Eighth Series - Test Dogs

Test Dog Doc with Judy came to the line at 12:43 pm.

Right - Doc went up the hill and behind the guns. He then cut across the road to the tree and got his bird.

Left Retired - Doc drove up to the far hill right of the corner. He then turned straight into his bird.

Test Dog Katy with Sue

Right - Katy went up the hill to the area left of the guns. She hunted this area hard then switched birds. She had to be handled back to this bird.

Left Retired - She went up the middle and went wide left and deep. She hunted the wrong pieces of cover. An extended hunt deep and she had to handled.

Eighth Series – Land Double with One Retired

Test Eight is a Land Double with One Retired

Bird One (Retired) is straight in front of the mat. This is a dead rooster thrown angled back to the right. The gunners are positioned behind a heavy clump of cover. The bird lands 243 yards from the line behind a 2nd clump of heavy cover. The line to this bird takes the dog down a steep hill and up a far hill to go across strips of cover that run left to right on an angle from near to far. When these guns sit down, they are retired.

Bird Two is a hen pheasant thrown left to right across the gravel road. The bird is on the handler's right up the far hill at 243 yards from the line.

SCRAPBOOK – Day Two of the National Derby

We hope that you enjoy some pictures from the second day of the 2019 National Derby Championship!

Derby Standings with Dogs in the 8th Series

These standing are through the weekend of September 28-29, 2019.

***Note: Ollie and Boomer qualified the weekend of October 5-6, 2019 both earning a 1st place. Those points are not calculated in this report.***

55 - November Morning Rain, LF, Karen Nelkenbrecher, Maple Ridge, BC              11/13/2017

50 - Watermarks Shadow, LM, Bill Hillmann & Mary Tatum, Houston, TX                4/10/2018

24 - Cache La Poudre J.J. Johnston, LM, John Goettl, Ft Collins, CO                        10/11/2017

18 - Truckee Play It Sam, LM, John Unbehaun, LaCrosse, WI                                   12/31/2017

16 - Church Creek Abigail Von Duckslayer, CF, Frank Pittelli, Edgewater, MD            1/6/2018

15 - Seaside's Got That Itch Again, LF, Kevin Cauley, Cairo, GA                              11/11/2017

14 - Coolwater's Cajun Duck Pond Wave Maker, LF, Frank Landry, Southaven, MS  11/4/2017

13 - Flyway"s The Say Hey Kid, LM, Don Graves, Lake Almanor, CA                      11/6/2017

10 - High Desert Mariah, LF, Ed & Laurie Neilson, Fruita, CO                                10/11/2017

10 - Watermarks Songbird, LF, Mary Tatum, Houston, TX                                         4/21/2018

9 - Coolwaters Little Knockout Slugger, LF, Robin & Chuck Cagle, Clanton, AL     11/4/2017

9 - Seaside’s True Grit, LM, Joel Enochs, Saint Croix Falls, WI                               11/11/2017

7 - Pepperjacks's Hunt The Blue, LM, Kate Macartney, Minden, NV                        11/4/2017

6 - Spark Your Enthusiasm, LF, Don English, Lubbock, TX                                      1/18/2018

5 - Hyflyer's Running Against The Wind, LF, M. & R. Spangler, Mondovi, WI      11/18/2017

5 - Seaside’s Charming Pirate, LM, Tom John, Oakdale, CA                                     12/6/2017

5 - Third Creeks Intimidator, LM, Larry & Lori Morgan, Hudson, CO                      1/22/2018

3 - Ollie Oop, LF, John & Mary Stracka, Verona, WI                                                 1/18/2018

1 - Bodell's Sonic Boom, LM, Robert & Barbara Hayden, Sedalia, MO                    6/11/2018

Seventh Series Recap

The third day of the 2019 National Retriever Derby Club Championship started of with a brisk fall morning. We were informed that dog #15 A.G. had scratched, so we were going to start this 7th Series Water Double with a Hen Mallard Flyer with 23 dogs.

Our first test dog, Kate with handler Sue George came to the line at 7:56 am and had completed their run at 8:04 am. The first running dog # 13 Songbird with Mary Tatum handling came to the line at 8:17 am. During the 3 hours this test took to complete, we had 4 no bird/re-runs with one dog #19 receiving two of them. We also had one handle. The last dog to run was #1 Ivy and handler Kevin Cauley on their re-run, and they completed their test at 11:20 am.

Getting 23 dogs through this test with the 4 re-runs took approximately 7.5 minutes per dog.

The Eighth will start with 19 dogs that got called back. Five dogs were dropped after the Seventh Series.

Callbacks to the 8th Series

19 dogs are called back and they are 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 22, 23, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34.

5 dogs were dropped 15, 19, 20, 24, and 29.

