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I want to brag on my boy, Ch. Surrey Hill's Galafrey LCM DPCX CR OTR...he went to the American Sighthound Field Association International Invitational (I.I.) in the center of the US, all the way to Oklahoma, from our home outside Philadelphia. This is basically the North American championship of the oldest form of organized Lure coursing in the United States. It draws from all over the US, plus Canada.
I'm bragging here because I know he has more relatives here than on the working/lure coursing board.
To enter the I.I. you must be a field champion or have won a minimal number of points, so it is like Crufts in that you have to qualify for it by proving you can beat some dogs. The most prestigious prize in all of lure coursing over here is to go Best in I.I. but the second most prestigious is the Gillette Cup. This prize goes to the top show champion (US or foreign) in lure coursing at the Invitational. Each breed sends one representative into the Cup runoff, and that is the show champion which is the highest finisher within their breed on Saturday. You have to be a field champion or a veteran to qualify for Gillette Cup. So, it not just being a show champion, but you must be a show champion who has proven your ability or longevity in the sport. Many times, the breed representative is a dog who did well, but did not have to do many runoffs for Best of Breed. It is not usual in Whippets for it to be the same dog. Whippets are usually the largest entry and then some in any trials we have here.
"Bonzer" not only qualified to represent Whippets in the Gillette Cup, but he was overall the Best of Breed Whippet! Now, this makes it extra hard for him, because he had to run four times to make it to Best of Breed. First, he had to run twice in his Field Champion flight to get a first. Then, he had to run off against the other first place Field Champion flight winners to get first Field Champion. Then, he had to run against the winner of the Open and Veteran stakes to go Best of Breed.
The course was over a thousand yards and they ran in pouring rain. The weather in Oklahoma this weekend was terrible. Then, he had to run against the champions from other breeds, drawn randomly. He ran against a Saluki and a Basenji, and he won. Then, he ended up tied with an Ibizan Hound and had to run against that dog to win the Cup. It is amazing how well he did on a long course against breeds who are really bred for more endurance galloping than Whippets are.
This is the first time in the history of this award that the same Whippet has won the Gillette Cup and also been Best of Breed at the I.I. on the same day. A truly remarkable achievement and one which is the win of a lifetime here as it displays exceptional versatility and a lot of hard work to get them to that point, plus incredible heart.
His brother also won a flight and placed well today as well. He would have had a better day yesterday if not for being beaten by his brother Bonzer!
Bonzer is sired by Am.Aust.Ch. Byerley Savile Row. His sire is half-UK import (Hugo Boss) and half-Aussie. On his dam's side, he goes back to the successful import from the US into Europe--the one litter that this dog sired before being exported, Int. Ch. Paris Panther. We have had outstanding versatility down from this pedigree.
To win these awards, he had to defeat many dogs head to head which have a pedigree specific to racing and/or coursing here. They are great runners--so he had to be running out of his mind.
We are so very proud of him, and his brother Pigalle as well, who placed quite high both days as well. And our half-Bluestreak, Jewel, placed both days in her stake. It was a good weekend for the Surrey hill international contingent at our most prestigious all-breed lure coursing event. We had a fourth dog running who scored a big win but she's all frou-frou US show breeding :clown: , so nobody cares about her here. :lol:
Here is Bonzer when he is playing show dog...
He has been a mud bug this weekend in Oklahoma, but he does clean up nicely. Bonzer is a shade under 21" at the shoulder and is a rather small dog for here in running, since size has been mentioned a few times here of late. His brother Pigalle stands just 20 1/4"--small for here for a male, but able to win.
Karen Lee
p.s. Guess who I met at a very rainy, muddy dog show today? A European from K9 who was here visiting! I hope she will post when she gets back--I know she was taking some photos. It was cold and wet and I am sure my dog looked terrible so I hope any photos she took of us she put her thumb over the lens. But I am eager to hear how she enjoyed her visit. I just wish she'd had better weather for her time here. We are all drowning in rain right now....
I'm bragging here because I know he has more relatives here than on the working/lure coursing board.
To enter the I.I. you must be a field champion or have won a minimal number of points, so it is like Crufts in that you have to qualify for it by proving you can beat some dogs. The most prestigious prize in all of lure coursing over here is to go Best in I.I. but the second most prestigious is the Gillette Cup. This prize goes to the top show champion (US or foreign) in lure coursing at the Invitational. Each breed sends one representative into the Cup runoff, and that is the show champion which is the highest finisher within their breed on Saturday. You have to be a field champion or a veteran to qualify for Gillette Cup. So, it not just being a show champion, but you must be a show champion who has proven your ability or longevity in the sport. Many times, the breed representative is a dog who did well, but did not have to do many runoffs for Best of Breed. It is not usual in Whippets for it to be the same dog. Whippets are usually the largest entry and then some in any trials we have here.
"Bonzer" not only qualified to represent Whippets in the Gillette Cup, but he was overall the Best of Breed Whippet! Now, this makes it extra hard for him, because he had to run four times to make it to Best of Breed. First, he had to run twice in his Field Champion flight to get a first. Then, he had to run off against the other first place Field Champion flight winners to get first Field Champion. Then, he had to run against the winner of the Open and Veteran stakes to go Best of Breed.
The course was over a thousand yards and they ran in pouring rain. The weather in Oklahoma this weekend was terrible. Then, he had to run against the champions from other breeds, drawn randomly. He ran against a Saluki and a Basenji, and he won. Then, he ended up tied with an Ibizan Hound and had to run against that dog to win the Cup. It is amazing how well he did on a long course against breeds who are really bred for more endurance galloping than Whippets are.
This is the first time in the history of this award that the same Whippet has won the Gillette Cup and also been Best of Breed at the I.I. on the same day. A truly remarkable achievement and one which is the win of a lifetime here as it displays exceptional versatility and a lot of hard work to get them to that point, plus incredible heart.
His brother also won a flight and placed well today as well. He would have had a better day yesterday if not for being beaten by his brother Bonzer!
Bonzer is sired by Am.Aust.Ch. Byerley Savile Row. His sire is half-UK import (Hugo Boss) and half-Aussie. On his dam's side, he goes back to the successful import from the US into Europe--the one litter that this dog sired before being exported, Int. Ch. Paris Panther. We have had outstanding versatility down from this pedigree.
To win these awards, he had to defeat many dogs head to head which have a pedigree specific to racing and/or coursing here. They are great runners--so he had to be running out of his mind.
We are so very proud of him, and his brother Pigalle as well, who placed quite high both days as well. And our half-Bluestreak, Jewel, placed both days in her stake. It was a good weekend for the Surrey hill international contingent at our most prestigious all-breed lure coursing event. We had a fourth dog running who scored a big win but she's all frou-frou US show breeding :clown: , so nobody cares about her here. :lol:
Here is Bonzer when he is playing show dog...
He has been a mud bug this weekend in Oklahoma, but he does clean up nicely.
Bonzer is a shade under 21" at the shoulder and is a rather small dog for here in running, since size has been mentioned a few times here of late. His brother Pigalle stands just 20 1/4"--small for here for a male, but able to win.Karen Lee
p.s. Guess who I met at a very rainy, muddy dog show today? A European from K9 who was here visiting! I hope she will post when she gets back--I know she was taking some photos. It was cold and wet and I am sure my dog looked terrible so I hope any photos she took of us she put her thumb over the lens. But I am eager to hear how she enjoyed her visit. I just wish she'd had better weather for her time here. We are all drowning in rain right now....
