Test 1 – Flight B – Triple with an Out-of-Order Live Flyer and an Honor
Flight B arrived at their test location approximately 6,500 feet above sea level to a bright and clear 43 degree morning. The handler stands on the mat looking out to the east onto a valley with scattered scrub bushes ranging in height from 2 to almost 12 feet. The field is rimmed on the left side by a terraced ditch. This test is a Triple with an Out-of-Order Live Flyer and an Honor.
Bird number one comes out from a heavy grove of tall bushes on the handler's right. The well-concealed winger launches a bird from left to right over the the shrubs landing in a clear area making a splash at 60 yards from the line. The second bird is an out-of-order flyer shot right to left down the left side of the field. This is the longest bird of the test landing approximately 147 yards from the line. This duck is launched towards the rum of the terrace landing behind some two to three foot tall shrubs.
Bird three requires the dog and handler to turn back right away from the flyer. The gun station is located down the left side of the thick grove that also hides gun station number one. This high-arcing duck comes out from right to left at a steep angle back landing approximately 135 yards from the line. The dogs must pass a group of Avery full-body decoys on their way to the mark. There is an honor to the left of the working dog.
At 7:15 am, the Marshal Dede Patterson called for volunteers to walk the grounds to look for hazards. A group quickly gathered fro instructions and shovels. They combed the test area looking for holes or any hazard that might injure a dog. The throwers were instructed to launch several birds to scent-up each fall area.
At 8:00 am, those present took a moment to sing the National Anthem. Judges Duwayne Bickle and Tom MacKenzie welcomed the handlers, congratulated the handlers for qualifying and advised them that they were going on a day-long goose hunt. After that, they gave the instructions for the test.
At 8:04 am, Test Dog "Echo," handled by Laurie Scott came to the line. On the go-bird, she went out to the fall area. She made loops both left and right of the bird, got into the heavy shrubs and then deep of the bird. She worked her way and got her duck. For her second bird, she went straight to the flyer. She also made quick work of short right bird.
At 8:11 am, Test Dog, "Teacher," also handled by Laurie Scott, because her husband, Terry, was unable to attend the event for this opening day. Teacher did an excellent job of both the go-bird and the flyer. On the short right mark, he went deep, quickly recovered and turned back to his bird.
