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Congrats to Samantha-a special handler......

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:20 pm
by T-Bone
Sprig telling the story......

Sprig wrote:
Bama , I'll start by sayin this , a special thanks go out to our judges ( Bill Page and Bo Wrobleski ) for allowing me to help out a little at the line when need be . I had a pretty in depth talk with Bill at the line while spook was branging back birds and it wasn't about dogs , it was about people , the man was sincere with his words as well as his actions . And then there's Bo , what can you say about Bo except , if you don't have fun runnin under him then you got no bidness there .

Set the scene : I'm sick as a dog with a case of walking pneaumonia , my dog is jacked up worse than he's EVER been ( prolly cause we's comin off live flyers a couple weeks back ) and I think he somehow knew that I wasn't gonna be the one in charge at the line . I have never been this nervous before goin to the line , simply because I wasn't in charge .
So I get them to the line , get her set on the bucket and put her hand on spooks collar and tell her to hang on ......TIGHT . Bill explains how he wants her to do it , then she hits a note on her call . First bird comes out , pow , bird lands and she bellows his name like it was a 500 yd mark . He picks up the bird and she starts tryin to toot on her whistle ( which her mouth just ain't made to do ) but atleast spook knows he's supposed to come back to the line . He's mouthy as hell with the bird and all I can do is stand there and watch , we get the bird from him and repeat on the next bird , no big problems and we're through with land . Big applause from the gallery , she thanks the judges and we go put our dog up .


After lunch it's time for water , I'm sittin in the truck with the ac blowin wide open , sweatin bullets , feelin like pukin with every breath . If my buds wouldn't have been busy puttin on the upland I woulda had one of them take them to the line cause I swear I can't remember ever feelin as bad as I did when I got out of that truck and got spook outta the box .

Welp we get to the line and she gets set on the bucket and grabs spook's collar , I tell her to hang on TIIIIIGGGHHHHHHTTTTTT Laughing
First bird came out , she released him and he did his thing . Last bird of the day comes out , she released him and he picked it up and heads back . Comes back to her and she's a little slow about gettin the bird so the mofo turns and takes about five steps away from her and dropped the bird . I was ready to walk over there and do things to that mofo that would have surely gotten me banned for life from HRC Laughing
Turns out he had to crap , Bill tells Samantha just let him finish , then I'm sure he'll bring you your duck . Now spook had done figured out that he pretty much could do what he wanted to and daddy wasn't gonna do anything about it , but I can't help but believe that he also knew that this was the most important bird that he'd ever ( or prolly ever will ) put in his mouth . The mofo finshed up a big ole dump , turned around picked up the bird and returned to heel . I literally about passed out from relief .
She put a leash on him and told the judges thank you , we started to leave the line and Bill said " Samantha , could you pass your dog off to your dad for a moment " ? She hands me the lead and Bill then Bo give her a big hug right there on the line and told her great job . Right then I was SOOOO glad that nobody was there when I was lookin for someone to go to the line with them , cause for a moment my sickness went away and I was overcome with a feeling I can't put into words .

FF to the cerimony , Bill's callin out numbers and he gets to us . He starts with DEMANDING EVERYONE'S attention and gives a short speech about special judging assignments . I'm glad I had my shades on and I believe he coulda used some hisself . Anyway he calls her up and they get her a little wet for being a first time handler and then present her a ribbon and points receipt . You woulda thought lynard skynard just walked out on stage at the Alabama state fair grounds , the place erupted Wink

If that maniac of a dog I got never passes another test , or places in a trial , it don't matter cause he's responsible for one of the best days I've had in my 36 years . And I don't think mama Sprig is gonna refer to him as " that damn dog " anymore either Wink

Mama sprig shot video , but I think my bud T-bone got some stills , maybe he'll post some up for us later .


and a few pics to document....
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THE SMILES SAY IT ALL!!!!

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:23 pm
by teul2
Thats awesome!!
Congrats.

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 1:05 pm
by kaustin
She did a GREAT job. I know you were, are, and always will be proud. Let me tell yall something about that smile. She wore it ALL DAY. The judges did a great job both with Samantha and Kyle of giving some help, while keeping the requirements of the dog and handler in tact. Most of the help was with steadying the dog between retrieves. Congrats Sprig.

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 1:18 pm
by bamamallards
Dang son get a brother all tore up at work...That is just great

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 2:43 pm
by Chris Smith
Great work! That is awesome!

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 3:21 pm
by Marty N.
OUT STANDING
What more could a Father or Mother ask, a smile that large can only exhibit a heart full of love.
Marty

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 3:32 pm
by duckkiller
congrats to you and her, that is a day she will never forget

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 3:54 pm
by skuna
Awesome Sprig! Just don't get any better.....it just don't! That is what HRC is about.

It really made me think about some things and put somethings into perspective. I hope to see her back this fall.

A lot of people will never forget that.

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 4:22 pm
by deadbird05
i loved every minute of it. i was glad to be the shooter that day because i was close to the action. it put a smile on samantha's face and everyone else in the crowd watching. great job samantha hope to see you out there some more.

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 7:22 pm
by whiteboy
Man I sho got a little choked up at the cerimony fo sho. Congrats to samantha and spook.

Samantha

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 9:45 pm
by dinaw
This is Bo.........
CONGRATS Samantha, it was Great to have you and Spook at the line, enjoyed judgin' ya'll. Hope to judge ya'll again!

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 4:29 am
by msbigdawg1234
Congrats. You can't get any better than that guys.

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 8:23 pm
by jsherwin
Congrats Samantha,
Thanks for putting that on the net guys, I couldn't wait to get to a computer to seee how she did. Great Job.

Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 7:40 am
by D1
I can hardly see the puter screen for the tears :cry: :cry:

congrats

Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 12:45 pm
by T-Bone
D1 wrote:I can hardly see the puter screen for the tears :cry: :cry:

congrats


You think reading and seeing it on the computer brought tears you should have been there takin the pics....glad it almost dark and had my sunglasses on! :cry:

I dont want to speak for Jason(sprig70)and I know he does but I personally wanted to thank you guys/gals for the comments and kind words for my training bud sprig and new training bud Samantha. It speaks volumes for the type of peeps that involved the HRC dog world that I am proud to say I am a member.