B S F A NEWSLETTER JULY 1996

****(Includes results for Afghans, Basenji, Borzoi,
Greyhound, Saluki, Whippet and Lurcher)

****Also featured this month "Injuries"

****Also featured Results and Events Calender

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Newsletter

Half way through the season and Surnmer came to
Makney. We had two glorious days, Saturday setting
up then the Sunday running the meeting. The farmer
Mr Brown was sorry for the long grass but he was
unable to cut it before we arrived as he had tractor
problems which could not be sorted out in time, so
this presented us with a slight problem of using areas
with the shortest grass, which made an interesting
course for the hounds with the ones with most
concentration coming out on top. Well done all the
class winners and to the Saluki that went Best in
Field Ms.S.M.Taylor's Knightellington Yaqan.

The meeting in May was at Falkland Farm and
Mr.Hall the Farmer had let us use the top part of the
field which presented us with a lot of scope for a
super course in the short grass, which most of the
hounds completed one way or another. The turn out
so far this season has been a little disappointing as we
are a~out ~en hounds down on the average over last
year. The Whippets Salukis ~ Afghan's have become
the main breeds, with a defininte lack of Borzois so
far this year. Other breeds represented have been
Basenji, Wolfhound, Greyhounds and the Lurchers. I
suppose that the changing of some of the Champion-
ship Shows to less days and some moving to the
weekend from midweek shows has not helped. As we
all know, showing has become very expensive, and
you have to get your priorities right. Thanks to the
main stay supporters that come Lure Coursing.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Our next meeting is Sunday 21st.July which will be
back at Fallcland Farm Newbury, as both Nick ~
myself cannot find the time at the moment to check
out any other of venues, so we will be pleased to see
old and new members at this meeting.

One other bit of news Mrs.Woodward told me, was
that the daughter of her Champion Afghan BeBeKing
had herself been made up to a Champion, well done.

Gay Robertson has written an article to be found
later in the newsletter on 'injuries'. If any one else
would like to write anything to do with the
sport or dogs or any other ideas please let me know

CALENDAR 1996

21 July Falkland Farm ,Washwater, Nr.Newury
25th.August Brinsbury College, Billinghurst
16th.September Gymkana Field, Makney ,Belper
3November. Falkand Farm, Nr.Newbury.

* * * * * * * * * * *

NEWBURY May 6th.

Afghan
Class 1
69.5 SalamkhanIceDancer BoB K&DSearle
61.5 Sashkhan Lady of Zorro Mrs.P.Woodward

Class 2
60.5 Sashkan Incognito      Mrs.P.Woodward
60       Charvan Smartypants Mrs. S.Ellis
56.5      Windcrest's Major Lee     Mrs.T.Doll

Class 3
60 Ch.Karababurn Be Be King Mrs.P.Woodward
58 Khorinyas Emerald of Salarnkhan K & D Searle
46 Krishans Inja of Salarnkhan K & D Searle
n/s Krishans Silver Fling of Salamkhan K & D Searle
n/s Palamedees Alexandra         Mrs.A.Barretl

Class 4
58.5 Ghinja Petrushka             Mrs.A.Barret

Basenji Class 2
64 Benjalah Scarramuche               Mr.Neacy

Borzoi 2
n/s   Ryazan Olaf         Mrs.S.Clarke
n/f ZdolbunoffAvant Garde Mrs.O.Sienko-Tutton
n/f Zdolbunoff Dumka             Mrs.O.Sienko-Tutton

Greyhound Class 2
78 Tiger's Eye                   Mrs.D.Copperthwaite
77.5 Pati                        Mrs.D.Copperthwaite

Saluki Class 1
70.5 Mabrooka Kajahl              Miss D.Duckenfield
54.5       Miskanda Khalloof      Mrs.J Pyatt
Trans    Al Caliphs Suvarna           Mrs.L.Braddock
59.5 Pennyworth Kassim Miss D.Duckenfield.
n/f      Tinker Mrs.D.Copperthwaite

Class 3
64       Classicus Hermes Mrs.K.Webb

Class 4
58.5 Al Caliphs Medineh Mrs.M.Maryon
50 Al Calphs Blue Pearl Mrs.D.Copperthwaite
n/s Luke             Miss R Lambkin
n/f Al Calphs Qasimi Mrs.M.Maryon

Whippet Class 1
78.5 Baldrey Partial Eclipse of Derohan .C.Osborne
69.5 Craigavad Maxim     Mrs.D.Webber
67 Derohan Lochsong Mrs.C.Osborne
66.5 Mulcair Mattise Mrs.M.Armstrong
n/f Casaloma Storm Force Mrs.M.Armstrong
n/s Sandspring Sooty Cinders Miss K.Saxby

