10th Series Test Description

Welcome to Series 10 of the 2024 National Derby Championships!
Soon we will know the next National Derby Champion!

Congratulations to all who have made it this far, and good luck!

SERIES 10
Water Double

The Judges' have set up a Water Double on Swede’s Hill at Wood Dale Farm.

 

Bird #1 is a dead Hen Mallard, thrown from right to left, landing 269 yards from the running mat. The line to this bird carries the dog down the terraced hill and into the channel of the pond. The dog will then push across the pond, cross a land bridge and enter the next pond. Finally, the dog will slice over a peninsula, into a corner of water before pushing up on land for the bird. We will refer to this bird as L for Left.

 

Bird #2 is a Hen Mallard Flyer, shot from left to right, landing 224 yards from the running mat. The line to this bird carries the dog down the terraced hill, and into the pond. They will then swim by one point, and graze a second point before jumping back into the water. The bird lands up on shore, in medium cover. We will refer to this bird as F for Flyer.

This test is taking approximately 10 minutes per dog to complete.

9th Series Test Description

Welcome to the final day of the 2024 National Derby Championship!

 

This morning, we have a Water Double set up in the Dam Field.

 

We’ve had great weather this week. This morning is no exception - it is 58 degrees, with clear skies and a 6 mph west wind.

SERIES 9
Water Double

The mat faces north, atop a hill overlooking a cluster of ponds.

Bird #1 is a Hen Mallard, thrown from right to left. The gunners sit 279 yards from the line and throw their bird up and over a cluster of cedar bushes. The line to this bird requires the dog angle through the middle pond, push up and over a land bridge, and swim along the shoreline of the far pond before exiting the water and running the side hill to their bird. We will refer to this bird as L for Left.

Bird #2 is a Drake Mallard, thrown from left to right. The gunners sit 163 yards from the line, landing their bird behind a cluster of cedar bushes. The line to this bird requires the dog to angle into the near pond, push to the opposite shore and up and out to their bird. We will refer to this bird as R for Right.

This test is taking approximately 8 minutes per dog to complete.

8th Series Test Description

SERIES 8
Water Double

Our Judges have set up a Water Double on the northwest corner of the Dam Field at Wood Dale Farm.

It has warmed up to 75 degrees, with sunny skies and a 5-mph south wind.

The running mat faces west and is perched atop a hill overlooking a field featuring several small ponds of varying elevation, that step down with every terrace. The field slopes from right to left and is spotted with several clumps of cedar trees.

Bird #1 is a dead Rooster pheasant, thrown angle back from left to right. The gunners sit 299 yards from the running mat, landing their bird in a thick band of cover. The line to this bird requires the dog to cross a small pothole pond, hold a side hill to pass through a slot of cedar bushes before punching into the cover for their bird. We will refer to this bird as R for Right.

 

Bird #2 is a dead Drake Mallard, thrown from left to right. The gunners sit 196 yards from the mat and land their bird on the backside of a berm. The line to this bird requires the dog to slide past the pot hole pond and slice into the second pond. The dog will then push down the shoreline, exit the pond and go up and over the berm for their bird. We will refer to this bird as L for Left.

This test is taking approximately 5-6 minutes per dog to complete.

7th Series Test Description

SERIES 7
Land Double

We are in the Dam Field for the 7th Series. The mat faces North East, tight to a tree line. The field is bowl-shaped, contoured by a steep levee to the right, and large terraces on every other side.

Bird #1 is a dead Rooster Pheasant, thrown from left to right, landing 260 yards from the mat. The line to this bird takes the dog down into the valley where they must then angle up a steep hill and crest two prominent terraces. The bird is thrown into a thick patch of cover tight to a cluster of trees. We will refer to this bird as R for Right.

 

Bird #2 is a dead Rooster Pheasant, thrown from left to right, landing 182 yards from the mat. The line to this bird carries the dog down into the valley through a tight corridor of trees. The bird is thrown into cover at the base of a cedar tree. We will refer to this bird as L for Left.

This test is taking approximately 4 minutes per dog to complete.

6th Series Test Description

Good afternoon from the 2024 National Derby Championship!

It is sunny and a warm 77 degrees with a 5 mph South wind. Our Judges have set up a Water Double in the Middle Field at Wood Dale Farm for this series.

SERIES 6

Water Double

The mat faces North, atop a large hill overlooking two ponds.

