Following a definite trend in 2009, once again, we were absolutely blessed by the weather gods for our fall ASFA trials. While Saturday was a little colder and cloudier than originally forecast, other than a brief shower in the morning, the weather stayed dry. Sunday dawned crisp and clear, with blue skies and frost, but the temperature warmed with the rising sun and we all enjoyed a very pleasant day at the Polo Field, the beauty of which was definitely enhanced by the fall colors of the trees ringing the field and Mt Rainier in all its majesty in the distance. We faced the usual challenges with the Polo Field toilet, and when the flushing mechanism bit the dust on Saturday afternoon, we were sincerely concerned about our prospects for the rest of the weekend... but thankfully, Kerie "MacGyver" Swepston, managed to rig a working flusher out of a coat hanger and saved us all from a most unpleasant fate. Other notable action: the dramatic rescue of a panicked, starving feral cat that had been accidentally trapped in the clubhouse without food or water (or litterbox) for an unknown period of time. Fun times!

The trials were also noteworthy in that nearly half the healthy entry each day was from day-of entries - which was great for the club's treasury but forced the field committee to look lively in order to handle the early morning rush! But the well-oiled performance committee machine came ready for anything, and got the job done. Thanks to everyone who volunteered in one way or another!

We were thrilled to get entries in some breeds not often seen at our trials lately, including Pharaohs, Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Deerhounds and especially Borzoi. Sunday marked the special occasion of WWWA's very first official stake of Cirnechi dell'Etna since that breed was admitted to full ASFA eligibility earlier this year. We were happy to hear that a number of hounds finished their titles over the weekend. Congratulations to all the fine running hounds and their owners who enjoyed the coursing!

Congratulations to Jenny Howe for veteran Dagen's BOB on Saturday, and to Chadd and Misti Bowen and proud breeder Helen Brettell on Reggie's BOB and BIF on Sunday!

Special congratulations go out to club member Laurel Behnke, formerly Wilks, who married her sweetie Don on the eve of the trial and still couldn't stay away from the coursing field on her first full day of wedded bliss. Congratulations Laurel and Don!

- submitted by WWWA FTS Beth Levine

(WWWA club member dogs noted in blue)

Saturday, October 10, 2009

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Whippet Judges: Ann Billups, Mike Savage

Open Whippets (9) 1 "Cochiti"  Farseer Cochiti, ORC / Salts 2 "Mojo"  Nouveau's Hoodoo Mojo / Nichols 3 "Prometheus"  Dreams Prometheus / Carter 4 "Calypso"  Blarneystone Calypso / Shusterman NBQ "Dude"  Farseer Jammin' Extra Hot Dude, RCH, OTRM-2 / Behnke

FCH Whippets (6) 1 "Willow"  Blarneystone Sunrunner / Shusterman 2 “Reggie”  Lost Creek Mussante / Bowen 3 “Charm”  Dreams Charm Me, FCH / Younger 4 "Chai"  Jammin' Kashmiri Chai, LCM, SRM-2, OTRM-3, CGC, RN / Behnke NBQ "Slick"  Nouveau's Black Gold, FCH / Swepston

Veteran Whippets (1) 1/BOB "Dagen"  Blueskies Creme Brulee at Kossok, SC, OTR / Howe

Saturday's Best in Field was won by the Borzoi,  CH Adrienne Laureate Sundance Caprial, owned by Lyndell Ackerman.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

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Whippet Judges: Ann Billups, Mike Savage

Open Whippets (10) 1 "Calypso"  Blarneystone Calypso / Shusterman 2 "Mojo"  Nouveau's Hoodoo Mojo / Nichols 3 "Murphy"  Whimsy's Over the Moon / Downing & Hopperstad 4 "Finn"  Belaya Madrona / Thompson NBQ "Olivia"  Lost Creek A Taste of Red / Downing & Brettell

FCH Whippets (5, 1NQ) 1/BOB “Reggie”  Lost Creek Mussante, FCH / Bowen 2 "Jet"  Nouveau's Auto Pilot, FCH / Swepston 3 "Willow"  Blarneystone Sunrunner / Shusterman 4 "Henry" Mason Hill Dreamtime, FCH / Downing, Hopperstad & Holt

Veteran Whippets (1) 1/BOB "Dagen"  Blueskies Creme Brulee at Kossok, SC, OTR / Howe

Sunday's Best in Field was won by the Whippet,  Lost Creek Mussante, FCH , owned by Chadd and Misti Bowen.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]