Saturday, June 21, 2008

Comments from the judges...






















...........................Photo from left to right, Bruce Ahlers, DVM, Roger Fangsrud and Steve Kompf.

I was fortunate to visit with the judges and will pass along some of their thoughts regarding this National.

From Steve Kompf: "We've had such a great group to work with and all of the committees have worked hard to provide good mechanics. Look, we've not really had any late nights out here and that's saying something for this number of dogs. And regarding the dogs entered, overall as a group they are very nice dogs and watery dogs. It's good to see.

"We hope we've put marks out there and not just birds placed where you have to run forever to get to them. Each of us has had input for bird placement...we all have strong personalities but we've shown we can sit back and listen, too. Any time we've had differences we've been able to move on from them.

"The toughest thing is to get numbers down. It must be done. And we've found out it's very difficult to evaluate the work as a whole to do that."

Roger Fangsrud shared: "I can't say enough about the mechanics of this field trial. They've kept the timing right on and it's been impressive.

"And the throwers are the best I've ever worked with...they volunteer with enthusiasm and they can sure throw!" [Kudos to Co-Chairs of the Bird Throwers, Alan Pleasant and Hugh Arthur, and their committee.]

"My feeling on the type of dog we're looking for is one where marking is the most important quality of all. We may be looking at the blinds a little less but of course they still count. We want to see natural marking and how it overpowers training.

"And I just love the area and the people here.

"As far as my co-judges go, well, we are partners in crime, and we lucked out as a group...we really get along."

And Bruce Ahlers, DVM, contributed the following: "This has been just beautiful countryside for a National. We've wanted to have tests to bring out the flavor of the area and the characteristics specific to this area. That's why we've used these beautiful stick ponds and the things you've seen.

"I'm really pleased with my two co-judges, we've gotten along great and we've fed off each other to put up tests that we feel are quite challenging.

"Bird placement is key to bringing out the best marking ability in these dogs, and to showcase those with great style and desire. That's what we're looking for. We don't want to just keep eliminating dogs until there's one left that hasn't handled. We want a National Champion that is a stylish and wonderful marker that is a pleasure to watch."

Cutter is enjoying the attention...



...and is hamming it up in the Town & Country Pub at his party!

Congratulations to 2008 NAFC Cutter!



.................................................................................................................................................Left to right, Steve Kompf, judge; Bruce Ahlers, DVM, judge; owner/handler Jeff Talley; Cutter; and Roger Fangsrud, judge--CONGRATULATIONS!!!

The second photo includes Jeff's wife, Cindee, and daughter Jordan.

Update on internet connection...

...Hello, big congratulations to 2008 National Amateur Retriever Championship Winner, CUTTER, (AFC Hawkeye's Coast Guard) and JEFF TALLEY, as you surely already know...we've not had any internet signal whatsoever during the two tests today and now I will try to catch you up while at Talley's winner's party...

All the finalists...



..........................................................gather by the waiting winner's table...waiting with suspense to learn who the new National Amateur Champion will be....

Oh, what a feeling!


....Jeff Talley has finished with both of his dogs, which is a tremendous accomplishment in and of itself, and at the very moment this photo is taken he has learned the big news---Cutter is 2008 National Amateur Field Champion...Jeff said a few minutes later: "It's a dream! It's all about the dogs, but to do something like this--you work hard, but you don't think it will ever happen to you--This is just a dream..."  

Dreams can come true!!!

Judy Pond


...This is Judy's first National Amateur after quite a tenure in the sport. Big Congrats!

Dick Fenner of Official Guns

























.....................................................................Dick Fenner is more or less an institution as far as Official Guns at Nationals go. After all, he's shot at 53 of them. Wow! But, this year, by the looks of things, you'd think: "He can't shoot anymore."

Wrong. Well, I remember hearing some story about how he recently went to Argentina and had a blazing time down there.

