April 16/17, 2011 WWWA ASFA Results

Equipment trouble was the theme of the weekend, and it just goes to show that you can't be too prepared, or have too many backups, but as it turns out, sometimes you even need backups for your backups! On Saturday, the offending equipment was batteries. Despite having plenty of them on hand, they were either not charged properly or not holding a charge properly, and we found ourselves scrambling to keep batteries on the charger and powered up enough to keep the lure ahead of the dogs. Thanks to our trusty equipment crew and their McGyver-like skills, we managed to make it through the day though it was a long day and the trial didn't end until much later than usual. But Rob Nichols kindly stopped on the way to the field on Saturday night to buy two brand new powerful batteries to prevent a repeat performance on Sunday.

Sunday was off to a fine start, but then halfway through prelims we began experiencing trouble with the solenoids. First the solenoid on the main machine (with a newly rebuilt motor) burned out, but was quickly replaced with the solenoid from the backup machine. Unfortunately the backup solenoid also burned out, and the trial came to a screeching halt. Luckily the weather was spectacular and nobody seemed to mind the delay, but instead enjoyed soaking up the sunshine and good company while the McGyver crew gave it their all. It was decided to make a run to the nearest auto parts store for replacement solenoids, and since we were close enough to lunchtime, we broke early for our usual spectacular potluck fare. After lunch, with equipment issues sorted out, we powered through the remainder of the prelim runs, and ran straight through finals. Despite the delay, we were still done with awards and packing up by around 3:30!

But the weekend wasn't all about the equipment - after all, it is really all about the hounds! And we had some fine running on display all weekend long. Despite the smaller than average entry in whippets, there were healthy entries in some of the other breeds, brought out, no doubt in part, to help support the assignment of provisional judge Avery McLeod. Thanks to these generous owners, Avery was able to complete preliminary requirements for two breeds at our trials! In total, Avery and our two regular judges Valorie Hill and Tom Robinson, both from BC, put pen to judges sheet to score the performance of 55 hounds on Saturday and 39 hounds on Sunday. It was nice to see former club member Albin Gersich come out and run the lure for us on Saturday to give the Swepstons the opportunity to run their own dogs.

Saturday's whippet BOB went to Dapper, owned by WWWA member and hard-working field chairman Kendra Tripp.  Sunday's BOB went to Katana, owned by Susan Shusterman. Notably, Best in Field each day was won by a different very talented-running Basenji! These two little dogs both put in spectacular runs, really wowing the judges and spectators in stiff competition.

We had our usual pot-overfloweth lunches both days, with lots of competition to choose from to select our Best in Potluck awards. Saturday's prize went to Stephanie McLeod's incredible Senegalese Peanut Soup, and Sunday's prize went to Kerie Swepston's Taco Casserole. Good eats!

Thanks to so many - club members and non-club members alike - who pitched in wherever needed. We couldn't do it without you. Congrats to all the winners!

- submitted by WWWA FTS Beth Levine

(WWWA club member dogs noted in blue)

Saturday, April 16, 2011

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"][singlepic id=589 w=320 h=240 float=right]Whippet Judges: Avery McLeod,  Tom Robinson

Open Whippets (7)

1  "Lola"  Rosmor's Lolapalooza / Valorie Hill 2  "Murphy"  Whimsy's Over The Moon / Mary Downing & C. Hopperstad 3  "WileE"  Nouveau's Pink Coyote / Aaron & Kerie Swepston 4  "Mojo"  Nouveau's Hoodoo Mojo / Rob and Heather Nichols ***NEW FCH!*** 5  "Amazon"  Siren Song Amazon / Susan Shusterman

Field Champion Whippets (2)

1/BOB  "Dapper"  Nouveau's Ladies Man / Kendra Tripp 2  "Reggie"  Lost Creek Mussante / Chadd Bowen

Veteran Whippets (1)

1  "Dagen"  Blueskies Crème Brulee at Kossok / Jenny Howe

Saturday's Best in Field went to the Basenji "Eddie" - DC Atarasi's D'Lucks Edition, SC, FCH, owned by Nancy Sherman and Natalie Scherwin.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

[singlepic id=590 w=320 h=240 float=right]Whippet Judges: Avery McLeod, Valorie Hill

Open Whippets (8)

1/BOB  "Katana"  Siren Song Katana / Susan Shusterman 2  "Pilot"  Belaya Le Corsaire / Carol S Chittum 3  "Posy"  Belaya Mighty Like A Rose / Carol S Chittum & VC Carter 4  "Martin"  Belaya Silver Sails / Roger Vondettii, Deb Vondettii, Carol Chittum 5  "Amazon"  Siren Song Amazon / Susan Shusterman

Field Champion Whippets (3)

1  "Reggie"  Lost Creek Mussante / Chadd Bowen 2  "Dapper"  Nouveau's Ladies Man / Kendra Tripp 3  "Mojo"  Nouveau's Hoodoo Mojo / Rob and Heather Nichols

Veteran (1)

1  "Sarge"  Blarneystone Lock N Load / Don Walstad

Sunday's Best in Field was won by the Basenji "Remi" - Emerant's Heez Reminiscent, owned by Lisa and Bryce Hart.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]