SPRING FLING FUN DAY - 3/28/2010
The day dawned with a cloudy sky and threats of thunderstorms on the afternoon horizon! Still, a hardy group of Ridgebackers and their dogs set out for what promised to be a fun filled day with friends and hounds! And so it was!
We gathered at the Valentine's home in Lithia and quickly set up camp. Soon, the coursing equipment was set and the hounds took to the field. There were just a few minor distractions - namely a dozen black cattle that some of the dogs looked at with great interest! Still, the majority forged ahead - totally focused on the bunny chase! We had a few wanna be ridgebacks join the fun, too! Maya, the Harlequin Dane, Harley the Lab, and a great big beautiful Mastiff! These three showed the rest of the gang just how it was done and took to coursing with great glee!!
We broke for lunch, then afterwards the games and puppy matches began. We had a match for Pet Pups and another for the Show Pups. We even discovered that a couple of the pet pups, really could...and should!...be show pups! Sounds like handling classes are in their future!
We finished up the day with another round of coursing practice and then all made a beeline to pack everything up before the sky let loose. And let loose it did!! WOW! The ride home for many of us was pretty hairy with the endless downpour and threats of hail and tornados. Still....for the duration of the event, the weather was perfect and a great time was had by all!
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Lure Coursing Practice Day, 12/20/09
Finn & Nixie
Lilly and Nixie
Marilyn
Midori - She FLIES!!!
Nixie & Finn
Airie
Deja
Knotty
Waiting for our turn!
Kim & David, visiting from W VA and their boy, Ndugu
Alex and the gang getting to know each other
Bindi and Sachi running their hearts out!
Fergie and Knotty PATIENTLY waiting for another go at it!
Old girl, Hildy, who really REALLY wanted to get that bunny!
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Sunday, December 20th, dawned a pretty cold day here in Sunny Florida! Still….it promised to be an awesome day to take out our hounds and see just who had it in them to “chase the bunny!”
The gang all gathered together at Howard and Karol Valentine’s home in Lithia and prepared to have a great day enjoying the crisp air, watching the dogs run and greeting new and old friends. We had 18 adults and 6 or 7 kids (I lost count!), 25 Ridgebacks (may have lost count again!!) , a Ibizan Hound and one sassy Labrador Retriever owned by the Valentines who gave every other dog there a run for their money! Man, could she FLY!! I guess that’s what happens when you’re brought up with a bunch of Ridgies!
The site was perfect for our event. We set the course up in one of their horse pastures and also had a large fenced paddock area where the dogs could be loose while waiting their turn. They sure enjoyed rolling around and playing with each other, too! There was plenty of space for crates, which some folks used, as well. Out of all the dogs there, only two or three really didn’t show any interest. Initially, a couple were less than enthusiastic, but soon they, too, caught the fever and joined in the chase wholeheartedly. Everyone got to run their dogs plenty of times, depending on how old they were and leaving them with a positive experience. We had a few that were starting to cheat a bit, so it was time for them to stop for the day – they learned the course layout too quickly and that’s not a good thing!
We then took a break for lunch, and again, the Valentine’s home was perfect for this! They have a huge back porch with an outdoor kitchen and plenty of seating room for all. We had burgers and hotdogs, with plenty of wonderful side dishes that folks brought. And then there were the desserts!!! I guess we can all tell where our hearts really lie in the food department!! Oh, YEAH!!
After lunch, we ran a few more courses and again, ended on a positive note with the dogs. Everyone commented on what a fun day it was – perfect weather, perfect site, and a perfect time meeting new friends and enjoying time well spent with old friends. Karol and Howard plan on joining the club and hope to become more involved with showing their pup, and hosting future events at their home, too. MANY THANKS to them for their hospitality!
Can’t WAIT ‘til next time!! TALLY HO!!!
photos courtesy of Cassandra Carpenter, Denise Eberhard and Ginny Merchant
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Members New Champs!
CH Kengali's Jamaican Hot Jam..."JAMI" Bred, Owned, Owner Handled and much loved by Ginny Merchant
CH Kengali's Spirits 'R Zoomin' FM, JC
pictured with her sire, MBIS CH Adili's American Idol.
"ESME" is owned and loved by Ginny Merchant and also much loved by Denise Eberhard and Matt Coughlin
CH Kimani's Pride of Windermere "JOEY"
Owned and loved by Elaine Peterson
CH RoccRidge Rhapsody of Khalfani "RUBY" Owned and loved by Deborah Rocco, Bred By Dr. Paula Alshouse
CH Mijoy's Lord of the Rocc
Best Veteran in Show
PROUDLY Owned and Loved by Deborah Rocco!!
CH Tuckerridge Dugga Boy Simba Ridge, "DUGGA"
Owned and Loved by Manuel and Linda Guanuard, Bred by Nathan and Stacey Tucker
CH Khalfani's Dreamcatcher of Roccridge "SABU" Bred,Owned and Loved By Dr. Paula Alshouse
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Nationals, May 2009, Lansing, MI
"Wings" Top Twenty Award
"Wings" Best of Opposite Sex
"Esme" 2nd Place, 9-12 Puppy Bitch Sweeps
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Our National Specialty was held this year in May up in Lansing Michigan and several of our members made the trip to celebrate! And we had plenty of reasons to celebrate!!!
"WINGS" SOARS AT U.S. NATIONALS!!!
CH ROUXRIDGE I CAN FLY, aka "Wings", had the honor of winning Best of Opposite Sex !! Additionally, she was one of the three bitches to compete in the Top Twenty Competition. HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to her breeder/owners, Sharon and Janine LeRoux,
and congratulations to Laurie DiRoma for her excellent handling of Wings to this win!
Ginny Merchant's girl, Esme, Kengali's Spirits 'R Zoomin' of FM, won Second place in the 9-12 Puppy Bitch Sweepstakes. Congrats to Matt Coughlin, too, for his excellent handling of Esme!
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