But, did you know that Fenner has never missed a bird in his entire National shooting career? And now, while shooting with one arm, he maintains that streak. The only concession is that he must shoot at non-retired stations as it's difficult to move his wheelchair quickly; it's no problem to accommodate this situation.

What happened to Dick Fenner? A freak accident, the kind none of us expect, hit him, literally, soon after last year's Utah-based National Amateur. He fell off a ladder and struck his head. But, he insisted he was fine and it was that evening before his wife was able to drag him, under protest, to the hospital. It was a few weeks before he was diagnosed as having had a stroke; whether or not the fall attributed to that is unknown.

Scheduled to be Captain of the Guns for Morgan Hill in California that November, he was heavily involved in rehab so able Ron Foley took over.

But, here he is again, ready, willing and able!

(Richard Smith, Eastern time zone's Co-Captain of the Guns, explained some things about the Official Guns for me to share with you. The Guns have a Captain and Co-Captain for each time zone, and they are self-inclusive, responsible for every detail to facilitate smooth running of the Official Guns and smooth shooting rotations at Nationals.
With an admirable working system in place, the Guns rotate duties and keep tallies on every member so that the shooting of flyers and popping at dead bird stations becomes evenly distributed for all. And, when any Gun is running a dog in a National, he doesn't shoot until such time as his dog goes out, if and when that occurs.
Also, each time a Captain of any time zone retires, the current Co-Captain moves up in rank and then picks his own Co-Captain. For example, Richard's father passed position of Captain to Dan Kingston [edit--prayers for Dan Kingston's family and Godspeed to Dan, who passed away June 23...he will be missed], who in turn passed it to Bruce Doing and Richard is current Co-Captain and will move up, as did his father, when Bruce retires. )


The Heart of Pogo


...I wanted the story of Pogo. So, all week I pestered her co-owner until we finally pegged some time to fill in the blanks around that which I already knew about this neat little dog.

Here goes: Veteran field trialer Martha Russell has raised a number of puppies for Judy Aycock. So, it was nothing unusual for her to step in and offer to raise another for her, this one out of "Ford" (FC-AFC Fordland's Bored Out Ford) and "L'il Ms" (L'il Ms Hot Pursuit).

When down in Texas for a nephew's wedding, Martha met with Judy and played with the puppies in that litter.

"Which one?" she asked.

"Which one do you want?" Judy returned.

Since Martha was taking the puppy in the plane's cabin with her, she elected to choose the small female; Pogo was eight weeks old.

She kept her for about six months, and by that time, Trumarc's L'il Ms Pogo was blossoming into a special little dog that could not only mark but run hard while doing it...and was unusually strong in the water as well.

Judy ran her in a few Derbies. However, when Pogo was between one and two years she came down with a mysterious illness. No diagnosis could be made, but she became deathly ill and almost died. While fighting to live, she spent much time in Judy and Ed's home being nursed back to health. With a pitiful appetite, she'd barely nibble at little cans of Mighty Dog. Then, just as mysteriously, she rallied and began to gain weight and improved in general. Soon, she was back at field trialing--she still wanted to play the game--as she placed fourth with Judy in an Amateur when she was just two.

Due to personal reasons, Judy decided to sell Pogo. Danny Farmer looked at her for a client who decided she was too much dog, and then Martha approached John about buying the plucky female. John consented and the Russells left Pogo with Danny for several months.

"Maybe as long as a year," Martha stated. "But we originally bought her for John to run, because I was running Pow at the time. So we took over. John had great success in running her, but never felt comfortable with training her."

(A note from me: Indeed, he did, as I enjoyed watching him with her several times, most notably in Klamath Falls, Oregon a few years back at the National there when she finished as a strong contender for the title.)

And how did Martha end up running her?

"I did all her training, and John suggested I start running her, too. She's a neat little dog...special, like she was as a puppy."

And she's special indeed. She decided to go on living, and she's finished a National with John and now one with Martha.

