Test 8 is a Land Double with a Retired
We are in the Grader field on the Hayden Property this morning. It is a clear and cold morning with the wind at the handler's back. The mat is almost at the base of a hill that stretches from a tree line on the left, and there is fence and tree line on top of the hill. On the right there is a lot of area with trees, mounds and bushes. A gravel road runs through the test from bottom to top on the right side of the field.
Gun Station #1 is located at the top portion of the field. This is a well-brushed blind that will be Retired. The bird is shot and thrown from the gunner's position to the left of the road, across the road towards a large tree and bush. This will be a hen pheasant and the gunners are approximately 246 yards from the mat. (We will refer to this mark as RR for Right Retired)
Gun Station #2 is approximately 172 yards away, just left of the mat. These gunners are standing at a group of 2 cedars. They will shoot and throw a hen pheasant to the left towards the tree line. The field is open between the mat and the fall area. (We will refer to this mark as L for Left)
The Right Retired bird has several factors to negotiate. First, the dog will have to be positioned on the mat to have the best view of the throw and fall. Initially, they must navigate through trees around the line. Then, as they start to climb the hill there is a hay bale, and then a brush pile to keep them in a corridor or to distract them. And finally they must cross a road and go to the back side of a tree and bush to find their bird.
This test is taking the dogs approximately 3-4 minutes to run.
Test photo to come...
