1. FC-AFC Dottie Ray’s Ivy League (Ivy), LF, Andy Kahn

Left Flyer: great mark

Right bird: dog got in the water near the end of the channel then proceeded to swim down the center, turn and grab the bird.

Middle Retired: "Ivy" ran the peninsula to the end jumped in the water but took a hard right. She then hunted deep and lateral before retrieving the bird.

Re-Run 104. FC-AFC Trumarc’s Hollandaise (Holland), LM, Edward Aycock

LF: straight to the area made several tight loops before retrieving the bird clean.

R: swam to the point, tip-toed the point turned 90 degrees to the left swam a bit then hunted deep right in the water and on land then worked his way over to the bird

MR: got in the water swam across the island and straight to the bird.

Re-Run 99. FC-AFC Fish River’s Out Of The Park (Homer), LM, Joe Piland Jr

LF: Pinned it!

R: took a great initial line and made short work of this bird for a job well done.

MR: swam the length of the pond in the channel at the holding blind. punched out under the arc drove hard and deep, established a hunt and hunted his way back to the bird to complete the 7th Series. Good Teamwork!

Handle 119. FC-AFC Trulines Walla Walla Sweet (Pink), LF, Mark Medford

LF: Nice mark!

R: swam out to the point tip-toed the point and jumped in the water to retrieve the bird.

MR: took off the mat on a perfect line toward the holding blind and was digging into the wind got to the end of pond and took a hard left toward the LF and contestant opted to Handle the dog to the bird.

Pick Up 117. FC-AFC Wolf Creek CR Skeeter (Skeeter), LM, Robby Bickley

LF: made quick work of this flyer for a good mark.

R: swam to the point took a hard left turn over to retrieve the bird.

MR: traveled land the last piece of water, was the route "Skeeter" chose. He swam to the end of the pond punched out hard right toward the area, hunted the area with conviction for a very long time but could not come up with the bird. A great effort by " Skeeter" !

***Judge's asked contestant to Honor on lead

Pick Up 15. FC-AFC Citori’s Accept No Substitute (Brook), LF, Michael Moore

LF: This 11yr old started out on a great line and then lost sight of everything. Once in the middle of the pond. Ms.Brook took a 90 degree turn to the right and checked out the marshy area near the Right bird. Then "Brook" traveled deep on the middle peninsula jumped in the water and swam to the far shore got out and drove the levy to hunt the land near the MR. Judge's asked that the dog be Picked Up.

R: not attempted

MR:not attempted

*** Picked Up at the Judge's

Pick Up 111. AFC Mjolnir’s There And Back And Again (Shire), LM, Sharon Gierman

LF: came out of the water driving to the right and established a hunt deep and laterally in the basin of the valley before retrieving the bird.

R:swam to the point with the gun station. Dog hunted all around the gun station leaping in and out of the water trying to locate the mark on the same side of the gun station but these Judge's were clever in that this is a shore-to-shore mark where the dogs are required to hunt the water and it is been difficult to do so. Shire eventually worked it out after exhausting all other possible placing of the bird to complete the retrieve.

MR: took land all the way to the end of the peninsula then jumped in a spit of water at the end to then push right and got out at the bird for a great marked retrieve.

***Contestant was asked to Honor on lead which means the contestant is no longer in contention

Gun Change....

GOOD LUCK GUNNERS!!! We at the news could not even imagine how difficult it must be to hit a bird traveling that fast thrown that far. This is an awesome test that is getting lots of answers out of the dog work. Not to mention we are putting the gunners, throwers, marshals and grounds committees to the test as well in these WINDY conditions. Great organization guys!

Handle 106. AFC Spirit Of Denali-Genet (Genet), LF, Bill Barstow

LF: fought the wind like a champ and drove the hill at the fall area to scoop of the bird for a perfect mark.

R: took off from the mat toward the gunners on the point. Tip-toed the point and turned toward the  bird then back to the point and then over to the bird for a job well done.

MR: took a good line at the holding blind, shouldered the wind the whole way, while digging in she took a hard left toward the LF and had to be handled quick and clean to the bird. Great courage!

Conditions Report

Well the sun is bright and the wind is blowing hard. Several tents ripped out of the ground and topple over into the test. Thank goodness the working dog had already been sent for the LF and it did not affect their run of the 7th Series. However, it is difficult for the gunners and throwers to shoot the birds. The Hen Mallards are flying up, up, and away with this strong tailwind. The wind is slightly angling the test to the right and the dogs are having to fight to make these "Big" swims. Tough, tough conditions even thou the birds are very visible, the factors are getting the dogs lost along the way.

