EVERYONE IS BACK~~OFFICIALLY

...from one of the judges.

That's A Wrap, Folks

The last dog has run. Will be working on photos while waiting on callbacks.

Just a reminder, if you wish to view an entire day on the blog, instead of just the current page of seven posts, simply go to "Archives" in the left vertical bar and click on the day you wish to view. All posts will come up for that day. Some Worker's Party photos have been added at the bottom of today's page, FYI. Also, I'll still be adding photos all the way back into Sunday, am continuing to scramble on photos. :)

Another point: If you click on a photo it will enlarge. Use your browser "back" button to get back to the page you were viewing.   

Almost done...Callbacks will be here

Most of the dogs have had rather tidy work on this blind in the same type performance. There are some that take a few extra casts to get out of or away from the water, and others that take a few extra casts to get back down the hill from the pine tree on the hillside they must angle. (Photo of blind is coming.) These appear to be the differences from the status quo on this blind. 

Tomorrow Morning...

Water marks will be run at Dave Furin's property. Test dogs will begin at 7:30 a.m.

Raindrops are fallin...

...from the sky...a light rain has ensued. 

Traffic Jam...

...Vehicles going in and out are just behind the end to the blind...but, it will be maintained shortly...

A Few Anonymous Quotes

1) Having to run beside the water like that could hurt some of the dogs that want to get in, sure. But it could also hurt some of the dogs that don't want to get in.

2) Can't let your guard down on a blind like this.

3) Have the standards changed? 

4) Gotta get up there and concentrate on getting that bird.  

This Land Blind...

...Is 235 yards out there at the base of a little pine. With essentially a downwind, there is one sidehill to traverse; otherwise the blind appears to be straight down and up, with some picturesque water lying to the left of the test. 

Adjustment phase...

After considerable adjustments, phase two of this land blind has been put into motion, with dog #110 running first. He just ran so we've just begun...

More to come.

Dogs dropped...

are 30, 42, 51, 101, 103.

There are 40 dogs remaining as the seventh series looms...

That's It, Folks...

...and now we move. Be back as soon as possible. 

In the photo, from left, Gary McIlwain, Judge Peter Goodale and Dave Davis discuss mechanics of the next test. 

One dog remaining...

..and this test is in the books. 

The next test is already set up and will require a short traffic move toward the front of Gary's property. 

Series seven is rumored to be a land blind. 

Birdie Puts One in the Clubhouse...

...with a nice job. 

Sun has emerged....

and continues to illuminate the field despite pretty constant cloud cover.  

Nazi Influence...

...is sometimes necessary to ensure that all dogs have the same opportunities. 

When blinds are run, commotion behind the handler can make or break a performance, and Debbie Darnell and Kathy Berdan are taking their job seriously, which is to keep foot traffic between the parking area and the gallery nonexistent while dogs are running this test. Only when a dog is on the return from the bird can people go back and forth. 

Missing the boat...

...or, unfortunately, the water in this case. As a result, #30 has just been picked up.

Catching the corner...

...the initial line for Jerry Lee, 25, was straight at the right-hand bushes on the edge of the water. A stop just shy of these "markers" and a left hand cast put Jerry Lee just catching some water along the inside of the front shore and across the corner of the pond.  

Nice and tidy...

...for dog #1, a good job.

Shaq Attack!!!

#109 is shining with a beautiful initial line carried into the water and still going, now across the road, into the cover and taking the right edge of the first mound for the first whistle. A few more whistles and he has the bird. Quite a beauty.

Here, Judge Lou Vreeland and Handler Bill Fruehling wait behind the holding blinds put up to speed delivery of the bird in near conjunction with the coming to line of the next running dog...as Shaq runs home with his bird. 

This IS The Second Water Blind...

...Just deemed as such.

Road Rash

...Well, not quite, but the dirt road, as it continues on at an angle to the right of the line to the blind, and deep, pulls dogs with it as they succumb to easier going instead of muscling into the cover and into the slope of the first mound. A visible boulder rests at the right edge of the first mound and is to the right of the true line to the blind.

Add wind to the equation...once the dogs get over there...they have to cast back into it to recover the proper line.

