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Test Marshal The Test Marshal is responsible for the overall test on the assigned day. The Test Marshal will directly supervise the Equipment and Electronics, Field and Water Marshals. All overall test decisions and changes from the judging teams will be directed to the Test Marshal. He or she will rally with all the daily volunteers before the start of the test to make sure the Field and Water Marshals get all their help, equipment, and birds for the day organized. Any major problems will be addressed to the Test Marshal. The Test Marshal will provide a list of workers to each Sr. Judges at the top of each day. Bird Steward/Cleaner This person is to make sure all sites have the necessary birds for testing that day. He or she will also make sure the birds are well cared for with food and water, have plenty of shade and are kept dry in rainy conditions. This person will insure that birds are at each site before the test starts, is to check supplies throughout the day, make sure birds are picked up at the end of the day and are housed adequately overnight. The Steward should regularly communicate with the Marshals at the Double Marked Retrieve and Blind Retrieve sites to coordinate the transporting of retrieved ducks from the Double Marked Retrieve site to the Blind Retrieve. He or she will also be responsible for making sure salvageable birds are being cleaned at the various venues (usually the gunners and/or bird planters are available to assist with this task). This person will have access to radio communications, and will report directly to the Test Marshal and will be available to all Marshals. Sales Table Two people each day are needed to be sure that the Invitational and NAVHDA promotional items are displayed and sold to those interested. These people will be hosts and representatives of the organization and report directly to the Test Marshal. Equipment & Electronics Marshal Assembles and organizes all necessary equipment for each venue. Distributes materials to field and water marshals each morning and checks in materials at the end of each day. He or she is responsible for organizing materials for the next day. Distributes and tracks radios and batteries for each site and checks them in at the end of the day. Monitors radios to ensure they are working properly, checks fuel status of the generator for the antennae and base unit and addresses any issues throughout the day. May also have to be responsible for charging batteries for remote wingers if used during the test. This position will work closely with the Test Marshal and all site marshals to ensure efficient and accurate test conditions. Judge/Worker Host One person is needed each day to work with the Test Marshal to be sure the judges and workers have refreshments, shelter, and food. This person must have access to a vehicle as he or she will be responsible for delivering lunches and anything else needed for judges and workers. This person will have access to radio communications and will be available to all Marshals. Field Marshal A Field Marshal is assigned to each field. This person has overall responsibility for the field they are stationed in. He or she will make sure they have all necessary equipment (included in the daily equipment list), workers, water in the field if necessary, ATVs and birds at each site. This work should be completed before or during opening ceremonies every morning. The Field Marshal has radio access to the Judges and the Test Marshal to keep the test running smoothly. He or she will supervise the gunners and bird planters; will make sure all gallery members stay at a safe distance and are out of the line of fire, and that all persons in the field are wearing one or a combination of the following blaze orange garments: hat, vest, or jacket. They will make sure gunners read the safety rules on page 24 of the NAVHDA Aims, Programs and Test Rules book. They will be responsible for participants and dogs being ready to go in the field in the order they were drawn. They will answer directly to the judging teams and the Test Marshal. They are responsible for making sure the sites are picked up and secured at the end of each day. Gunners There will be two sets of gunners at each field site. Gunners should have experience, and must have gunned at a NAVHDA UT test at a minimum. If you have not gunned at a previous Invitational, you must get a written endorsement from a judge and submit a request to the Invitational Committee via Marilyn Vetter at mvetter@pressenter.com. Gunners must read safety rules at the beginning of each day from page 24 of the NAVHDA Aims, Programs and Test Rules book and agree to abide by them. Gunners will bring their own shotguns to the fields. These must have a break-open action. Twelve-gauge shells will be provided by NAVHDA. If gunners bring other gauge shotguns, they must supply their own shells unless otherwise advised by the host chapter. Gunners will answer directly to the judging teams and the Field Marshal. Bird Planter There will be three bird planters for each field for a total of six each day. Two are essential, and three is preferred for bird planter “breaks.” Bird planters will use ATVs and bird bags to plant birds. Experience with all-terrain vehicular safety and operation are required. Bird planters will help bird stewards to make sure the birds are sheltered from sun or rain and are well cared for and assist with cleaning birds when possible. Bird planters will answer directly to the judging teams and the Field Marshal. Bye Dog A previously named Versatile Champion and its handler must be available to be used as a bye dog in the field event. It is necessary to have at least one female bye dog for Sunday in the event one is needed to run with a female in season. Water Marshal One Water Marshal is needed each day at the Double Marked Retrieve water site. He or she will be sure to have all necessary equipment, workers and birds at each site. As there are bird stewards, an assistant marshal, and judge/worker hosts each day, (see “Overall Test” descriptions) the Water Marshal will have direct access to these people at all times to keep the test running smoothly. They will have access to radio communications with a member of each of the judging teams and the Test Marshal. They will assist the Judges with the supervision of the duck