What’s New

” Tick ” Update….

Ten Bears Road Trip, ” Tick “, the sire of Sophie’s spring litter became qualified all-age this(Sept.14) weekend by jamming a 70 dog amateur. Congrats! to Tick, Mike and Anne and all the folks who bought Soph’s pups this spring. 

Backwater Hunt Test, September 14, 2007 

Paul and Dee Lance set up an enjoyable, fair but challenging master this weekend. It was nice. Good Going!!

Morgan came back from being hospitalized for 4 days earlier in the week to absolutely hammer this master. His performance was highlighted by a spectacular water blind that may have been the best of any dog. Again Morgan was one of the three or four youngest dogs.

   Linc also ran a beautiful test and passed again with no handles. Other than a safety handle on the final bird of a test I can’t remember Linc handling on a mark in his master career.

   Sophie ran a perfect first series and pinned the three marks in the land-water second series but her handler ( ME ) became complacent on the water blind and lost her which I don’t believe has happened to her before. HE = Handler Error!!!

In Memoriam……Mallory

Our beloved cat, Mallory, passed away on Monday, September 10, after exploratory surgery. Mallory brought to  us and our dogs many hours of pleasure during the past 10 years. She was 15 years old and was one of the treasures Marcia brought to our marriage. She was more dog than cat, coming when called and wanting to be with us most of the time.  Each night she would sleep with us or whoever was watching our home when we were on trips. She will be deeply missed and for many days we willl expect to see her sleeping in one of the bathroom sinks or in the shower stall. If the expression ” once in a lifetime” can be applied then it has to be used for Mallory as I can not imagine a cat who could take the place of Mallory. Until we next meet, Adios.  

BlackHawk Hunt Test, September 7

Unfortunately this hunt test never happened for the BFR dogs. Morgan became ill before we left and got worse on the way. One vet stop and $237 later we were back on our way only to have things worsen. We came back home and Morgan is now hospitalized but doing better. He will not be able to run next weekend at Backwater so may not get the chance to get his MH until spring. Oh, Well! ..it happens.

Our good friend and training partner Nancy Pals called to say that her Golden, Ruckus, passed the master and needs one pass to get his MH. Congratulations, Nancy!!

Wisconsin Amateur Hunt Test, July 28

BOY!!! Did we have fun. Judges Jimmy O and Dwayne Bickel put on a master that was loads of fun and challenging. We started with a field goose hunt running out of layout blinds, went to a ducky walkup and ended with a double- double ran entirely out of a duck boat complete  with quick set blind.This is what a hunt test should be!

   Linc, Morgan and Sophie all qualified with Linc now qualified for the National. Linc once again had no handles. Sophie was nothing short of spectacular making a wonderful retrieve on an extremely difficult out of order flyer which fell out of the fall area out of sight into a weedy swale. Along with a beautiful water blind and lining the land blind her work was #1 of the BFR dogs. Morgan handled on a 15yd water mark out of the duck boat and was a little rough at the end of his water blind but did well as one of the youngest entered.

   We will probably not run now until the second week of Sept. at the Blackhawk RC Test in Wisconsin.  

Maggie’s Status/Pups

   Maggie’s pups were whelped on Marcia’s birthday, Aug. 19, 2007. Somehow we had overestimated the number of pups as only seven were born and due to premature placental detachment two were stillborn leaving us with 2 females and 3 males. All pups are spoken for.

    Pups from the first litter are doing very well and we will furnish references upon request. We received an unsolicted,  but very welcome, testamonial from a gentleman from NC who bought a male out of Maggie and Roux a year ago. It made our hearts sing and we would be glad to share it with you. All pups will be $1000.

RIPLEY

   After much deliberation we have decided to keep one of the female pups out of Ruff and Pic’s April 1st litter. Ripley came to us at age 9 weeks after her new owner was injured and unable to care for her. She is doing wonderfully in every way, has made some very nice land( 100 yds) and water retrieves ( 50 yds) and is gorgeous. She’s a big girl and will be named Blindfaith’s Ain’t No Foolin’.

MARCIA’S WORLD

Marcia shot her new Mathews Drenalin the weekend of September 16 and won the women’s division of the Illiana Bowhunters final 2007 shoot shooting a 265 and winning by nearly 30 points. For the record, Bill shot a 246…what can I say!