This photo shows the blind planter standing behind the place where the bird is planted, which is at the base of the mound. Also, this pic was taken from the mat before the first test dog ran; prior to the second test dog the mat was moved a few feet to the right which tightened the line to the evergreens. This photo is also a zoom. Please see the other photo in the test description to appreciate a better view of the length of entry.  

I-N-T-I-M-I-D-A-T-I-O-N

...This appears to be key as dogs face this blind. Some would rather get in the water fat, while others would prefer not to get in at all, requiring numerous casts to accomplish the same.

Already this blind is producing quite varied work.

Here is delivery from #99, the first dog to run this series. He is pictured prior to the decision to put up a holding blind from which to receive the bird. 

Sixth @9:55

The first dog, #99, officially began this test at 9:55 a.m. under cloudy skies with a hint of sun. The temperature is currently 66 degrees with a southeast wind approaching five miles per hour.

This is a land/water blind with the running line on top of a sloping hill. We've moved to the left of the line to the marks and up the hill, thus crossing the lines to all previous marks as the line to the blind is negotiated. The line will skim the two large evergreens (they're to the left) that were just shy of the short retired holding blind in the fifth test, then continue down to the piece of water that was en route to the long retired from test five. Two brushy shrubs have been added to the right of the line at the edge of the water and they provide an evident right-hand edge. It appears the dog must get in to the left of these bushes and then slice through the water, exit and cross the dirt road that traversed the fifth, run beside water to the left into heavier cover that climbs a lower mound into more slope up to the base of the next mound where the bird, a drake mallard, is planted at 280 yards.

Test Dog Running Shortly...

...am posting this now as I may be retrieving equipment while the first dog is kicked off. FYI!

Setting up for test six...

...and since Gary is here, all is fine and dandy. :)

Callbacks to the Sixth Test...

A total of 45 dogs remain to vie for the title of 2009 NAFC. Callbacks are: 1, 2, 3, 15, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 34, 42, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 57, 59, 68, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 80, 85, 90, 92, 95, 96, 97, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 120

Dog #99 will start this test.

Announcement...

...Next test will be in this area. 

Now, how is your avian identification?

Handling To The Bird...

From the left between the flyer and long bird...

...And now, as #54 delivers the last bird, this test is completed.

The One We've Been Looking For...

...Is off and running...

Handling From The Right...

...for the long bird, as #49 then recovers the bird. 

Here, #49 comes to the line...

Wait One...

...#54 gets a no-bird, but with one dog remaining, that being Ken Robbins and his re-run, she is only able to wait one dog before returning to line.

A Fresh Approach...

...Rough, #53, has picked up the long retired bird third, and has just been sent for the long flyer.

With a quick trip behind the gun and then making haste to recover toward the bird... chalk up  a nice job for Rough and Gary. 

Oops, more of the same...

...with a handle for #51. 

H-E-R-O!

A successful completion has just been turned in by #50, and the crowd expressed its appreciation in turn. 

Is It An Omen?

...Here's a no-bird for #49...he also had a no-bird in the fourth series.

Bad Time To Run...

...Now it's five in a row, as #48 handles.

Make That Four...

...As #43 handles on the long bird---Now help is being summoned and this is a pickup.

Here, Twister and Al wait their turn in the holding blind

Three In A Row

...#42 has handled from the left to the long retired mark. 

Conditions for the carryover...

...While the wind has remained almost identical to the previous morning in direction and velocity (before the winds increased of course, which was later in the day), the overcast skies are presenting difficulties to visibility for the dogs. While the guns stand out, the long birds are a challenge to see in the air. 

Second Handle This Morning...

...This one is en route to the long retired, ensuing from a pop about a third of the way out...and is for #41. 

In this photo, John Stracka and the the judges watch the flyer hunt.

Handle on the First Dog...

...Grady is being handled from the left of the retired bird. 

Guns Went Off...

...At 7:01 sharp...and #35, Grady, is now about to scoop up the flyer.

In this photo, Gun Co-Captains John Parrott and Dennis Bath share some private banter.   

Test dog has been launched...

...this morning's lone test dog is Gary with Sunny.

Candid Camera--Worker's Party

Day Five...

...Another high 40s morning, forecast mid-seventies....tension is mounting!