And that's the story of Pogo. For now.

Tenth series


.................................................................................Pam's drawing, and more to come...

First Time and Nine Series for Jeff Telander
























.......................................He qualified...but didn't plan to come. After all, it would essentially take up two weeks of his life, or more.

"I debated on whether I wanted to do this--come to the National--it seemed like such a huge time commitment. But then I also thought this might be my only opportunity to get here, and I felt I owed it to her..."

Now, you may jump to the conclusion that he means "Sinner" when he refers to "her" but he just might be referring to previous co-owner, Martha Voshell, (now deceased) who was responsible for Jeff's involvement with his beloved dog.

Telander had been in the competitive obedience arena six years ago and had earned OTCH... He went to Connie Cleveland for higher learning toward field and hunt tests, and -- presto -- he got hooked on field training...and never looked back.

Five years old when he picked up his first bird, Jeff's dog, Broad Reach Diesel, finished to QAA a year and a half later. Diesel may have continued on from there but due to an injury was retired.

Now, enter Martha and Buddy Voshell, friends who operated a triple-purpose Labrador kennel for bench, obedience and field performance. Martha had been diagnosed with metastastic cancer when she informed Jeff she'd bought a dog for him. It happened to be from a cross done by Milly Welsh and Charles Hayden.

People often asked Martha why she got a field puppy at this stage of her life--with such enormous complications to face--and she'd say, "The devil made me do it." That, coupled with the fact that this puppy's sire was FC Runnin with the Devil set the puppy's name in stone. Broad Reach Devil Made Me Do It, or "Sinner" hurtled into the field trial world. That was Fall of 2002.

Jeff did the basics and then sent Sinner to Jamie Balesdent for a winter. Alan Pleasant also had her for a year. Then, Jeff brought her home and resumed her training until he bcame faced with a heavy job workload; he now places her with Dave Smith in the summer and winter while he keeps her fall and spring.

Since last fall he's picked up an Amateur win at the Down East trial and also won Blue Ridge's Open this spring. With a second in the Open for Dave Smith at Snowbird, Sinner is also qualified for this year's National Open.

Who did Jeff join for pre-National training? Well, none other than the Lardy group, which consisted of Mike, Mac and Lynne DuBose, Judy Powers, Chad Baker, Charlie Hines, Judy Rasmusson, Karl Gunzer, Charles Tyson and Joan Fine.

"Everyone was helpful. And I want to thank Allen Voshell for his support and his interest in Sinner."

His thoughts on this National?

"I've had a really good time, but it's all much more grueling than I anticipated. Up late, back up early...it's not a restful experience! I wasn't prepared for how demanding this really is.

"But now that I've done it one time, I want to do it again--I want to qualify and come back and see what we can do!"

Test nine

















..........................Pam's drawing shows the test. The long bird on the right is thrown left at 320 yardsand the guns/thrower retire into the treeline. On the right, shot and thrown second at 190 yards is a hen pheasant thrown flat to the right and into the hip pocket of the flyer located in the middle of the test; the flyer station shoots a rooster flyer angled back to the right at 210 yards.

Pro trainer Alan Pleasant had these comments about the test: "There is plenty of room to miss that short bird and go deep -- and there is a lot of scent playout off that flyer fall. Plus if you miss the long retired out far to the outside, there is tons of room to go deep and really get into trouble in that deep cover."

Saturday morning is here...




.... and tenstion electrifies these last two series of the 51st National Amateur Retriever Championship.

Here we have photos of Leo "Pete" and "Coach" Plourde, with #76, FC-AFC-CFC-CAFC Miss T, MH rocking in the ninth.

Also, #73 FC-AFC Trumarc's Stormin' Norman II with owner/handler Mark Rosenblum.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Remaining dogs that have not handled...

...after Test Eight: 25, 45, 51, 66, 70, 73, 76, 87, 103, 112, and 114. 