   In the past month or so, Marcia has begun running the Big Dogs in handling stakes and is doing very well, especially for a beginner. We ended our training session yesterday, July 25, with Marcia running the Bigs on a tough water single followed by a land -water-land blind. She had two line jobs and two two whistle blinds. As you might guess, I was out throwing so it was all Marcia.

In our last session due to hot weather Marcia ran the Bigs on a poison bird flyer with a blind and second flyer in the same fall area( I know, it sounds bad, even stupid, but it’s something I wanted to try after hearing horror stories about a hunt test with a similar test). Marcia and the dogs did fine. Ripley got her first flyer duck as well and hammereed a fall in cover. We were proud!

   Marcia will run Linc in a Master as soon as she feels up to it. This reminds me of one of the reasons why I believe that the new AKC rules for qualifying for the Master National are silly and violate the spirit of the hunt test game. If we had any interest in running this year’s National we probably would not take the chance of having anyone new run one of the Bigs.  

FIELD TRIALS

   At the present time it is our plan to run Linc, Sophie and Morgan in some field trial Qualifyings this fall or next spring. In all likelihood we will wait til spring for the trials, focusing on Morgan’s titles( MH & HRCH ) and getting Sophie in the Backwater RC Hall of Fame ( along with Linc, Haley and Mindy) this fall. Then we can concentrate on FT Quals next year.

FORT DETROIT GRC HUNT TEST, July 21

Well it had to happen! Morgan failed for the first time, or should I say that I, Bill, failed. After getting a flyer that was not hit at all and in heavy cover, and the judges saying that they would “cut us some slack”, Morgan pinned the bird, bringing it back somewhat confused but alive. He promptly pinned the short middle bird only to have me fall asleep at the wheel on the easy right hand bird. Oh Well!!

   On the positive side,  Linc, Sophie and Ruff all qualified with Linc putting on an especially beautiful show in the final two series. The pass qualifies Linc for membership in the Backwater Retriever Club Hall of Fame along with BFR females Mindy and Haley.  

 MAGGIE BRED

   Bill drove Maggie to Louisianna on Thursday June 14 for breeding to Dakota’s Cajun Roux. Green Lewis and Associates of Covington, La. performed the surgical implantation on Thursday, June 21. If all goes well pups would be born on August 20, ready for homes on the weekend of October 6-7, 2007.

