“Pat’s Perspective”
Here we are on Wednesday, the
fourth day of this year’s National. We
are working on the 4th Series. It is a
land triple with a hen pheasant flyer.
I’m sure you have looked at the diagrams of this test and some of the
videos. I know this is the 4th series,
however the 2nd set of National land marks are most typically the 5th. So, I nickname the 2nd set of land marks as
the “5th Series”. Unlike some of the
other “5th Series”, this is a triple and not a quad. There aren’t a lot of decisions to be made in regards to order of pick up. Most are first picking up the flyer, then the
short simulated flyer and then the right hand retired. Some of the dogs are having hunts on the last
bird down flyer. Just like you might
expect with a hen pheasant flyer. Most
of the dogs aren’t having much trouble with the short bird. The right hand bird is presenting the
majority of the problems. There are 2
hay bales deep and to the left of that bird that lures the dogs. The wind has been a bit variable. When the right hand bird is more down wind,
the dogs have more trouble recovering.
Earlier in the test, the wind was more consistent and right to
left. When that was the case, the dogs
that were left of the bird were getting some help. As I sit in the tent I am hearing quite a bit
of handling going on now. Rob Erhardt
just stopped by and said the work has really gone down hill. Like so many early national tests, a change
in conditions can drastically affect the work.
This appears to be one of those times.
Sometimes, when you run can play such a huge part in a national.
Please stay tuned…
