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 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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