Waterwork In the afternoon, the subject test was the waterwork. I should have started with the retrieve of a dead duck, but I ran into the judges who did the searching of the living duck. They told me to do this subject first. The secretary of the Austrian club, Mr. Anton Görgl, was one of the judges and he would shoot the duck, if possible. The duck was put into the water and he swam to the right along the shoreline. After the duck disappeared into the reeds, Windy was brought and set on the swimming track of the duck, which she followed to the right. She then took a turn to the left. Perhaps a duck that was put in before had been there, she searched on the other side and came back. She went out of the water and went into another pool next to the one she was in before. I was still standing with Tony Görgl at the place where Windy was set off and Tony said to me ‘whistle her in'. I did, but she did not respond. At that moment, another judge quite angry shouted ‘do not whistle, let the dog work!'. We heard a lot of noise from the duck obviously being chased by Windy. Tony ran to the other pool and I heard a shot. They called me as Windy was already retrieving the duck. Again, the maximum points and we did not have to do the retrieve with the shot and the cold duck. Windy had done it already with the duck that was just shot! The next subject was the searching of the reeds without the duck (stöbern ohne ente). Some of the judges knew Windy from the Field and Watertest she did in 1996. With a single command Windy was sent into the reeds and she searched and searched. She never came out of the water. After 10 minutes the dead duck was thrown in about 30 meters away from the place we saw Windy moving through the reeds. We couldn't see her, we just saw the reeds moving. A few minutes later, she came back with the duck, ever so proud of bringing me game. Again on both subjects, we earned full points. Plaque with names We ended with the driven shoot simulation, ‘staying by the stand'. Because Windy was very excited, I decided to keep her on the lead. It would cost me 2 points (in Germany 1 point) but it was a good thing to do. I am certain her passion was just too much for me to hold. With this subject, the first day ended and we were very pleased to have done so well. There is a strong tradition of hunting in Germany, but I think there is even more traditon in Austria. At the end of the first day of the VGP, it is tradition all handlers and judges shoot with a rifle(point 22) on a beautiful piece of painted wood which is then placed in the forest. The wood was painted by Tony's wife, Erny, And each time someone shoots, his or her name is noted with a number. The number is placed on the wood. Friday evening, Erny painted the numbers and the names of all the shooters onto the wood, it is then ready for the prize table on Saturday night. All of the Dutch Weims did well on their first day. We had a great time Friday evening and on Saturday we went to a different location. On this day, 10 new Weimaraners and their handlers were greeted and they would do Field and Waterstest. For us there was only fieldwork to do. Now, just as with the field trials in Holland and England, we must be a bit lucky with game. If there is too much game, it is not good. The dog might flush before he can come to a point.If there is too little game, the search goes on the entire day and that is not good either. Remember, everyone worked very hard the day before. The game in the field for my group was just right. I was glad I was third in this group because the first dog was searching short cut grasslands and a hair got up and ran away. I am certain I could not have stopped Windy at that stage of the hunt. She was too passionate and not tired at all.

Jur and Windy

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