Sunday, June 15, 2008

Technical difficulties--really--we're trying!

Well, folks, we've been through three battery packs and have been trying to upload some photos, which may at least partially account for major battery drain in using juice, BUT we hope to rectify the problem tonight. You can be assured we'll keep working on it. 

Also, this property has been good to us from the standpoint of broadband signal...some of the National test sites will not have that luxury and I'll make trips when possible toward Stowe or Morrisville to accomplish connection. But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. 

For now I can give you the update that presently a new total of 20 dogs have handled in addition to the 1 pickup. The sun is still high and warm although the wind has died down a bit. Work has overall remained constant throughout the day, regardless on wind direction with regard to the marks. A few changes have been noted on the blinds with earlier dogs falling more left of the blind and later dogs, with the North wind, being pushed right of the blind. We'll see what happens from here...

...and we'll continue to endeavor to solve technical, power and photo difficulties...

Thanks for reading!   

East or West?


Sometimes as I look around at the backdrop of this first and second series, I find myself thinking I'm out West. Well...not really, but kind of. And I'm not a kind-of sort of gal. 

Often the western Nationals have spectacular backdrops of various mountain ranges depending on the time zone and locale and without a doubt that scenery is always pleasing to behold. How can one tire of looking at such beauty? 

Today's scenery is also a sight to behold. With the test held on Kate and Pete Simond's beautiful property off Bliss Road, we are surrounded by Vermont's Green Mountains and the Mansfield Range. To the East is Mt. Elsmore and to our Southwest is Mt. Mansfield, a mountain with its own history in skiing lore. 

Gorgeous! Brought to us courtesy of these wonderful dogs we love, train and with whom we share our lives.     

(Quick Update)


As of dog #29, there have been 13 handles and 1 pick-up on the first setup. 

This morning The Weather Channel listed winds for the day as light and variable...variable has been the operative word thus far. The wind has lately shifted so that it is blowing from the North which is the direction the marks are set. The blind is to the East so the current wind for it is a cross-wind. Gusts are up to 15-20 knots on estimation. 

Dog work is quite varied with some dogs going wide outside and others behind the flyer and dogs running wide or inside, short and deep on the retired mark. Some dogs are getting in the water en route to the retired bird and then correcting nicely while others that elect to get wet end up getting lost deep of the bird and around the berm behind the pond. 

Another update as I write: We've run 60 dogs as of 2:30 p.m...will we be able to finish this setup tonight? Everything will have to go just right and the light will have to hold...and it will make for a loooong one (day that is)...time alone will tell. 

REMEMBER, for detailed information on handles and for test descriptions and test pictures/photos, please see Jean Wu's write-ups on our www.working-retriever.com/08narc/index.html and click on the appropriate link or day. This is also the place to look for other related detail information such as data from the meetings....regarding meetings, due to the party last night followed by storms and numerous power outages, Jean was not able to update her page last night and will post information generated from the meetings in her report tonight.

Thanks for reading...   

The Cape (No) Fear Crew

Well, whadaya know...a club from the southeast, based in Rocky Point, North Carolina and piloted by veteran field trialer John Thomas (J.T. to many of his friends) has 10 dogs running in this National. 

The Cape Fear Retriever Club is well represented. 

Here they are: Mac DuBose with #11--FC-AFC Gimme Five More and #19--FC-AFC Voigts Dyna-Maxx; Andrea Meisse with #36--AFC Trumarc's Lindsey; Jeff Telander with #41--Broad Reach Devil Made Me Do It; Bob Willow & Paul Mocciaro with #71--FC-AFC Longshot Black Talon; Lynne DuBose with #83--FC-AFC Great Bunns of Fire; Nancy Thomas with #90--FC Keith's Reedy Fork Kate; Gary Unger & Elizabeth Dixon with #91--FC-AFC Small Craft Advisory; Steve Ferguson with #110--AFC Brink's Barracuda Bingo; John Thomas with #111-Just Add Water II.

And J.T. just celebrated a birthday this past Monday during pre-National training as he turned 81 years young.

You go--Cape Fear!

Building a Dream...and Coming Full Circle


Have you ever had a dream? Did you ever aspire to do something, or hope for something? One of two things usually happens once a dream is born...you either make a plan and act on it--therefore having at least a chance of making it a reality--or you keep dreaming. 

