Check Out Nathan Gross' Photo Gallery

Nathan Gross, an excellent photographer was out in the field during the Sky Trials and has shared a link to his photos.

http://www.nathantgross.com/zenphoto/UT-Sky-Trials/

I would encourage others who have photos they would like to share to give us a link, or send me a note (Falcons@Freshink.com) and I will give you an upload site. I will make a Web album.

Thanks Nathan!

Steve Chindgren Takes First and Second Place

The Final Results from 2010 Utah Sky Trials.

Steve Chindgren takes first and second this year, but was joined by some amazing flights by fellow falconers. We had a great turnout, the weather was great for the most part. We had several hot food options, falconry equipment and fun all day with Howard Brinkerhoff on the mic and plenty of good tunes to listen to.

We had some of the best flights we’ve had in years. Thanks to all the falconers who flew their birds, and for all who put time and effort in to making this year’s Utah Sky Trials such a success!

The Results:

Place/Falconer/ Bird's Name/ Prelim's/ Finals/ TOTALS

1 Steve Chindgren So Mach 79.13/ 80.75 159.87

2 Steve Chindgren Zander 56.34/ 88.95 145.29

3 Dave Ewell Georgie 78.18/ 60.98 139.16

4 Stephen Buffett Virdigo 46.34/ 71.16 117.51

5 Jeff Bradbent Jethro 80.18/ 34.41 114.59

6 Kirk Winward Reno 48.44/ 62.68 111.12

7 Scott Larsen Dakota 50.42/ 58.03 108.44

8 Steve Chindgren Astar 66.31/ 40.46 106.77

9 Daryl Peterson Frightful 70.74 0.00 70.74

10 Kirk Winward Jindi 43.24 0.00 43.24

Check out the great photos from Robert Bagley on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/album.php?aid=150663&id=95847325664

Report from Day 1 -- Preliminary Flights

Swirling snow flakes, birds lost in the clouds, an occasional visit by the sun, Kenley Christensen’s barbeques beef sandwiches and shrimp on the grill, spectacular flights from 16 contestant birds and a wild female prairie falcon all added up to a great day at the first day of the Utah Sky Trials.

Dave Ewell is in 1^st place going into the finals tomorrow, followed closely by Jeff Broadbent and Steve Chindgren. The weather held out for us and we had a great time swapping stories and making some up.

Ed Pitcher shared insights from his new book and fielded questions from both novices and veterans. It was a nice wrap up to an excellent day of falconry.

And we get to do it all again tomorrow! Flights start at 10:00 (Saturday) and we end with the banquet and raffle that night at 7 p.m. at the Lehi Legacy Center, 150 North Center Street, Lehi.The dinners are now pre-ordered, so come and claim yours. Cost for the dinner is $13.00. (Cover charge of $3 if you are not having dinner.)

Come buy some raffle tickets for some excellent falconry and other items. See you tomorrow!

Dave Ewell Places First after Preliminary Flights

(*Picture from last year. It was not this sunny out there this year!)

Scores in order

1 Dave Ewell - Georgie 82.0
2 Jeff Broadbent - Jethro 80.1
3 Steve Chindgren - So Mach 79.33
4 Daryl Peterson - Frigjtfvi 70.74
5 Steve Chindgren - Astar 66.31
6 Steve Chindgren - Zander 56.34
7 Scott Larsen - Dakota 50.42
8 Kirk Winward - Reno 48.44
9 Stephen Buffet - Virdigo 48.30
10 Kirk Winward - Jindi 43.24
11 Ed Pitcher - no name 35.40
12 Ed Pitcher - Black 33.43
13 Daryl Peterson - Crystal 28.42
14 Stephen Buffet - Chloe 11.07
15 Scott Larsen - Rush 7.17
16 Dave Ewell - Shae 0.09

Ed Pitcher Speaks, Signs Books Friday Night

Ed Pitcher, one of the true masters of falconry will be speaking and signing copies of his new book: The Flying of Falcons, Friday 7:30 pm, February 19^th at the Legacy Center in Lehi. Ed and Ricardo Velarde have been working on this book for 25 years and it is now available. This is a "must read" book and will be an instant classic among falconry literature. Ed is an entertaining speaker and story teller, and is one of the true pioneers of modern falconry. This would be a great opportunity to get your copy of The Flying of Falcons and have Ed sign it.

