Saturday, November 10, 2018

93. FC-AFC I'M UR SEARCH ENGINE, "Google" LM, Alan Pleasant

93. FC-AFC I'M UR SEARCH ENGINE, "Google" LM, 
owner Leon Stepanian

"Google" with Alan Pleasant handler came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 9:16 am.

Flyer - Google went out and made a quick turn right and on his bird.

Long - He had a good initial line through the cover to the timber and he came back with his bird.

92. FC-AFC CROPPER'S FIRE IN THE HOLE, "Deep" LM, Al Arthur

92. FC-AFC CROPPER'S FIRE IN THE HOLE, "Deep" LM, 
owner Katharine Simonds

"Deep" with handler Al Arthur came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 9:12 am.

Flyer - Out and back with the bird.

Long - "Deep" had a good initial line then he deflected off the timber to the left. He quickly recovered and got his bird.

91. FC-AFC-CFC ALEXUS - PURSUIT OF PERFECTION, "Lexi" LF, Paul Sletten

91. FC-AFC-CFC ALEXUS - PURSUIT OF PERFECTION, "Lexi" LF, 
owners Lynn & Robert Kimball

"Lexi" with handler Paul Sletten came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 9:08 am.

Flyer - Lexi worked her way to the strip of corn at the right of the field. She came back to get her bird.

Long - Nice line through the cover and straight to her bird.




90. NAFC-FC STEADFAST'S BACHELOR SPECIAL, "Croc" LM, Dave Rorem

90. NAFC-FC STEADFAST'S BACHELOR SPECIAL, "Croc" LM, 
owners Monte & Pam Wulf

"Croc" with handler Dave Rorem came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 9:05 am.

Flyer - An early check down, but Croc worked out the bird.

Long - Running the left edge of the corn field, he arrived at the area of the fall. Making a couple tight loops, Croc got his bird.

89. FC-AFC GOOD IDEA'S GIVE THEM NO EXCUSE, "Marvin" LM, Ken Neil

89. FC-AFC GOOD IDEA'S GIVE THEM NO EXCUSE, "Marvin" LM, 
owners Ken & Brenda Neil

"Marvin" with handler Ken Neil came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 9:01 am.

Flyer - Marvin entered the area of the fall just left of the bird. He checked a little deep but then went over to his bird.

Long - Good Mark!



88. FC-AFC TUCKED AWAY AT RIVER'S EDGE, "Tucker" LM, Alex Abraham

88. FC-AFC TUCKED AWAY AT RIVER'S EDGE, "Tucker" LM, 
owner Alex Abraham

"Tucker" with handler Alex Abraham came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:57 am.

Flyer - Very good flyer.

Long - Tucker went through the cover but exited to the right near the corn field. He quickly corrected to the tree line for the retrieve.

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87. FC TRUMARC'S GRATUITY, "Tippy" LF, Danny Farmer

87. FC TRUMARC'S GRATUITY, "Tippy" LF, 
owner John Larkin

"Tippy" with handler Danny Farmer came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:54 am.

Flyer - Quick recovery on her flyer.

Long - Good initial line through the cover but deflected left for a quick loop. Tippy then came back to the fall to grab her bird.

86. FC-AFC TUCK N ROLL II, "Tucker" LM, John Henninger

86. FC-AFC TUCK N ROLL II, "Tucker" LM, 
owners Bill & Gay Fruehling

"Tucker" with handler John Henninger came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:51 am.

Flyer - Tucker had a quick run through the corn field to snatch up his flyer.

Left - A good line through the tall cover to the area of the fall. A left turn took him out of the area for a couple of loops before diving back in to the area of the fall to his bird.

Rerun - 79. FC-AFC SILVER STAR'S WATCH'EM LIKE A HAWK, "Hawk" LM, Ray Voigt

79. FC-AFC SILVER STAR'S WATCH'EM LIKE A HAWK, "Hawk" LM, 
owner Scott Leonescu

"Hawk" with handler Ray Voigt came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship 8:47 am.

