The Oak Ridge Kennel Club held its third tracking dog test on Saturday, February 10, 2007 at the Pine Orchard Community Center near Oakdale, TN.

Friday at 9:00 was track plotting day and how cold it was! Our judges, Dolores Brigham and Jeff Whitsitt, had to plot every single track and they were frozen when they got through. A good hot pork barbecue sandwich made by Mary Jo was enjoyed by all.

Test day on Saturday! Cold again, too. The draw for tracks was at 8:30. As soon as the judges were ready, head tracklayer, Vicki Beets, had everything organized to begin laying tracks. Off to the fields!

The first track went to FISHERS PERFECT ANNA MARIA, a GSD bitch owned by Dorothy Fisher of Tracy City, TN. Flag carrier, Pat Vogel, had them ready to progress at the judges’ directions. Tracklayer was Jane Justice. It was a very clean field, short cover and very little wind.  She unfortunately didn't start very strong. She appeared to be a bit distracted by the gallery.  She cut the second corner and we thought she was getting back to work, but got distracted again.  The handler gave her a chance to re-scent the article, but to no avail.  She finally overshot the last turn and missed the article.   This just wasn't her day.

Flag carrier, Joyce Cardwell, showed our next contestant to her track. REBELSTAR’S ELLA ENCHANTED, a black Standard Poodle bitch owned by our own club member, Sharon Fesmire, of Alcoa sat patiently at the start of track No 2 while her handler switched the lead from collar to harness.  One sniff of the start article and she was off.  A good steady puller, moving nicely right on the track, no hesitation on the turn and moved right along the second leg, then another turn for a shorter leg to the third turn and off to the right just like she was supposed to go.  A few ruts in the track didn't seem to have much influence and on to the last turn where there seemed to be just a little uncertainty.  O darn, she decided that turn was to the left and up the hill.   Just over the crest, her head came up and I'm sure Ella was saying 'O darn, something's wrong'.  After teasing her handler with some casting and a little backing up, she decided it must surely be that way--was that a whistle we heard--darn!  With the help of tracklayer Sally Gervin, once back at turn number four and headed in the right direction, it was down the hill and through the dale instead of over the hill.  It was a good day tracking and playing with the glove, even if that TD title was a little allusive this time.

The third track was drawn by CH. LIGHTFOOT THIEF OF THE NIGHT, JH, a Weimaraner bitch owned by Debbie Moody of Maggie Valley, NC. Flag carrier, Julie Haase, had her there right on time. She got off to a strong start pulling steadily up the hill past the second flag and on to the turn. She made the first turn to the left and it was on the hillside. The wind was blowing strongly to her back and after about ten minutes of searching, couldn’t come up with the second turn. Tracklayer, Jean Burdick, helped her find the turn and she finished the track with no further problems.

Drawing the fourth track was CASAR AUS DEM TRAUMBLICK, RA, CD, a GSD dog. One of our new flag carriers, Karen Echternacht, made sure the judges did not have to wait on this team. Dan Faulkner was the track layer. He was very surprised at the draw to see his agility friends from Atlanta, Dan and Dolores Weiss.   They are loved and appreciated by all agility competitors throughout the southeast because they are tireless workers at every agility trial they attend.   Dan has built thousands of courses and Dolores is the best agility gate steward in the business.  They have great working German Shepherds.  Tracklayer Dan was thrilled when they drew his track.  Their 2 year old GSD Casar (Say-zar) was ready for the test.   He started strong at the first flag and only stopped twice momentarily to look at the judges and the gallery; probably wondering what all the fuss was about.  He worked very fast and sure.  The leg before the last turn was down wind and the wind was brisk.   That coupled with his working speed caused the team to overshoot the last corner about 40 feet.   Casar stopped and immediately swung left in the correct direction.  He came full arc and settled right in on the last leg and finished strongly to the glove for his TD.   Dan and Casar were really a great working team and their passing was never in doubt.   It took the team 10 minutes to finish their track. Congratulations to Dan and Dolores Weiss and Casar Aus Dem Traumblick, RA, CD, TD.

Track 5 was off the side road, and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, STONE’STHROWFARM’S INDIAN SUMMER, and her handler Stephanie Stoner
from Taylors, South Carolina were ready with the help of Joyce Cardwell, the flag carrier. Her tail was going a mile a minute as she neared the start flag. A quick sniff and off she went, dead on the track in spite of a stiff cross wind.  The track went down and then up a hill with the first corner to the left on a flat area.  The dog just walked the turn and took off on the second leg.  By the time the judges and I got to the top of the hill, the dog and handler had disappeared (and we should have been able to see them on the third leg).  Whistle. When they got back to the track and were shown the correct direction by Mary Jo Steger, the tracklayer, the dog carried on as if she had never been off the track and did the rest of the track.  She will surely pass next time.

The sixth and final track went to JOTUNHEIM’S INGWAZ, a Doberman Pinscher dog owned by Kathy Cummings of Mitchellville, TN. One of our new flag carriers, Beverly Stroh, did a great job at showing the owner where her track was to start in a timely manner. It was not this dog’s day. He decided he did not want to track, and Mom can’t make me. He decided he liked everything else except the track. Our first time tracklayer, Cheryl Bingham, tried to get the owner to finish the track but she finally gave up.

Since none of us expert tracklayers <VBG> messed our track up, the judges decided the alternate track would be used for a test track. The alternate was PICCOLOS ALL YOUR’S JULIET, a MW Dachshund bitch owned by James Jenkins of Pleasureville, KY. Mr Jenkins has entered and got drawn every year at our kennel club. Flagcarrier Julie Haase had the team at the starting flag on time. This little girl started out strong and went past the second flag very well. She wanted to cut the corner at the first turn, but worked it out and did the second leg perfectly. On the third leg instead of taking the open left turn, she made a sharp left turn. Somehow after going about 50 yards, she worked her way back up and turned on the fourth leg. She over shot the corner on the fourth leg and turned left. The final leg went right and she received the dreaded whistle. Tracklayer Jean Burdick showed the team the corner and they finished with no problem. We wish Mr Jenkins better luck with us next year!

Ione Smith did a good job at keeping the gallery in the correct position as to not to disturb the dogs while doing their jobs. Marv Ellis held the maps so everyone could see which direction the track went next. Barb Knowlton did an excellent job getting the judges to the next track. I know they really appreciated that. Karen Woods did a good job taking photos for the entrants. That seems to be something different that the other clubs do not offer. It is a great souvenir, even if the dog doesn’t pass for the title.

Back to the Center for food. Everyone was so very hungry after being out in the cold and walking all morning. Thank goodness we had a place to get in out of the wind and stand by a heater! There were about six crock pots full of soups, stews, chili, sandwiches, and plenty of deserts and drinks. It was absolutely delicious! Mari DeCuir was the hospitality chair, and she did a fantastic job as usual. She and Marg Ellis stayed behind and made sure the food was ready when the hungry wolves came in to eat! A prize (tote bag) was presented to the new TD titlist and a gift certificate was given to each of the judges.

The two days were enjoyed by all. The club got lots of compliments on how well and orderly the test was run. The judges appreciated the cooperation all the club member gave them. Thank you to everyone that helped. Did I mention the weather??? It was cold.