As always, we encourage visitors to participate in the National Open discussion located in the comments section of each post. These areas are a great outlet for remote communication and commentary for those unable to attend this year's NRC. Also, please keep an eye out for trivia, surveys and other interactive activities!
Please don't hesitate to share any items of interest or photos that you think the retriever community might be interested in to the Retriever News Team. Send submissions to Tina Styan at: tstyan@theretrievernews.com Subject Line: 2015 NRC Blog. Thank you in advance and enjoy the coverage...
*** We spoke TOO soon, the rain is back :( and coming down steadily.
LB: 5 whistles
WB: dog did not get in the water ran around handler gave several casts, we lost sight of the dog where we are position and all we know is the dog retrieved the bird.
We certainly hope that the rains we receive today help California begin some sort of drought recovery! (Even if we have to suffer through this cold and windy rainy day!)
THE WEATHER HAS TURNED FOR THE WORST. FOLKS ARE STARTING TO DRIVE OFF THE GROUNDS ROAD.
PLEASE STAY ON THE ROAD AS ALL THIS PROPERTY IS NOT THE RESERVATION & ARE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES!!!! IF WE DO NOT ADHERE TO THESE REQUESTS THEY WILL SHUT DOWN OUR ACCESS ROAD.
DO NOT DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND KEEP AT 15 MPH OR LESS!!!!
54. FC Whitewater Klondike Franchise "Ike", LM, Danny Farmer
LB:3 whistles
WB: 1 up close, 3 to the water, carried to the island, curled behind the island, handler had to move in order to handle the dog and pulled out a smooth finish.
The reason Mayberry was so peaceful and quiet was because nobody was married - Andy, Aunt Bea, Barney, Floyd, Howard, Goober, Gomer, Sam, Earnest T. Bass, Helen, Thelma Lou, Clara, and of course Opie … all single.
The only married person was Otis, and he stayed drunk.
52. FC-AFC Good Idea's Outta Sight "Stevie", LM, Ken Neil
LB: 3 whistles
WB: 2 whistles carried him to the island, lunging water getting off the point put the dog wide left of the line, adjusted with few casts to complete the blind strong
43. FC-AFC Castlebay Abe's Cranberry Run "Abe", LM, Ed Forry
LB: 2 whistles !!!
WB: 2 whistles before the pond,carried line to the island, 1 to get off, 2 to get past the old fall, got a bit deep and then just needed a check up whistle to complete the blind.
WB: 2 whistles to get into the pond, carried to the island, 2 to get off the island, 1 in the water, several to get past the old fall, gave a verbal to carry the dog to the bird.
40. FC-AFC-CNFC-CNAFC Nightwings Marsh Leader "Guide", LM, Bill Sargenti
LB: A 1 Whistle blind!!!
WB: carried initial line into the water 2 to get off of the island, went wide left slipping whistles in running water, recovered to the reach the bird.
39. FC-AFC Biggun's Wild Rose Warrior MH "Rosie", LF, Rob Erhardt
LB: 3 whistles to the bird, 1 to check up
WB: 1 quick whistle up front, 4 to get in the water, 1 to get off the island, 2 to get past the old fall, 1 to drive the hill and a check up at the bird.
38. FC RMR Ebonstars Magic SH "Emmy", LF, Clint Avant
LB: Nice only needed 2 whistles to complete!!!
WB: 2 to reach the pond, dog swam past the point 2 to adjust the line in the middle, 2 to get past the old fall carried it just past the bird and needed 1 to check up at the bird.
36. FC Trumarc's Gratuity "Tippy", LF, Danny Farmer
Came to the line at 11:03 am
*** Note: we do not have a great vantage point on this blind and may only be able to count whistles for out description.
LB - nice and smooth with 4 whistles
WB - had one whistle 1/2 way to the pond, 2 whistle to get in the water, reached the island 3 to get off of the island, dog want to suck to the right and needed 2 casts to stay on line, 4 up to the dam, and 1 check up whistle at the bird.
LB - made quick work of it ( there was no one sitting in the field )
WB - 2 to get past the LB, 2 to get in, 2 off the island, 3 near old mark, 2 at the dam.
Test Dog 2:
*** Judges adjusted things a bit with a diversion of a gunner sitting the field
Larry & "Maui"
10:34 am
LB: had a few whistles up front finishing strong with 1 at the end
WB: did a nice job up front only needing 3 whistles to reach the island. Cont. with 3 to get near the point, several to get past the old fall, and 2 to get to the dam and retrieve the bird.
