Here are some of Pat Burns' thoughts on the Fifth Series from yesterday …
“Pat’s Perspective”
I could name this article “The Heat Index”. The temps have just topped 90 degrees and so has the emotion level. We are in the 5th series and things are heating up. This is where the trial takes on a different feel. The dog’s that are still playing are really on their game. I am watching a land triple with 2 retired guns. All 3 birds go through a channel of water. Both memory birds angle the channel. The channel helps keep the dogs cool but promotes squaring as well. When the dogs square to the right, it makes the left hand retired gun easy to miss on the right and helps draw the dogs behind the gun on the middle retired gun. Recently, the work has improved quite a bit. One reason may be that the scent has built up some. I think the bigger reason is that the handlers have gone to school. Around the mid-way point, the handlers appeared to be making adjustments. The discussions in the tent have revolved around influencing the dogs further left on their second send. That helps reduce the likelihood of the dog pushing right on their 3rd send and going behind the middle retired gun. 60 dogs started this test. We will all be anxiously awaiting the callbacks this evening. The pace of this trial will now speed up dramatically. I will be doing my best to keep you updated as we crown the next National Amateur Champion.
