This Wraps the Test For the Night...

Mootsie Handled on the Retired Mark -- PICK UP

After a nice flyer, Dog #58, Mootsie, got the right-hand bird in short order, going to the right of the gun. She then went right and deep for the retired mark and when working back in went toward the old fall;  handler Ted Shih couldn't handle her over to the retired mark.

Windy Puts Three In The Bag

Windy, dog #49, nailed both the flyer and the right-hand mark. On the retired mark, Windy went well to the left, got deep and went right, and then worked her way to the bird.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This test will conclude for the evening at or close to 8 p.m.

Test dog (one) will run at 6:45 a.m.

HANDLE on the Walk-out Flyer -- PICK UP

Dog #47, Lil, is handling on the walkout flyer. She seemed to be nearly on top of it three times. Currently she's still handling...

Lil was helped by the guns. The other birds are being picked up manually.

Stormin' Norman...

... Norman (#34) had a small circle on his flyer. He was right going into the standout mark. For the retired mark he had an excellent line out and squared across, turned right and worked down the shore a bit and then went back to the left into the bird.

Finding the Birds-- Ethel

After a nice flyer, Ethel (dog #27) went out for the standout gun left of the guns and pulled in close to them and hunted deep and right and got the bird. For the retired mark, she went to the road by the pump house, and then turned right into the bird.

Skeeter Got 'Em--Big hunt on retired bird

Dog #25 had a nice flyer and a nice right-hand bird. For the retired bird he went outside the right-hand bird and ran deep, making a couple of loops out in the field before coming into the retired bird and picking it up.

HANDLE on retired bird for #18

Magic had a small hunt on the flyer. For the standout gun, he crossed and found the bird in short order. He went left and long, and is now being handled by Lorna Kolstad to come back into the retired bird area.

Lorna Kolstad is on line with Magic as Linda Erwin and Oatie honor

Up now is Oatie... Got the Birds

Dog #12 got the flyer and then hung up on the short shore around the guns for the standout gun before crossing and finding the bird. On the retired mark, Oatie went deep to the left and then came around from behind the holding blind to pick up the bird.

HANDLE for Buster on Right-hand Bird

Buster got the walkout flyer fine, and when sent for the standout right station, he came out to the left of it and turned left. This put him into the retired gun and he picked up that bird.

When sent again for the right-hand bird, he kept going, and this required a handle from Pete Hayes back into the bird.

Move and Ninth Series

Just a note, the move has taken awhile and the test has been changed several times. I have several posts saved as drafts to catch you up shortly.

The test has just been changed again and a dog is coming to line...

Dog 11 to the line.

CALLBACKS FOR TEST NINE

There are 24 dogs back.

9, 11, 12, 18, 25, 27, 34, 47, 49, 58, 60, 63, 65, 73, 76, 80, 85, 91, 92, 96, 98, 100, 110, 111

Start with Dog 11.

This test is completed... Waiting on Callbacks Here...

... Test Nine will begin today.

"Ruby" and Don Graves

Ruby, #91, got the blind but kind of boxed it at the end.

She had very nice marks.

The last dog is on the mound...

"Tyson" and Alvin Hatcher

Tyson, #91, had an okay blind.

He had a small hunt on the retired and had a hunt the flyer.

"Grady" and Chad Baker

Grady, #85, had a really nice blind.

He made a big circle into the retired mark and had a very nice flyer.

"Freedom" and Chad Costa

Freedom, #80, had a nice blind.

His left retired was a clean mark and his flyer he went down close to the flyer station and turned right into the bird.

"Chip" and Tom Hartl

Chip, #77, had a blind that took him wide right in toward the flyer a couple of times and resulted in a somewhat weak blind.

However, he came back and drilled the marks.

"Comet" and Linda Harger

Comet, #76, got deep on the blind with multiple whistles.

She hunted the retired bird and hunted the flyer.

"Ozzy" and Benjy Griffith

Ozzy, #73, had trouble seeing Benjy but had a nice blind.