wingers for their site. They will make sure that all gallery members stay at a distance where they are not a disturbance to the dog. They will be responsible for participants and dogs being ready to be tested in the order they were drawn. The Marshal should regularly communicate with the Bird Steward to coordinate the transport of used ducks to the Blind Retrieve site. They will answer directly to the judging teams and the Test Marshal. Asst. Water Marshal One person is needed each day to make sure the water site is set-up and ready to go for testing. This will entail making sure that birds, tape, wingers, a table, and chairs, shotguns, blank shells, steel shot, toilet paper in port-a-potty, etc. are ready at each site. This person will have access to radio communications and will report directly to the Water Marshal. The set-up work should be completed before or during opening ceremonies every morning. Throughout the day, this person will be responsible for getting ducks taped by the judges and transporting them to the winger location. He/she is to be available to address any last minutes details as assigned by the Marshal. The Asst. Water Marshal will also make sure the sites are picked up and secured at the end of each day. Test Dog- Double Marked Retrieve Test dog must be a reliable retriever. Previously named Versatile Champions are most desirable, however UT dogs are suitable as well. Duck Winger—1 & 2 There will be two duck wingers needed each day. The wingers should have the strength to consistently pull back a winger repeatedly (up to 36 times per day) or throw it by hand, depending on the request of the judges. It is possible that the person(s) throwing ducks may be stationed in a boat in the water. If this is the case, they must be able to throw well and swim well (just in case). They will have access to radio communications with the judging team and the Water Marshal and will answer directly to the judging team and the Water Marshal. The duck wingers should wear camouflaged or dark shirts in the event they are visible to the dog and handler. The winger operators may want to bring their own hearing protection as numerous shots will be fired at this site daily. Distraction Gunner This person will fire a blank from a single-barrel break-action shotgun at the command of the Judging team. They should bring hearing protection as they may have to do this up to 36 times a day and numerous shots will be fired at this location daily. Water Marshal One Water Marshal is needed each day at the Blind Retrieve water site. This person has overall responsibility for the water site they are stationed at. They will make sure they have all necessary equipment, workers and birds at each site. As there are bird stewards, field set-up workers, and judge/worker hosts each day, (see “Overall Test” descriptions) the Field Marshal will have direct access to these people at all times to keep the test running smoothly. They will have access to radio communications with a member of each of the judging teams and the Test . They will supervise the duck handlers and the honor dog/handler team for their site. They will make sure that all gallery members stay at a distance where they are not a disturbance to the dog. They will be responsible for participants and dogs being ready to be tested in the order they were drawn. The Marshal should regularly communicate with the Bird Steward to coordinate the transport of used ducks from the Double Marked Retrieve Site to the Blind Retrieve site. They will answer directly to the judging team and the Test Marshal. Asst. Water Marshal One person is needed each day to make sure the water site is set-up and ready to go for testing. This will entail making sure that birds, wingers, a judge table, judge chairs, honor dogs, shotguns, and blank shells, are ready at each site. This work should be completed before or during opening ceremonies every morning. This person will transport ducks to the Duck Handlers as needed throughout the day. This person will have access to radio communications and will report directly to the Water Marshal. He/she is to be available throughout the day to address any last minutes details as assigned by the Marshal. This person will also make sure the sites are picked up and secured at the end of each day. Test Dog- Blind Test dog must be a reliable retriever. Previously named Versatile Champions are most desirable, however UT dogs are suitable as well. Duck Handler-Blind Retrieve The duck handler at the blind is responsible to make sure there are enough ducks ready at all times during the test. He or she will drag dead ducks from the shoreline to a specified (by the judging team) location away from the water, will leave the bird and quickly retreat to a hiding spot where they will remain hidden. The extra ducks will be kept in a cooler a good distance from the site so this worker must be in good enough physical condition to hurry back and forth to get the duck ready for the next dog. The Duck Handler for the blind will have radio communications with and report to the judging team and the Water Marshal. Duck Winger-Honor Segment The Duck Winger for the Honor Segment will toss a dead duck into the water (possibly from a winger depending on the site and how the judging team designs the test) in front of the honoring and retrieving dogs. The Duck Handler for the blind will have radio communications with and report to the judging team and the Water Marshal. Retrieving Dog at the Honor Site There will be two retrieving dog and handlers teams available at the Blind Retrieve water site each day. These teams can either rotate throughout the day or switch at the half-way point. The dog must be extremely steady and be a reliable and obedient retriever. Dogs that already have passed their Versatile Championship are ideal. Dogs need to have a UT Prize as a minimum to be used for this segment. These handlers will answer directly to the judging team and the Water Marshal. There should be at least one female retrieving dog on Sunday in the event any of the participating dogs are in season. In the field: Bye Dog in the field At the Blind and Honor Site: Test Dog Retrieving Dog at the Honor At the Heel & Double Marked Retrieve and Heeling site: Test Dog For the same reasons, Invitational Judges who are handling dogs must run their dog before they judge a water segment of the test. |