If it was a Master event, it was not a field trial, but a hunt test. The difference is that in a field trial there are winners(1st, 2nd, 3rd and JAM) and losers. In a hunt test, the distances are shorter, the tests are typically not as challenging and there are no "winners", just Pass or Fail.
The dogs are sent on blind retrieves using whistle stops and then hand/arm direction. The whistle and re-directs are used to keep them on line to the bird. The ideal is no whistles, but a direct line to the bird. So, the dogs that were getting lots of whistles were not doing as well as the dogs that weren't.
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