The Legacy Center is located at 150 North Center Street in Lehi, Utah.

Judging and Rules

How high is that bird? Ask 10 different falconers what height a bird might be, and you will get 10 different guesses. Please note that judging the Sky Trials has always been challenging due to human subjectivity. We do our best to be fair, and consistent. Consistency is paramount. For example, a judge may call a bird’s pitch at 1000 feet. In reality it might actually be only 800 feet. The further the falcon gets from the point of release the more difficult it is to determine the height or pitch of the falcon. We do not have instant replay cameras to review the flight so the determination of whether a falcon struck the pigeon is also a judgment call by the head judge and his assistants.

Gerald's Own Criteria

The judged sequence of each flight is determined from the time the falcon is cast off to the time it catches or gives up on the competition pigeon, and the falconer has reported to the head judge with his or her falcon. Any other flying beyond this is not judged. During this flight, the falcon will be judged in the five categories below:

Mounting (20 points) The pitch the bird reaches will be divided by the time segment from cast off to serve. Mounting skill is determined in feet per minute.

Position (20 points) Measured at 1 minute intervals, position is determined by the angle the bird is above the horizon by means of an inclinometer. A bird that has a wide ranging flying style will likely score less on position. However this flying style may be an advantage when considering pitch. (This often happens when a bird seeks a thermal to gain height.)

Pitch (20 points) This is the height the falcon reaches when served. The higher the pitch the better for scoring points. The falcon with the highest pitch when served receives the most points. Jim Carrol has written a computer program that uses mathematics and instrumentation to determine pitch.

Stoop (20 points) The twenty points for the stoop will be measured in two segments: pitch and the technical aspects of the stoop. 10 points can be earned for each segment. A falcon that stoops from 1000 feet will receive more of the 10 points than one that stoops from 200 feet. When considering the technical aspects of the stoop, Gerald felt it was unimportant what style the falcon used to get down, as long as it cuts through the quarry at the bottom of the stoop with some oomph! Gerald's scoring criteria for the technical segment are as follows: "Did not stoop=0pts, With considerable force=7pts, With some force=4pts, Barely closed=1pt, Did not close=0pts. Got a foot on the pigeon=3pts."

Pursuit (20 points) Pursuit points are earned as the falcon makes additional threatening passes at the quarry. Five points for each turn of the pigeon. Three points if the pigeon puts in. Twenty points if the pigeon is caught.

Additional Rules

The tradition established by Gerald Richards since 1975 lives on.

Here are a couple of additional items:
1. The Sky Trials is a one shot deal. No second flights for any reason.

2. The falcon must reach a minimum pitch of 300 feet directly vertical, or its equal. The head judge will determine this distance before a pigeon will be served, thus ensuring a fair opportunity for the pigeon to escape.

3. All dogs must be kept on a leash. The only exception will be the dog of the falconer that is competing during his allotted time slot.

4. Please have your birds trained and in proper weight so that they will come down to a lure. Any contestant using a live lure within one mile of the meet will be disqualified.

5. The contestant should pick the pigeon he wants to fly but should not touch the pigeon at any time.

6. Each contestant will be allotted 15 minutes for Friday's qualifying flight. Those who qualify for the Finals on Saturday will be given 20 minutes. Contestants will have one point deducted for each minute beyond this time limit. Timing begins as soon as the falcon has been cast off, and ends when the falconer has reported back to the head judge with his or her falcon.

Dates, Times, Places

• Merlin/Small Raptor Meet Thursday February 18th 10:00 a.m (Meet at Timpanogos Inn in Lehi).

