This year’s National Amateur will be held in Mondovi, Wisconsin from June 16 - June 22. The National Amateur Retriever Club and Retriever News are pleased to bring this blog to you each day. Some reporting will take place before the event begins as we will arrive a few days early a to attend meetings, etc. The Retriever News will again provide up to the minute coverage through www.TheRetrieverNews.com Here is the link to the blog: http://2013narcblog.theretrievernews.com/
This year’s Team will consist of Tina Styan, Tera Lanczak and Gwen Jones. We encourage the followers of the blog, both at the event and online around the country to participate by adding their own comments to the posts and sending us materials or suggestions of what they would like to see. Photos and suggestions can be sent directly to TStyan@TheRetrieverNews.com
A couple of additional comments…the rolling terrain of the test sites may impact the speed at which we post the blog online. We have set some plans in motion to alleviate that as much as possible, but we would ask that you bear with us, knowing these logistics are sometimes out of out control. We expect more followers than ever to be on location and the internet usage of smart phones and tablets also affects our upload speed. This year, 2013 NARC Gear will only be available online, so if you want to check out the NARC store, it is at www.RetrieverOutfitter.com
Please know that your volunteer reporters work to bring you bird-by-bird reports. We have specific directives to report only the trial logistics, the weather and the very general issues involving performance where it is non-judgmental. In no instance will the reporters be critical of any dog or handler performance. We support the judges as only they hold "the book" as they assess the cumulative work of each dog -- so please do not expect to hear gallery talk or specific analysis relating to performance.
Thank you and enjoy the coverage of the 2013 National Amateur Retriever Championship.
4 series to go...3 days left...50 dogs...I am guessing the 10th is a quad, so that leaves a water blind,and two other water/land marking tests...just wild guess
The entry express pick em is really taking a beating this year!!! I have a few "favorite" virtual "unknowns" that I am keeping my eye on and my fingers and toes crossed for, although there really isn't any dog remaining- and some that aren't- that wouldn't deserve to be one of the last dogs standing.
I'm home from working traffic since Sunday. I got to know a bunch of really nice people while sneaking in some training and just being around. Pulling for a nice chocolate dog #86 in Ammo and handled by Bill P. Also pulling for #25 Jake & Bobby Smith! Let's everyone hope that they don't get a bunch of rain to make navigation of the hilly terrain difficult.
*The Handler Instructions: If a contestant has a Handle or equivalent work to a Handle in the books and the contestant has to Handle the dog to a mark in the 7th Series Watermarks the contestant will be asked to pick up there dog and will not be allowed to finish the series.
*The Handler Instructions: If a contestant has a Handle or equivalent work to a Handle in the books and the contestant has to Handle the dog to a mark in the 7th Series Watermarks the contestant will be asked to pick up their dog and will not be allowed to finish the series.
(i.e. - like yesterday)
Personally, the instructions in this year's National AM are driving me crazy! Where are they getting this stuff? Where is the polite etiquette, gallantry and compassion for the time and money that these contestants have invested?
It seems very arrogant, self-serving and decision-disconnected to me and I hope this is the first and last National that is allowed to run this way. Where are the good manners and common courtesy that used to be the cool part of Field Trials?
It's all about "Time Management" they will say - it seems to me to be all about hurry up and drop 'em as soon as you can.
The tests have been really good though - I appreciate that from these judges. For me, it's kind-a like the boss that knows how to do a good job and has really good ideas, but can't get any employee support because of the way he treats people.
They would never allow this to happen in Golf which is still a gentleman's (and gentlewoman's) game. Call me old-fashioned, I guess, but I think it is taking away something from the experience for these awesome contestants and their fine animals.
The flyer will be on the ground before the shot reaches the line. Also looks like a tree directly in line with the right hand fall that would literally prevent the dog from taking a straight line to the bird. Could be a very, very difficult test.
Big test, glad to see them keep it going & wish we were there. Wonder how the handlers would know if they are considered to have "an equivalent work to a handle..."? Hope the judges aren't making a moment to moment decision & worked out/agreed last night who the dogs are that are in that shape. I think if I didn't have a handle, I'd continue to let the dog work until I got other instructions not wanting to assume anything........
Since the rule book states that big hunts are to be penalized more severely than a quick handle, I would suspect that is your answer. It seems most of these handlers should have a good idea if their dog had a big hunt. If not, it will be another step in the learning curve. You can bet these three judges had their lists tight before today's event. But I agree if in doubt w/o a handle, let the judges judge and take your chances.
There is some grumbling (there always is) but the contestants are not nearly as disturbed as the Internet observers are. Most on the bubble know it and know they cannot afford anything but a minor mistake. The length of this test and the time lost to weather are becoming a factor with 2 1/2 days remaining. They had hoped to start a water blind today, now they will not finish 7 and will have a big move tomorrow after 8.
Rain just stopped by the time the guns are in the field they just lost two hours.
I don't know but maybe you can look at it that they are being kind and courteous to everyone and not just the person at the line. Think of the handlers waiting forever in the holding blinds or handlers that would push the limits with over-heating their dogs trying to get one more series. I am not trying to argue but offer a different view.
A national event is a lot about time management so you can get in 10 series. Weather is always a factor. Today with Series #7 they have a lengthy rain delay for a big test (12-17 min per dog and there were 50 to run.) EdA has explained how the rain delay has crushed plans -- #7 won't end today and they won't start #8 water blind today. #7 will finish tomorrow and #8 will start tomorrow. Tomorrow is Friday. There's still at least one quad to come ... perhaps this year it will be series #10 -- if they can get in a 10th series. If #7 eliminates a lot of dogs and #8 is a water blind, they might finish #8 by tomorrow night. That leaves 9 and 10-for Saturday and one of them will be a time consuming quad.
Can a National Am end with only 9 series or is 10 required?
Helen, they aren't going to have that many dogs left in the 8th, 9th and 10th (and one of those will be a blind) It's about to the point of a weekend trial. Except that they are starting on the water, the good thing for the judges is this water test will weed out a majority of the dogs. A good many of them have a handle (or equivalent thereof ). It's not going to take much to get the kiss of death...
If you think of the test in terms of distance, if a dog goes in a perfect line straight out and straight back on each mark, it's well over a mile of hard running/swimming...and that doesn't count any deviation, plus the dog has to spend half of that mile+ trying to breathe with a bird in its mouth. Tough on dogs, especially in the heat.
What really bothers me - and this may seem crazy - but I think it is disrespectful to the dogs not to let them complete the test. They don't know they've failed.
They have plenty of time if they can get through the eighth by the end of the day Friday which they will they will and run 9 and 10 with a limited field. It seems to work out without much of a hitch every year from what I have seen.
I don't think that a Quad is mandatory at the National AM. Nor does it seem to be necessary at this one - they have plenty of answers already.
And while I appreciate the alternative view, I personally would not mind waiting in the holding blind an extra minute or two if they would not be so rude to my friend in front of me (and potentially to me as the next contestant).
And I don't think it is about the dogs getting hot - it's a relatively cool day there.
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