2003 GOG Wrap-Up: 4th and Goal

Posted on August 07, 2003 by J. Tackett 

As the sun crested the Sierras, a stiff wind from the west began to blow. Hot air blew across the Carson Valley. About forty-five miles south of Reno, the picturesque mountains with a sprinkle of snow -- balking in the ninety-degree temperatures -- were hanging on for dear life. What looked like an oasis a week earlier was starting to feel like the high desert it really was.

The stage was set. The eight most versatile retrievers in the land were left -- experience was their common factor.

There was nine-year-old Pepper and Larry McMurry in their third trip to the Great Outdoor Games and veterans of hundreds of competitive events. Even though they won the bronze medal last year, some say they performed better in the final than the gold and silver medalists Ticket and Sue. If Pepper's hearing would hold, she would be very tough to beat.

Also there was eleven-year-old Ticket and Alex Washburn. It was their second GOG, and Washburn's 21st year as a serious handler/trainer. As 2002's gold medalist, they were a major force to be reckoned with. Ticket's strengths laid in her lines, and her ability to overcome anything negative because she ran such true lines. Once she was released, wherever she was looking was the way she was going -- refusing suction, wind, and any other element that might stand in her way.

Seven-year-old Windy & Dana Giovannello, were possibly the most talented of the eight. As the judges reviewed her weaknesses during the test set-up they could not find one. At this point, they were the odds-on-favorite for sure. If Dana could handle the pressure, Windy could -- maybe even would -- dominate the event.

The perennial favorite Super Sue, and her sidekick Jerry Day made it back for Sue's last hurrah. Although she was twelve now, she became spry as a 6 month old when the mere click of a shotgun action was heard. She looked very sharp to say the least.

From the mountains west was Titan and John Terraciano. Now that the west's best chance at these Games were gone when Ritz handled by Eric Fangsrud broke on the event's horribly-nasty first series breaking bird, the State of Montana's hopes were pinned on Titan and Terraciano alone.

From the bayou country of Louisiana with 11 Grand passes and 9 years of experience to help him through the myriad of tests was the ultimate hunting dog, Cody. His trainer, handler, and best friend Bill Autrey perhaps knew his dog better than any other here. Cody's strengths rival any other living dog. His weakness is the long bird. His tendencies to break down and hunt anything outside of 200 yards has kept his success in the big dance minimal.

Representing youth and inexperience were Ice and Jim McMahon along with Boomer and Chris Akin. Although both are young, they are very different dogs. Ice is a competent marking dog but her strength is McMahon. Ice would stop on a whistle and start the truck if McMahon asked her to do so. Other than Sue and Ticket, she is the best handling dog here.

It's just the opposite for Boomer. An incredible marker, Boomer is here on talent. Akin is a great handler and trainer, but Boomer has the gift. He captures raw desire and heart above all. A physical prophecy to say the least, he's got it all -- power, speed, and determination. He reminds you of a maniacal free safety, a head hunter so to speak. As Chris likes to put it, "[he's] A 454 with great big mud tires."

They all have weaknesses. If not in the retriever, then in the handler. The judges know this and they went after them. Taking into consideration thousands of years of canine evolution, as well as training tendencies the tests were sketched. Knowing the dogs and handlers, the judges put their ears back, and came after them. There was an element in every series aimed at removing each team. The handler that could take the setback of having to handle on a mark, or getting his dog around with the gun barrel on a set of 180 degree marks was there. Also, the handlers had to resist the temptation to "over handle" if they lost sight of the retriever during the last few yards of a long mark, or "under handle" because they were just sure their dog was on the right line. Decoys were placed in line with the prevailing winds that would push and pull the retrievers off their prescribed line. Old falls seemed to compound themselves as retrievers were sent into general areas, and continually went back to where success was found hours or days earlier. The handlers that did not foresee this trouble quickly went by the wayside. Handlers lost their dogs behind cover only to see them re-appear hundreds of yards away from the area of the fall.

Only the best handlers and retrievers would have complete success on this day. Every cast must be mentally reviewed and processed within milliseconds, followed by another. What if she gets too far over there? What if he gets downwind of the blind? What do I do if she only sees two of the three marks? Unlike standard retriever competitions the weight rests on the shoulders of the handler. It is not for the meek. You cannot rely on your retriever's marking and memory to get you through it.

The second series was a triple and blind. The first mark came out right -- "pooched" about 100 yards in the edge of reeds. The second set was the deal breaker. A "hip pocket" double, tight at 270 and 300 yards. Without white coats and/or an attention getter, the judges expected very few to see the marks all the way down. The task would then be on the handler to get them there, on something they didn't see. Jack Jagoda called it "war."

Pepper and McMurry would see it first. Pepper looked as if she marked the first two but never saw the last one - too many duck hunts. For most water-fowlers this does not seem possible, but hat day McMurry would disagree. Pepper's hunting life has consisted of a lot of time rice-field hunting. The years of gunshots had taken it's toll on her ears. She never heard McMurry's whistle, and the field was reduced to eleven.

Ice and McMahon made it home with all the chickens, but her marking inadequacy reared it's head, as she had to handle on just about everything. Terraiciano and Titan had a nice run but had too many whistles to carry.