These are not callbacks. Simply, this is a listing of dogs without handles on marks (nothing included regarding other work such as hunts on marks or blind work) up to this point...which is the end of the eighth series. 

Cutting a handsome profile...






















............................................is #100, Inherit the River "Cutter" owned by Janis Olsen and Robert Reuter of Truckee, California and handled by Rob Reuter...and he has terrific manners in the holding blind.

Final update for now...

...Test Eight closed with three consecutive handles; unfortunately, those were numbers 11, 15 and 17; and #15's handle became a pickup. 

The early news on Test Nine is that it will be about a thirty minute drive from Headquarters and there may be NO internet signal. It's a possibility that nothing will be posted tomorrow until the National is over, but we'll give you an update about that situation as we can.

Callbacks will be given later...

...thanks for reading. 

When the going gets tough...














...................................what would you do? I know...you expected to read "the tough get going." Well, that is the case in the story I'm about to share with you, but I'll ask you again, what would you do in the face of tragedy and adversity?


Many of you know real estate icon Benjy Griffith of Macon, Georgia from "back in the day" when he competed in trials (1980s) with such dogs as "Doc" (FC-AFC Another PHD) and his pride and joy, "Red" Hawkeye's Indian Red, a little golden male that ran like the wind, in Benjy's previous days in the field trial sport. He also owned Super Babe, a female that he sold to Lanse Brown; this little female amassed over 100 all-age points.


Benjy was as healthy as the best of us when one day, while playing a rigorous game of tennis, tragedy struck him on the court as he tore a carotid artery and was disabled immediately. He was rushed to a major medical center where he received all the necessary care and was put on a hepa-drip, but at 5 p.m. his condition became grave as he threw a clot. This was July, 2005.


Brain damage. Loss of control to his right side. It's been a long haul over the past 2 1/2 years but he's worked hard at rehabilitation. This involves technical advancements and old-fashioned treadmill work. He still has no use of his right arm, has extreme difficulty making his right leg work, and he has trouble with speech.


He can't play tennis anymore. He can't do many of the things that he used to take for granted...(probably, things many of us are guilty of...taking for granted, that is). But, this has brought him back to the dogs in ways that are very meaningful and special to him.


And Benjy has run this National through series five with #107, Premier's Iron Man Ozzy, "Oz". Although snap decisions are quite taxing, he's dealing with them while experiencing the joy of running dogs again.


Think about it. Benjy cannot use his right arm. In order to give right-hand casts, he uses his left arm by crossing it over to the right, as you can see in the enclosed photo. He also can't walk very well, but although he uses a cane to reach the line, he abandons it to move about when handling...and deals with the problems he encounters with a leg that won't work right when he has to move fast.


In the fifth series, Oz took off for his second retrieve, sent for the right-hand retired bird set against the tree line. He disappeared around the corner of the woods just deep of the bird, and when he reappeared, he was steaming across the field to the left. By the time Benjy was able to react with a whistle, Oz was at least 100 yards from his bird and it would have required massive right-hand (arm) casts to hope to recover the bird.


Up to this point, Benjy was in pretty decent shape with Oz. He assessed his situation, and accepted that what was required would be more than he could handle at that moment. He called Oz in to him. And he turned to the judges and politely said, "That's it. Thank you."


"You don't want to handle to that bird?"


"No, thank you. We're through."


Benjy realized his limitations at that moment and accepted them more graciously than might be expected.


Bird dogs, coonhounds and especially his beloved retrievers help to keep Benjy focused and working toward more rehabilitation. He's not giving up.


He is living his life.


Please...live each day to the fullest!

Well-marked routes...



...are the norm at this National. The Traffic Committee and Grounds Committee deserve kudos for the hard work they're investing to get folks from Point A to Point B in good fashion.

Here you see a helpful sign and part of the trail (carved out by Grounds) to the gallery and the eighth test. 

