Tarheel Weimaraner Club Hunt Test
Johnson Marsh Hunting Preserve played host to the Tarheel Weimaraner Club's spring hunt test weekend. There were 44 dogs entered each day with the majority in the junior test. Johnson Marsh's owners have recently hosted several bird dog events but this is their first AKC Pointing Breed Hunt Test. They provided a cozy clubhouse complete with a three meal a day kitchen. The staff joined in the presentation of this event by releasing the quail for every brace in fields that have been set up for hunting. The very healthy strong flying birds provided a good test for the dogs. The club had accurate gunners available, which is essential when testing the master and senior dogs.
Another important ingredient for a successful event is an experienced judge with a background in hunting. Saturday, Tom Petrie and Charles Gourlay were observing and Sunday, Lee Holbrook and Randy Hall covered the jugdicial duties. Lee and Tom had brought their own Tennessee Walkers to judge from but Charles and Randy used ungaited horses as transportation. My heart goes out to Charles and Randy for the hours they spent mounted. All of these men are to be commended for a long day in the saddle.
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Most of the AKC recognized pointing breeds were represented during the two days of testing including English, Irish, and Gordon Setters, German Shorthaired and German Wirehaired Pointers. English Pointers, Vizslas, Weimaraners, Brittanies and a Spinone. Many quality performances were rendered over the entire weekend, two of which were perfect tens by littermate English Setters. Owners, George Worst and Lynn Holbrook, guided their dogs to multiple find efforts where the dogs showed a keen desire to hunt, a willingness to be handled, and a strong accurate nose. Each of these orange and white setters displayed breathtaking style on point and remained steady until the flush. This was Lynn's first time handling in a hunt test and I'd say she's hooked.
Another first timer, eight year old Blake Weaver, handled his English Setter, Kate, to a ribbon both days. His very proud father, Gary, accompanied this future hunter. Kevin Craggs handled a pair of Wirehairs to qualifications each day. Gunner received his first two qualifications in Senior and Patriot scored in the Junior. Mcpherson's Driving A Bentley an Italian Spinone owned by Cliff Lowe displayed all the attributes of a quality hunting dog to qualify in Junior both days. The Spinone is the latest addition to the AKC pointing breeds. Most likely the proudest handler of the weekend was Scott Edwards who qualified his GSP, Sue; to Master ribbons both days. This was the first time for Sue to be tested at this level and she showed she was ready by garnering very high scores. Many others qualified both days also but these seamed to stand out.
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