Here We Go...

...6:47 First test dog was Jim Cope and FC Watermark's Big Chief. The test has been changed from last evening and the far right-hand bird at 97 yards which was a flyer shot to the right is now a dead hen pheasant thrown right to left into the edge of a bay of trees. The left-hand bird at 92 yards on this side of the pond is now a rooster pheasant flyer shot right to left, and the long bird all the way down the pond at an angle swim is a drake mallard at 342 yards. It is thrown right to left. The order is middle, left, right and all guns retire. The line is on top of a mound...there is an honor to the left of the line on the flat below the mound and about 20 yards from the line.

Jim handled on the right-hand bird...Chief didn't ever see it. Chief picked the long drake up to the left of where it had landed with a splash as it had floated away, so the judges adjusted that bird a tad and it now lands on the embankment near the water's edge.

At 7:00 a.m., Test Dog #2 came to line, that being Wendell Williams with FC-AFC Bayou Bay's Dago; he did a nice job on the test.

As The Moon Hovers Above Us...

...The eastern sky is lightening...and guns are being placed in the field. That big wind has blown every cloud out of Texas...or so it appears at ze momente....

This 2008 National Retriever Championship is Dedicated to Tony Snow...

...His untimely passing was completely unexpected; he has definitely been missed during this National for his eloquence, his wit, his deep laugh and booming voice, and most of all, his passion for the sport.

On Wednesday night at the Worker's Party, National Field Trial Chairman Mike Kammerer presented an award of appreciation meant for Tony to his gracious wife, Jan. As much a part of Nationals as Tony, everyone, including myself, was deeply moved to see Jan in attendance, but as she summed up, "It's what Tony would have done if the situation was reversed...it's what he would want." Godspeed to Tony and our love and support remain with Jan.

...The Power Behind Wind....

...When it's dark--really dark--and you can't see a thing, but you can hear the wind, it can blow right through your mind and soul. Have you ever heard it at night before a big duck hunt out on open water? Or just before a championship event, maybe?

Like the wind this night. With the National drawing to a close, how many contestants had dreams stirred by the wind? How many workers and spectators wondered about that which was yet to come? How many folks listened and rearranged their goals during the ferocity of those lonely late night hours? That answer may be held near and dear to many folks as the new day dawns. But, it's there.

Final Day About To Dawn...

...Currently 51 degrees...we have a big wind forecast out of the northwest and it surely has been blowing through the night...More soon.

Quallity Of Life

Our dogs mean everything to us. That is a pretty safe statement to make in this retriever sport of ours as applies to virtually every one of us. Our dogs become extensions of our very being and we don't know what we would do without them. We arrange our lives around them for their lives become part of ours...

In the back of the program printed for each and every National there is a page dedicated to the dogs that are qualified but not entered. Now, this could be for any number of reasons. Perhaps the owner lives too far from the time zone that the National is held for that year and feels the time and expense is too steep for the potential gain or loss in trial potential. The owner may feel the dog is too young to compete with the big dogs, or too old to hang in with the young dogs.

And then there is another category that might apply. Deceased. A fact of life, to be sure, but circumstances can vary greatly from there...was it timely and more or less expected, or was it too fast and did it take you nearly or totally unaware?

FC Fargo II may have been eleven years old, but he wasn't showing any signs of age. Until six weeks before his decline and subsequent passing. We just never know how much time we have with our dogs...and we must tune in to how important it is to read the hints our dogs give to us, however subtle they may be...Here is the last photo of Fargo.

Please read more titled "Quality of Life" on the back page of Retriever News in Tailfeathers, January 2009 issue.

Calling It A Night...

...Well, test dogs ran beginning with Ed Aycock and Reggie at 4:07; they handled on the long bird of the water triple. Ty Rorem and Jazz followed them and did a great job. At 4:20, the judges announced...or rather, Chief Co-Marshal Jim Cope informed the contestants that the test would begin at 6:45 in the morning. As you can see from this photo of handlers and workers viewing the test and looking west into the sun, visibility is tough. Waiting until morning is a good idea...

CHANGE That To Dogs BACK From This Land Quad Are...

...Numbers: 10, 15, 19, 20, 22, 36, 39, 46, 49, 53, 56, 58, 66, 67, 70, 77, 78, 82, 90, 97...We will start the next test with dog #56.

As We Wind Down...

...Dog #11 picked up and #15 just had a no-bird...

...Ethel has had a second no-bird but now there are only two other dogs remaining, so she waits two dogs instead of three...

Double Handle...And Rebird Coming Up

...Unfortunately, #3 has handled on both dead hen pheasants...#4 is coming to line and then there will be a quick rebird. We are almost through with this test, and another is waiting for us over the hill...a water triple. AFTER the rebird there will be five dogs left to run before this test is in the books.

Dog #4 is partway through the test and is handling on the left middle (flyer) bird right now...after a hunt the dog started hunting to the right of the mound, dangerously close to the right bird, hence the handle.