**** 10th Series Connectivity Announcement ****

We continue to be tested this week (just like the dogs that are participating in this awesome event) with internet connectivity issues. We are having a lot of connectivity problems here on location at the 10th series this afternoon. We are working hard to make sure the blog remains as up-to-date as we can! The coverage will probably include posts of few dogs being posted at a time as we can. Please bear with us!!  … And most of all, enjoy the coverage as we are SO CLOSE to crowning the new National Amateur Field Champion of 2017!

**** Important Connectivity Announcement ****

We have been tested this week just like the dogs with internet connectivity problems from time to time. We are told that we may not have service at the 9th and 10th series today at the Spanglers property, but we will proceed like we did yesterday and shuttle the books back and forth every couple of dogs as much as we can to a remote location to get service. The coverage will probably be like yesterday with a few dogs being posted in groups. Please bear with us – and enjoy the coverage as we crown the new National Amateur Field Champion of 2017.

Here is what we are expecting for weather …

**** Saturday Morning Caravan Instructions **** ––– UPDATE

UPDATED INFORMATION

Today, the convoy will leave from the Blackhawk Clubhouse at 5:45 am to travel to the Spangler
property. There will be someone to meet you at the Clarion should you go there instead.

We prefer that you meet at Blackhawk since it is closer to the grounds.

**** Important Information ****

The Ninth Series will be held at the property of Mary and Randy Spangler in Mondovi.

The Test Dogs will be at 6:30 and and the first running Dog, #122, will be at 7:00 am.

Have a good evening everyone!!

Test Eight is Concluded …

Series 8 Water Blind is in the books at 6:29 pm

The Judges are working on their books as the test site is broken down and moved to the Spanglers for the Ninth and Tenth Series tomorrow.

Updated Photos - Series 7

*** Series 7 Photos ***

We have uploaded new aerial photos and aerial diagrams to the Series 7 Test Description.  Please go to the "7th Series" tab on the top to view the photos.They are SPECTACULAR!!

Scrapped – Seventh Series Water Triple

The Seventh Series Water Triple was scrapped after heavy thunderstorms rolled through.  We began to run the test with the Test Dogs and  two dogs had run before the thunderstorms rolled in. We all took shelter in our cars and after an hour or so of heavy rain, we were told that this test would be scrapped. The Seventh Series would be postponed until Friday. The location for the Seventh Series will be John and Laura Parrott's other piece of property, Lucyana. The test dogs will run at 6:30 am and the first running dog will be at 7 am. There will be members of the Traffic Committee to assist in parking at the test site.

Dog number 33 will start the test. Good Luck to All!

Mid-Test Conditions Report

We have run approximately more than half the dogs. The air is still and close with a light breeze from the SW at 2 mph. The cloud cover is low and we are expecting rain at any moment. The dogs appear to be doing this test with ease for the most part. We will be remaining in this same location for the next test: The 7th Series Water Triple with an Honor.

The view from the Retriever News and the Official Announcer's tent

Callbacks To The 6th Series

There are 39 dogs callback to the 5th series and they are 1, 5, 8, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 33, 39, 43, 49, 50, 52, 53, 56, 61, 62, 69, 71, 75, 80, 82, 85, 86, 89, 94, 98, 100, 104, 106, 111, 112, 116, 117, 122, 125, 136, 137

27 dogs were dropped and they are

2, 7, 13, 14, 16, 21, 27, 30, 31, 35, 36, 41, 47, 55, 58, 59, 63, 64, 65, 74, 88, 96, 103, 105, 119, 129, 130

End of Day and the 5th Series

The test is in the books at 7:11 pm.

The Callbacks will be listed later tonight on the blog and the official Callbacks page and also posted back at head quarters.

Please remember ...

Instructions for Series 6 PARKING.

Series 6 - will be held at John and Laura Parrott's, "Lucy, Too" property.

The caravan to Series 6 will be leaving the Blackhawk Retriever Club House at 5:45 am. NO ONE is to enter the property before the caravan.

Test Dogs will be at 6:30 am

"Amish Interference" with a "Side of Turkey"

While Martha Blank's "Rinny" was going for her second bird, this Amish farmer came upon the middle of the test in his horse-drawn hay cutter. Then we had another unwelcome visitor. (BTW: "Rinny" got a rerun …)

*** Announcement ***

Instructions for Series 6 PARKING.