Nice job on his marks!

"Birdy" and Yvonne Hays

Birdy, #65, had a decent blind.

She had very good marks.

"Miah" and Steve Ritter

Miah, #63, had an okay blind.

She had a small hunt on the retired mark and was okay on her flyer.

"Saber" and Chris Hatch

Saber seemed to have trouble seeing Chris at the end of the blind.

His marks were good.

"Mootsie" and Ted Shih

Mootsie, #58, had an excellent blind.

She had a tidy hunt on the retired mark and a small hunt on the flyer.

"Windy" and Ken Neil

Windy, #49, had a decent blind.

She got deep of the retired bird and then recovered it and she had a good job on the flyer.

"Lil" and Charlene Koeth

Lil, #47, had an excellent blind.

On her retired mark she had a deep loop and behind the blind before working out to the bird. She had a nice mark on the flyer.

"Norman" and Mark Rosenblum

Norman, #34, had a very nice blind.

He had two small tidy hunts on his marks.

The test has resumed...

A Short Break Ensues...

"Hope" and Jerald Wilks

Hope, #33, had lots of whistles on her blind.

Her retired mark was okay and she had a nice flyer mark.

"Canaille" and Lee Jolley

Canaille, #28, got somewhat right on the blind but got it.

Her hunt on the retired bird ranged around the hay bales. She put on a hunt close to the gun station for the flyer and then got it.

"Ethel" and Yvonne Hays

Ethel, #27, had an okay blind.

She hunted the retired mark, going behind the blind and around before getting the bird. She also hunted the flyer, close and deep to the flyer crate and then got this bird.

"Skeeter" and Robby Bickley

Skeeter, #25,  had a really nice blind.

Skeeter had two really nice marks.

"Trudi" and Carma Futhey -- HANDLE on flyer

Her blind was okay.

Trudi's retired mark was okay...

Carma is handling Trudi, #19, on the flyer.

"Magic" and Lorna Kolstad

Magic, #18, had to work for the blind.

He hunted to the hay bales behind the flyer before coming around to get it.

Lorna had a small hunt on the retired.

"Oatie" and Linda Erwin

Linda, after watching other handlers with some problems at the end of the blind, switched to a black handling jacket.

The line is atop a mound and the backdrop is a sky studded with fluffy white clouds.

Oatie's (#12) blind was okay, he had a little hunt on the retired bird and his flyer was nice.

"Buster" and Pete Hayes -- HANDLE on Retired Mark

Buster, #11, had a bit of difficulty at the end of the blind.

Pete sent for the retired mark and Buster back-sided the flyer and got it, and then handled on the retired mark.

"Hook" and Charlie Hines

Hook, #9, had a nice blind.

He had a small hunt on the retired and went to the area of the flyer and hunted it up.

"Ruby" and Al Wilson

Ruby, #115, had an okay blind.

She hunted the retired mark and is on her way to the flyer.

On the flyer, Ruby got quite deep and had a big hunt.

"Pogo" and Martha Russell

Pogo, #111,  had an excellent blind.

Pogo had nice marks.

"Chase" and Alex Washburn

Chase, #110, got a bit left and deep on the blind.

Chase had two really good marks.

"Brook" Gets Her Birds...

Brook, #100, and Michael Moore ... She got just a hair left on the end of the blind.

Brook had two small quick hunts on the marks.

Lanse and #98 Eva...

She had a nice blind and is hunting on the retired mark now.

Eva got the retired mark and had a small hunt on the flyer.

JerryLee and Lynne DuBose...

... #96, had a controlled blind, a small hunt on the retired bird and she got the flyer.

Buster #93 starts this test... HANDLE on flyer

He's running the blind right now.

Buster had a few extra control whistles at the end....

After a hunt, Charles Bearden handled Buster on the flyer.

Test Dog Number Three

Shoot the double. Run the blind. Pick up the double, left-hand bird quietly retires once the dog passes en route to the blind.

Test Dog Number Two...

