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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 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 the Sr. Judges at the end of each day. Bird Steward/Cleaner This person is to make sure all four 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 rainey conditions. This person will make sure birds are ready and at each site before the test starts and that they are picked up at the end of the day and are housed adequately. He or she will also be responsible for cleaning salvageable game or finding volunteers to do so (usually the gunners and/or bird planters are available to assist with this task. These people will have access to radio communications, and will report directly to the Field 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. Judge/Worker Host One person is needed each day to work with the Test Marshall to be sure the judges and workers have refreshments, shelter, and food. This person will have access to radio communications and will be available to all marshals. Bye Dog A previously named Versatile Champion and its handler must be available to be used as a bye dog in the field event. Test Dog Two test dogs that are reliable retrievers are required to act as the test dogs at the Retrieve of Winged Duck site and Blind Retrieve sites daily. Previously named Versatile Champions are most desirable, however UT dogs are suitable as well. *** All field workers will arrive to the fields with all necessary equipment and be ready to go at least fifteen minutes before the judging team gets to the fields each morning.*** 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, 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 be experienced (have previously gunned in NAVHDA UT tests) and must read and abide by the safety rules at the beginning of each day on page 24 of the NAVHDA Aims, Programs and Test Rules book. 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. *** All water workers will arrive to the site with all necessary equipment and be ready to go at least fifteen minutes before the judging team gets to the site each morning.*** Water Marshal One Water Marshal is needed each day at the Heel/Retrieve of Winged Duck 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 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 Marshal. They will supervise 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. 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, judge tables, judge 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 Marshall will also make sure the sites are picked up and secured at the end of each day. Duck Winger There will be two duck wingers needed each day (prefer these two people work at this station throughout the entire test). They should rotate operating the winger, transporting ducks to the judges to tape and then back to the winger. They will make sure that there are enough ducks ready and taped (judges tape the ducks) at all times. The wingers should be in good physical condition and have the strength to consistently pull back a winger over and over again all day long (up to 36 ducks per day). Both wingers should be of this physical condition so they can relieve each other during the day. It is possible that the duck wingers at some Invitational sites are stationed in the water in small boats where they are required to throw a duck. If this is the case, the duck wingers must be able to throw well and swim well. They will have access to radio communications with the judging team and the Field Marshal and will answer directly to the judging team and the Field Marshal. The duck winger should be prepared to wear camouflage in the event they are visible to the dog and handler. When possible, the same person or team of people should perform this duty throughout all days of the test. *** All water workers will arrive to the site with all necessary equipment and be ready to go at least fifteen minutes before the judging team gets to the site each morning.*** 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 Marshall. 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. 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, 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. Duck Handler-Blind and Duck Handler-Honoring Segment There will be two duck handlers needed at the blind and honoring site each day. These workers will be responsible to make sure there are enough ducks ready at all times during the test to be dragged for the blind retrieve and for the honoring segment. The duck handler for the blind 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 at 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 Honoring 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. Two people will make it possible to keep the test going if they can rotate at mid-day. The Duck Handler for the blind will have access to radio communications with the judging team and the Field Marshal. Both Duck Handlers will answer directly to the judging team and the Field Marshal. Honor Dog/Handler Team There will be two Honor Dog/Handler Teams available at the Blind Retrieve water site each day. Only one team at a time is used, but dogs get cold going in and out of the water and need breaks. The dog must be extremely steady and reliable on a retrieve. Older 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 Field Marshal. |
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NOTICE TO HANDLERS: The following jobs require volunteers to actively participate in the running of test and could be interpreted as violating the standing rule that handlers can’t train or run on the grounds until they’ve completed testing. Therefore, handlers will not be allowed to hold the following jobs until they’ve completed testing: • Bird Planter • Gunner • Bye Dog • Test Dog at both water venues Handlers may volunteer for all other positions. For the same reasons, Invitational Judges who are handling dogs must run their dog before they judge any segment of the test. |