• Qualifying Flights Friday February 19th 9:00 a.m. (Contestants be there by 8:00 a.m.)

• Finals Saturday February 20th 10:00 a.m.

• Awards Banquet and Raffle Saturday February 20th 7:00 p.m. The Lehi Legacy Center, 150 North Center Street, Lehi. (This is the same place we have been holding the awards dinner for the past few years.)

The Original Sky Trials

The Event Explained

The idea of a Sky Trials, which are now held the world over, began in Utah with Gerald Richards. The first Utah Sky Trials, formerly known as the “Pigeon Derby,” was held in 1975. It began as a continuation of the Field Demonstrations concept at the North American Falconers Association (NAFA) Meets held each year in November.

Gerald Richards attended these NAFA Meets and watched each year as contestants tossed out bagged game such as pen-raised Chukar Partridge or pheasants. These, of course, were easy prey for the falcons stopping in front of the wide-eyed crowds. When these gatherings were discontinued in the 70’s, Gerald envisioned a different event. He saw a trial held in February, wherein local falconers could get together and watch some of the highest flying gamehawks when they were at their physical best at the end of the regular falconry season. Gerald shifted the focus from bagged quarry to an event that would encourage falconers to enter only those birds proven during the season to be the very best in mounting to high pitches and powerful stoops. And to prove them, he chose a quarry that would rarely, if ever, be caught—the Racing Homer.

Through the years, Gerald’s respect and affection grew for his Racing Homers that were carefully bred, trained and brought to the Sky Trials each year. Eventually, like those falconers who grow to love watching their dogs work as much as seeing their falcons fly, he became involved in Pigeon Racing as well.

In 1994, Gerald suffered a massive heart attack while out on the mountain recovering a Red-Tail Hawk he was training to stoop out of a soar. Utah Falconers lost a one-of-a-kind personality, scientist, innovator and advocate for long-wings—particularly our native Prairie Falcon. Although the Sky Trials have always been uniquely his creation, the Utah Falconers Association (UFARBA) maintained the tradition by sponsoring the event for a number of years and now the tradition continues. In each case the Sky Trials have adhered to Gerald’s rules and wishes. Many of his close friends continue to volunteer help and provide perspective on “how Gerald would have wanted it” each year.

The Sky Trials, a field event that started as a simple, end-of-season gathering by a few falconers in Utah 28 years ago, are now held in several spots around the world. One of the largest events is now held in Spain. And, the California Hawking Club makes it a part of their field meet each year. For many it has become a pleasant highlight each year as it becomes possible to watch so many fantastic, physically fit falcons flown in two days. Sky Trials have also changed our expectations of what our birds are capable of. Their remarkable physical performances continue to amaze us at each year’s trials.

All of us here in Utah, and many around the world, are grateful that someone like Gerald Richards came along and single-handedly created the successful Utah Sky Trials so many years ago.

Directions to the Flying Field

From I-15 in Lehi, Utah (exit 279) Drive west on Utah Highway 73 through Lehi, past Eagle Mountain, through Cedar Valley and the small towns of Cedar Fort and Fairfeld. Continue west on Highway 73 approximately 5 miles beyond Fairfeld to the Tooele County line and look for signs for Faust and Vernon to the west.

You will exit west off of Highway 73 as it makes a sharp turn to the North. Follow the road toward Faust and down into Rush Valley. Follow this road 4.3 mile. (If you reach the Pony Express Marker on the north side of the road, you have gone too far.) Turn south and proceed 2.2 miles on the dirt road to the flying field.

Directions to Flying Field (Same as Last Year) Click on Map

Hotel For Sky Trials

The Timpanogos Inn in Lehi, Utah will again be the meet headquarters and they have kindly offered us a discounted rate of $69.95 per night.

Call 801-768-1400 to make your reservations.

Visit their Web site at www.timpinn.com

The Timpanogos Inn is located in Lehi at Exit 279 off I-15 (195 South 850 East, Lehi, UT 84043)