Day One

Day 1 – Sponsored by Red-Isle Realty

The day started off bright and early with PEIRC members preparing the test site as the sun rose. When contestants arrived, they were excited to see a tactically groomed field set up for a mock goose hunt. The field was covered with 10 dozen Divebomb goose decoys as well as a number of black duck decoys.

Prior to the test starting, HT Co-chair, Walter Vessey, gave a few opening remarks and then the Honorary Test dog, GMH Borntorun’s She’s The One (Rosie) owned and handled by David Butler made a ceremonial retrieve to officially start the National.

The test was an inverted land triple. The center mark was thrown first (L – R) at 40 yards to land in a strip of mixed long grass and goldenrod. (This mark was shot from the running line by a gunner using 12g poppers supplied by our Sponsor Kent Cartridge Co.) The left mark was thrown second (L – R) at 94 yards to land behind an island of tall grass. The third mark was thrown on the right of the test (L – R) at 94 yards. This mark was thrown from a Zinger Winger and landed on a hillside, in or behind a strip of mixed long grass and goldenrod. All gunners were retired in very well camouflaged holding blinds.

After picking up the marks, the working dog was asked to run a 100-yard land blind between the middle and right marks.

Following the marks and blind, the working dog was required to honor the next dog’s marks.

All in all, the test proved very challenging. Every bird had the potential to fool a dog and many dogs handled on a mark… there were also a number of double handles. When the dust settled and the judges gave their callbacks; 42 dogs were invited to run Day 2’s water test.