LURE CURSING TRIAL 6-7 JUNE 1998
(Thank you Amy Mero - MAXMERO@worldnet.att.net and Rose Marston - Rose.E.Marston@state.ma.us)
Photo , Left to right: Seated on ground is Michele Trifiro with Pandora,
Tabriz, Orissa and Kabuki. Holding sign, Bob Jordan with Drakula. Seated,
Caryn Nelson with Znowy and Tina. Seated, Kathy Hudson with Magic and
husband Ken holding sign. Seated on ground is Rose Marston with Deacon Blue
and Willow. (Unavailable for photo was Marietta Forrester and Sparky)
SPLENDOR IN THE BLUEGRASS could not have been a more perfect title for the 21st Annual American Sighthound Field Association International Invitational Lure Coursing Trial (or "II" for short) held June 6-7 at Masterson Station Park in Lexington, Kentucky. For those unfamiliar with this area of the United States, Lexington is the mecca for everything that is horse-related: racing, breeding, training, showing, grandiose farms and lots of hard-earned bragging rights. If you asked any sighthound owner to describe the ideal location, weather conditions and course configurations in which to host the "Westminster" of lure coursing they would have to say Lexington, KY. Both days were 60-70 degrees, a constant cooling light wind, intermittent sun/clouds and no rain!
Saturday's course was 1015 yards and Sunday's was 925 with a little of everything: steep hills, soft hills, tree and horse jump obstacles and the final 100+ yards were straight uphill. All courses were true tests of the Afghans' endurance, speed, follow and agility. To watch them "fly" about the course was to imagine centuries of hunting snow leopard and hare in their homeland. Watching them cranking full speed all uphill on the final stretch to the finish line with that wonderful Afghan Hound smile never ceases to be anything less than breath taking. Our hosts, the Bluegrass Coursing Club and Michigan Gazehound Association deserve a voracious round of "a-paws" for their foresight, congeniality, organization, and good humor. Committee members were easily identified by their brightly colored caps and constantly mingled about the trial grounds asking entrants if they needed help, had any questions and was there anything they could do to improve the coursing venue. There was good food, water, shade, cool down areas, on-site veterinarian, interesting vendors, great course view-blocking paddock areas with lots of extra paddock help for multi-dog entrants and even a dog masseuse!
Over 400 dogs breezed through a 6AM roll call in an hour and a half. Of course there were the obligatory, but minimal, equipment failures and what would any trial be without the usual trying to retrieve a loose hound (NOT an Afghan) on the course for half an hour! The only real disappointment was the number of Afghan Hounds entered-13. It would've been far more exciting to actually meet and compete with alot more of the hounds that consistently get written up in various Afghan Hound publications. Hopefully next year we will see more of our old Afghan friends and many more new faces. Afghan Hounds competing and owners were: Willow, Deacon Blue- Rose Marston & Ren Norton, Pandora, Tabriz, Orissa, Kabuki- Michelle Trifiro & Dominique Lake, Gypsy, Sterling- Greg & Rita Breitbach , Sparky- Marietta Forrester, Znowy, Tina- Caryn Nelson , Magic- Ken & Kathy Hudson, Drakula- Bob Jordan.Results for Saturday, June 6: BOB - Sterling Open Stake F CH Stake Veteran Stake 1st Tabriz Sterling 2nd Pandora Gypsy 3rd Kabuki Znowy 4th Willow Sparky NBQ Deacon Blue Magic Results for Sunday, June 7: BOB - Drakula Open Stake F CH Stake Veteran Stake 1st Orissa Gypsy Drakula 2nd Pandora Kabuki Tina 3rd Willow Tabriz Znowy 4th Deacon Blue Sparky NBQ Magic
Congratulations and extra biscuits go to Tabriz, Kabuki and Willow who achieved their Field Champion status at the II. The only Afghan Hound eligible to run in Saturday's Gillette Stake was Znowy.
The Gillette Stake served as the Best in Field run and required each breed's hound to have an AKC or foreign bench championship, be an ASFA FCh, have earned 20 ASFA points in the past 12 months and be entered in the FCH stake on Saturday. Znowy competed with a Basenji and a Borzoi. On Saturday, as the BOB, Sterling was also awarded the Gary Forrester Memorial Trophy in memory of Gary Forrester who was an active part of ASFA administration and on the field. He was one of the first all breed judges in 1977 continuing judging until 1991. He was a member of or chaired numerous committees including judges licensing, AKC negotiation, computerization, reinstatements, budget, FAN, Constitution revision, rules, and nominating. He held the offices of 1st VP, 2nd VP and was President from 1994-98. He owned and coursed his Afghan Hounds "Bandit" and "Piper" since 1974. On Sunday, the BOB hound, Drakula, also received the Bandit Memorial Trophy named after the #1 sighthound (all breeds) in 1976, 77, and 78 and #2 lure coursing Afghan (top ten) of all time in 1989. Registered as Tamora's Image of Ali, CD, LCM7, Can FCHX, TT, Bandit was known as the impeccably groomed laid back Afghan -until slipped! Owned by Marietta and Gary Forrester, he was actively coursed for 6 years and frequently flown to trial sites by his own personal pilot. So, OK Afghans, give that show lead a break, get those pets off the couch, don a bright pink blanket and LET'S GO COURSING! Tally Ho!!