Class 2
71      Busy Bee       Miss T.Summers
70 Moonlake Sweet Nothings G.Robertson
68.5 Foinavan Burnt Sugar Miss T.Summers
66.5 Wyemere Black Fantastic Mrs.C.Osborne
66.5 Ousbank Top Secret Lady Anderson
65.5 Tweseldown Indi~wanda Lady~ A~derson
54.5 Ousebank Secret Mission Lady Anderson
n/f Barmoll Border Belle Mrs.M.Armstrong

Class 3
72.5 Moonlake Mackerel Miss G.Robertson
69.5 Tweseldown Indiawizard Lady Anderson
68 Baldrey King of the Road to Derohan C.Osbome
66.5 Barmoll Oh Brother Mrs.D.Webber
66 Pinto Whiphand        Mrs.J.Aldrich
n/s Shebran Wild Moon Mrs.M.Armstrong
n/s Copsebury Countly Copy at Nightleigh P.Rogers

Class 4
67      Pinto Paprika      Mrs.J.Aldrich
64 MoonlakeMisssprint Miss G. Robertson

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BELPER June 16th.

Afghan Class 1
70 Zarafshan Bint Amira Mr.M.James
n/f Zaimani Heavenly Dream Mr.M.James
n/f Domiinguez Northern Exposure Mrs.R.Bird
n/f Dominguez Limited Edition Mrs.R.Bird

Class 2
67.5 Salamkhan Ice Dancer K & D Searle
65.5 Windcrest'sMajorLee  Mrs.T.Doll
n/f Istani Impulse Mrs.P.Strickland

Class 3
60Krishans Silver Fling of Salaml~an K d~ D Searle
n/f Khorinyas Emerald of Salamldlan K & D Searle ~
n/f Krish~ns Inja of Salamkhan  K & 13 Searl~

Class 4                                    
62.5 Taltonia's Corina           Mr.I.Roberts

Borzoi Class 3
n/f Smolyanas of Taltonia       Mr. I.Roberts

Lurcher
78 Sahfa                        Ms.S.M.Taylor
51 Judd                         Mr.G.Fletcher

Saluki Class 1
84 Knightellington Yaqan BoB BiF .S.M.Taylor
72 Little Laddy                 Mr.G.Fletcher
n/f King Richard                Mr.G.Fletcher
n/f Miskanda Khalloof              Mrs.J PyaK

Class 2
n/f Aysaad Jabond of Chayim      Mrs.L.Ingram
n/s Beguinette Brother Jakob Mr.& Mrs.Roberts
n/s Beguinette Brother Josef Mr.& Mrs.Roberts

Class 4
n/f Peblu Pygmalion        Mr.K.Ingram
n/s Al Caliphs Sister Hannah Mr.& Mrs.Roberts
n/s Adamaza Astara     Mr.& Mrs.Roberts
Whippet Class 1

81 Mulcair Mattise single Mrs.M.Armstrong
77 DerohanLochsong       Mrs.C.Osborne
72 Moonlake Merely Strolling G.Robertson
62 Shirotae Singsong      Mrs.J.Walley
61.5 Shirotae Spinaway    Mrs.J.Walley

Class 2
81.5 MoonlakeSweetNothings G.Robertson
77. 5 Baldrey Partial Eclipse of Derohan C.Osbome
76.5 Taltonia Twiggy Bobby Sox Mr. I.Roberts

Class 3
79 Baldrey Kmg of the Road to Derohan C.Osborne
74 Laurelcote Linum at Derohan .C.Osborne
72.5 Moonlake Mackerel  Miss G.Robertson

Class 4
81 Moonlake Misssprint  Miss G.Robertson
71 Taltonia Typhoon      Mr. I.Roberts
70 TaltoniaTornado       Mr. I.Roberts
65.5 Moonlake Mustard   Miss G.Robertson
56.5 Carved Opal at Silkstone Mrs.J.Crosby

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INJURIES

Every sighthound owner knows that every time
their dog is out of their direct control, i.e. offthe
lead, there is a risk of it running into trouble.
This risk is significantly increased if the dog is
actually chasing something - like a lure. It is a
risk we are all prepared to take, for our hounds'
well-being and for the pleasure of seeing them
run but even on BSFS grounds where hazards
are kept to a minimum, to the extent of filling in
holes, smoothing the track and avoiding obsta-
cles that we would take for granted in a natural
"field" situation, there is a risk that we must
acknowledge is ours alone.