 MADISON RETRIEVER CLUBMorgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.Morgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.   OHIO VALLEY HUNT TESTMorgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.Morgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.   Linc, once again had no handles and very nice blinds. Sophie had 3 beautiful blinds and a safety handle on the last bird. We think she’s back. Linc is one master pass short of being inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame. Morgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.   Linc, once again had no handles and very nice blinds. Sophie had 3 beautiful blinds and a safety handle on the last bird. We think she’s back. Linc is one master pass short of being inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame. BACKWATER HUNT TEST Morgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.   Linc, once again had no handles and very nice blinds. Sophie had 3 beautiful blinds and a safety handle on the last bird. We think she’s back. Linc is one master pass short of being inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame. BFR did very well at the spring hunt test( April 13-15) of the Backwater Retriever Club. Linc passed the master with no handles and two of his three blinds were excellent. Sophie, after a flawless first series succumbed to a dramatic wind change and her handler’s( Bill) inability to do his part. You would think after 33 years it would come natural but…NOOOO!! It was Friday, the 13th, but no excuses!!Morgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.   Linc, once again had no handles and very nice blinds. Sophie had 3 beautiful blinds and a safety handle on the last bird. We think she’s back. Linc is one master pass short of being inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame. BFR did very well at the spring hunt test( April 13-15) of the Backwater Retriever Club. Linc passed the master with no handles and two of his three blinds were excellent. Sophie, after a flawless first series succumbed to a dramatic wind change and her handler’s( Bill) inability to do his part. You would think after 33 years it would come natural but…NOOOO!! It was Friday, the 13th, but no excuses!!   Morgan passed two juniors and two seniors, lining both blinds on Saturday( only dog to do so) and coming within three feet of lining the very difficult water blind on Sunday. I saw no dog run who did not handle within 10 yards of the line. By day’s end a number of pros were referring to the senior as the SENIOR NATIONAL!!! Only six dogs passed the grueling last series and I’m proud that Morgan was one. The gallery applause after his blind was a great reward.Morgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.   Linc, once again had no handles and very nice blinds. Sophie had 3 beautiful blinds and a safety handle on the last bird. We think she’s back. Linc is one master pass short of being inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame. BFR did very well at the spring hunt test( April 13-15) of the Backwater Retriever Club. Linc passed the master with no handles and two of his three blinds were excellent. Sophie, after a flawless first series succumbed to a dramatic wind change and her handler’s( Bill) inability to do his part. You would think after 33 years it would come natural but…NOOOO!! It was Friday, the 13th, but no excuses!!   Morgan passed two juniors and two seniors, lining both blinds on Saturday( only dog to do so) and coming within three feet of lining the very difficult water blind on Sunday. I saw no dog run who did not handle within 10 yards of the line. By day’s end a number of pros were referring to the senior as the SENIOR NATIONAL!!! Only six dogs passed the grueling last series and I’m proud that Morgan was one. The gallery applause after his blind was a great reward.   Morgan turned some heads with his breathtaking style and youthful exuberance. One duckhunter who was looking for a black to breed with his young female decided, after seeing Morgan run, to use Morgan instead.Morgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.   Linc, once again had no handles and very nice blinds. Sophie had 3 beautiful blinds and a safety handle on the last bird. We think she’s back. Linc is one master pass short of being inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame. BFR did very well at the spring hunt test( April 13-15) of the Backwater Retriever Club. Linc passed the master with no handles and two of his three blinds were excellent. Sophie, after a flawless first series succumbed to a dramatic wind change and her handler’s( Bill) inability to do his part. You would think after 33 years it would come natural but…NOOOO!! It was Friday, the 13th, but no excuses!!   Morgan passed two juniors and two seniors, lining both blinds on Saturday( only dog to do so) and coming within three feet of lining the very difficult water blind on Sunday. I saw no dog run who did not handle within 10 yards of the line. By day’s end a number of pros were referring to the senior as the SENIOR NATIONAL!!! Only six dogs passed the grueling last series and I’m proud that Morgan was one. The gallery applause after his blind was a great reward.   Morgan turned some heads with his breathtaking style and youthful exuberance. One duckhunter who was looking for a black to breed with his young female decided, after seeing Morgan run, to use Morgan instead.   Dave Swith’s BFR pup, Zippr, made six excellent, stylish retrieves in the junior but has not yet been force-fetched and fell prey to the ” delivery to hand” gods.Morgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.   