Series 2 is land blind measuring 100 yds from the starting line. The mat is facing Northeast about 150 yds from the waters edge. The land blind crosses the lines of the flyer and Middle Retired of the first series water/land marks. Off to the right of the land blind is the blind planter dressed in bright white situated in a bowl hidden from the mat. This person becomes visible to the dog about 1/2 way thru this blind. The wind is gently blowing out of the South, gusting at times up to 11 mph. The sky still remains cloudy with no rain, yet.
Series 3 water blind begins from the same mat as the land blind. This blind crosses all the lines of the previous series. The water blind measures at 208 yds & the true line to it is tight to the land blind. The dogs must enter the water cross a point of tules that is sure to have drag back scent on it from series 1. Then they re-enter the water having to skim past the fall area of the Long Retired mark up to the dam where the bird is laying. A challenging combined series that is sure to keep everyone on their toes as there are several areas the dog can go out of sight.
Q: What is the difference between a weekend field trial & a National?
A: The National event overall adhere's to tradition and promotes those traditions to stay alive in today's sport. However, the biggest difference we notice is with a weekend field trail very rarely will you see a designated person to "pop" the gun & a designated person to throw the bird. With two persons at the station the pop and the throw almost happen simultaneously rather than a slight hesitation between the pop & the throw. Most often on a weekend trial you will have one person popping & throwing the birds on the dead bird stations. In the National event there are always two people to each station. The delay between the pop & the throw, and the presence of two at every station may not seem like a big deal but the visibility, attraction, and time to see birds in the air will effect the dogs performance as they need to be exposed to this difference.
MR: jumped into the pond to the right of the holding blind checked out the first point of tules then jumped back into the water swam to the end of the pond and over to retrieve the bird.
LR: ran to the holding blind, turned to the right hunting up the hill before breaking to the left into the area to retrieve the bird.
96. FC Cajun Country Crystal "Crystal", LF, Ryan Brasseaux
F: made a few passes in the area to retrieve the bird.
MR: straight to the bird.
LR: traveled a path wide and right of the holding blind went up the hill turned right then left on the hillside before making way to the area to retrieve the bird.
MR: got to the pond took a left ran the shore drove to the dam ran the dam back and fourth a couple of times before making it down to the tules to retrieve the bird.
LR: traveled a wide right path, got to the dam made a couple passes there before working into the area to complete the retrieve.
The Merchandise Committee braved the storm to sell commemorative gear.
The Gallery – What Gallery?
Can you say "Vicksburg?" Yesterday was so reminiscent of our first day at the 2014 National
Open – RAIN, RAIN, Go Away! It misted, fog rolled in, it poured on and
off … at one time, we thought we saw snow! Today is supposed to be more
of the same – what happened to sunny California? Looking forward to it –
tomorrow!
The first series begins a top of a small, low mound facing Northwest with the wind lightly blowing out of the West to Southwest at times. However, the wind is not gonna help these dogs find the birds today. The field terrain is difficult and interesting to over-look, it is as if I'm standing on a ski slope looking at a field of moguls with a pond in the middle. The cover is light to sparse and light yellow in color. The first bird to be thrown is the middle bird measuring at 204 yrds. This Hen Mallard is thrown to the left landing on a heavily cat- tailed island. This station retires and will be referred to as the Middle Retired (MR). The next bird to be thrown is a Hen Mallard being thrown to the left. The gun station is situated deep and slightly right of the MR, this station also retires. The LR's bird lands on a point in the pond of the right-hand shoreline, it also has cat- tail cover. We will refer to this station as the Long Retired (LR) measuring a distance of 235 yrds. The last bird to be thrown is a Hen Mallard Flyer shot to toward the middle of the test. The Flyer station is situated on a hill deep and left of the other two gun stations and measures 230 yrds. It is a pretty bird where the station stays out and visible for a good distracting factor. It is taking roughly 7 -13 min to complete depending on what the dogs decide to do on the MR. Good Luck to All!!!!
Test Dog came to the line at 6:46 am.
Today's test dog will be: Flyways Chester Be Gone "Chet" Handler - Chris Robles
Chris has agreed to step in due to the difficulty of the test, since the two official test dogs have already completed the test. This will give the Handler's a good insight on today's conditions with a "Fresh" dog.
F: Nice Mark!
MR: reached the area est a small hunt before retrieving the bird.
LR:took off on a path toward the area, held that path the whole way entered the tules, exited the tules with the bird in mouth. A Job Well Done!