In fact, injuries at BSFA meetings are few and
far between but because I have been running
whippets competitively, racing and coursing, for
more than twenty-five years, I have been asked
to pass on a few of the tips I have learned from
sometimes bitter experience. The first and most
important is do not run an unfit or unsound
hound. It seems obvious but because we are
there for a fun day out and not trying to win
anything, there is a temptation to think, "it's
only 500 yards, he/she will enjoy it". And so
they may, but an unfit hound is still going to run
as fast as it is able while lax muscles or extra
pounds of fat will leave it wallowing on the turns
and in danger of putting more than one foot
wrong - which is all it'takes for it to pull a
muscle, knock up a toe or a number of other
minor injuries that will take it out of the show
ring for a month or more. In this context, all
bitches that have been in season during the
previous three months are by definition unfit.
Changes of hormonal levels affect their muscles,
however much exercise they get, and greatly
increase the risk of injury. If you are not worried
about this level of risk, fine but be aware that
you are stacking the odds against your hound.
The same goes for unsoundness. If a dog pulls
up.even slightly larne, do not run it a second
time unless you know for sure that the lameness
is chronic and will not be made worse by
galloping. Intermittent lameness is usually in the
foot and may be a corn (often showing as a tiny
ring on the pad with a black dot in the centre)
which will have to be surgically removed. A
slightly larne hound is very likely to give itself a
second, worse injury by galloping in a way that
saves pressure on the first one.

Once a hound has been injured, it will always
have a potential weakness that needs manage-
ment. It is always worth seeking a specialist vet
- I have found that the majority of'pet" vets
cannot even tell that a dog is lame ( like many
show judgesl ), let alone what is wrong with it.
And even the most skilled greyhound vets tend
to underestimate the necessary lay-off from
galloping, since they are thinking in terrns of a
single race.

After a muscle or tendon injury, once the
inflammation and/or the swelling is under con-
trol, the specialist will probably advise two ten
minute walks per day on a surface like a cricket
pitch (not the road), working up gradually to an
hour, followed by a lot of lead walking on all

surfaces. After six weeks (I prefer eight), three
short gallops on good going, at least three days
apart and then, the hound should be ready to
run. Do not panic if the hound is a bit lame after
these gallops, it is probably due to the scar tissue
breaking down. Having taken all that trouble to
get it sound - and there are no short cuts - it
makes sense to take a bit more, when it runs.
Massage the muscles and make sure that they
are warm before taking the hound on the field
and massage it again after it has run.

I mentally grade my dogs in terms of risk: 'A'
means they have never been injured and pro-
vided the ground is reasonable, they can take
their chances. I run 'A' bitches for the first three
weeks after they have been in season (lure
coursing only, not anything I want them to win
because I know they won't run well enough) and
then not for the next nine weeks. 'B' dogs are
those who have recovered from quite serious
injuries like severed tendons but have had no
recurrent lameness or are so old (over 8) that a
few days recovering from swollen toes or other
old injuries, seem worth the fun they have. I
don't run 'B' bitches for a fi~ll 13 weeks from
their season. 'C'dogs are those with neck or
spine damage or other recurring injuries that
mean they must be really fit ~o run: 'C' bitches
are not let o~the lead at all for the 13 weeks.

Some of my whippets have been injured on the
coursing field but much of the worst damage has
been incurred in circumstances no one could
forsee - a foot almost severed on newly mown
racehorse gallops, a bitch ripped stem to stern
by a muntjac in a bramble bush and last autumn,
farm machinery broken by the hard ground and
left out on the field. Every time I unclip the lead,
I wonder if it will mean a trip to the vet. But
they are sighthounds: they need to gallop and
owners who cannot accept the risk should find
another breed

Article by Gay Robertson

(Thank you very much for this interesth1g article

Gary)

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DIRECTIONS to FALKLAND FARM, Wash-
water Common, Nr.Newbury. From the
NORTH From the M42,at JIJNC'TION 12 to
OXFORD, follow signs A~4 to Newbury. At 4
Newbury follow the A34 signs through Ring
road system to a roundabout signed A343 to
Andover. Follow A343 to Andover pass round
two Mini-roundabouts, carry straight on, after a
mile & half you go over a hump bridge, approx.
200 yards turn LEFT before Old Car Garage,
follow BSFA signs to the field. From the WEST
or EAST turn offM4 at JUNCTION 13 follow
A34 to Newbury, then as above directions.
From the SOUTH either from A34 to Newbury,
then as for directions from the North at the
Andover roundabout. Or from Andover follow
A343 to Newbury for about 15 miles tum right
immediately after Old Car Garage and follow
signs to field.

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DIRECTIONS to Billinghurst. From the
NORTH follow the M25 and turn off at JUNC-
TION 9, signed Leatherhead/Dorking follow the
A24 through Dorking7 keep on the A24 for 8
miles then FORK right A29 to Billinghurst, after
9 miles go through Billinghurst and follow A29
tp Pullborough, Brinsbury College is on the right
after approx. two miles.Large sign reads WEST
SUSSEX AGR~CULTURAL COLLEGE.

From the SOUTH turn off A27 at Fontwell take
A29 to Pulborough. After ten miles go through
Pulborough still on the A29 to Brinsbury Col-
lege, which is on the left after approx. 3 miles.

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We must welcome all the new members who
have joined in the last two months, we will
pleased to see you at any of the meetings the
next one on July 21st. at Newbury, then August
25th. at Billinghurst.

See you all soon .
Gary Peskett
4 Church Lane
West Parley
Ferndown
Dorset
BH2 8TS
01202 570394