Field Trial Derby 2012
Halle, I have a feeling we are not
in Kansas anymore . . .
Halle and I ventured out to play
with the big dogs, this was our very first Field Trail. In the beautiful
rolling hills of Anderson, Tx, Halle ran her first Derby under Judy
Aycock & Sylvia McClure. I learned a whole new ball game that weekend.
I put my gum in my mouth - got my swag on and acted like the head coach
with my Halle girl. The wind was blowing and the birds were flying at
300 plus yards!! Halle’s job was to mark the birds and remember. My
job was to hold our team together and not pass out. I learned Field
Trial Derby’s have 4 separate series. We started on land with our 1st
series then moved to a land water combo for our 2nd series and our 3rd
series we ran 375 yards plus through a stick pond and picked up 2 water
marks. Our last series was a long angled water entry up a rolling hill
- the other mark was through a small pond, unseen from the line and
Halle went through it. All you saw was a splash. Halle jammed in her
very 1st Derby. I was so proud of our team. We had the best judges on
top of it all!!
Thank you Lord for being my Head Coach!
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Hunt Test Spring 2010
We hit the road running with our Brody and Gracie, our sights set on a Junior Hunter title (JH). Our nerves were high as we pulled into our very first hunt test in the hill country. We prayed before we left, when we arrived and many times in between.
With shaky hands and a swimming head, I walked to the line. The competition judge asked, “What's your number” I said, “19, no I mean 9”. Brody’s big golden brown eyes looked up at me as if to say, “Its ok Mom, I got this one in the bag”. He ran like a little 7-month-old pro. Mom walked away with a huge grin.
Gracie was next . . . Dale forgot everything; he lost his head, and if he didn’t have Gracie attached to her lease he would have forgotten her. Little 7-month-old Gracie knew where she was: the aroma of the ducks waft through the air filling her mind with a desire that drove her passion. At the sound of gun fire she stood at attention, tuggin at her lead, “Let me go Dad”! We had a water land combo our first time, and Gracie didn’t slow one bit. She left yearning more.
Our first season was full of joy, surprise, and amazement. We won our fist ribbons in bluebonnet country and went on to title in Giddings, Texas, with the Tejas Hunt Club.
At the Junior level it's all dog: we simply take the bird from retriever's mouth when they arrive back.
At Senior we work as a team to accomplish one goal: get supper and bring it home. They retreive birds (marks) that they see fall and with the use of hand signals and a whistle we guide them to a bird that they didn’t see fall (blind retrieve). They do this twice, one on land and one in water. In the mist of all that fun, one of the marks is a memory bird. Meaning they have to remember where it fell and pick it up after they get the first bird. In both runs they must bring supper home, without leaving the area that the bird fell. As a handler you stand at the line, running totally on adrenalin and adhere to what you think they know and trained for.
If you are a believer you pray in Jesus’ Name that He will be your guide and that you will listen, but above all we walk away safely and prayfully with a ribbon at the end of the day. It’s so much fun, exhilarating and very uncertain.
"For You are my rock and my fortress; You lead and guide me because of Your name." Psalms 31:3
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Fall Hunt Test 2010
September and October went by like a rushing north wind. We packed our car, buckled our seat belts, took Brody, Gracie, and Halle and headed due west. This was a very humbling season with our kids. We learned what not to do. Our judges were outstanding they helped us and hugged me along the way. The ride was exhilarating! We ran our blinds to yellow Sunflowers, had shoreline blinds and 150 yard flyers. In one year we got our JH and SH title. Team Dale & Gracie went 5 for 4 only because Dale didn't challenge the blind on one test. Pam & Gracie ran one for fun and got an extra ribbon at Waterloo. Team Pam & Brody went 6 for 4 with confusion on his memory birds - mom learned how to be a better coach for our team this season.
My goal was to get Brody through seniors and with God's help we did it!! Gracie is a machine, she got a standing O from the gallery for front-footing both marks: the winner got to ride shotgun so Gracie spent many days in the front seat. She's on to Masters in December. Halle is going to start with juniors. Brody will train for Masters and run By-dog, he will let mom know when he's ready to move on. Brody is my best buddy and a wonderful team mate. Gracie is a sweet heart, when you pet her your heart melts. She will run for anyone, she just wants to run! Thank you LORD for your wonderful retrievers that you have blessed us with. All praise, honor and Glory is Yours.
Halle's First Hunt Test December 2010
Cold north winds blew as nerves ran high in Ravenna TX. Halle was ready to play, “let me go mom” . . . the little 7 month old was eager to run with each gunshot she heard. Her intensity grew, while she waited her turn in the holding blind. She ran like a pro – front footed her marks and did some clever thinking on an extremely hard water mark. I am proud of my little girl. Thank you Lord for loaning her to me!!
HRC Hunt Test Spring 2011
In a new arena of Hunt Test (HRC)!! HRC reassemble’s more of the true duck hunt. The dog and the handler are judged in HRC. The dog for marking and trainability and the handler for gun safety even though we are using poppers. Our venture into this new world included, a flooded timbers hunt, where Teal had landed the day before, Brody had to run from a platform in the water, and you have to wear cameo, knee high boots and sometimes waders! It’s been fun and challenging!
Spring Derby 2011
My little Halle ran her first Field Trial in Anderson Texas. She marked a bird at over 375 yards. It was a fun weekend.
Puppy Power
Our Brody Boy
Our Gracie Lou Lou
Our Halle Bell
Brody & Gracie first Hunting Trip in Uvalde, TX Fall 2010
RED RIVER NEW MEXICO
Welcome to Cici's
"So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do."
Ephesians 5:15-17
