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Young Road DNR Area Palmyra, WI Judges - Ed Presnall & Mel Lloyd MAY 7TH 2006 TD TEST by Ed Presnall Cool and dry, a hint of breeze and the lush spring undergrowth in full bloom. The dew was still on the ground as the TCoW "herd" milled around in anticipation of the start of the Tracking Club of Wisconsin's TD/TDX test near Palmyra, WI. The site is tucked into the southern edge of the Kettle Moraine Forest. The cover ranges from ankle high lush grass to waist to head high prairie grass surrounded by towering oak and elms and nestled into a series of kettles formed by ancient glaciers. My co-judge Mel Lloyd of Mt. Morris, IL waited as the handler took his English Springer Spaniel to the start. A nice start routine and the team were off, the Springer casting back and forth across the track and easily making the first turn. Halfway down the second leg the dog and handler "created" an open turn to the right and continued across the field to the whistle. We had to blink as our next dog (or in this case bitch) was also a Springer. The handler took this energetic girl to the start and launched her down the track like a rocket. Flying through the first and second turn the dog went nose, or complete head down in an animal hole, flushed a bird and quickly decided that today, birds were much more fun than tracking. Feeling a little down we watched our next exhibitor march her Standard Poodle to the start. A brief start routing and this dog was soon dragging her handler down the first leg. The dog made a strong indication of the first corner but never committed and soon wandered off pursuing something else. A little Belgian Tervuren bitch was assigned the last track. She was in season and celebrating her first birthday. Her handler calmly walked to the start, performed a nice start routine allowing the dog to sniff and taste the start article. With a "track" command, she rocketed off the start. Never bringing her nose off the ground this bitch flew down the 215 yard start leg and through the first turn to the left. 50 yards later she turned right, coaxing her handler into a jog for another 50 yards. Another left turn and she had the handler double timing down the next 125 yard leg and through the left turn and 50 yards to the glove. Her breathless owner stated that she was, "On A Mission!" Happy Birthday to Sprite's Full-Tilt TD and her happy owner/handler Marie Ashbaugh of Muskego, WI. As the alternate track was not required during the test we asked the first alternate to bring her dog to the start. I had seen this dog track two weeks ago when I certified her and knew this first time handler was very nervous. Starting strongly the team headed down the first leg, 100 yard downhill. An open turn to the left and 85 yards back uphill followed by a breather, a brief 40 yards of flatland. The Berner patiently worked her way steadily through the track, never hesitating. The confidence in this dog obviously gave the handler little reason to question her ability. The track again went downhill for another 110 yards and then left and back uphill for 65 yards. A quick right and the Berner pulled and dragged her owner the last 60 tail waggin' yards to the glove where Julie Smith of Waukesha, WI hugged St Germains Autumn Gold TD. Tracklayers for the event were Lois Ballard, Ellen McCredie, Jona Decker, Penny Honetor while Test Secretary Lisa Schaitberger and Test Chair Penny Honetor kept everything running smoothly. The first time Head Tracklayer, Judy Shonborn did a wonderful job of keeping all of the tracks running on schedule for both the TD and TDX while Hospitality was amply supplied by Ellen McCredie. Someone, who will remain nameless, posted a "toxic" note on the container of homemade brownies (courtesy of Ellen) in an attempt to keep others from this delicious morsel. To my surprise, Ellen made sure there was a small "care package" of brownies in my van for the trip home! by Terri Everwine A lovely weekend for being outdoors, today Ted Hoesel and I were rewarded for our track plotting efforts by being able to celebrate a new TDX title! The first dog to approach the flag made our day! "Boomer", a beagle owned by Michael Jankowski of Charleston, IN was the only non-local dog entered, but it turned out to be worth the trip. Boomer put his nose down at the start flag and began the long trip to the glove. This little dog was simply lovely to watch as he carefully and steadily made progress through the lush grass of the first leg, then into taller switchgrass stands, around the first turn, through the crosstrack with no indication. The second turn in the switchgrass was hadneld easily and sent the team on thier way to the woods. After making the turn the dog didn't hesitate as he entered the woods, found his turn and cam out the other side to an article. Around the next turn we had worried that the handler or dog might have a problem with several large critter holes grouped together. We had carefully flagged the area in hopes of avoiding an accident with the holes. Boomer chose instead to go completely around this hazard and then back to the track for another article and a bit of crittering. Back to work, another right turn and the team was on the last leg. Another stop to check out interesting critters was brief and Boomer quickly got back on task and shortly to the glove. A new TDX for Jankowski's Bujo Boomerooni, TD, AX, OAJ Unfortunately, the rest of the dogs did not fare as well. A standard poodle on the second track had a hard time with the first turn, got himself straightened out and to the second turn after negotiating through several brushpiles. He made the second turn, but veered left and missed heading into the woods. Third to give it a try was an otterhound who negotiated the first leg and turn but shortly before entering the woods, stopped to eat large quantities of grass and then head left instead of straight. The fourth track went to a golden who had a beautiful start, ran the next two legs and over the crosstracks as if on rails. After the third turn the dog dropped for a beautiful article indication. Restarting, the team headed for a woods crossing which the dog negotiated easily. Through the woods, the dog pulled ahead but his handler seemed to hesitate. They returned to the edge of the woods and then headed right to the whistle. Ted and I only thought we had used up the fields in plotting these 4 tracks. Test Secretary Lisa said she'd show us another and sure enough, tucked back a short ways through the woods at the road edge was another huge field. We easily plotted a 5th track in the space, which went to a German shepherd. The dog started off in lush grass, but when the first leg entered heavier cover the dog hesitated, came back, worked the border between the short and tall cover, finally working around to the right of some pines. He almost made it back to the track and the corner, but instead took off straight ahead to the whistle. The TCoW club did a great job of coordinating this event. They have found a beautiful site outside of Palmyra, WI and can look forward to many successful tests in the future. Thanks to my co-judge, Ted, and to our tracklayers and crosstrack layers, Marie (who earned her TD at this test!) Penny and Judy, and Lois.   |
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