10th Series Recap

Our 10th Series Land Water Triple started with Bess, our female test dog coming to the line at 9:23 am,  then Shooter, our male test dog followed at 9:38 am. The first running dog was #29 Deep who got to the line at 9:58 am.

The winds proved to be a struggle during this 10th series. This is how everything panned out ...

11 dogs started, 0 scratches, 0 no-birds or re-runs, and 0 dogs picked up. We had 3 dogs handle and 1 double handle. This series completed at 12:12 pm and took a total of 2 hours 10 minutes, which averages out to be just under 12 minutes per dog to run the test.

The excitement is up as we all wait to hear who the 2020 National Retriever Club Champion is and find out who our newest NFC titled dog will be!

Day 7 - 9th Series Recap

We started our 7th day with the 9th Series, Water Triple. We had a delay getting started due to fog. The judges also announced the dogs will be received below the mound to keep the mound dry. Dog #52, the first of the 18 starting this series, came to the line at 9:32 am.  Our one and only gun changed happened after dog #57 completed his re-run.

The challenging test produced 1 no bird/re-run, 9 handles, 2 double handles and 2 picked up.

Our series and the day came to the end with dog #44 at 2:47 pm. This test took 5 hours 5 minutes which averaged to be approximately 17 minutes per dog.

Our 10th Series will be at the Fuller's 145 property (2187 CR 109) starting at 9:00 am.

Sit back as we wait for the callbacks and see who will advance to the final 10th Series!

Day 6 - Series 7 & 8 - Recap

Giddings, TX gave us another beautiful day for a field trial. The temps started in the mid 60’s but warmed up nicely in the 80’s. 

We had 35 dogs starting the 7th Series Water Blind at test site #4 Fuller’s Property. Our first running dog #22 came to the line at 7:20 am. This was a fast moving test taking less then 3 minutes per dog. Our last running dog #18 ended the test at 9:00 am. All 35 dogs were called back to the 8th Series. 

We stayed on the same property for the 8th Series, Land Quad with a Honor. The line and gunner adjustments were made and our first test dog was on the line at 10:01 am. Our first running dog #33 came to the line at 10:36 am. Our first and only gun change happened after #55 completed its test at 1:36 pm.

This test proved to have its difficulties as we saw 8 handles, 1 double handle and 1 picked up. We had 5 no bird / re-runs. It took us 7 hours 4 minutes to get the 35 dogs through this test which averaged to just over 12 minutes per dog. We waited for our callbacks as the judges had a lot to look at. We had 17 dogs dropped and 18 called back to the 9th Series which will start tomorrow Day 7, November 13th. 

The 9th Series will be located on the Parrott’s Property, 1980 CR 106, Giddings (see page 8 in the Training Grounds Book) This test will be a Water Triple. 

Test dogs will be called to the line at 8:30 am and the first running dog #52 will come to the line at approximately 9:00 am.

Conclusion of 6th Series & Day 5

 We started the day with 21 dogs needing to finish the 6th Series Water Quad with a Honor, 17 of these dogs have not come to the line, 4 were coming back for their re-run.

Our second day of the 6th Series started with dog #46 coming to the line at 9:05 am, with the last dog #57 being released from honor at 3:10 pm.

This two day test took a total of 16 hours 3 minutes which averages out to be 21 minutes per dog for the 46 dogs that started this series.

Here is how the last two days were spent in the field for this series...

We did not have a gun change today, but here is how they went yesterday, November 10. Our gun changes happened between dog #22 & 24 around 10:48 am. This became an extended gun change due to some birds escaping. But once everything got under control we were back up and going. Our second and last gun change of the day came after dog #35 at 3:11 pm.

Also, since this test had a honor we had to have dogs #34 Mickey (from WI) and #35 Mickey (from TX) split up yesterday so #35 went after #36!

In total we had 16 no birds/re-runs; 3 double handles; 7 handles and 2 picked up. We also had a special circumstance no bird/ re-run with dog #57. Maggie went  to the Left Flyer and got picked up on this bird. However, after she came back in and judges saw where this flyer had landed, they decided to give her a re-run because this flyer was way out of the test. Maggie will be judged on the first three birds she had already retrieved and on her re-run, she will be judged only on the Long Retired

As you can see this test threw a lot at the competitors and the judges!

We will be posting the callbacks as soon as we get them.

Tomorrow, Day 6, Thursday, November 12 we will be at test site 4, Fuller's property 3910 FM 1624, Giddings (page 9 in the Training Grounds Book). 

Test dogs will be called to the line at 6:45 am with the first running dog approximately at 7:00 am.

Day 4 - Recap

What a day it was today. We started this morning with dog #9 at 8:54 am. We finished with dog #45 at 4:51 pm. Here is what the day brought...