(Traffic is chaired by Mike Coutu and Ginny Sislane; Grounds is chaired by Bruce Butler and Mark Isenberg.)

One more bird...


...for Dusty Brown, as he leaves the mat in a yellow streak to round it up. 

Visitors from abroad...
























......................................Larry Wharton, our official announcer, gave visitors from the Netherlands a warm welcome over the loudspeakers. Their names are Henny M. Schoor and Yel C. M. Boomgaard; they have brought their two Labradors to the States to run a hunt test in Maine this coming weekend. These women planned the National into their trip so they could view a few setups before going to Maine.


Henny tells me that there is no down time with paperwork or customs to bring dogs "across the pond" from the United Kingdom into the United States. However, the reverse is not true; she states that U.S. citizens need eight months of lead time to finish paperwork and meet regulations to travel with dogs to the UK.

It's My Turn...


...#84, Mickey Rawlins of Lost Hills, California heads to the line with "Molly" in the eighth series. 

Just a few comments...on Test Eight

...Contestant Bill McKnight, Bigfork, Montana: "Really good bird placement."

...Contestant Steve O'Connell, Tallahassee, Florida: "To make it sure enough tough, throw that bird way out into the water."

...Pro Bill Eckett, Missouri: "Most of the dogs are doing this test so far...four haven't done it but the others are completing it in some form or fashion with various types of hunts...pretty setting for this test, too." 


Pam's rendition of Test Eight

Update...

...Unfortunately, #91 had to pick up. A few handles include #56 and #84...

Trial statistics...

...prior to the running of this eighth test, 16 dogs are clean, that is to say, without any handles on marking tests. 

These numbers are: 11, 17, 25, 45, 51, 56, 66, 70, 73, 76, 84, 87, 91, 103, 112 and 114. 

Making the journey to the line...


...Carl Ruffalo and Cody pause for a candid shot as they head toward the water triple.  

Drink in the air...

...Someone should bottle and market this pungent yet sweet North Woods air we're privileged to breathe on this day. The mixture of conifers, birch, low-lying tag alders, ferns and mostly hidden wild strawberries scattered about is absolutely tantalizing to the senses. Come get you some! We expect a moose to make a cameo appearance at any moment. 

This property is owned by J. Kent Sweezey and located between Stowe and Morrisville off Stagecoach Road. It is a gorgeous North Woods setting which requires an effort to access with regard to parking and moving spectators and contestants, whether that be by ATV or on foot. That being said, it is well worth it! 

Scratch that time average...

...Dog #21, who unfortunately had to pick up, worked for 22 minutes before that occurred; dog #25 took 14:33 to complete the test and dog #26 took 17:41...sooooo, scratch that previous time average per dog. This test is likely to take all day by virtue of the time involved; also, severe weather is predicted this afternoon. Currently it is trying to rain and I'm huddled with all these electronics under an umbrella of sorts.  (We started with dog #18...according to the count, dog #17 would have been first dog, but that team had already started a test, so #18 was "it" this morning.)

Some final pruning was needed...
























........................................Dr. Bruce Ahlers, judge, stands near some brush that contains a staub he is worried might injure a dog. Equipment was procured to eliminate the danger before any dogs were brought to the line.

Once the two test dogs ran...


...the judges grouped together for a final conference. (Left to right: Bruce Ahlers, D.V.M., Steve Kompf and Roger Fangsrud) 

The first test dog this morning...


....Margo Brown and Pine Acres Pass the "Ammo" did a nice job on this water triple.

Greetings this morning at Test Eight...

















............................................I'm going to quickly get a picture of the test up for you...more to come as soon as possible. We've had a number of logistics problems this morning with regard to where the running line is and where we actually have a broadband signal where I can transmit out.


Here is the eighth test, a water triple that is taking thus far an average of about eleven minutes a dog. That average could change.