... Shoot the double, pick up one mark, run the blind, get the other mark.

First Test Dog Runs This Test...

... and the test time was five and a half minutes.

This was a double with a flyer (drake mallard) and a left-hand retired gun (hen pheasant)... and a blind (hen pheasant).

CALLBACKS FOR TESTS SEVEN AND EIGHT

9, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 27, 28, 33, 34, 47, 49, 58, 60, 63, 65, 73, 76, 77, 80, 85, 91, 92, 93, 96, 98, 100, 110, 111, 115

STARTING DOG IS #93.

CALLBACKS WILL BE GIVEN AT THE NEXT SETUP SITE

--MOVE IN PROGRESS--

This is the Last Dog... HANDLE Right-hand Flyer DOUBLE H--PICK UP

Diesel, #71 (Wolf River's HD Duramax) is currently being handled by Joe Broyles on the right-hand flyer after a long hunt. Handle on Left Retired... Pick Up

Canaille, #28, Re-Run...

Has two excellent flyers under her belt and is crusing out to the left retired mark... and now has it as well. She had just slipped over the hill when she came right back to this bird. Canaille channeled down, went between the holding blind and pump house, down the point, back to the blind and out to the bird. Good for Lee Jolley and #28, AFC Un Petit Peu Canaille.

Guide, #75, is Deep on Hill Behind Island... HANDLE

... Up to now he has had three excellent marks on this test. #75, FC Nightwings Marsh Leader just handled by Sherwin Scott on the island mark.

Duke Magee... HANDLE on Retired Island Bird

... #74, FC-AFC Dominators Duke Of Turrell went to the top of the ridge and back to the go-bird, and then had a good right-hand flyer, and went high and straight to the left retired. Duke channeled down toward the island bird, slipped by and got deep--he's now handling from the hill beyond the island.

Miah is on her way... Four birds

For the right-hand flyer Miah went to the base of the hill, turned right and got her bird, and then on the left retired she got to the area and made a loop into the bird. For her island bird, she got out pulling right toward the holding blind and behind it, and then came out on the point and drove across to the bird.

We've Run 14 dogs this morning... counting Ozzy...

And we've had 6 more handles and 2 more pickups...

Ozzy!!! Does It In Style!

Three excellent marks capped by a very, very good on the island bird for handler Benjy Griffith! Way to go #73, FC-AFC Premier's Iron Man Ozzy!

Some Statistics from Yesterday...

... There were 18 handles and double-handles, 10 pickups and 2 breaks on the honor...

No-Bird for #71, Diesel...

... on the right-hand flyer...

HANDLE on the Right Flyer for Ali -- Now PICK UP

Unfortunately, Ali (#69, FC-AFC Lanes Lets Get Ready to Rumble) couldn't come up with the flyer, which went right of the two-track... and then handler Bobby Lane began trying to put Ali on the bird... this became a pickup.

Oh--HANDLE FOR ISLAND BIRD for Kimber

... Kimber, #67, AFC Kimber VIII, had a right-hand flyer hunt and was over the hill and back to the bird for her left retired mark... when sent for the island bird she started out in the channel but broke right and got up into the flyer fall; handler Gary Zellner immediately began handling to the island bird.

The wind has changed in the past few dogs and is blowing stiffly from the southwest, carrying strong flyer scent to the dogs heading for that long bird behind and deep of it.

A Caravan Is Leaving Here Shortly For Next Test...

Except for those of us working until the very end of this test... and those remaining contestants and necessary people.

HANDLE ON #53... Punch

Punch (AFC Coolwater's Knockout) nailed three marks, and unfortunately went right when sent for the island retired bird... got through the right-hand flyer fall area and began driving up the hill, pulling more right, and then began coming back down the hill, where Alex Washburn began handling to the long bird.

So Far, Birdy is Perfect for Three...

... And Handler Yvonne Hays is sending #65, FC-AFC Trumarc's Whistling Bird, for the island retired mark. She had a hunt on the spit and in the water in front of the island and now has the fourth bird, nice job!