We had our gun changes between dog #22 & 24 around 10:48 am. This became an extended gun change due to some birds escaping. But once everything got under control we were back up and going. Our second and last gun change of the day came after dog #35 at 3:11 pm.

This test had an honor so dogs #34 Mickey (from WI) and #35 Mickey (from TX) had to split up. So #35 went after #36!

We had 29 dogs come to the line with 25 of them starting this series. Four dogs will be getting their re-runs tomorrow.

We had 12 no birds; 8 re-runs; 2 double handled; 6 handled and 2 picked up. 

It was an eventful day!! 

Also announced was the Workers Party on the grounds starting at 5:00 pm. A much needed unwind time for all the people that are working so hard making this event possible.

We will complete this series tomorrow, November 11 (Veterans Day) with 21 dogs to run. The test dogs will be called to the line at 7:30 am with the first running dog #46 to follow at 8:00 am!

Have fun at the workers party, remember to thank your military, past and present!

Good night!

Day 3 - Conclusion

We started our third day here in Giddings Texas completing the 3rd series with dog #23 coming to the line at 7:10 am. We quickly got through the rest of the competing dogs and finished this series at 8:30 am. 

This series produced 7 no bird/reruns; 5 handles. We had one interference call with dog #34. There was feedback coming from the sound system that interfered with the dog going to his flyer, so the judges called a no bird.

We had 52 dogs called back to the combined series and 6 dropped.

We started combined 4th & 5th series, Land Blind & Water Blind with 52 dogs. Dog #46, T Bone was our first running dog and he came to the line at 10:08 am. All #52 dogs completed this series at 5:08 pm which also concluded our day.

We have had a total of 9 hours 58 minutes in the field, completing a test change, finishing two series and getting 61 (9 to finish 3rd & 52 finished combined) dogs to complete two series. Today with all that we did, we averaged 9.5 minutes per dog!

There were 6 dogs dropped and 46 called back to the 6th series.

The temps started out 68 degrees with a high expected to be in the mid 80's. By early afternoon the clouds are nearly gone. Those remaining provide little relief from the 83 degree temps. The water blind should be welcome to the dogs. The winds area still southerly, but yet gusty. 

It was a long day, but we will see you back here tomorrow for our 6th Series with test dogs starting at 8:00 am! 

Good Night All!

Series 4 & 5 - Land Blind and Water Blind - Recap

Our last dog #45 finished this series at 5:08 pm. We started with dog #46 at 10:08 am. We had two gun changes, the first one after dog #3 at 12:16 pm and the last at 2:40 after dog #24 finished its series. The day warmed to the mid 80's and wind also increased up to 10 mph from the south. 

We started with a total of 52 dogs and it took 7 hours complete this test which is approximately 8 minute per dog.

We will be back with the callbacks as soon as we get them!

Conclusion of 3rd Series - Water Triple

We started the 3^rd Series, Water Triple on Sunday, November 8th with a dense fog. We had a an approximately 35-40-minute delay before we called our first test dog, Labrador Female Bess to the line at 7:08 am. After the second test dog the judges decided to scrap the honor on this test worried about the time it would add to an already large test. “Free”, #31, our first running dog, got to the line at 7:42 am. Our day came to an end at 4:37 pm after dog #22 completed his series.

The second day of 3rd series started with dog #23 coming to the line at 7:10 am. We quickly got through the rest of the competing dogs and finished this series at 8:30 am. 

This series produced 7 no bird/reruns; 5 handles. We had one interference call with dog #34. There was feedback coming from the sound system that interfered with the dog going to his flyer, so the judges called a no bird.

It took a total of 10 hours 15 minutes to complete this test. Averaging approximately 10.5 minutes per dog.

We are getting ready to move to our 4th Series test site, but we will bring you the callbacks as soon as we get them.

End of Day 2 - Recap

End of Day 2 – Sunday, November 8, 2020

 

We started the day and our 3^rd Series, Water Triple with a Flyer and 2 Retires all with Duck Hens with a dense fog. We had a an approximately 35-40-minute delay to call our first test dog, Labrador Female Bess to the line at 7:08 am. She completed her test then went into the honor box at 7:18 am, when the Labrador Male test dog Shooter came to the line. He went into the honor box at 7:26 am. However, before the first running dog #31 came to the line the judges decided to scrap the honor on this test worried about the time it would add to an already large test. “Free”, our first running dog, got to the line at 7:42 am.

 

As the progressed the temps kept rising. We started at approximately 65 degrees when we started with a WSW wind between 3-5 mph. Late morning, around 11:00-ish, the temps have increased to 70 degrees and the wind also increased coming in SSE up to 10 mph. By mid-afternoon, around 2:00-ish, the temps increased in the upper 70’s, but the breeze was brisk hitting the handlers in the back. By the end of the day, the sun was still shinning but the wind increased up to 12 mph from SE. This did give the dogs to pick up sent if they went deep of the birds.

