A Gunner's Perspective of the Ninth Series

 Photo courtesy of Mike Robicheaux ....

Conclusion of the 9th Series - Water Double with Ducks

The 9th Series started with 14 dogs. The first to the line was #22 at 10:56 am. We had a gun change after dog #4 completed its test at 11:52 and was back running at 11:57 am with dog #5. The test went smoothly and showed some good dog work. It ended after dog #18 completed its test at 1:00 pm. We completed the test in 2 hours and 4 minutes.

We are all anxiously waiting to get the call backs to see who will advance to the 10th Series. 

21. I'll Have Another, "Ace," BLM, James Roberts

Derby Stats: 4 starts, 1 win for 5 points 

Came to the line at 12:46 pm.

Left Bird - Ace cut the left side of the pond, then angled straight to the bird.

Long Bird - Ace got into the first pond then went low on the hill that followed. Getting into the second pond on the right side, she got out and then went up to the right of the guns. He circled behind the brush and came out with the bird. On his way back with the bird, he got in a thick pile of brush and lost it and could not get it. The judges were going to check it out.

20. Oklahoma's Sooner Be Tatum, "Tatum," BLF, David Graf

Derby Stats: 18 Starts for 3 placements and 4 Points

Came to the line at 12:37 pm

Left Bird - Great line with an Excellent Mark!

Long Bird - Tatum got into the pond then went wide left over the hill. Having a nice line in the second water, she got out and went up the hill on a right angle. Getting wide right, she then turned to the left, got deep but quickly came down for her bird.

18. Third Creek's Miss Money Penny, "M," BLF, Lori Morgan

Derby Stats: 2 starts, 1 placement for 3 points

Came to the line at 12:29 pm

Left Bird - M went into the first pond, then up the hill but missed the bird on the left side. She made a quick right turn and down to her bird.

Long Bird - In to the first piece of the water, then M took the land bridge past the second piece of water. She went up the right side of the field, hunting deep and to the right before coming down to get her bird.

16. Mudslinger's Teerific Vision, "TJ," YLM, Clint Avant

Derby Stats: 5 starts, 1 placement for 3 points

Came to the line at 12:20 pm.

Left Bird - TJ went into the pond, then up the hill going under the arc. He made two turns deep then came back to the bird.

Long Bird - In the first pond, TJ got out and went over the hill, mid way up he went into the the second pond. Exiting, he went up the far hill and went just right of the guns. he hunted deep then wide until he got back to the fall area and his bird.

13. Hot Lips Houlihan, "Houli," CLF, Delana Potter-Meiers

Derby Stats: 10 starts, 1 win, 3 other placements for 11 points

Came to the line at 12:13 pm

Left Bird - Houli got into the pond and went up the hill. She past the bird on the left but quickly turned right and got it.

Long Bird - Getting wide left going out over the hill, Houli went around the pond and under the arc. She turned and came down to the bird.

7. Legacys Coal-Fired Simmer Down, "Ash," BLM, Cynean Bartlett

Derby Stats: 10 starts, 2 wins, 2 other placements for 14 points

Came to the line at 12:05 pm

Left Bird - Ash got into the pond, then up the hill to go straight to the fall area and his bird.

Long Bird - In the pond and over the hill. Mid way up he took a left angle and crossed the second pond. He then changed his angle to going to the wide open right side. He hunted deep then came down left for his bird.

5. Wilson's Duck Farm Tucker, "Tucker," BLM, Clint Avant

Derby Stats: 5 starts, 2 placements for 6 points

Came to the line at 11:57 am

Left Bird - Tucker went into the pond, then up the hill, crossed the road and on his bird. Excellent Job!

Long Bird - In the pond, then going over high on the hill. Tucker got into the second pond, exited then angled right up to the big open space on the wrong side of the guns. he hunted right and deep before he came back to the correct side of the guns and worked his way back down the hill to get his bird.

4. Croc's Appetite For Destruction, "Axl," BLM, Christian Alt

Derby Stats: 7 starts, 1 win, 3 other placements for 9 points

Came to the line at 11:45 am

Left Bird - Axl went into the pond, exiting he went up and straight to his bird.