This morning the sun is trying to pop out of the sky. With a partly cloudy sky and patches of bright blue peeking thru it is making the visibility of this test much better than yesterday. The weather channel is calling for a 30% chance of rain at 8:30am. The current temperature is 48'F with a high of 52'F, even thou temps are similar to yesterday it is a much more pleasant scene than yesterday. The wind say 10 mph out of the Southeast, but the wind is gently blowing with a light gust every now and then.
1. NAFC-FC Texas Troubador "Tubb", LM, Martha Russell
2. FC-AFC B Bumble "Stinger", LM, Ray Voigt
3. FC-AFC Good Idea's Second Wind "Vapor", LF, Ken Neil
4. FC Castile Creeks Kingseeds Rebel Yell "Billy", LM, Danny Farmer
5. FC-AFC Keeno's Gizmo "Gizmo", LM, Al Arthur
6. FC-AFC In The Hunt Farm's Executive Sweet "Sweet", LF, Ty Rorem
7. FC Crow Rivers Lucky To The Max "Lucky", LM, Steve Yozamp
8. FC Tuck N Roll II "Tucker", LM, John Henninger
9. FC Field Of Dreams Ranger's Jesse James "Jesse", LM, Alan Pleasant
10. FC-AFC Drake's Bay Parting Of The Sea "Moses", LM, Wayne Curtis
11. FC-AFC Windy City's Mighty Mouse "Mickey", LM, Charlie Hines
12. FC-AFC Indi Go Girl "Indy", LF, Chris Ledford
13. AFC Fireweed's Poison Ivy "Ivy", CF, Jerry Patopea
14. Making The Grade "Mako", LM, Rob Erhardt
15. Moonstones Melody "Jones", LM, Florence Sloane
16. FC Watermark's Power Punch "Buddy", LM, Eric Fangsrud
17. FC Baypoint's Shades Of Bleu "Magic", LM, Jim Gonia
18. Lock Five's Got Her Blue Genes On "Baby", LF, Ray Voigt
19. FC-AFC Bayou Teche Eye On The Ball "Slider", LM, Lauren Hays
20. FC Truluck's Green Timber Mystique "Teek", LM, Danny Farmer
21. FC-AFC Nightwinds Desert Deacon MH "Mel", LM, Alan Madsen
22. FC 3 R's Carbon Calie "Calie", LF, Bill Eckett
23. FC-AFC Ragin Eye Of The Storm*** "Cane", LM, Alan Pleasant
24. FC-AFC JJ Of Red Rock "JJ", LM, Bill Totten
25. FC Horsetooth's Center Ice "Stanley", LM, Kenny Trott
26. FC Midway Twin City Limits "Leo", LM, Tim Milligan
27. FC-AFC FWR's Wood River's Highest Summit "Denali", LF, Mark Medford
28. FC-AFC Tru's Little Cruiser "Cruise", LM, John Henninger
29. Lane's Thrilla N Manilla "Frazier", LM, Ryan Brasseaux
30. Thunderstruck Like None Otter MH "Otter", GM, Ty Rorem
31. FC-AFC Bay Blue's All American Girl "Libby", LF, John Russell
32. FC Racin' In The Rough "Nitro", LM, Ed Forry
33. FC-AFC Patton's Natural Born World Shaker "Luke", LM, Kathy Folsom
34. FC-AFC Maple Creek's Mattie Mae "Mattie", LF, Ray Voigt
35. FC-AFC Candlewood's Skyrocket "Sky", LF, Chris Ledford
36. FC Trumarc's Gratuity "Tippy", LF, Danny Farmer
37. NFC-AFC Robbers' Stray Bullet "Bullet", LM, Alan Pleasant
38. FC RMR Ebonstars Magic SH "Emmy", LF, Clint Avant
39. FC-AFC Biggun's Wild Rose Warrior MH "Rosie", LF, Rob Erhardt
40. FC-AFC-CNFC-CNAFC Nightwings Marsh Leader "Guide", LM, Bill Sargenti
41. FC Low Tides Pounder "LB", LM, Al Arthur
42. FC-AFC Flyway's Long Tall Sally "Sally", LF, Luann Pleasant
43. FC-AFC Castlebay Abe's Cranberry Run "Abe", LM, Ed Forry
44. FC-AFC Dottie Ray's League Of Her Own "Dottie", LF, Andy Kahn