Sue and Ticket made it though clean. Sue had a nice showing but Jerry Day did an incredible job of handling and they were in the finals.

Windy and Giovannello walked to the line. Windy saw the first mark cleanly, but Dana had trouble getting her to swing with the gun for the second and third marks. She had a very poor throw on the past bird -- probably a no-bird should have been called, but it wasn't! It was over, before it really got started for the pair. A few slipped whistles, and a cast refusal and Giovannello picked her up. The odds-on-favorite for the gold, and possibly the best all-around team in the country were gone. Boomer and Akin were clean and moved to a shot at hardware.

This was all the room needed for Autrey, and Cody to slip into the finals. This was huge because the finals were a true hunting scenario with the exception of one long mark. This mark was the first down at 270 yds and would make or break the teams.

The temperatures rose to almost 95 degrees. The wind was slow now but it was still hot. The cloudless sky invited sunburn, and the dogs were nervous. As we set for the finals every dog was shaking and panting. It seemed unnatural, but they knew the show wasn't nearly over. The handlers were wiping sweat away and continually taking deep breaths. They reminded me of competitive swimmers on the starting blocks.

The physicality of the final series would be immense. 95 degree temperatures, 5000 ft. of elevation, muck 6 inches deep in every step of running water, cut reeds that swallowed dogs whole, and moss on every stroke of swimming water. Conditions were tough, but the course was worse. A quad, and over 1600 yards of running, swimming, and lunging that each of retriever would have to do before a single medal would drape any neck. We would find who could take a cast when oxygen was the priority.

4th & Goal was here, and it was time for a gut-check!

The finals started from a coffin blind. Each handler would shoot his marks from the blind. The first mark came out at 270 yards going away left to right. The 2nd and 3rd marks would be thrown simultaneously. The marks were to do nothing but check steadiness and remove memory of the long bird. The 4th was left -- though swimming water, up, and across a winding creek. The blind was about 260 yards away, through a tiny channel most dogs could straddle in places. The blind was very confusing to the retrievers as there was no clear message to the dog to stay wet or dry. The judges expected some serious ping-ponging as they made their way through the ditch towards the blind. Depth perception was a factor as the skinny orange pole was alone with no help from a tree or bush.

Cody & Autrey climbed in; the hand went up and mark one was out. Cody followed the mark all the way down. Re-load for the next three - this is where the goose call, and gunners come in. Two and three came out after five seconds of calling, guns up and blazing. Cody was steady never budged. Mark four went out, looked like he was staring blankly into the sky. He never saw but a piece of four. As Autrey sent him for the #2 bird right in front of him, he started to look for the other short bird. The wind had died and the bird had gone a little far; but, a little far was huge because it meant the reeds. The bird rested right on the edge of the "dog eater." Cody lined up on it, hoping he knew where it had fallen and Bill released him. Cody missed it by 2 ft. Smartly, Bill had him on line for the long bird. With a back he was on his way out to sea for the long bird. Surprisingly, Cody got deep of the long bird and had to be handled back in for it. After fighting those reeds Cody was running low on gas and wanted no part of those reeds again. Bill got him to it. Short handle on the 4th, and nice blind. Cody had fallen victim to the heat, elevation, and his age.

Super Sue stepped in. She was maybe the most amazing retriever ever. The most versatile for sure. Holding advanced titles from every major retriever organization on the planet. The question was at 12 did she have the stamina to pick up all five. She did; but not without some real trouble on the long bird. She got to close to the blind, and very nearly disqualified, but listened to Jerry and pulled it out. The heart of a lion, she was tired after her first mark. Tommy Sanders said "it's a clich", but she is a champion's champion." She dropped to second, just behind Bill and Cody.

Youth moved in like the wind. Boomer and Akin were ready. Chris was definitely the most relaxed of the handlers. He had nothing to lose and nothing to prove. He was farther than he imagined he would be anyway. "With tests like these you could not hope for anything more from a four-year-old," Akin said.

He saw all four and mashed everything but the long bird which required a whistle. He seemed to enjoy the reeds; he spit them out in his wake. The power needed to chew them up was unreal, and he had it. He liked the reeds so much he made sure he smacked them again on the way back. The lines that he took were impeccable. It was amazing to watch especially after seeing the other dogs labor in them to the near point of exhaustion.

Boomer seemed to smile as he lined up knowing he again would have the chance to tear through the reeds, and punish them. With a commanding lead he walked away. Chris literally had his fingernails in his mouth more than his whistle.

Only one dog was left between Boomer and the gold. FC-AFC Coolwater's Winning Ticket still had room. She saw all four marks. Three of the four marks down and Ticket had a perfect score of zero. She climbed out of the water for the long bird -- another 75 yards and another gold medal would be around the 60lb black lab's neck. She was long - way long. A whistle and "OVER" and Ticket dug back. Another sit whistle from Alex and another "OVER" and Ticket dug back again. By now she was 75 yards deep. Alex got her back in, but it was too late.

Boomer is lying under the pool table back in Arkansas wondering why he has this great big, heavy piece of gold around his neck!