Back in 1996, Charles Bearden of Wichita Falls, Texas, had a dream. At that time the owner of one Labrador named Dusty--obtained on the recommendation of good friend Mac McGee from breeder Dan Denicus--Charles had been to and worked at a few of his local club's field trials, and this served to whet his appetite to learn more about training, the people, and especially to see the best dogs in the country. He wanted to watch the cream of the crop. A little research revealed the National Amateur that year was going to be in Stowe, Vermont; having not been to the Northeast before, he planned a vacation with his wife, Vicki. And off they went. 

Heralding from west Texas, Charles had a background in horses and cattle; he knew the importance of bloodlines and jumped to the conclusion that the same must be important in performance Labrador retrievers. So, prior to his arrival in Vermont, Charles studied pedigrees and had in mind some of the dogs he was hoping to see. 

Charles and his wife arrived and watched most of the National (with a few sightseeing trips in afternoons, promised by husband to wife as part of the deal, to places such as the Trappe Family--from Sound of Music fame--Resort).  As Charles says, "I was just another face in the crowd. We blended in with everyone, which is one of the great things of this game. People from all walks of life and economic backgrounds come together over these dogs. We watched and people were very friendly and helpful toward us." 

Two of the dogs Charles had his eye on were Zipper (FC-AFC Rebel Ridge Cody's Mischief) and Dinah (FC-AFC Candlewood Rebel Ridge TNT) and they didn't disappoint Charles. As with most of the dogs at the National, he was impressed with their performance (and indeed, Zipper was a finalist that year) so he took a leap of faith.

With just a bit of trepidation, he drew a deep breath and approached Lyn and Larry Wharton (then married) and made a suggestive comment: "I don't know if you've thought of this, but in the event you ever breed those two dogs, I'd love to buy a puppy!" 

Every six months thereafter, Bearden sent a letter to the East Coast inquiring on the status of this theoretical cross. A few years later, it did indeed transpire and Bearden was on the phone immediately to hammer out the details. 

He got that puppy.

And over the years, he's invested the blood, sweat and tears necessary to make a good dog and to get ahead in this sport. He's dedicated and he works hard at improving himself and his dogs and he's a constant study of the game in all aspects. 

And he's here this week, qualified with #22, AFC Lake Park Cody's Zipperoo, or "Rudy" for short, bred by Lyn Yelton and Larry Wharton. "And Stowe looks just the same as it did back then!"

Charles also shared some comments he feels are benefits that go hand in hand with the retriever game: "We get to meet good people, see the country...and most of all, we have the opportunity to play with one of God's greatest creations."

Rudy and Charles will be coming to the line to try their hand at Tests One and Two in just a few dogs. There's no telling how it will go, but Charles feels that in many ways, he's come Full Circle with his dream. 

Indeed he has. And we wish him the best of luck. 

And my heartfelt request to you? FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!     


With ten dogs in the books...


...there have actually been 13 numbers go by...three scratches are in this group, counting a new scratch with dog #104 due to an injury. Of the ten dogs that have come to the line, nine out of ten have run, one had a no-bird, and two have handled on the shorter right-hand retired bird... 

NOTE: I am inserting a photograph of a drawing of tests one and two done by Pam Ingham.

And We're Off!!!!


Storms hammered Stowe last night, dumping lots of rain and also putting power out in various areas; however, the morning dawned with heavy overcast skies but no rain. Scattered showers with a 50% chance of such are hovering over us...

The 51st running of the National Amateur Retriever Championship is off and running! Announcer Larry Wharton greeting all National contestants, workers and spectators and then played the National Anthem; to Larry's credit he had even erected an American Flag on an aluminum pole. It was very moving to salute the flag before the beginning of this National Amateur Championship stake.

Test dog number one with Margo Brown came to the line at 7:31 a.m. and took 6 minutes to complete the test. She handled on the short retired bird and had some difficulty with the blind. Test dog number two with Dave Opseth completed the marks without a handle and then had a good go toward the blind and ended with difficulty...this was also a six minute run.

As the early handlers went back to the parking area to get their dogs, Wharton played some appropriate music to set the mood for this competition, such as Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down a Dream" and Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run"...

Dog number 93 approached the line at 8:07 a.m. and had a good clean run with a really pretty blind to start off official National dog work. Now, talk about a relief for that handler, which was Barb Howard with Prime! The pressure of running first goes without saying, and she can breathe a sigh of relief for now. A big bonus for her? Well, she'll never have to run Prime first at any other point in this stake...

More soon...