 

The gun changes and re-birds happened as follow…

Re-bird between dog #37 & 38 at 8:40 am

Gun Change between dog #43 & 44 at 9:50 am

Re-Bird between dog #54 & 55 at 11:35 am

Gun Change between dog #59 – 60 at 12:30 pm

Gun Change between dog #15 & 16 at 3:10 pm

 

This series produced 7 no bird/reruns; 4 handles. We had one interference call with dog #34. There was feedback coming from the sound system that interfered with the dog going to his flyer, so the judges called a no bird. This dog will have its re-run at the end.

 

Our day came to an end at 4:37 pm after dog #22 completed his series.

 

We will complete the 3^rd Series, Water Triple tomorrow with test dogs coming to the line at 6:30 am and the first running dog #23 at 7:00 am.

Day 1 - Saturday, November 7, 2020 - Recap

The first day competition for the 80th running of the National Retriever Championship started at 7:27 am with our first running dog #1 FC-AFC Rimfires Once Inna Blue Moon, “Blue” to tackle the first series that was Land Triple with Roosters, 2 Dead and 1 Flyer. This series started with 59 dogs out of the 60 dogs that entered. Dog #56 FC-AFC Glade Creek’s Lonestar Dreamcatcher, “Mandy” scratched. This test produced 12 no bird/re-runs. Dog #8 FC-AFC Tanks For The Magic, “Maggie” had a break and dog #21 FC Field Of Dreams All Bets Are On, “Betsy” had a handle. Our last running dog for this series was #20 FC-AFC Kirkwood’s Blue Grade Lady, “Gracie” ending at 1:52 pm. The test took approximately 6 hours 25 minutes per dog which averages out to 6.5 minutes per dog.

Callbacks came out with 58 dogs coming back to the 2nd Series and 1 dog #8 dropped. Dog #16 FC-AFC Keeno’s Ringo, “Ringo” would start the 2nd Series.

We made a quick switch for the 2nd Series, Land Blind that was in the same area as the first series. The judges warned that any dog who went past the stakes would be out of site. It was also announced that dog #20 would run out of order since he was the last dog to complete the last series.

This Land Blind started with 58 dogs and was a quick moving test, averaging about 2 minutes per dog. The test started at 2:26 pm and was completed 2 hours later at 4:26 pm, which also concluded our first day. 

The callbacks came back quickly with all 58 dogs being called back to the 3rd series that would start tomorrow, Sunday, November 8th with test dogs being called to the line at 6:30 am with the first running dog #31 FC Truline’s Fire In The Hole, “Fire” being called after the test dogs are finished.

Tune back into the Blog tomorrow to get the latest updates from Giddings, Texas!

Conclusion of 2nd Series & Recap

The 2nd Series - Land Blind started with 58 dogs. The first running dog #16 came to the line at approximately 2:26 pm.

The judges warned that if the dog goes past the stakes it will be out of the sight.

It was also announced that dog 20 would run out of order since it just finished the last series due to a no bird.

This test was a fast moving test with some really great dog work. We completed it at 4:26 pm with dog #15.

It only took 2 hours to complete this series which averages to be approximately 2 minutes per dog.

We will bring you callbacks as soon as we get them.

Conclusion of Series One Recap

The 1st Series Land Triple with Roosters, 1 Flyer and 2 Dead is in the books at 1:52 pm with dog #20's rerun to finish the test.

With 60 dogs entered in the 80th running of the National Retriever Club Championship, we had one scratching, we started with 59 competing dogs! Congrats to all the dogs who qualified!

The day with Bess, our female test dog at 6:58 am. She got a no bird and went back to in the blind and came right back out at 6:59 am for her test. It took Bess 6 minutes 28 seconds to complete the test. She had to get a few whistles from handler Mark Littlejohn. Our second test dog Shooter with handler Larry Vaske came to the line at 7:06 am. It took them 5 minutes and 15 seconds to complete their test.

Dog #1 Blue, our first competing dog came to the line at 7:27 am, and this started the 2020 NRC Championship.

Our re-birds and gun changes happened as follows...

Re-Bird after #11 at 8:28 am with dog #12 starting back at 8:31 am. Gun Change after #20 at 9:25 am, starting back with dog #21 at 9:31 am. 2nd Re-Bird after #33 at 10:52 am with dog #34 starting back at 10:54 am. 2nd Gun Change happened after #40 at 11:35 am with the dog #41 starting back up at 11:41 am.

It showed to be a tough day for the gunners as we had 12 no birds/ reruns. 

Dog #8 had a break, and there was a handle with dog #21.

The last dog #20 came to the line at 1:47 pm and was completed at 1:52 pm.

From the time the first running dog came to the line at 7:27 am until the last running dog finished test, this series took 6 hours 25 minutes. Which is approximately 6.5 minutes per dog.