45. FC-AFC Parriette's Abby Gale "Abby", LF, David Zalunardo
46. FC Magic Tricks Autumn Creek Tazz "Tazz", LM, Paul Sletten
47. Creek Robbers Black Powder Mag "Maggie", LF, John Henninger
48. FC-AFC Chopper's Rx To Win "Windy", LF, Bob Crabb
49. FC-AFC Roux's Blackthorn Banshee "Alli", LF, Ellen McNeill
50. FC Bluegoose's Morning Mist "Rainey", LF, Ray Voigt
51. FC Shooter's Super Chief "Buddy", LM, Alan Pleasant
52. FC-AFC Good Idea's Outta Sight "Stevie", LM, Ken Neil
53. FC-CFC-CAFC Jazztime Cut To The Chase "Chase", LM, Steve Yozamp
54. FC Whitewater Klondike Franchise "Ike", LM, Danny Farmer
55. FC Rock River Benjamin "Ben", LM, Bill Eckett
56. FC Road Warriors Dieter Brock "Deets", LM, Dave Rorem
57. FC Maple Creek's Spirit Warrior "Levi", LM, Wayne Curtis
58. FC LKY's Controlled Chaos "Riot", LM, Kenny Trott
59. FC-AFC Hockley Creek's Big Hitter "Manny", LM, Robby Bickley
60. FC-AFC See Jane Run For Blue "Jane", LF, Chris Ledford
61. FC-AFC Tucquan's Ode To Sweetness JH "Payton", LM, Sammie Thompson
62. FC Sorol Green River Indian Scout "Carson", LM, Rob Erhardt
63. FC-CFC Handjems Artful Dodger "Dodger", LM, Ryan Brasseaux
64. FC Manny B Manny "Manny", LM, Jerry Patopea
65. FC Delpond's Aunt Jemima "Jemma", LF, Alan Pleasant
66. FC-AFC Fenway's Triple Crown "Yaz", LM, Steve O'Connell
67. FC-AFC Sundog's Maximum Pursuit "Max", LM, John Henninger
68. NAFC-FC Hardscrabble Roxie McBunn "Roxie", LF, Ray Voigt
69. NFC Trumarc's Dot Come "Dottie", LF, Danny Farmer
70. AFC Wight's Goddess Of Victory MH "Nike", LF, Tracy Wight
71. FC Hardscrabble's Seaside Shutterbug "Bug", LF, Al Arthur
72. FC Ellie Of Redrock "Ellie", LF, Bill Totten
73. FC-AFC Midnight Shooter III "Shooter", LM, Pat Nicholls
74. FC Mossy Oak's Fowl Language "Naughty", LF, Steve Blythe
75. FC-AFC Fresh Squeezed Juice "Juice", LM, Mark Medford
76. FC-AFC Lanes Lets Get Ready To Rumble "Ali", LM, Ryan Brasseaux
77. FC Swift Rivers No Problems "Kenny", LM, Ed Forry
78. AFC Leica Sabertooth "Tiger", LM, Dave Rorem
79. FC Back By Popular Demand "Petey", LM, Alan Pleasant
80. FC Landover's Joy "Joy", LF, Dave Ward
81. FC Sweetie's Easy Rider "Ford", LM, Jim Gonia
82. FC-AFC Ruff Rivers Oasis On The Plains "Colby", LF, Clint Avant
83. FC NTK's Rock Me On The Water "Jackson", LM, Chris Ledford
84. FC Hyfly'n Turbo Jet "Turbo", LM, Ray Voigt
85. FC-AFC Citori's No Holds Barred "Free", LF, Bill Sargenti
86. FC Vinwood's Million Dollar Baby "Babe", LF, Danny Farmer
87. FC Wetlands Way Out Willie "Willie", LM, John Henninger
88. FC-AFC Aksarben's Black Skyy "Skyy", LM, Rob Erhardt
89. FC-AFC Watermark's The Black Pearl "Freedom", LF, Luann Pleasant
90. FC-AFC Watermark's BB Standing Ovation "Bravo", LM, Bill Eckett
91. AFC Freeridin Miss Kitty "Kitty", LF, Kenny Trott
92. FC-AFC Cool Fuel "Nitro", LM, Rich Pingatore
93. FC-AFC Lake Countrys Mac Tiger "Bullet", LM, Alan Pleasant
94. NAFC-FC Dottie Ray's Ivy League "Ivy", LF, Andy Kahn
95. AFC Moxie Gunner "Moxie", LF, Russ Hardy
96. FC Cajun Country Crystal "Crystal", LF, Ryan Brasseaux
97. FC-AFC Mercy Mercy Mercy Me "Mercy", LF, John Stracka
98. FC-AFC Tweed's Rough Rider "Teddy", LM, Dave Smith