Long Bird - He got into the pond, then on a good line over the hill towards the fall. He went into the second pond, then drove the hill and turned right to the wrong side of the guns. He got wider and deep, however he worked his way back to the left. After a hunt he got his bird.

30. Rimfire's I'm Your Huckleberry, "Huck," BLM, Rod Sage

Derby Stats: 3 starts, 1 win, 1 other placement for 7 points

Came to the line at 11:38 am

Left Bird - Huck hit the first water hard, then went up the hill, crossed the road and pinned the bird.

Long Bird - Into the water, then going the high part of the hill. Huck got into the second water, then up the hill to get under the arc, he came back to the left for the bird.

28. Dry Creeks Tru Blu, "Trudy," BLF, George Metka

Derby Stats: 5 starts, 2 wins for 10 points

Came to the line at 11:28 am

Left Bird - Turdy got into the pond on the left side going up the left of the bird, she took the hill then turned right and got it.

Long Bird - In the first, Trudy went up high left on the hill. She angled left into the second pond, then charged on a right angle going for the bird putting her hunt on the wrong side of the guns. She had an extended hunt and popped but then resumed the hunt until she found the bird.

27. Toplines Everlasting Rock, "Rocky," BLM, Marc Patton

Derby Stats: 15 starts, 7 placements for 16 points

Came to the line at 11:21 am

Left Bird - Rocky crossed the water to get under the arc then he curved left to scoop up the bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the first piece of water, Rocky got high left going over the hill. He took the shortest route directly to the bird.

26. Mack's Ripper's Ace, "Rip," BLM, Clint Avant

Derby Stats: 11 starts, 2 wins, 3 other placements for 17 points

Came to the line at 11:12 am

Left Bird - Rip went into the pond and then up the short hill to cross the road. He went under the arc and got deep right before he came back right to cross the road and established a short hunt mid area to then he got his bird.

Long Bird - He got int the pond on a nice line over the hill and into the second pond. Going up the hill to the right of the guns, he hunted deep right, then got deeper on the wrong side of the guns. He worked his way back to the correct side and got his bird.

25. Premier Retrievers Black Ops Special, "King," BLM, Christian Alt

Derby Stats: 8 starts, 1 win, 1 other placement for 8 points

Came to the line at 11:04 am

Left Bird - King went into the pond and up the hill to cross the road. He went under the arc and got a little deep. He turned back to the left and came down the hill to his bird.

Long Bird - Getting into the first pond, he got out and went over the hill in line with the guns. Into the second water, he exited and went up the hill straight to the bird.

22. Seaside's The Saint, "Simon," BLM, Jason Baker

Derby Stats: 8 starts, 1 win, 2 other placements for 7 points

Came to the line at 10:56 am

Left Bird - Simon got into the pond then out and up the short hill to cross the road to go straight to his bird.

Long Bird - Took more of the pond then went on the low on the hill and entered the second pond on a good line straight to the fall.

9th Series - Test Dogs

Test Dog #1 - Golden Male - Marty

Came to the line at 10:39 am

Left Bird - Marty got into the small pond and went up the hill to cross the road and get his bird.

Long Bird - he got into the first piece of water. Going high up over the hill he went into the second pond then went straight up the hill to his bird.

Test Dog #2 - Labrador Female - Luna

Came to the line at 10:47 am

Left Bird - Luna went down into the first pond, up the hill and crossed the road. One quick loop and she was on her bird.

Long Bird - She got into the narrow piece of the first pond. Exiting she up and down the hill to the second pond, getting out she went right of the guns getting wide right. He hunted the hill deep before she came down on the left of the mound and to her bird.

Ninth Series - Water Double with Ducks

The 9th Series Water Double with Ducks is set on a hillside facing west. 

The long bird is a duck thrown left at 321 yards. This set of guns is directly in the front of the mat on a hillside. The line to this bird takes the dogs down the hill into the pond, over another hill into a second pond, then up a third hill to the gun. 

Bird 2, another duck is left of the mat. The two gunners sit right before a road. This bird is thrown left across the road landing 117 yards from the line. From the mat, the line to this bird is down the hill and into a small pond. Once exiting the small pond the dog must go up a short hill, then cross the road and go into a field. There is a levee to the right of this small which might tempt some of the dogs to take the land which leads them away from the mark.