Flyer - Nice job on this flyer.

Long - Good initial line to the area of the fall. A left turn and few loops, Hawk came up with the bird.

85. FC GIRL ON FIRE, "Katniss" LF, Tim Milligan

85. FC GIRL ON FIRE, "Katniss" LF, 
owner Mike Whorton

"Katniss" with handler Tim Milligan came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:43 am.

Flyer - She went and back in a flash.

Long - Katniss initial line took her slightly right but she turned into the area of the fall and made a few loops deep but worked her way back to her bird.


84. FC LANE'S KREWE CHIEF, "Chief" LM, Mark Smith

84. FC LANE'S KREWE CHIEF, "Chief" LM, 
owners Barry Brown & Jim Brown

"Chief" with handler Mark Smith came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:41 am.

Flyer - He got the flyer and came back in short order.

Long - Chief's line took him a little right but he made a good turn left into the fall area for the retrieve. 

Scratch - 83. AFC YOURS TRULY INDIGO, "Tru" LF, Chris Ledford or Mark Medford

83. AFC YOURS TRULY INDIGO, "Tru" LF, 
owners Mark & Suzanne Medford

"Tru" got scratched from the competition.

82. FC-AFC MUDSLINGER'S AMAZING VISION, "T Bone" LM, Clint Avant

82. FC-AFC MUDSLINGER'S AMAZING VISION, "T Bone" LM, 
owners Dale Willard & Northrup Larson

"T Bone" with handler Clint Avant came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:36 am.

Flyer - T Bone went straight to his bird.

Long - Good initial line right to the tree line where he picked up his bird.

81. FC-AFC DOTTIE RAY'S LEAGUE OF HER OWN, "Dottie" LF, Andy Kahn

81. FC-AFC DOTTIE RAY'S LEAGUE OF HER OWN, "Dottie" LF, 
owners Andy & Shirley Kahn

"Dottie" with handler Andy Kahn came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:32 am.

Flyer - Nice Long Flyer - Dottie marked this bird well.

Long - Having a good line to this bird, she made a quick loop and went to her bird.

80. FC LITTLE CREEK'S AUGUST MOONSHINE, "Gus" LM, Dave Smith

80. FC LITTLE CREEK'S AUGUST MOONSHINE, "Gus" LM, 
owners Stephen & Peggy Roegiers

"Gus" with handler Dave Smith came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:27 am.

Flyer - Gus went out and straight to his bird.

Long - Going out wide right and along the edge of the corn field, Gus made a loop into the corn field. He came back to the edge then a made a pass along the far end of the field coming out from the trees. He made another pass and to his bird.

No Bird - 79. FC-AFC SILVER STAR'S WATCH'EM LIKE A HAWK, "Hawk" LM, Ray Voigt

79. FC-AFC SILVER STAR'S WATCH'EM LIKE A HAWK, "Hawk" LM, 
owner Scott Leonescu

"Hawk" with handler Ray Voigt came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship and received a no bird. They will be placed back 5 and run in the 6th spot.

Update on 1st Series - Day 1

We are off to a good start. The first test dog came to the line for his 1st series Double with Two Roosters with one being a Flyer at 6:36 am with the first running dog # 59 "Ajax," coming to the line at 6:56 am. This test is taking approximately 4 minute per dog.

So far we have had 2 no bird, #66 & 72 which both has had their rerun. 19 dogs have completed test one and with only #65 having a handle. Let's see what the happens with the new gunners in position and ready to go.

Conditions - Gun Change - 1st Series

At 8:20 am we had our first gun change.

The temps are marginally better at 26 degrees but the sun is bright in the cloudless sky. The shadows on the left hand bird that once encompassed the field have dissipated to narrow strips and will soon leave completely. The wind, still out of the north, has picked up to a steady 12 mph.