Good Luck Everyone -- it's a hum dinger!!

No-Bird 104. FC-AFC Trumarc’s Hollandaise (Holland), LM, Edward Aycock

will go back six dogs

No-Bird 99. FC-AFC Fish River’s Out Of The Park (Homer), LM, Joe Piland Jr

dog will run after #119

98. FC-AFC Shadows Sweet Something (Sugar), LF, Mark Medford

LF: small area hunt and quickly over to the bird

R: traveled at the area of the fall went to the left edge of the point and then drove deep to come back and retrieve the bird.

MR: took off from the mat bearing to the left at the holding blind dog got out at the holding blind then took a hard right straight to the bird. Fantastic job. 

Pick Up 92. Pleasant River Sea Duck (Eider), LM, Anne Marshall

LF: small hunt and then to the bird

R: headed toward the right side of the gun station corrected rapidly and landed on the left-side of the point. Hunted deep of the bird in the water and was headed toward the far shore then turned and came back toward the marsh*** Judge's requested dog be Picked UP

MR: not attempted

*** Judge's request

90. FC-AFC Jet Black Bustin Thru The Brush MH (Jet), LM, Jim Powers

LF:  good mark!

R: swam the a channel the whole way to the cattails to retrieve the bird for a magnificent mark!

MR: traveled a line toward the holding blind got out and drove out up the hill dog popped and then hunted back to the bird to complete series 7.

Handled 87. FC Hunting Creek Classy Girl JH (Classy), LF, John Armstrong

LF: drove out deep of the area and hunted right of the gun station before making his way back to retrieve the bird.

R: headed toward the gunner and faded to the right. then dog hunted deep and right of the station on land and finally back in the water to retrieve the bird.

MR: traveled left of the holding blind  got on the hill near the LF and had to Handle back to the MR for a completed retrieve.

86. AFC-CFC-CAFC Upon The Wings Of An Answered Prayer

LF: Excellent mark!

R: swam out to the marshy cattails on a perfect line for a perfect mark and returned on the same exact line. Picture Perfect!

MR: traveled out toward the area and faded right drove out to the right of the area and established a small hunt and quickly to retrieve the bird for a job well done.

Handled 85. FC-AFC KPR’s Wet Willie (Willie), LM, Jim Pickering

LF: went straight to the area made a loop drove deep  and then came back to the bird

R: traveled to the mark favoring the line toward the gunners, got up on the point made a quick turn and jumped in the water to retrieve the bird.

MR: swam toward the fall area and kept fading to the right, got out and broke hard right toward the Right bird and had to be Handled to the bird.

84. FC-AFC Landover Goldendaze Yukon (Yukon), LM, Chuck

LF: had a quick loop over to retrieve the bird

R: swam to the point for a moment and then back in the water over to retrieve the bird

MR: dog traveled out thru the middle of the test favoring the channel at the holding blind, got near the end and made a good decision to break right and punch out at the bird for an awesome job!

Pick-Up 81. FC-AFC Rocky Creeks Full Tilt Boogie (Pearl), LF, John Caire

LF: had a great initial line got in the area and hunted with conviction in the area for a good while before retrieving the bird.

R: swam to the point hunted the point jumped back in the water and over to retrieve the bird

MR: not attempted

*** Judge's asked the contestant to Pick Up the dog.

Handle 77. FC-AFC Tip From A Gypsy (Marley), LF, Hank Knoblauch

LF: drilled it!

R: swam out to the point got on the point and hunted the gun station for a couple of passes before getting back in the water over to the retrieve the bird.

MR: traveled out to the mark left of the holding blind. Punched up the hill got deep of the LF and had to be Handled to the bird for a clean retrieve.

Pick Up 73. AFC Mitimat Rock Paper Scissors (Rocky), LM, Lydia Fekula

LF: front-footed it !

R: swam to the point got out on the point hunted in front and deep of the gun station then got back in the water and over to the bird for a successful retrieve.

MR: traveled thru the middle of the test drove to the far shore got on the levy and turned to go back to the Right bird. Contestant was told to Pick Up the dog.

Handle 72. FC-AFC Robbers’ Stray Bullet (Bullet), LM, Dan Hurst

LF: great mark, straight to the bird.

