Derby in Eagle Mountain, Utah, USA
Framed by the beautiful chain of eagle Mountains all participants reunited at the meeting point. The grounds were a bit hilly, covered with not-too-high sagebrush and spread groups of trees. After a cold night, the sun enlightened the landscape and we started early at 7 p.m. with fresh temperatures and a very light wind. Very soon the sun got power and the wind was changing all the time. A real challenge for not very experienced candidates.
Our judgement followed the scheduled first search, a chance to get acquainted with the landscape, the covering, perhaps an early business can be done and nosing the newa of the wind and, in the end, our young ones could let off steam – very important as we all know. The second part was pointing.
Open judging helped the handlers see space for improvement. In group 2 we had President Mark Peasley being the test director, Ursula Scriba as senior judge and her judges Lisa Davis and Mark Peasley.
Our first dog Fylo vom Golden Sun showed an ambitious, systematic search, with a love to work. He always turned into the wind, a joy to watch him. Although the wind was difficult, the male went into the wind, chewed it and soon approached the game. He showed more than one point and so could get a full house and a perfect first prize.
The second participant Andra Waidmanns showed a great search. Impressive was her relaxedness start, just taking the whole area into her nose and deciding how she would control the field. Concentrating on pointing she surprised us because handler Todd Synaground followed our advice showing her the way. She instead took a full nose of breeze and turned the other way round because she already had the promising scent in her mind. Directly she approached and in very good distance came to a steady pointing. Todd Synaground the handler and we judges had a lot of time approaching her and the game. We could recognize this excellent presentation with a 4h in nose and pointing.
Dog number 3 was Fern Vom Golden Sun, a sibling of Fylo Vom Golden Sun. Knowing their relaxedness and ability to concentrate of her father Knox von der Königsleite, I was not surprised to meet a real daughter of him. Ambitious to find game she speeded always turning into the wind and trying to find out more via chewing the wind. She obviously loved to work and always kept an eye for her handler. She earned the first prize with a full house and high recognition of spectators and judges.
Fourth dog was Bella von Wasungen, an elegant girl with a strong bond to her handler. She surprised the judges with an always upright weared high head, always adjusting to the covering. Her mostly open moth told her much about scents coming and going. She instantly realized wild birds several times and gave us joy with her ambitious but controlled drive. She earned two times 4h in nose and in search. Depending on an extra tooth out of the arch bow she got a first prize qual.
Again, a girl was next in the row. Anne Waidmanns with her already great personality and a quiet and concentrated work convinced her judges. Her search was big and powerful across different terrains – very impressive. She noticed several times wild birds. The judges realized she used to control the whole field which she was offered. She always showed new perspectives to her handler. Randall Cherry stayed the whole time in eye contact with his hunting girl. She got our great respect with 3 times 4h for nose, search and pointing.
Now a sibling of the successful litter of Thomas and Vanita Skinner started to work being dog 6 “Flame vom Golden Sun”. Flame showed at once her excellent way of systematical searching. Her will to find could be noticed by pointing several times wild birds. Very impressive was her convincing, intelligent search using terrain and wind bringing her to success. Again, this female got a strong 1 prize.
Gertrude vom Adlertal showed a very good work in search, but very special was her strong pointing. She showed intense focus and a great sureness in her acting. Very carefully she avoided pressure on game and creeped up on the bird. This extra ability led to a 4h and a very well done first prize.
Most important for me after all this outstanding work of 8 dogs is to say “thank you” to handlers who had taken a lot of time for training these promising dogs to give the club a rich future, second to the dogs who had worked hard for a first prize for everyone. Third to the test area offering a lot of game and excellent test conditions. A great thank you for the owner, without him we all could not perform so luckily.
Ursula Scriba
Senior Judge