March 26, 2023 TDX Tracking Test
(rescheduled from the Jan 29 sheep cancellation)
Mather Regional Park, Sacramento CA.
Judges Bob Rollins & Rita Crawford (THANK YOU!!!)
Secretary Karey Krauter
Just a quick debriefing here, the bottom line being that we had no passes 🙁 . The test offered 4 tracks (with the possibility of a 5th track if an alternate track was plotted and used for titling). We ended up only getting three entries for the test. I did get, after closing, an email from someone who pulled out of earlier tests at Mather for fear of the sheep damage: saying they were now sorry they hadn’t entered because Mather was in GREAT shape. Test plotting day and test running day were both spectacularly beautiful sunny days threading the needle between two big storms the week before and the week after. I actually got sunburned! Huge thanks to our judges Bob Rollins and Rita Crawford, who signed on “last minute” when we made the decision in January to postpone that (sheep-cancelled) test til now. More huge thanks to my tracklayers Alice Webber, Renee St Denis, and Patty Lundquist, primary crosstracklayer Erin Shaw, and secondary crosstracklayers Linal Browning and Ann-Marie Moore. Everyone is so busy these post-covid days, we are greatly appreciative of the entire weekend we are committing you to! Both days ran like clockwork, a well oiled machine, I can’t thank everyone enough.
Track #1 was run by a VERY enthusiastic golden who just couldn’t contain himself from the get-go, the outdoors was just so beautiful. The handler tried to get him focused but it wasn’t to be, and she took the wiser path of not fighting that battle today. After a restart, I saw the dog run the track quite well!
Track #2 was run by a flatcoated retriever who also couldn’t contain herself from the get-go, zoomed past the first turn, got the whistle.
Track #3 was run by a cardigan corgi, who did a GREAT business-like job of navigating the first corner, but then hit the first crosstrack and took it.
Other than the no-passes, it was a GOOD day, thank you all for supporting TRACS’s field tracking season, I look forward to seeing you all (evidently!) at another test!