R: swam channel all the way to the area just missed the bird on the up-wind side to then loop back quick and retrieve the bird clean.

MR: water, land, water, drove out on the right of the fall area went to the fence established a hunt and had to be handled to the bird.

 

71. FC-AFC Mercy Mercy Mercy Me (Mercy), LF, John Stracka

LF: drilled it!

R: swam to the point drove over the point into the water. made a hard left to retrieve the bird.

MR: ran down the peninsula to the end hunted wide right of then worked her way back to the bird for a job well done.

Pick Up 70. AFC Dominator Dealer He’s Worth It (Dealer), LM, Vern Hasenban

LF: traveled straight to the bird for a nice mark.

R: swam to the point where the gunners were got on the point hunted deep and right of the gun station then hunted land in front of the station. Contestant Handled the dog to the bird.

MR:not attempted

***Dog was asked to be Picked Up

While the stormy weather passes...

Radar in the Mondovi, WI area during the rainstorm

Taking shelter from the storm...

Let The Games Begin....

At 12:08 P.M. the gunners were instructed to grab their gear to head to the field.  The Judges are now checking the visibility of the birds in the new over cast conditions. Hopefully we will run some dogs soon...........

L to R: Dennis Bath, Bob West (Purina) and Dean Reinke (Purina)

Waiting Out The Storm...

The Retriever News Team, Workers and Test Dogs sought refuge in the Spangler barn and here's what we found......

CONDITIONS REPORT

 Rain, Rain, Go Away...

At 11:08 A.M. the Marshals shut down the test because the Doppler radar showed a line of thunderstorms headed our way.  The thunder was rolling in the back ground as the Kabota's, 4-wheelers, and Rangers sped out to the gun stations to rescue our workers from potential lightening strikes. Minutes after bringing all the guns in from the field the rain started. It was light at first but then the skies opened up and let it pour for about 30 minutes straight.  We will resume test when it is deemed safe for everyone to return outdoors.

Thunderstorms rolling into the 2013 NARC

68. AFC Meadowwoods Lawman (Dillon), LM, Tony Despenas

Left Flyer: straight to the bird for a nice mark!

Right bird: swam to the gun station established a tight short hunt to retrieve the bird well.

Middle Retired: dog took a great initial line of land,water, land, water, land to punch out of the pond a step on the bird for an amazing mark!

"Dillion" coming back with the last bird in Series 7

Re-Run & Pick Up 47. FC-AFC Castlebay’s Night Robber (Thief), LM, Dave Seivert

LF: shot a bit shorter than the previous bird. Dog took one quick small loop to retrieve the bird clean.

R: swam to the point in front of the gun station continued in the water hunted water deep and right of the guns, then back up on the point to hunt deep and right of the gun station to then come back toward the bird only to then turn away and begin to head to the end of the pond. Contestant Handled dog to the bird to complete the retrieve.

MR: not attempted

*** Picked Up the dog.

Pick Up 64. FC-AFC Third Creek’s Big Stick (Woody), LM, Larry Morgan

LF: started for the bird wide left of the fall area then the dog stopped driving turned and came back to jump in the pond traveling across the test to retrieve the Right bird. 

R: not attempted

MR: not attempted

*** Judge's instructed contestant to Pick Up the dog. Reasoning not shared with the reporters.

"Woody" returning from the Right bird.

60. NAFC-FC Paddle Creek’s Pack Your Grip (Traveler), LM, Chad Baker

Left Flyer: made quick work of this bird. Good Mark!

Middle Retired: Dog took a very wide right line to travel to the middle retired bird. It almosted looked as if the dog was going for the Right bird but "Trav" sliced by the Right bird and drove onto the end of the pond to scoop up the bird clean.

Right bird: swam to the gun station on the point made a small loop then jumped in the water deep to make his way over to the bird for a job well done.

Chad sending "Trav" for the Middle Retired Bird.

Pick Up 59. AFC Yakity’s Crackshot Ruddy Duck (Ruddy Duck), Ches. F, Julie Cole

LF:  small area hunt to retrieve the bird.

R: swam to the point(peninsula) got out right of the gun station, hunted the point deep and around the gun station before dog jumping back in the water to retrieve the bird.

MR: not attempted

*** Judge's asked contestant to Pick Up the dog.

"Ruddy Duck" bringing back the Right Bird

57. FC-AFC Fresh Squeezed Juice (Juice), LM, Mark Medford

LF: straight to the bird

R:swam tot the point re-entered into the water hunted deep then swam over to cattails and hunted out the bird.

