MNRC Update for Starting Numbers for Sunday

All the Flights start at 7:30 am on Sunday

Flight A starts with dog #62

Flight B starts with dog #42

Flight C starts with dog #59

Flight D starts with dog #76

Everyone is again cautioned to obey the 15 mph speed limit. PLEASE … SLOW DOWN!

DAY 1: Flight D: Bill Blochowiak and Mike Jespersen; Test 1 “Rifle Range”

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.

We got there around noon and the sun was beating down on the contestants and their dogs. The gallery was all gathered under large canopies, trying to stay out of the burning sun. A large cattle tub of water was ready for any dog that got hot. The contestants were encouraged to dip their dogs before and after running. We watched the dogs approach this test from many different angles. It is not obvious which bird they were going for. We saw a few handles and some very nice work.

Rifle Range videos I, II & III

#18 This Charming Man Of Olmsted MH, "Moz" with handler Paul Botelho

#20 Applewoods Bow Rider At SeaLion MH, "Phin," with handler, Richard Cole

DAY 1: Flight C: Mike Collson and Corrine Clavey; Test 1 “The Valley”

Judges Mike Collson and Corrine Clavey started Flight C at a test called “The Valley.” This is a land triple with both a blind and an honor had the mat set in the shade of a grove of trees. All birds were rooster pheasants. The test was shot from right to left. The first bird located 70 yards to the right of the line was thrown to the left. Bird two was the flyer station located in front of the line and shot to the right at 85 yards. The third bird was to the left of the line at 63 yards and was thrown to the right. The single blind was run to the far left at 80 yards under the trees. Five to seven minutes appeared the average length of time to run the test.

When we arrived at Flight C, we were advised that there were a lot of handles early and that they were continuing. This test ranged from five to nine minutes depending on the dog work. We watched quite a few dogs run this test. The handlers seemed to be split on which bird to pick-up second. Half would go for the middle flyer and the others opted for the right-hand bird. We saw a few nice jobs and several hunts as dogs tried to work out which bird they were picking up. Most of the blind work was very nice and we saw one dog that lined the blind.

"Tux" a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever used for "Set-up Week."

Enormous umbrellas work great in the hot sun!

Otter Creek's Karma MNH, "Karma," with Rick Winnie

#151 - Ida Red Glenelm's Baby Boomer "Buddy"

Anchors Away III MH QA2, "Anchor" and Lyle Steinman

DAY 1: Flight B: Megan Baker and Allyn Foster; Test 1 "Lakeside”

We began our day at Flight B with Judges Megan Baker and Allyn Foster at a test named “Lakeside.” This test is a land/water triple, double blind, walk-up and a diversion shot. The first bird is the walk-up thrown to the left at 38 yards to the right of the line, bird two is thrown to the left down the pond at 70 yards and the flyer is shot to the left at 66 yards right to the left of the line. The first blind is under the arc of the flyer at 109 yards. Blind number two is directly across the pond at 97 yards, landing up a hill under heavy cover. This test took an average of six minutes per dog.

At 7:55 am, the Judges gave the contestants the hunting scenario. At 8:05 am the first Test Dog, “Presto,” a male Golden, came to the line. The first gun did not fire and some repair work was done in the field. At 8:13 am, our second Test Dog, a female black Labrador named “Freedom,” came to the line. She had to be handled on the right-hand, showing the gallery some of the perils of the test. The temperature started off this morning in the high fifties to low sixties with clear skies and extremely dry conditions. Of the first three running dogs we saw a nice job, a no-bird and a handle on the middle bird.

  

The Judges explain the Hunting Test "scenario" to the handlers…

Test Dog to the line …

Frank Barton explains the hazards of the "Lakeside" test.

It's a beautiful sunrise …

Julie Stevenson and Pete Fischer of Dogtra watch the test.

Alan Sandifer is the first "lucky" dog to run … #128

Test Dog number one, Wagzu's SunSuite Tempo Di Presto, "Presto."

Handler instructions in the holding blind.

Test Dog number two, AFC Watermark's The Black Pearl, "Freedom."

"Delta's" Lucky jelly Bean Machine …