Master National

[fishduck]

Mark, how did your girls do at the MN. Hope to see you at No Ala hunt in 2 wks
Karen

Annie passed, Rose didn't run a clean enough blind in the 3rd. Thad did a great job with both of them. My thanks go out to Carol Hynes and Bill Teague for judging them all week. For that matter to all the judges and those who worked so hard to put on the event.

I will be at North Alabama for the o/h q but don't know if I can stay all weekend.

[our3labs]

Ray,

NO one would know better than the Pro's, the difference between concepts and requirements.

In my discussion with the Chief Marshall, I was informed that AKC did not require all flights to run the SAME test. I responded that the INTEGRITY of the Master National event should require it. Told her that if all the flights could not run the same test on the SAME piece of dirt, that the flights should run the same concept on another site. Chief Marshall said that was not possible, she had been all over that property and test's could NOT be duplicated. The test that was being discussed was Double Trouble. The grounds are over 4,000 acres, it could be found. To prove the point, the water test, Give Me a Brake and Oh No Mr Bill were almost a perfect duplication of concept. The odd thing, instead of all flights rotating through those two test, not everyone ran it, but they did have Flight B run both of those test.

I know everyone worked hard to put such an enormous event on, and I appreciate all of their efforts. I hope in 2013 that the event is even better. I hope that we get to run all 6 series and all flights run the same test or at least concept. Good luck to everyone trying to qualify for 2013.

[Ahinson]

I would hate to know that my dog got dropped and other dogs in his flight were dropped from running a more technical test. Then the decision was made by someone who had the power to change it for the other dogs. That is not fair any where. My dog passed, 86, flight C.
I read somewhere where their was a concern about the test made too many changes their would only be pro trainers going.
I was trying to Qualify my dog at the Cattleranch. It got to dark to run. Next morning at 8:30, I was in line. Nobody behind me,my turn. A man came by and said we are running pros first. I said its my turn and no one is behind me.when he came back by he told me to take my dog and go run something else.Pros first. At 3:00 pm I was in line at the other Test and the same Marshall came on a four wheeler and said everybody is waiting on me.
Some things could be looked at, I guess. You will always screw something up. Next time it should be fixed.

[Karen Klotthor]

I do not understand how you could go run something else when you stayed with the same flight all week. Are you talking about a reg weekend hunt or the MN that just ended?
Also weren;t they running in number order even with rotation?

[Larry Housman]

i think his example of being bumped out of the holding blind occurred at a weekend test at the same location as the MN.

[Karen Klotthor]

oh, ok, . Also unless the marshall told you to get in holding you should not be there. Nothing to do with the pros only running order.

[Linda4376]

Not all dogs ran the same set ups as was done in the past. Lack of communication was a major problem at this year's MN. Call backs were not posted in a timely fashion. No one knew where the flights were going. Time management is important in all AKC hunt tests and says such in the rule book for judges. This was not adhered to. So, what was the underlying problem at this year's test?

[Thomas D]

When you say callbacks wer not posted timely......do you mean to the handlers or on the website?

[fishduck]

Not all dogs ran the same set ups as was done in the past. Lack of communication was a major problem at this year's MN. Call backs were not posted in a timely fashion. No one knew where the flights were going. Time management is important in all AKC hunt tests and says such in the rule book for judges. This was not adhered to. So, what was the underlying problem at this year's test?

The callbacks were done quickly and efficiently on the grounds the days I was there. The set up I witnessed move was running again an hour after callbacks. Signs were up and there were plenty of people to ask if lost.

There was an awfull lot of training off grounds during the test. Those people were typically out of the loop with callbacks and knowing where the next test was located. Cell service is good in the area with one carrier (can't remember which one) but stinks with the rest. My apologies but that is the case in many locations.

[Ahinson]

Yes this was a regular weekend test.