left in an S-curve channel on line to the bird. Hence, the dog runs down to the first water in moderate grassy cover with taller grasses on the near side of the ditchbank, then crosses water through cattails up onto a neck of land and then back into the S-curve channel. Some dogs are already crossing the first ditch of water and ending up on the left bank of the S-curve channel. A cast there often puts the dog squaring and wanting to then end on the right side of the S-curve. This requires another cast to get in the channel. From the time the dog leaves this water there is a big run to the bird, which is a dead hen pheasant, up through a far slot made by two staggered trees, to the blind. 

And, we're off...

Dog #117 has just launched for the water blind. 

Callbacks to the Third Series

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 112, 113, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122...

AND....117 will start the next test.   

Recap...

...as the last dog prepares to run the blind...oops, more to come on this as we move....

Handles and Hunts...

...are the norm this morning. The field to the left of the right-hand mark is as attractive as ever. Dog #82 has just handled on the retired bird, and a photo of #83's hander can be seen in the previous post.  

#84 gets ready with handler Joe Cooper ... 

Some dogs are hunting and then recovering, as well. 

Rockin' and Rollin'...

...Number 80 has a cliff-hanging flyer that is just too tempting, as he creeps out toward his bird, but stops...and then is released by the judges...

In this photo, handler of #83, Dave Hemminger, hustles up to handle his dog on the blind. 

Conditions Are Holding True...

...for the most part. We have another handle on the heels of a big and ranging hunt with #79. 

First Handle of the Morning...

...unfortunately, #77 requires a handle from the open field to the left of the retired gun holding blind...and they are now planting the blind for him as the dog returns with his second bird. 

Bright and Early...

Test dog went off almost right on schedule, at 6:47 a.m. with Lorraine and Fannie, as remaining contestants looked on. 

Then, at 7 a.m. sharp, the first running dog came to the line, only to get a no-bird on the flyer. We are now on #77 and cruising along. 

  

 

Clear, Brisk and Cool...

...as the second morning of competition dawns at 40 degrees in northern Minnesota. May have been cooler than that but I've been out with my dogs in the pre-dawn hour! 

With 13 dogs remaining to run the first setup and a start time of 7 a.m. (6:45 a.m. test dog), this test promises to be in the books by or before 9 a.m. The next series is scheduled for the same area. 

We'll start with #74 this morning--Good luck to all remaining contestants!