Dog #27, "Willie" will be our first running dog for the 8th Series. 

Seventh Series - In The Books

In only a few minute over 3 hours we got the Seventh Series in the books at 11:20 am.

We are getting ready for the 8th Series while we wait on the callbacks. We will have them posted as soon as we get them along with any instructions for the test.

A reminder that we had a scratch prior to this series starting so only 23 dogs completed this test.

Re-Run - 1. Seaside's Got That Itch Again (Ivy), LF, Kevin Cauley

Ivy and owner/handler Kevin Cauley came to the line for their re-run at 11:15 am.

Flyer - Getting into the front left corner of the pond, Ivy then went on the land bridge and straight up to her bird.

Long Bird - In the left corner of the first pond for this bird, Ivy got to the first levee where she ran right all the way to the last pond. she got in that pond on the near left side and swam at an angle to the far right side. Going across the hill and the road, Ivy went straight to her bird.

12. Hyflyer's Running Against The Wind (Breezy), LF, John Lynch

Breezy and handler John Lynch came to the line at 11:10 am.

Flyer - Breezy touched near the left corner of the pond as she ran the land bridge. She went straight up the hill towards the gun, then turned right and got her bird.

Long Bird - Going into the left side of the first pond, she got out onto the first levee then angled right over the levee and went straight to her bird.

10. Seaside's Charming Pirate (Johnny), LM, Luann Pleasant

Johnny and handler Luann Pleasant came to the line.

Flyer - Johnny went down the land bridge and up the hill straight to the fall area. Having a very tight hunt in the fall area he got his bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the first pond on a right angle he hit the first levee and turned right. He ran to the near corner of the last pond, where Johnny got in on another right angle towards the bird. Getting out of the last pond, he went half way down and in front of the guns. With one quick turn and up and across the road, Johnny got his bird.

8. Seaside's True Grit (Grit), LM, Joel Enochs

Grit with owner Joel Enochs came to the line at 10:57 am.

Flyer - Getting a toe in the pond, Grit then went straight across the land bridge and up the hill for a quick turn right and to his bird.

Long Bird - Grit went into the left side of the first pond then angled right over the levee and into the corner of the middle pond. Getting over the second levee, he swam on a right angle through the last pond coming out at the far end, Grit went straight to his bird.

7. November Morning Rain (Rain), LF, Dan DeVos

Rain and handler Dan DeVos came to the line.

Flyer - Very good line through the pond. Rain then ran up the hill and directly to her bird.

Long Bird - Rain left the line and went into the front pond, she crossed it and the levee and into the next piece of water. Exiting at the far shore she went straight to her bird.

4. Church Creek Abigail Von Duckslayer (Abby), CF, Frank Pittelli

Abby and owner/handler came to the line.

Flyer - Abby ran across the land bridge to where she got deep and left of the guns. Getting even further left of guns, she came back to the right side of the guns and went and got her bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the first pond, Abby cut the left corner to the levee. Getting over it and into the middle pond, she made her swim to the second levee where she ran all the way down and up the hill. She hunted to the right but worked it out and got her bird.

3. Third Creeks Intimidator (Dale), LM, Larry Morgan

Dale and handler/owner came to the line at 10:33 am.

Flyer - Dale went across the land bridge and up to the guns and straight to his bird.

Long Bird - Going across the first pond on a right angle, Dale hit the levee and ran right. He got a toe in the last pond before he came out and angled across the hill. Getting behind the guns as he crossed the road, Dale went straight to his bird.

No Bird - 1. Seaside's Got That Itch Again (Ivy), LF, Kevin Cauley

Ivy received a no bird. This team will go back and have a rerun.

34. Bodell’s Sonic Boom (Boomer), LM, Bobby George

Boomer and handler Bobby George came to the line at 10:23 am.

Flyer - Coming across the land bridge, Boomer went up to the guns and out to the fall area. He hunted deep left, then deep. He came back to the fall area then had a hunt and got his bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the first pond on this bird, Boomer crossed on a right angle and got up on the first levee. He went right around the corner of the middle pond and into the last pond. He quickly got up the hill and went straight to his bird.

2nd Re-Reun - 19. ISR Broke Bad (Smack), LM, Bill Bailey

Smack and handler Bill Bailey came to the line for their 2nd Re-Run.

Flyer - Getting into the pond on a good angle, Smack got out on the far side cutting wide right. He turned quickly to the left and hunted short but then went deep left of the guns where he had a big hunt to get his bird.

Long Bird - Smack entered the first pond near the left side. Going over the first levee he got into the heavy cover where he went to the second levee and went into the last pond, where he swam to the end then went up the far hill to get his bird.

33. Ollie Oop (Ollie), LF, John Stracka

Ollie and owner/handler John Stracka came to the line.

