2014 MNRC Blog: DAY 2: Flight D: Bill Blochowiak and Mike Jespersen; Test 1 “Rifle Range” Con't

The final test we visited was Flight D where we found Judges Bill Blochowiak and Mike Jespersen at their first series at a test called “Rifle Range.” This test is a land triple with a blind and an honor using all pheasants. The first bird is thrown to the right at 84 yards. The second on the handler’s right is thrown to the left at 104 yards. The flyer is the third bird and is to the handler’s left and is shot to the right 110 yards. The blind is to the left of the flyer at 125 yards. The terrain for this test is very uneven, throwing the dogs off-line both left and right. This test took an average of five to seven minutes depending on the work of the dog.

Flight D began Day 2 by running their Test Dog #2, Wetlands Black Pearl, "Pearl," with handler Mark Schlendler. They came to the line at 7:40 am and the temperature was 66 degrees and the winds were out of the north west at 15-20 mph at the handler's back. These winds made the set up very difficult for the dogs. They were winding the birds from 30 to 40 yards deep, forcing a handle to avoid a switch. Of the first six dogs we watched, there were four handles and a pick-up.