The birds are all ducks and the test has two retired guns initially...If you look closely in this picture deep behind the flyer guns you will see the longest station. The right-hand station is more visible in the photo. Also, the flyer duck is sluiced, as all water flyers have been thus far in this National; once this bird is retrieved, the flyer station retires inside the bushes you can see just deep of where they are standing.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Test Seven is history...



















..........................................and here is Pam's picture to close things out for us. Also, it's been announced that callbacks will be given at Headquarters later this evening. Also, information as to location, starting number, and times for test dogs and first running dogs will be posted at Headquarters. Please see this site, or Jean's page, for those details later tonight.


Thanks for reading!

Just a few dogs remain...
















...........................................and Test Seven will be in the books. Dog #108 has just been called to line.


Here, Gary Unger takes the hen pheasant from #91 FC-AFC Small Craft Advisory "Rough" after the first blind and hands it off before tackling the second blind.

This test is winding down...


...Lynne DuBose takes the last bird from #83, FC-AFC Great Bunns of Fire and hands it to judge Bruce Ahlers, DVM.

Some candid photos of early running dogs on this blind...

















............................................Steve O'Connell sends #18, FC-AFC Watuaga's Bull Gator "Bull", on the long blind while Kim Johnson waits in the blind with #21, AFC Super High Flyer.

We'll get this test done today...


...the test dogs ran at 4:30 p.m. and running dogs are moving quickly on this short four-minute test.

Here Yvonne Hays leaves the line with #126, Birdy.

Seventh Series double land blind

















...........................................For the seventh test of this National week, we've made a short move from the Simonds' property; now we are basically in the "front yard" of John and Martha Russell's beautiful Vermont estate. You won't be able to see much about the test from this photo, but there is a short blind at a distance of 45 yards on the left planted at a bush. The long blind is 200 yards out along a side hill. Off to the right at 155 yards a set of guns shoots and throws a poison bird when the dog gets to the line and then the judges give the handler a number so that he or she can commence with running the test.


It will be very helpful when Pam Ingham finishes her drawing and I'll post it whenever I get it.

Wait no more...

















........................................for Pam's drawing of Test Six's water blind. Here it is, courtesy of my camera

All the pieces to the puzzle...


...Joe Broyles accepts delivery of the bird from his dog, Quick, and hands it over to the judge.

Rumor has it...


...that we will move after this test to nearby property for Test Seven, a land blind.

Here, Tommy Parrish and Chase leave the line after the water blind.

Intense concentration...



...Judy Rasmusson monitors her dog's progress on the blind through binoculars...

...and Peter Goodale studies the end of the blind from his vantage point in the holding blind.

Double Duty...


...well, in a convoluted sense, anyway. This photo shows the white-coat chair person out scenting the point, which he does every ten dogs, while the blind planter (he's in partially submerged and in dark clothing deep of the next point back) has just put out another duck and is wading back to his holding blind where he will be out of sight.

Still no official word on whether or not we'll see the start of another test today. This one should finish about 2 p.m. or thereabouts...

 

Changing of the guard...






















.........................................While the blind planter and white-coat/point scenting person are being changed out, Mac DuBose waits in the last holding blind with #11, FC-AFC Gimme Five More.

Back to the sixth...


















....................................................Here's where we are in the line-up. Thus far, work is pretty similar without much really good work.

Zip--Zap



Two views of the "mobile blog post"...(I've been asked to put this up--please feel free to use your delete key--Ha.) 

Puttin' on the ritz--Worker's Party rewards the workers...





...Who come from all time zones and give unselfishly of their time to make these Nationals run smoothly. The party, held downstairs at the Town & Country last night, included baked chicken and ham with all the trimmings and Ben & Jerry's ice cream sundaes, (build-your-own), were available for dessert

Here are a few snapshots from last night's party. There is one taken during the raffle, one of John Parrott squiring Martha Russell around the dance floor, Newt and Karen Cropper puttin' on the ritz, one of Bill Eckett/Chris Ledford/Terry Rotschafer  and general photo.