Shameless bragging ahead... I want to thank my friends to the North in British Columbia for the very fine time my dogs and I had this weekend. This has always been my very favorite event of the summer and we're glad its back after a one-year hiatus. Lower Mainland Whippet Association - one of the oldest Whippet clubs in Canada - held their specialty at beautiful Peace Arch Park on Saturday, July 5th and long-time breed aficionado, Gale Lyttle pointed to our Lost Creek A Taste of Red - bred by Helen Brettell and owned by Mary Downing & breeder - for Best in Yearling Sweeps. Olivia is by Can. Ch. Lost Creek Bzantium Galewind and out of Am. Can. Ch. Castlecrest's Fire Storm.

Then esteemed breeder judge Lori Nelson passed judgement on an entry from both sides of the border. WD, BOW and Best Puppy was Olivia's brother Lost Creek Vendange, RWD was Summit Ironwood Decadence owned by Shawna McKay & Sue Vernon, WB was Serendipity Skylark, owned/bred by Beth Levine, RWB went to the Ragtime You Sank My Battleship, owned by Jackie Teed and shown by Barb Barclay. BOB - Am. Can. Ch. Lost Creek Smile Jamaica - owned/handled by Mary Downing, BOS was Can. Ch. Lost Creek Bzantium Galewind and their sire and/or grandsire MSBIS, Nat'l.BOS Am. Can. Ch. Lost Creek Malted Milk Whimsy was Best Veteran.

Sunday is the best part, however. In Mission's Heritage Park, above the Frasier River there is a lure course (all sighthounds) and to enter the following Conformation Show, the dogs must have run both courses with qualifying scores. Another esteemed judge, Mrs. Honey Glendenning, passed judgement on those entered and gave the BOB in Whippets to Am. Can. Ch. Lost Creek Smile Jamaica, WD to Mason Hill Dreamtime (Christine Hopperstad & Mary Downing), WB & BOW to Nouveau's Awfully Pretty (Swepstons) ... and (drum roll please) BIS to the Whippet, our own Jamaica! Once, many years ago, I took this award with Am. Can. Ch. Whimsy's Starbucks and these are the wins that make up my fondest memories competing with my dogs.

Thank you again for a grand time and more memories...hope Bonnie was watching.

- submitted by Mary Downing