Series 6 - will be held at John and Laura Parrotts, Lucy Too property.

The caravan to Series 6 will be leaving the Black Hawk Retriever Club House at 5:45 am NO ONE is to enter the property before the caravan.
Test Dogs will be at 6:30 am

How Many Hats Do You Wear?

We know that you folks out there across the country like to show your support and excitement about this event by purchasing a souvenir or two. We are selling a rainbow assortment of hats complete with an embroidered "A" and also the ASD (Avery Sporting dogs) and Purina logos. The price is:

1 for $25.00  or  3 for $50 

(That's "BUY 2" – "GET 1 FREE!")

PLUS $8.00 for postage & handling

 Please email Tina Styan at tstyan@theretrievernews.com

with you name, address and phone number and you color choice (see below)

and we will set them aside for you. 
We will contact you for payment after the event is over and ship them next week. 

Thank you for your support!!  ;-)

These are the colors that are left

AVAILABLE COLORS:

Teal – Brown – Forest Green – Beige – Bright Blue – Red – Lime Green – Black.

Just When It Was Getting Good......

Well it was bound to happen sooner or later, "technical difficulties"!!!  Four years ago it was a logistical nightmare to get the NARC BLOG to the world wide web. We were in cell phone purgatory, nothing was coming in or going out!  We literally were writing dog performance descriptions in note books, driving them to a remote location ten minutes away every 5 -10 dogs, handing off a notebook for someone to type all the information in and post with a reliable internet connection.  My oh, my how far we have come in the last four years with our abilities to find internet service in the remotest of locations.  We don't know what tomorrows connectivity is going to be at "Lucy Too" Owned by John and Laura Parrott, the test site for Series 5.  So in order to stay ahead of the game we thought we would try and upload as much as we can tonight.  Enjoy!!!

Strategy Going To The Line.....

As part of our feature on "First Timers"  Pat Burns - Elite Retrievers talks with first time Contestant / Handler - Larry Vaske and his Coach - Clint Avant.  They discuss strategy going to the line and strategy while on line for the running of this Series 3 and 4 Land / Water Blind !!

Enjoy this insightful discussion....

Clear Your Cookies!!!!

If anyone is having troubles with the blog uploading please clear your cookies!!!  Every brand of PC is a little different.  Clearing your cookies simply means to delete of clear your internet browsing history.  It will free up space for more browsing of the blog, faster uploads of pages, and an overall quicker response from your PC.  Hope this helps your viewing of the 2017 NARC BLOG COVERAGE.

**** Special Announcement about Tomorrow's Test ****

Tomorrow's Test will be at John and Laura Parrott's "Lucy, Too." There will be a caravan leaving the Blackhawk parking lot at 5:45 am. No Handlers are to enter the site prior to the caravan's arrival. We will enter "Lucy, Too" through "Lucyana," driving across the dam. 

Please do not drive into the Parrott's home driveway.  

NO ONE IS TO "BEAT" THE CARAVAN to the test site.

*** Announcement *** Worker's Party

*** Worker's Party Tonight ***

AT

The Barn Again Lodge

S683 Lovely Rd
Mondovi, WI 54755

Drinks begin at 6:00 pm
Dinner Served at 6:30 pm

Door Prize will be located on the ground floor of the barn.

2 complimentary drink tickets – Cash Bar

See You There!!

Thanks Die - Hard Fans....

We love this weather! Yeah right! Well we must be crazy about our Retrievers to endure less than ideal conditions in order to find out who will be name this years 2017 NARC champion.  We are, crazy excited!!!  Enjoy the coverage as we slosh around the field to provide you up to the minute news.

Don't forget to keep hitting the REFRESH button :)

STAY TUNED!!

Marty Fluke and Montey Wulf

Gwen Pleasant and Sammie Thompson

Randy Spangler, Andy Kahn, and Mark Medford

Series 3 & 4 - Testing Connectivity

As we start the 4th day of the 2017 National Amateur Championship we starting with a soggy rainy morning.  Computer equipment in the rain takes some creative measures to keep dry.  Keep your fingers crossed we have connection all day!

Enjoy!