Flyer - Ollie crossed the land bridge and went straight up the hill to get her bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the left end of the first pond, she got on the first levee, then Ollie ran to the last pond. She cut hard right to the shore, then ran across the hill and across the road and got just short of the guns. Ollie quickly made her way to the bird.

Re-Run - 26. Cache La Poudre J.J. Johnston (J.J.), LM, John Goettl

J.J. and owner/handler John Goettl came to the line for their re-run.

Flyer - Getting into the near left corner of the pond, J.J. ran across the land bridge andup the hill to the fall area and to his bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the left corner of the first pond and getting over the first levee to go into the next pond, J.J. got inot the heavy cover. Coming out onto the levee between the middle and last pond, he ran down it, then up the hill straight to his bird.

32. High Desert Mariah (Breeze), LF, Trey Lawrence

Breeze and handler Trey Lawrence came to the line at 9:52 am.

Flyer - Breeze went into the pond and crossed near the left corner. Going over the land bridge, she went straight to the fall area. A few tight turns and she got her bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the first pond on a good angle, Breeze crossed the first levee and got into the corner of the next pond then went on to the last pond getting into it in the near left corner. Catching a little drag back, she recovered and swam half way down then got out and ran up the hill. She crossed the road and had a hunt a little short but then she worked her way to the bird.

31. Watermarks Shadow (Shadow), LM, Bill Hillmann

Shadow and owner/handler Bill Hillmann came to the line at 9:43 am.

Flyer - Getting in to the left corner of the pond, Shadow went onto the land bridge and went straight up to get his bird.

Long Bird - Shadow got into the front pond and over the levee, then went into the right corner of the next pond and over the second levee. He cut to the right and squared entry into the last pond. Cutting left across the field, with a quick hunt on the near side of the road, Shadow then crossed it and went to his bird.

Thank you for the flowers!

A very nice person gave the Retriever News a beautifully hand-crafted vase of flowers this morning.
This proves that there is a Santa Claus after all!!

29. Coppertop Four Ways To Sunday (Sunday), LM, Bill Bailey

Sunday and handler Bill Bailey came to the line at 9:36 am.

Flyer - Sunday went into the far left corner of the pond for a wet toe, then ran straight to the fall area and her bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the left side of the first pond for this bird, she swam it then went over the first levee and got into the heavy lilly pads left of the tulles to get into the next pond. Getting into very dense tulles at the far end, she then went up the hill, crossed the road and took a loop deep of the bird. Sunday then worked her way back and got the bird.

30. Truckee Play It Sam (Sam), LM, John Unbehaun

Due to a handler Bill Bailey having a rerun, Sam and owner/handler John Unbehaun ran out of order.

Flyer - Sam got into the pond on a nice line to the far shore. He got up the hill to the guns then took a hard right to the fall area. He worked his way to get his bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the first pond on a right angle, Sam swam to the levee and went over to get into the next pond. He made short work of this pond and quickly go into the last pond where he swam to the far end. Going wide left up the hill, he quickly adjusted and went across the road and straight to his bird.

No Bird - Re-Reun - 19. ISR Broke Bad (Smack), LM, Bill Bailey

Smack received a second no bird. He again will go back 6 spots and have re-run in the 7th spot back.

A Closer Look at the Seventh Series …

Left-hand Dead Drake Mallard

Right-hand Hen Mallard Flyer

27. Flyway's The Say Hey Kid (Willie), LM, Luann Pleasant

Willie and handler Luann Pleasant came to the line.

Flyer - Getting into the pond, Willie angled left onto the land bridge. Going straight up the hill to the fall area, he got his bird.

Long Bird - Willie went into the left corner of the first pond for this test. He then went left of the heavy cattails and into the next pond. Unable to see him in the heavy cover, then he came in sight down the levee between the last two ponds. He went up the hill and straight to his bird.

No Bird - 26. Cache La Poudre J.J. Johnston (J.J.), LM, John Goettl

J.J. received a no bird. They will go back six spots and have their re-run in the 7th spot back.

Handle - 24. Coolwater's Commander-In-Chief (Trump), LM, Alex Washburn

Trump with owner/handler Alexandra Washburn came to the line.

Flyer - Trump went over the land bridge and straight to the bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the left side of the pond, Trump then went over the first levee but then going through heavy tulles he gets in the next pond. Getting over the second levee into the right end of the last pond, Trump kept close to this end of the pond and came out. He had to be handled.

23. Coolwater's Cajun Duck Pond Wave Maker (Pireaux), LF, Frank Landry

Pireaux and owner/handler Frank Landry came to the line at 8:54 am.