78. FC-AFC COOL FUEL MH, "Nitro" LM, Rich Pingatore

78. FC-AFC COOL FUEL MH, "Nitro" LM, 
owner Rich Pingatore

"Nitro" with handler Rich Pingatore came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:15 am.

Flyer - Nitro went through the corn and pounced on his flapping flyer.

Long - He went out on a good line. Going under the arc of the throw and got a little deep. Nitro made a quick turn right and went to his bird.

77. FC-AFC KERRYBURKE'S MARSH MADNESS MH, "Maddie" LF, Misty Melo

77. FC-AFC KERRYBURKE'S MARSH MADNESS MH, "Maddie" LF, 
owner Kerry Lavin

"Maddie" with handler Misty Melo came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:12 am.

Flyer - Maddie went down the hill and through the corn in to the stubble. She had a quick hunt in the fall area and got her bird.

Long - She went into the heavy cover on an excellent line. She came to the trees right of the bird and made a quick adjustment to pick up her bird.

Rerun - 72. FC-AFC ROUGH CREEK'S LIBERTY BELL, "Bella" LF, Mark Medford

72. FC-AFC ROUGH CREEK'S LIBERTY BELL, "Bella" LF, 
owners Mark & Suzanne Medford

"Bella" with handler Mark Medford came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:07 am.

Flyer - Bella went down through the corn and stubble straight to her bird.

Long - She went through the cover an took the water on the right side of the line to the fall area. Going on the right side of the trees, she went through to the left side and worked her way back to her bird.


76. FC TIGER MTN'S PALE RIDER, "Ghost" LM, Mike Taylor

76. FC TIGER MTN'S PALE RIDER, "Ghost" LM, 
owner Nicole Taylor

"Ghost" with handler Mike Taylor came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:03 am.

Flyer - Bird was short and angled back - Straight to his bird.

Long - He went down through the cover and under the arc of the throw. He got deep but made a quick turn right and went to his bird.





75. FC-AFC COLD BLACK JACK, "Jack" LM, Paul Sletten

75. FC-AFC COLD BLACK JACK, "Jack" LM, 
owners John & Mary Stracka

"Jack" with handler Paul Sletten came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 8:00 am.

Flyer - Jack went out through through the corn for a very nice mark.

Long - He went through the heavy cover on a good line. He continued the perfect line to his bird.

74. FC SEASIDE'S GORGEOUS GEORGE, "Clooney" LM, Alan Pleasant

74. FC SEASIDE'S GORGEOUS GEORGE, "Clooney" LM, 
owners Rita & Frank Jones

"Clooney" with handler Alan Pleasant came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:57 am.

Flyer - Clooney went out through the corn left of the bird. He made a few loops in the fall area and got his bird.

Long - He went out through the heavy cover on a great line. He hunted just short, then moved under the arc of the throw and deep. He worked the tree line quickly back to retrieve his bird.

73. FC SWIFT RIVERS NO PROBLEMS MH, "Kenny" LM, Buck Shope

73. FC SWIFT RIVERS NO PROBLEMS MH, "Kenny" LM, 
owners Buck Shope & Tara Yohan

"Kenny" with handler Buck Shope came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:53 am.

Flyer - Kenny went out through the corn and got a little deep. He made a quick turn and came back to his bird.

Long - He went through the cover a little right and to the end of the tree line. Making one loop he got his bird.

Rerun - 66. FC MCS HENRY, "Henry" LM, Danny Farmer

66. FC MCS HENRY, "Henry" LM, 
owners Kevin & Mimi Savio & Gabi Rollman

"Henry" with handler Danny Farmer came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:50 am.

Flyer - Henry went through the corn close to the guns and went under the arc of the bird. He quickly came back and to his bird.

Long - He went out and through the heavy cover towards his bird. He went straight to it and brought it back.



