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Cornhusker Kennel Club TD and TDX Tests February 15, 2004 Raymond, Nebraska |
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TD Passed:CH Pao Chai Ai Tse Troi Kansu TD, Chow Chow |
TDX Passed:CH Corsair's Vogue De Zerimar,TDX, OA, OAJ, Belgain Tervuren | ||||||
Plotting the Tracks the Day Before... |
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February 15, 2004 - The Day of the Tests! |
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This winter Nebraska received record amounts of snow, followed by
freezing temperatures that held their grip until AFTER our test was
completed last weekend. As usual, the Park staff had roads well cleared,
but Mother Nature didn't do us a favor by having thawing temps during the
day,. followed by refreezing each night proceeding the test weekend. It
made fields extremely tuff going due to the crusting and mid calf depth.
However, through tenacity of the judges, Sue Boyd and Craig Green, along
with the determination and dedication of test workers, we got the test up
and running in these very challenging conditions. What they endured to
accomplish this is a gift to the exhibitors and a labor of love to the
tracking community. Our test day dawned bright, sunny, and about -4 degrees..thank goodness the wind was not quite as nasty as plotting day. We did reach the predicted 18 degrees. later in the day. It's evident from the pictures that this seemed almost balmy after the day's work! We were delighted to have 2 TD passes and 3 TDX passes. To be successful in these conditions took courage and extreme motivation on the part of both dog and handler. There were no easy tracks for anybody. Given the visibility of the tracks, the judges plotted with attention to fairness and challenges allowed by the regulations, and handlers were issued a warning about guiding. The passing teams showed that they were indeed a "team" and were trained to work well together in tundra-like fields. The TD tracks were partially viewable from a vantage point along an adjoining road. New TD's are: Track 1, Deb Willis followed as her Chow Chow Ch. Pao Chai Ai Tse Troi Kansu negotiated his track in steady determination, almost surgeon like in his plodding down the track He paused long, and deliberately at the white glove..then ambled slowly on as his handler came up behind him to snatch up the glove for a pass. Lovely track and pretty to watch from the cars. (certified by Jerry Lewis) Track 2, Belgian Tervuren, Montage Red Hot Quesadilla, HSAs attacked her track with gorgeous form, deep noise, and complete motivation, to tug her handler, Sharon Johnson down the track with extreme purpose all the way to the glove. Sharon said at one time "KC" jumped out of the track to cast and then hoped back in and pulled hard the rest of the way. It must have been quick, because we didn't see that diversion from the gallery. All we could see was a perfect tracking dog intent on getting to her glove..which she did in fine style.( certified by Herb Semper) Tracks 3 and 4 were not successful, and the Norwegian Elkhound bitch seemed to find the conditions distracting and wanted to go off and investigate or play at each corner.. They were whistled for guiding at the fourth corner, as this young dog clearly thought there was more interesting things in our field that day. The Airedale on track 4 started well and tracked deliberately up to about 30 yards from the glove. Here she told her handler she'd had enough and stopped tracking. Both dogs will have their day to shine soon, I'm sure. Our new TDX teams went as follows: Track 1, another high work ethic Belgian Tervuren bitch, Ch. Corsair's Vogue De Zerimar,TD, OA, OAJ handled her track with skill and precision, pulling handler Vince Ramirez 915 yds to the glove. We couldn't see all of the track, but her handling of the cross tracks, and indication of the first article gave us confidence she would prevail to the end in the excellent style with which she started out. The next time we saw them appear, we knew they had their two road crossings behind them and were headed toward the final article..which they gathered up for a lovely pass. ( the Tervs seemed to thrive out there Sunday!) Track 2 went to Golden Retriever Aureo Gracefully Chosen, CD, MX, MXJ, TD. Grace tracked with lovely rhythm that was a steady enough pace that it made her handler's glasses fog up and Neida Heusinkvelt had to discard her sunglasses and then raise her own glasses often to actually see where they were going. We also couldn't see all of this track,..but were delighted to see the team appear , cross a road, disappear into the woods, reappear, and then leave from view again , tracking smoothly and with purpose. When the driver brought the judges back up to the gallery we were told it was another successful; TDX effort. Track 3 was the thriller of the day when the 11 month old Otterhound, Sonsie's Laird Mosely, proved he had composure beyond his adolescent age and managed to stick to the task through many distractions. His handler, Kitty Sweeney had one of the most challenging obstacles, that required her to crawl under a thicket and negotiate a wooded area before coming out into the clearing and following her determined hound for about another 700 yards. It's difficult to know which was harder for her, as she found the footing treacherous in the open fields and fell along the way. Her dog came back to check on her and then asked her to "get up and go" so he could finish his task. If that were not enough, there was still a road crossing to conquer, as well as both sets of cross tracks before getting to his glove...which he did in true hound focus and style. He delighted both his handler, the gallery, and his sire's owner, Dian Sulek, who was present to see this accomplishment. Impressive work for a boy not yet one year old! Our final TDX entrant started well and her Flat coated Retriever looked like another pass was on the horizon,. but it was not to be this day. Her dog started well, made the first turn, handled one set of cross tracks, and then seemed determined to take the handler left, up the hill, rather then making the Right turn into the lower field. She looked good for the rest of the track, but was not up to the task this day. This was the first TDX attempt for this dog, and she shows great promise for the future. I cannot thank all the test workers and judges enough. We have a terrific crew of helpers that come out year after year . Judges Sue Boyd and Craig Green were outstanding and a joy to work with. Our track layers, drivers, and support people were: Diane Hoy, Cindy Roggenkamp, Norm and Jayne Tucker, Dian Quist Sulek, Letha Nelson, Sharlin McDermott, Hope Sass, Steve Soberski, Mary Kramer, Ann Kleimola, Don and Leone Dieter and their daughter( name?), and Frank Jonas. Branched Oak State Park has provided us all with many rewarding test weekends. This one tops them all with highlights and challenges. Come see us next year and get your photo in our records books!! Thanks everybody, Jane Jonas, Test Secretary/Chair |
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