National Amateur Retriever Championship Blog


2022 National Amateur Retriever Championship Blog

8th Series

The 8th Series – Land/Water Quad with Two Flyers and Two Retired and an Honor. The mat faces South. There is a gravel road running east to west 45 yards in front of the line. Just past the road are three beautiful new ponds. The pond on the right has curves and features with the main body in an "L" shape. The two ponds on the left have a wide land bridge between them running northeast to southwest. The four gun stations are positioned in a semi-circle around the ponds.

Gun Station #1 on the left is a drake mallard flyer. (we will refer to this bird as LF for Left Flyer) This station is 192 yards from the mat. The gunners throw then shoot the drake to the left out of the test. The dog takes both left ponds to get this bird.

Gun Station #2 is a dead hen pheasant retired gun station. (we will refer to this bird as LR for Left Retired) The bird is shot then thrown to the left landing about 202 yards from the line. They then retire into a well brushed blind.

Gun Station #3 is slightly shorter than gun station #2. (we will refer to this bird as RR for Right Retired) They are located at the top right of the L shaped pond. This is also a well brushed blind. This will be the far right side of the test. The gunners come out and shoot a hen mallard and then throw the dead hen duck to the left landing 200 yards from the line. They then retire.

Gun Station #4 is a flyer station on the near right. (we will refer to this bird as RF for Right Flyer)These guns come out and throw their hen pheasant then shoot it to the right. The bird lands approximately 140 yards from the line. These guns are located behind the bottom of the "L" in the L shaped pond.

There is an Honor to the left of the working dog. This test is designed for water on all birds. The order is left to right ...

Beginning with the drake mallard flyer. (LF)

Next is the left Retired throwing a hen pheasant to the left. (LR)

Third we have the Right Retired guns throwing a dead hen mallard to the left. (RR)

Last, is the hen pheasant flyer shot to the right. (RF)

This test is taking each dog approximately 13-17 minutes to complete.

8th Series – Land/Water Quad with Two Flyers and Two Retired

1st Bird – Drake Flyer – 192 yards

2nd Bird – Hen Pheasant – 202 yards

3rd Bird – Hen Duck – 200 yards

4th Bird – Hen Pheasant – 140 yards

Sketch of the 8th Series by David Morrison