No Bird - 72. FC-AFC ROUGH CREEK'S LIBERTY BELL, "Bella" LF, Mark Medford

72. FC-AFC ROUGH CREEK'S LIBERTY BELL, "Bella" LF, 
owners Mark & Suzanne Medford

"Bella" with handler Mark Medford came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship and received a no bird. They will go back 5 spots and have their rerun in the 6th spot.

Scratch - 71. FC-AFC JOHNNY DOLLAR, "Buck" LM, Al Arthur

71. FC-AFC JOHNNY DOLLAR, "Buck" LM, 
owner Charles Bearden

"Buck" got scratched from the competition.

70. NAFC-FC TEXAS TROUBADOR, "Tubb" LM, Martha Russell

70. NAFC-FC TEXAS TROUBADOR, "Tubb" LM, 
owners Martha & John Russell, Jr.

"Tubb" with handler Martha Russell came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:43 am.

Flyer - Short bird that angled back close to the guns - Tubb went out to the right and worked the area wide right. He then moved his hunt to the left and got his bird.

Long - He went through the cover to the area with the guns. He got deep left but hunted back to the right to retrieve his bird.

69. FC EH...WHAT'S UP DOC?, "Doc" LM, Dave Rorem

69. FC EH...WHAT'S UP DOC?, "Doc" LM, 
owner Steven Kurlansky

"Doc" with handler Dave Rorem came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:38 am.

Flyer - Doc went down the hill and through the cut corn. He hunted left then right of the fall area but then went to his bird.

Long - He went out through the cover under the arc of the bird. He got deep and hunted deep left. Working his way back he got his bird.

68. FC RACIN' IN THE ROUGH, "Nitro" LM, Edward Forry

68. FC RACIN' IN THE ROUGH, "Nitro" LM, 
owners Jenny & David Grasse & Linda Berkeley-Weiss

"Nitro" with handler Edward Forry came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:34 am.

Flyer - Nitro went down through the corn and made a few tight loops and got his bird.

Long - He went through the cover on a good line. He went just right of the bird following the tree line and got deep. Nitro then hunted wide left deep of the area but worked his way back to the bird.

67. FC-AFC MOONSHINE'S WHITEWATER RAPID, "Louie" LM, Wayne Curtis

67. FC-AFC MOONSHINE'S WHITEWATER RAPID, "Louie" LM, 
owner Mary Bixby

"Louie" with handler Wayne Curtis came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:28 am.

Flyer - Louie went out through the cover and hunted short on the long bird. He extended the area covered but got his bird.

Long - He took the road between the corn and the field. Went deep to the trees and worked his back to the bird.

No Bird - 66. FC MCS HENRY, "Henry" LM, Danny Farmer

66. FC MCS HENRY, "Henry" LM, 
owners Kevin & Mimi Savio & Gabi Rollman

"Henry" with handler Danny Farmer came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:27 am.

Henry received a no bird. Henry and Danny will go back 5 spots and have a rerun in the 6th spot.

Handled - 65. FC BLACK LAGER ELEVEN, "Lager" LM, Jerry Patopea

65. FC BLACK LAGER ELEVEN, "Lager" LM, 
owner Rich Charrier

"Lager" with handler Jerry Patopea came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:20 am.

Flyer - Lager went through the corn, made a few turns in the fall area and got his bird.

Long - Handled - He went through the cover and went to the right side of the tree line to the end. He came back through the trees and hunted left then right. He got back deep to the end of the corn and then got handled to his bird.

64. FC MAGIC TRICK'S ZUMA, "Zuma" LM, Greg Bartlett

64. FC MAGIC TRICK'S ZUMA, "Zuma" LM, 
owner David Aul

"Zuma" with handler Greg Bartlett came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:17 am.

Flyer - Long - Zuma went out through the corn and straight to his bird.

Long - He went through the cover on a good line. He turned right at the end of the corn, then came back left to hunt deep. He came back in to his bird.