Linc, once again had no handles and very nice blinds. Sophie had 3 beautiful blinds and a safety handle on the last bird. We think she’s back. Linc is one master pass short of being inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame. BFR did very well at the spring hunt test( April 13-15) of the Backwater Retriever Club. Linc passed the master with no handles and two of his three blinds were excellent. Sophie, after a flawless first series succumbed to a dramatic wind change and her handler’s( Bill) inability to do his part. You would think after 33 years it would come natural but…NOOOO!! It was Friday, the 13th, but no excuses!!   Morgan passed two juniors and two seniors, lining both blinds on Saturday( only dog to do so) and coming within three feet of lining the very difficult water blind on Sunday. I saw no dog run who did not handle within 10 yards of the line. By day’s end a number of pros were referring to the senior as the SENIOR NATIONAL!!! Only six dogs passed the grueling last series and I’m proud that Morgan was one. The gallery applause after his blind was a great reward.   Morgan turned some heads with his breathtaking style and youthful exuberance. One duckhunter who was looking for a black to breed with his young female decided, after seeing Morgan run, to use Morgan instead.   Dave Swith’s BFR pup, Zippr, made six excellent, stylish retrieves in the junior but has not yet been force-fetched and fell prey to the ” delivery to hand” gods.MARCIA’S WORLDMorgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.   Linc, once again had no handles and very nice blinds. Sophie had 3 beautiful blinds and a safety handle on the last bird. We think she’s back. Linc is one master pass short of being inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame. BFR did very well at the spring hunt test( April 13-15) of the Backwater Retriever Club. Linc passed the master with no handles and two of his three blinds were excellent. Sophie, after a flawless first series succumbed to a dramatic wind change and her handler’s( Bill) inability to do his part. You would think after 33 years it would come natural but…NOOOO!! It was Friday, the 13th, but no excuses!!   Morgan passed two juniors and two seniors, lining both blinds on Saturday( only dog to do so) and coming within three feet of lining the very difficult water blind on Sunday. I saw no dog run who did not handle within 10 yards of the line. By day’s end a number of pros were referring to the senior as the SENIOR NATIONAL!!! Only six dogs passed the grueling last series and I’m proud that Morgan was one. The gallery applause after his blind was a great reward.   Morgan turned some heads with his breathtaking style and youthful exuberance. One duckhunter who was looking for a black to breed with his young female decided, after seeing Morgan run, to use Morgan instead.   Dave Swith’s BFR pup, Zippr, made six excellent, stylish retrieves in the junior but has not yet been force-fetched and fell prey to the ” delivery to hand” gods.Marcia’s short story entitled ”Yellow Flower” has been published in the July-August issue of Just Labs magazine. It is the moving story of Mindy ( see TOP DOGS in our menu) and her passing at age 15. Those of you who have pups out of Haley or Ruff will find this story especially interesting and informative.Morgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.   Linc, once again had no handles and very nice blinds. Sophie had 3 beautiful blinds and a safety handle on the last bird. We think she’s back. Linc is one master pass short of being inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame. BFR did very well at the spring hunt test( April 13-15) of the Backwater Retriever Club. Linc passed the master with no handles and two of his three blinds were excellent. Sophie, after a flawless first series succumbed to a dramatic wind change and her handler’s( Bill) inability to do his part. You would think after 33 years it would come natural but…NOOOO!! It was Friday, the 13th, but no excuses!!   Morgan passed two juniors and two seniors, lining both blinds on Saturday( only dog to do so) and coming within three feet of lining the very difficult water blind on Sunday. I saw no dog run who did not handle within 10 yards of the line. By day’s end a number of pros were referring to the senior as the SENIOR NATIONAL!!! Only six dogs passed the grueling last series and I’m proud that Morgan was one. The gallery applause after his blind was a great reward.   Morgan turned some heads with his breathtaking style and youthful exuberance. One duckhunter who was looking for a black to breed with his young female decided, after seeing Morgan run, to use Morgan instead.   Dave Swith’s BFR pup, Zippr, made six excellent, stylish retrieves in the junior but has not yet been force-fetched and fell prey to the ” delivery to hand” gods.Marcia’s short story entitled ”Yellow Flower” has been published in the July-August issue of magazine. It is the moving story of Mindy ( see TOP DOGS in our menu) and her passing at age 15. Those of you who have pups out of Haley or Ruff will find this story especially interesting and informative.TRAININGMorgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.   Linc, once again had no handles and very nice blinds. Sophie had 3 beautiful blinds and a safety handle on the last bird. We think she’s back. Linc is one master pass short of being inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame. BFR did very well at the spring hunt test( April 13-15) of the Backwater Retriever Club. Linc passed the master with no handles and two of his three blinds were excellent. Sophie, after a flawless first series succumbed to a dramatic wind change and her handler’s( Bill) inability to do his part. You would think after 33 years it would come natural but…NOOOO!! It was Friday, the 13th, but no excuses!!   Morgan passed two juniors and two seniors, lining both blinds on Saturday( only dog to do so) and coming within three feet of lining the very difficult water blind on Sunday. I saw no dog run who did not handle within 10 yards of the line. By day’s end a number of pros were referring to the senior as the SENIOR NATIONAL!!! Only six dogs passed the grueling last series and I’m proud that Morgan was one. The gallery applause after his blind was a great reward.   