 

Bird #1 is a Hen Mallard. The gunners sit 185 yards from the line, and throw their bird from left to right. It is a long throw, landing in front of two haybales under the dripline of a cluster of trees. The line to this bird requires the dog to run down the hill, angling out of the pond and up the hill.

 

Bird #2 is a Drake Mallard. The gunners sit 181 yards from the line, throwing their bird from left to right.

This test is taking approximately 5.5 minutes per dog to complete.

5th Series Test Description

The 5th Series has brought us back to Wood Dale Farm where we’ve set up a Land Double in Grader Field.

It is a cool 47 degrees with a 3 mph South wind. Skies are sunny and clear, and it will soon warm up to 80 degrees.

SERIES 5

Land Double with a Hen Pheasant Flyer

The mat sits facing North, at the base of a steep hill.

Bird #1 is a dead Hen Pheasant. The gunners sit 211 yards from the running mat and throw their bird from left to right. The bird is thrown across a gravel road, landing tight to a cluster of thick trees. The line to this bird requires the dog to angle up a steep hill, slide past a cluster of bushes, and push across the road to the bird. We will refer to this bird as R for Right.

Bird #2 is a Hen Pheasant Flyer, shot from right to left landing 167 yards from the mat. We will refer to this bird as F for Flyer.

This test is taking approximately 5 minutes per dog to complete.

4th Series Test Description

For Test 4 we’ve moved to the Dam Field. It has warmed up to about 70 degrees, and it is sunny with a 2 mph wind.

The mat sits on top of a hill, facing North West and overlooking a cluster of ponds.

SERIES 4

Water Single

The gun station is positioned 241 yards from the line. A hen mallard is thrown from right to left, where it lands a few feet off shore in the lily pads. The line to this bird requires the dog to angle down the hill, past a small pond on their right and into the big pond. The dog must then angle across a prominent point and push down the shoreline to the bird.

This test is taking approximately 5 minutes per dog to complete.

3rd Series – Test Description

Day two of the 2024 National Derby Championship brings us to the Dam Field at Wood Dale Farm.

It is a crisp 45 degrees with clear skies and expected to warm up to a sunny 75 degrees by this afternoon. There is a light 2 mph north wind.

SERIES 3

Land Double with a Duck Flyer

The running mat faces north, overlooking a field that slopes sharply from left to right. The field features terraced hills and moderate cover.

 

Bird #1 is a dead hen mallard, thrown up the hill from right to left. The bird lands approximately 239 yards from the running mat, left and deep of a cluster of 3 bushes. We will refer to this bird as R for Right.

 

Bird #2 is a mallard flyer, shot up the hill from right to left. The bird lands approximately 141 yards from the running mat. We will refer to this bird as F for Flyer.

This test is taking approximately 4 minutes per dog to complete.

2nd Series – Test Description

SERIES 2
Land Double

We’ve moved to the Middle Lake Field at Wood Dale Farms. It is sunny with clear skies and it’s warmed up to 70 degrees with a 7 mph North wind.

Series 2 is a land double using Rooster Peasants. The mat faces South.

Bird #1 is a dead Rooster Pheasant, thrown left to right, landing 185 yards from the running line. The bird lands between a shrubby bush and a thick band of cover. The line to this bird requires the dog to cross a gravel road, slide tight to a large patch of bushes before running down the hill to their bird. We will refer to this bird as L for Left. 

Bird #2 is a dead Rooster Pheasant, thrown right to left, landing 80 yards from the running line. We will refer to this bird as R for Right.

This test is taking approximately 2 minutes per dog to complete.

1st Series – Test Description

Good morning from the 2024 National Derby Championship held at Wood Dale Farm in Sedalia, MO. Thank you to the Hayden family for sharing their beautiful property with us.

We are in the Terrace Field and it is a cool, clear morning. 46 degrees with a 4mph NNE wind. 

58 dog/handler teams are starting this morning, after having traveled from all over the US to compete here at the 8th Annual National Derby Championship.

SERIES 1

Land Double with a Flyer

The running mat sits on top of a large mound, facing South West, overlooking a terraced field with light cover.

Bird #1 is a dead Rooster Pheasant, thrown right to left, landing 164 yards from the line. The bird is thrown angled-back into a thick band of cover. We will refer to this bird as R for Right.

Bird #2 is a Rooster Pheasant Flyer, shot left to right, landing 188 yards from the line. The flyer lands just beyond the crest of a terrace. We will refer to this bird as F for Flyer.

This test is taking approximately 3 minutes per dog to complete.