Flyer - Pireaux got into the first pond and swam to the far side, on the right line up the hill, he went behind the bush and straight to the bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the first pond on this test, Pireaux angled right in the water to the levee. Getting up onto the levee, he went straight to the broad hillside, crossed the road and went down to the guns. One loop back across the road, then another loop to go back and to get his bird.

22. Coolwater's Little Knockout Slugger (Lucy), LF, Robin Cagle

Lucy and owner/handler came to the line.

Flyer - Lucy flew into the left corner of the pond, then toe nailed the land bridge. Going straight up the hill getting in front of the guns, she turned right to get her bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the first pond of this test, Lucy angled right over the first levee to get into the next pond. Going into the right corner of the last pond, she exited and crossed the hill side going straight to the bird.

20. Watuaga's Ghost Casper (Casper), LM, Stephen O'Connell

Casper and handler/owner Stephen O'Connell came to the line at 8:43 am.

Flyer - Into the pond, Casper swam to the far left corner. He got and drove the hill to the fall area and quickly found his bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the first pond of this bird, Casper was swimming on a hard right angle towards the far right corner. He exited the pond and ran an angle up the hill and crossed the road. A small hunt short of the bird, he came back down in front of the guns for a few turns then he crossed the road to get his bird.

No Bird - 19. ISR Broke Bad (Smack), LM, Bill Bailey

Smack received a no bird. They will go back 6 spots and have a re-run in the 7th spot back.

17. PepperJack's Hunt The Blue (Hunter), LM, Misty Melo

Hunter and handler Misty Melo came to the line at 8:25 am.

Flyer - Hunter go into the pond and onto the land bridge. Getting in front of the guns, he went out to the fall area and with one turn he got his bird.

Long Bird - Doing his first swim, Hunter angled right over the levee and went into the corner of the next pond. Quickly getting out he again angled right across the next levee he entered into the last pond on a line towards the guns. Going up the hill right of the guns, he crossed the road and going behind the guns he went straight to his bird.

Scratch - 15. Tall Oaks Communication Interrupted (A.G.), LM, Trey Lawrence

A.G.scratch before the 7th series started.

14. Spark Your Enthusiasm (Mona), LF, Don English

Mona and handler/owner Don English came to the line at 8:22 am.

Flyer - Getting through the cattails and into the pond, Mona swam at an angle to the far side. She drove the hill to the fall and to her bird.

Long Bird - Getting in and out of the first two ponds and over the levees and angling into the last pond and swam to the far end, Mona drove the hill straight to her bird.

13. Watermarks Songbird (Songbird), LF, Mary Tatum

Songbird and owner/handler Mary Tatum came to the line at 8:17 am.

Flyer - Songbird went into the corner of the first pond, getting out she went over the land bridge, then drove the hill. Getting behind the guns for a big loop then she worked her right to get her bird.

Long Bird - Getting in and out of all the ponds and over the all levees, Songbird was on a good line. She drove up the hill and crossed the road to go straight to her bird.

Seventh Series - Test Dogs

Katy and Sue George came to the line at 7:56 am.

Flyer - Katy got into the first pond and angled left out of it. She got onto the land bridge, up the hill deep and ended up behind the guns. She came back to the fall area and on her bird.

Bird #2 - Getting into the first pond Katy swam and got to and over the levee, then she ran around the top of the second pond to get into the third pond. This actually was a good move to keep guns in sight. She gets out on the far side of the third pond and went up the hill across the road behind the guns going straight to the bird.

Doc and Judy came to the line at 8:05 am.

Flyer - Going around the first pond and over the land bridge, then toe nailed the down side. Going up the hill getting just deep of the bird, one loop and got it.

Bird 2 - Into the first pond and going over the levee then getting into the of the second pond and over the second levee, Doc went into the third pond. He swam all the way then exited and went up the hill straight to his bird.

Series Seven - Water Double with a Flyer

Water Double with a Hen Mallard Flyer

Test Seven is a Water Double with a Hen Mallard Flyer. The mat faces north beside a cluster of technical ponds.

Bird One is a dead drake thrown to the left at 275 yards from the line. This gun station is in front and slightly left of the mat. The dog must angle down a short hill into a pond. They then must go over a levee into the right corner of a second pond. After the second pond, they need go over a second levee and enter into pond three. In pond three, they must swim across, then exit and go up another short hill, then cross a gravel road to get to their bird.

Bird Two is a hen mallard flyer. This bird is also in the front of the mat but slightly to the right. The line to this flyer is down a hill and through some cattails to enter into a pond. Once they cross the pond, they need to cross over the dam so they can drive the far hill, cutting across strips of cover that have been mowed. The dog picks up their bird approximately 171 yards from the line.

Good Morning! Welcome to Day Three of the 2019 National Derby!

It's a crisp 47 degrees this morning as the Judges are setting up the seventh test.

One note: Dog #15 has scratched this morning.