MR: swam to the end of the pond drove hard right of the area then made his way back to the gun station before completing the retrieve for a spectacular job!

"Juice" setting up for the next mark

52. AFC Duckblind’s Real McCoy (Charli), LF, Dave Opseth

Left Flyer (LF): dogs head was still at the other gunner when the flyer was shot. Dog traveled straight to the area drove deep made a few lateral passes before hunting back to retrieve the bird.

Right Bird(R): made three water re-entries on the way to the mark. Dog went over the point hunted deep then hunted cover in the water then dog also went to the point hunted it and then hunted over to the bird for a completed retrieve.

Middle Retired(MR): took a line in the middle of the test and swam all the way to the end of the pond.   Exited the pond at the area of the fall and went straight to the bird for a gorgeous mark!

Handle 51. FC-AFC Kimber VIII (Kimber), LF, Gary Zellner

To the line at 8:03 A.M.

LF: Awesome mark!

R: swam to the point then dog jumped back in the water and swam to retrieve the bird clean.

MR: swam out-of-sight on the way to the bird and handler opted to Handle Kimber to the bird

No-Bird 47. FC-AFC Castlebay’s Night Robber (Thief), LM, Dave Seivert

will go back six and run after dog #64

Conditions Report...

The current temp is 72"F mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of isolated thunder storms this afternoon possibly late into the evening.  The sun is peeking thru the clouds and the wind is breezy out of the South to Southeast at times.  Perfect conditions for this test as all of the birds are perfectly down-wind.

The Spangler Home

Series 7 Test Dogs #1 & #2

Test Dog #1 was Susan Exo & "Levi"

Dog came to the line at 7:11 A.M.

LF: made a nice accurate mark

R: swam to the tip of the point the gunners are sitting on then got off point to swim deep and left to the cattails to retrieve the bird.

MR: dog had a great initial line hunted the area with conviction but could not come up with the birds and the dog was Handled to the bird.

Dog took 17 minutes to complete Series 7 Watermarks with a Honor.

Test #2 was Jamie Woodson & "Keeper"

Dog came to the line at 7:28 A.M.

LF: drove out to the area hard and fast. Keeper ran past the area and quickly turn around to scoop up the bird.

R: swam near the point & turned left to retrieve the bird.

MR: ran out on the peninsula swam to the far shore got out of the water right of the area drove a bit deep and turned to retrieve the bird for a successful job.

Dog took 13 minutes to complete Series 7 Watermarks with a Honor

Test Dogs Honoring one another

7th Series Water Triple With An Honor

We are at the Spangler Property and the test begins on a mound approximately 138 yds from the water's edge. The line overlooks a gorgeous pond with many natural features.  There is ample cover both on the way to the pond, in the water and on the shorelines.  The cattails, lily pads and algae bloom are sure to distract some dogs who have never experienced this type of cover.

The first bird to be shot in Series 7 is Middle Retired Hen Pheasant (MR) thrown to the right and lands on a grassy knoll. This bird measures 343 yrds and the gunners retire behind a clump of pine trees artfully placed by the grounds crew. Fun Fact: the grounds crew has dug post holes and artificially placed over 30 trees for the tests in the 2013 NARC.

The next bird to be shot is situated to the right of the (MR) on a peninsula protruding from the right-hand shoreline of the pond. There are 4 gunners sitting here measuring at 198 yrds. This station will remain a stand-out gun station. The bird is a Hen Mallard thrown to the left landing in a small group of watery cattails to create an exciting splash. We will refer to this mark as the Right Bird (R).

The final bird, the Go-Bird, to be shot is a big swing across the test to the left and is a Hen Mallard Flyer (LF) measured at 387 yrds. The gun station is located deep of a group a trees up the hillside in a bowl. This station is an optical illusion in that it looks as if the gun station is sitting on top of the trees.  However, this is a well-placed flyer being thrown BIG and flat left landing in a cover strip on an opposing hillside. A beautiful test to watch with many factors to negotiate: cover, distance, terrain, water, a mixed bag, and gunner influence just to mention a few.

*The Handler Instructions: If a contestant has a Handle or equivalent work to a Handle in the books and the contestant has to Handle the dog to a mark in the 7th Series Watermarks the contestant will be asked to pick up there dog and will not be allowed to finish the series.  

Judges Drawing