63. FC-AFC LKY'S CONTROLLED CHAOS, "Riot" LM, Kenny Trott

63. FC-AFC LKY'S CONTROLLED CHAOS, "Riot" LM, 
owners Bradley & Diane Clow

"Riot" with handler Kenny Trott came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:13 am.

Flyer - Riot went out through the corn and to his bird.

Long - He went down the hill through the cover and straight through the fall area getting deep, Riot quickly came back and got his bird.


62. FC-AFC PRIMROSE'S WHAT I AM, "Edie" LF, Chris Ledford

62. FC-AFC PRIMROSE'S WHAT I AM, "Edie" LF, 
owners Kip Kemp & Daniel Boyd

"Edie" with handler Chris Ledford came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:07 am.

Flyer - Edie went down the hill and through the corn. She took a few deep turns then got her bird.

Long - She went through the cover to the right of the fall area and got deep in the trees. She came out on the left side trees and hunted deep in the coves rows of cover the gunners retired in. Had an extended hunt and got her bird.

61. FC SUMMIT'S COUNTRY ROADS TAKE ME HOME, "Denver" LM, Scott Harp

61. FC SUMMIT'S COUNTRY ROADS TAKE ME HOME, "Denver" LM, 
owner Lisa Martin

"Denver" with handler Scott Harp came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at 7:03 am.

Flyer - Denver went out to the fall area, made one turn left and got his bird.

Long - He went through the cover and straight to the bird.

60. FC-AFC HOCKLEY CREEK'S SWITCH HITTER, "Mickey" LM, Robby Bickley

60. FC-AFC HOCKLEY CREEK'S SWITCH HITTER, "Mickey" LM, 
owner Robby Bickley

"Mickey" with handler Robby Bickley came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at  7:00 am

Flyer - Through the corn to the area of the fall, left and deep, hunted the area and got his bird!

Long - Through the cover, left of the fall, turned left for 1 turn by the guns, then quickly out to the bird.

59. TELAMON'S WAR EAGLE, "Ajax" LM, Clint Avant

59. TELAMON'S WAR EAGLE, "Ajax" LM, 
owners Christian Healey & Larry Vaske

"Ajax" with handler Clint Avant came to the line to run their first test of the 2018 National Retriever Club Championship at  6:56 am

Flyer - Straight through the corn to the fall area, quick turns tight, and got his bird!

Long - Downhill, through the cover, straight to the fall area and to the bird!

Test Dog 2 – 1st Series – FC Tall Oak’s Repeat, LF – “Peat”

"Peat" with owner/handler John Brunjes came to the line at 6:42 am

Flyer - Out to the area in front of the guns then quickly Right to her bird.

Long - Down the hill, through the heavy cover under the arc of the bird, then made a turn and back to her bird.

Test Dog 1 – 1st Series – Watermarks Coal-Fired Folson Train, LM – “Cash”

"Cash" with handler Cynean Bartlett came to the line at 6:36 am

Flyer - Straight through the strip of cut corn to the bird.

Long - Caught the piece of cover, down the road, into the corn on the right to the end of the field, into the woods and back up the road on the right, back into the woods, then hunted end of the corn, over through the trees to the area by the guns and to the bird.


Series One – Land Double with one Retired and a Flyer

The line for this test is facing south with a light north wind. The temperature is about 24 degrees with a "feels like" of about 18 DEGREES! The mat sits atop a road and drops down into the field. Our field has two distinct looks with the left bird, a rooster, thrown to the right at 205 yards. The gunners are in a swale with the line running under high tension power lines overhead and marshy areas with tall cover below. The bird is thrown towards the trees with a flat throw across a ditch. The three gunners at this station retire when the dog leaves to pick up the flyer. The rooster flyer is shot to right at 120 yards and lands in a harvested corn field. This test takes about four minutes.

Series One – Land Double with one Retired and a Flyer

Right hand Flyer – 120 Yards

Left hand Retired – 205 yards

Sketch by Jean Wu – Thanks Jean!