Day 7- Saturday, October 16, 2010

Brought to you by Purina & Avery

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT OUR REPORT: We don't want you to miss anything! We post updates and we continually are adding details about all the Tests and Flights, dating back to Day 1 on Sunday, 10-10-10.

SERIES #	1	2	3	4	5	6
DAY(S)	SUN-MON	MON-TUE	TUE-WED	WED-THU	THU-FRI	FRI-SAT
A	Donut Hole	Oh No	Not So	Never Again	Par 4	Bubba's Gone Huntin
B	Never Again	Not So	Par 4	Oh No	Bubba's Gone Huntin'	Donut Hole
C	Not So	Par 4	Never Again	Bubba's Gone Huntin	Donut Hole	Oh No

Lassen Retriever Club Merchandise... Get it while you can! Host club merchandise will remain available for sale under the big tent by the Clear Creek Clubhouse until this afternoon around 2 or 3 pm. T-shirts will remain available on the MNRC website through October. There are no definite plans to make items available after October.

Flight A: 

Sixth Series -- "Bubba's Gone Huntin"

Water Quad with Blind

Flight A has been on hiatus since yesterday, forced into a holding pattern until Flight B completes its turn at the Bubba test. It is starting this test with Dog #82. Handler Lesley Karnes was none-too-pleased she was the first handler in this flight to the Line. "You're so glad to be done with all those birds," she remarked afterward, referring to the quad. "You want to let it all out, then you remember, you can't. You're not done."

They are on Dog #92 as of 3:15 pm. So far, no Breaks have been observed from the road where Lesley is marshaling.

Flight B:

Fifth Series -- "Bubba's Gone Huntin"

Water Quad with Blind

 

This is the first and only quad of this year's Master National. Flight B is the second flight to run it and it continues to wow handlers and spectators. It is very exciting, sort of like the grand finale of a fireworks show. Even one Judge from another Flight mentioned how much she would love to run her dogs it. This test also has the distinction of being the only one for which there are two official MNRC photos, one for the quad and one for the blind. The Line is the same for both. The reason for the two photos is that this test is much wider than it is deep, as viewed from the Line. The MNRC was not able to fit it all into one photo. Prior to today, spectators were not able to see much of this test. Today, they are being allowed much closer.

The Bubba Gunner is hunkered down at the base of the levy. Bubba 'shoots' the first bird, a 40 yarder that is launched, right to left, from a very visible winger perched in a boat that is beached at the end of the spit. This is the left bird, which is angled back. Some land on the spit; some land just beyond it. 

This is the view to the left of the last holding blind.

The Line is to the right of the holding blind. The second bird down is the long (left-middle) at 80 yds. Next comes the flyer, which is the furthest to the right. It is launched straight out from the same levy as the Line, and averages 40 yds. All the flyer birds are sluiced as soon as they're down. At that moment, one of the Judges signals for the fourth bird which is launched from the next levy behind the handler and in an arc almost directly overhead. A really nifty spit, built specifically for the Master National, is the main feature of the blind, which is by invitation only...

Flight B is resuming its fifth series with Dog #31 at 8:30 this morning, instead of the original starting time of 7:30, so that the angle of the sun will not cause a problem. Forty-nine dogs haven't run this test yet. Dogs are averaging 7.5 minutes each. At this rate, the Bubba test should be completed around 2:30 this afternoon. This Flight will be moving to the Donut Hole test/venue for its sixth series.

FLIGHT B CALLBACKS TO THE 6th SERIES: Dog #2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 61, 63, 64, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 86, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 96, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 107, 110, 112, 114, 116, 119, 120.

Flight C: Sixth Series -- "Oh No"

Land Triple with Double Blind

This land test, consisting of all rooster pheasants, began with Dog #81 and very little wind. Dog #83 was picked up, after going wide and out of the test on the first mark, then having issues with the second as well. Handler and Dog teams begin this test in the holding blind awaiting a Dry Pop. Dogs then run a 35 yd blind on the left side of the test. The marks then are launched round-the-horn,from left to right, and at square(ish) angles. The 75 yd left bird has been landing further to the right than the official MNRC photo above indicates, closer to the short trees. The 95 yd middle bird lands about two feet into the milo strip that begins only a few yards in front of the Line. The right-hand go-bird bird is a flyer with a target area of 110 yds, in low cover. The falls have been inconsistent today.

Live Flyer Station

The 85 yd blind on the right side of the test is by invitation only. The field contains a variety of cover, slopes gently downward toward the middle and right marks and is dotted with moguls.

Prior to Test Dogs

Test Dog Ed & Al Bianchi, Orion Kennels, Red Bluff, CA

Handlers intensely marking the test dog's every move

The parking lots, as well as the tests,
provide intriguing concepts...

 

About half the dogs to run early are doing well. The other half is having issues on every retrieve except the long blind. The Line to the short bird looks easy; but, it is in between the lines to the left and middle marks. Cover makes it difficult to see the dog despite the short distance. The left and middle birds are problematic. Especially the left bird is generating some rather lengthy hunts and often the dog is out of the handler's sight. Dog #87 has lined the right blind. Dog #88 just got a very low flyer, which he can't see over the milo patch. Some in the gallery think it should be a no-bird. The dog has been sent but needs handling. He now is being sent for the left-hand bird; but, he has turned to the right, short of establishing a hunt, in most people's opinion. He has picked up the middle bird. It seems that everyone in the gallery collectively is holding their breath as this chocolate Lab is on his way to the left bird. He has retrieved his last mark without any complications. "That's the quietest this gallery has been all week," remarked one observer. Well, Flight C has the honor of finishing first. They concluded their test at 4 pm today. The Master National qualifications will be announced for all the Flights at tomorrow's closing ceremonies.

Flight B is in the process of setting up their final series--"Donut Hole."