Morgan turned some heads with his breathtaking style and youthful exuberance. One duckhunter who was looking for a black to breed with his young female decided, after seeing Morgan run, to use Morgan instead.   Dave Swith’s BFR pup, Zippr, made six excellent, stylish retrieves in the junior but has not yet been force-fetched and fell prey to the ” delivery to hand” gods.Marcia’s short story entitled ”Yellow Flower” has been published in the July-August issue of magazine. It is the moving story of Mindy ( see TOP DOGS in our menu) and her passing at age 15. Those of you who have pups out of Haley or Ruff will find this story especially interesting and informative.After a terrible spell of cold, windy weather we were finally able to train the week of April 9, trying to get ready for hunt tests at Backwater and Ohio Valley. Sophie while a little rusty from the long layoff for puppies showed that she can still Get’r Done and Morgan showed that he can be a formidable competitor. His youth still comes through at times but this boy can really rock! After a recent training session friends remarked that running him was” not for the faint of heart”. When he runs he may not pass but he will go out in style! Watching him pick up a bird or dummy takes your breath away and reminds you to never, ever, place a bird near rocks, logs, etc. that bear a resemblance to a duck or pheasant! Hopefully we will have some good news to report soon regarding Morgan’s performance at BWRC and OVR.Morgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.   Linc, once again had no handles and very nice blinds. Sophie had 3 beautiful blinds and a safety handle on the last bird. We think she’s back. Linc is one master pass short of being inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame. BFR did very well at the spring hunt test( April 13-15) of the Backwater Retriever Club. Linc passed the master with no handles and two of his three blinds were excellent. Sophie, after a flawless first series succumbed to a dramatic wind change and her handler’s( Bill) inability to do his part. You would think after 33 years it would come natural but…NOOOO!! It was Friday, the 13th, but no excuses!!   Morgan passed two juniors and two seniors, lining both blinds on Saturday( only dog to do so) and coming within three feet of lining the very difficult water blind on Sunday. I saw no dog run who did not handle within 10 yards of the line. By day’s end a number of pros were referring to the senior as the SENIOR NATIONAL!!! Only six dogs passed the grueling last series and I’m proud that Morgan was one. The gallery applause after his blind was a great reward.   Morgan turned some heads with his breathtaking style and youthful exuberance. One duckhunter who was looking for a black to breed with his young female decided, after seeing Morgan run, to use Morgan instead.   Dave Swith’s BFR pup, Zippr, made six excellent, stylish retrieves in the junior but has not yet been force-fetched and fell prey to the ” delivery to hand” gods.Marcia’s short story entitled ”Yellow Flower” has been published in the July-August issue of magazine. It is the moving story of Mindy ( see TOP DOGS in our menu) and her passing at age 15. Those of you who have pups out of Haley or Ruff will find this story especially interesting and informative.After a terrible spell of cold, windy weather we were finally able to train the week of April 9, trying to get ready for hunt tests at Backwater and Ohio Valley. Sophie while a little rusty from the long layoff for puppies showed that she can still Get’r Done and Morgan showed that he can be a formidable competitor. His youth still comes through at times but this boy can really rock! After a recent training session friends remarked that running him was” not for the faint of heart”. When he runs he may not pass but he will go out in style! Watching him pick up a bird or dummy takes your breath away and reminds you to never, ever, place a bird near rocks, logs, etc. that bear a resemblance to a duck or pheasant! Hopefully we will have some good news to report soon regarding Morgan’s performance at BWRC and OVR.SOUTH CAROLINAMorgan and Sophie qualified in the Master on the weekend of June 9. Sophie lined both blinds and pinned all three marks of a walkup triple and honor in the first series. Morgan ran four beautiful blinds including lining the last land-water blind, a long angle entry blind. Linc was dropped after the second series after running what I would have judged to be the very best job of any dog! I blame myself for not realizing the tendency of more and more hunt test judges to judge as if we were running a field trial. Ruff had a shakey water blind after nailing series one and the marks in series two.  BFR had a red letter day at Ohio Valley the weekend of April 21-22. We went after six ribbons and got all six. Linc and Sophie passed the master and Morgan earned both his JH and SH titles by passing 4 juniors and 4 seniors in a nine day stretch. The tests were very challenging and a lot of fun.   Linc, once again had no handles and very nice blinds. Sophie had 3 beautiful blinds and a safety handle on the last bird. We think she’s back. Linc is one master pass short of being inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame. BFR did very well at the spring hunt test( April 13-15) of the Backwater Retriever Club. Linc passed the master with no handles and two of his three blinds were excellent. Sophie, after a flawless first series succumbed to a dramatic wind change and her handler’s( Bill) inability to do his part. You would think after 33 years it would come natural but…NOOOO!! It was Friday, the 13th, but no excuses!!   Morgan passed two juniors and two seniors, lining both blinds on Saturday( only dog to do so) and coming within three feet of lining the very difficult water blind on Sunday. I saw no dog r