No-Bird on Island Bird for #63

#62 HANDLING on Right Flyer... Now, PICK UP on next send

... After a wide and ranging hunt, Handler Laura Parrott is handling Straight (#62, Lucyana's Full Speed Ahead) on the right-hand flyer.

Straight was just picked up on his next send.

Crowd Pleaser...

He got the go-bird, stepped on his wide right-hand flyer and then went between the hay bales over the hill and then came back shortly thereafter for the bird. Saber (#60, FC-AFC Tealcreek Patton's Saber) then went for the island bird through the cover and out, came up just left of the holding blind and over to the bird.

Operating Her Way, Too...

Dog #58, (FC-AFC Freeridin Smooth Operator) got her flyers and then went out and peeled off the hay bales on the left and kept peeling right, ending up out at the island retired mark to get that bird. Handler Ted Shih then sent her for the left retired and she streaked out in front of the left flyer guns and went up and scooped up her last bird.

Diva Is Doing This Her Way... Oh, HANDLE on Right Flyer

... After her go-bird, Diva (#56 AFC Waterdogs Iron Diva) took off on her second send, got in the flat behind the right-hand flyer guns and left of the channel, made a quick loop while driving and continued on to the island bird, which she then got with a small hunt. Now, she's after the left retired and she went in front of the go-bird station to get it--and stepped on it. Currently she's hunting the right-hand flyer to finish her test; she's been hunting the flat to the right of the guns and just bailed into the channel behind the gun and is looping there. Oh, she is now being handled to it.

Dog #53 No-Bird on Island Bird...

... It landed in the water. The judges have been consistent on this.

Fizz, #38, HANDLE on the Island Bird

Fizz's long flyer (right-hand) landed in the road and Fizz hunted the heavy cover and worked back to the guns and then went along the base of the hill from left to right until he got back to the road and found it. Fizz went over the hill for his left retired but came back and got it.

Now, Fizz is handling from left of the tractor lane, although he started out for the bird up the middle.

Windy Gets 'Em...

Thus far, Windy (#49, NFC-AFC Candlewood's Something Royal) has her go-bird, and then had a hunt in the area of the right-hand flyer  and had an excellent job on the left retired. She's on her way to the island bird and is on her way to a wonderful mark...she's swimming under the bridge en route to the bird and now has it.

Mickey--HANDLING on Left Retired--HANDLE on Island Bird

At this moment, #48 (Windy City's Mighty Mouse), Mickey is handling on the left retired after hunting the hill just behind the flyer gunners. For his right-hand flyer, he had hunted a bit in the flat before getting his bird. Now, he's got the left retired and has been sent for the island retired. He's driving out and went just behind the holding blind, and hunted there. Now, he has popped and is waiting for instruction. Charlie thought the dog was a post--he's now handling to the bird.

Lil! What a Girl!

On the long flyer, which was right of the road, #47, AFC Lil Chin Music, went right, crossed back and went out again and dug it out. On her left retired, Lil drove to the correct hill and seemed to smell the holding blind but then came right back to the bird. On her island retired, she went through the heavy cover from the line, swam the channel and then went straight down and came out on the point, drove and got the bird.

First Dog of the Morning... Willie Handled on Island Bird

After the go-bird flyer, Willie went to the bird crates of the right-hand flyer and more or less took a whiff and then went straight to his flyer. Next, Willie had a very small hunt on top of the left retired mark. Finally, Willie went in front of the gunners of the right-hand flyer and up the hill deep of the guns, at which point handler Jim Pickering handled him to the bird.

Just Like Clockwork!

This National is spot on--once again, test dog took to the line like clockwork, promptly at 6:45 a.m.

The wind is from the south this morning.

Nancy White and Lily--Lily has seen this test and dealt with flyers many times now!

Handlers check out the test demonstrated by Lily

It's a Beautiful Crisp Morning!

Such a wonderful thing to experience 43 dry degrees at the end of June!