The youngest whippet here is Lostcreek Dolce (2) and she is shown off and on. I am waiting for her to mature a little more and begin to enjoy the ring.  She is very keen on on toys being thrown in the yard, live rabbits, and birds so I need to work with her more for her lure training. This leaves us with 4 whippets and 2 Salukis.

I had another very successful show year with Kumar, my smooth male Saluki.  He won an Award of Merit at the Willamette Valley Saluki Specialty show, Best of Breed at the Sighthound Club of BC, was BIS at the Puget Sound Saluki Club, and won an Award of Merit at the 2009 SCOA Western Regional  Saluki  Specialty in Lompoc, California  and also Best of Breed at the All Hound Club of Bellingham.  Thanks to our friends Kathy Searles and Linda Buchholz for handling Kumar to his various wins, and also Peter Ortiz handling him to win the first Award of Merit at Lompoc.

Kumar was bred to one of Marilyn Brown’s, Zoe, and there were 5 puppies.  You will see his one smooth red son, Mussa ringside this next year owned by Kathy Jones and co-owned and bred by Marilyn and me.

I will be acquiring one more Saluki in 2010.  A cream feathered male out of  Kumar’s half sister, Tirzah and Cheryl Myatt’s dog, Zaku.  I love both the breeds and enjoy owning both.

Susie Manthou
Bzantium Hounds

We started off the year with an ambitious plan to have litters out of both Dazzle (MSBIS AmCan Ch Summit All That Glitters) and Bella (SBIS Nat’l AOM AmCan Ch Summit La Signora Cristabel) at the same time. As it was time to add to the family and the girls were now retired from the showring. By mid-January, Dazzle was off to Phoenix, Arizona to be bred to ”Jasper” (Am Ch Chelsea Chalcedony) and Bella was off to Atlanta, Georgia to be bred to “Kurt” (Am Ch Ableaim Barchet Kurt Russell SC).

The kids from our 2007 Remington x Cybil litter (AmCan Ch Camelot Nerves of Steel x Am Ch Summit Moonlight Becomes Her) also began to have their careers really take off! Caden (BPISS Can Ch Summit Ironwood Decadence) started with a reserve to a major in Portland, followed by his sister Ducky (AmCan Ch Summit Ironwood Just Ducky) being the first to finish from the litter. Littermate Emily (Am Ch Summit Ironwood Crème Brulee) picked up her second major and went on to finish her AKC championship in the fall, as sister Penny (Am Ch Summit Ironwood Orange Marmalade). Other highlights for these kids this year was having Emily place in the huge Bred-By bitch class at the AWC National specialty, Caden going BOS at the LMWA Show & Go for his debut as a Special, and Ducky coming up for a visit from California to finish her Canadian championship, which she did undefeated with a group placement on Jennifer’s birthday.

Ducky ended up surprising us all at the end of 2009 by demonstrating her talent on the coursing field (she was not a very coordinated puppy!) and ended up earning up two 5 point majors towards her AKC Field Championship and a BIF her first two weekends running!

This spring our Matriarch “Annie” AmCan Ch Summit Some Day Are Diamonds had her 7th champion finish their AKC championship (“Sum-Sum” – Am Ch Summit Ironwood Quite The Lady), which qualified her for her much-deserved ROM. We’re so proud of this accomplishment! Adding to this, Jennifer’s daughter Mira handled Sum-Sum’s sire (Ch Whipmark Summit Meant To Be “Tobias”) at the Cascade Hound Specialty in June leading to a BOS win from his debut in the veteran class.

Our two litters of puppies were born in March three days apart. There were certain advantages having them at the same time (raised at different households), but both girls had large litters resulting in a combined total of 15 puppies… 9 boys and 6 girls! It was a lot of work, but we’re thrilled with the results.

From our Dazzle x Jasper litter, Summit Ironwood Kingston “Kingston” and Summit Ironwood Brier “Molly” stayed at Ironwood. Summit Ironwood Everett went to Arizona, Summit Ironwood Astoria went to the Okanogan and Summit Ironwood Blaine went to Summit Whippets in California. From our Bella x Kurt litter, Summit Ironwood Fawn Connery “Preston” and Summit Ironwood Other Sutherland “Kiefer” stayed at Ironwood while Summit Ironwood Farrahst Of Them All went to Summit to accompany her cousin Blaine.

We didn’t hit the ring in earnest until October when the puppies finally turned 6 months old, and both the Ironwood and Summit teams had a spectacular debut their first weekend out! Over the course of the weekend Kingston was WD/BOW/BOB/BP and made the cut in the group, Molly was WB/BOW/BOB/BP/Hound Group 2/BPIG (5 points!), Kiefer was WD/BOS and WD/BOW/BOB/BP and both Farrah and Blaine were reserves to majors at Del Valle in California.

Canada’s largest dogshow in Abbotsford, was a particularly memorable weekend for us in 2009. The first day at the Hound Specialty, Molly went WB and Kiefer was WD/BOW/BOS/BP. The second day Kiefer won the puppy hound group. The third day, both Molly and Kingston finished their Canadian Championships and Kingston won the puppy hound group for both that day and the following. What a thrill, especially considering it was only their second weekend in the ring!

Unfortunately, the year came to a close on a sad note… we lost our Annie after a long battle with cancer that was devastating for us all, especially Mira who was her constant companion. She was a unique character and a cornerstone foundation at Ironwood and will be very much missed.

We are eagerly anticipating 2010 and looking forward to making our mark with our next generation. We know these Annie grandchildren of ours will make us proud… they certainly make us smile!

Jennifer McEachern & Shawna McKay
Ironwood Whippets
http://www.ironwoodwhippets.com

Doris has Nadine her smooth fox terrier to keep her company today and a very good friend Peggy Hewes to visit from time to time.

Doris Ringer meant a lot to a large group of us and we wanted to make sure she knows she was appreciated.  Her attendance every Friday night for practice and her dedication to be active in the Specialties each summer won’t be forgotten.  She was the lure operator for puppy training at Ft. Dent, and taught a lot of us the ropes, including Glen and I from the very beginning.

She is a Southern Lady that made us feel welcomed.  Our picnics on those summer evenings were special and we took turns practicing our whippets and box training and Doris was instrumental in setting the hook for new members to be active in the process of learning how to be a responsible pet owner.  And also have fun with our whippets.

Doris stays at home in north Seattle these days not traveling like she used to and might like to see cards and letters but most of all pictures/photos from members of the WWWA.

Doris is not on the internet and I know we all are very busy, but it takes only a moment to do something nice, like sending a card for a lady that has done a lot for this club over the years. I hope when I get old I am not put on a shelf somewhere.  Oh, wait…. I am old.  Shoot.

-submitted by Jo Sowards on behalf of Doris Ringer, and published with Doris’ permission!

Lark (CanCH Serendipity Skylark, FCH, DPC, TRPX, SR, OTR) finished her ASFA Field Championship in the spring, and her Canadian Championship in the fall, piloted to her last point by her good friend Jenn Hughes. She is also closing on her American Championship with nine points, both majors. She will be bred in the spring to CH Shamasan Hound Hill Cherokee, ARX, DPCX, RN.

Tiercel (Serendipity Nighthawk, FCH, ARX, DPCX, TRPX, SRM, OTRM, CGC) finished his ARX in the spring and his DPCX in the summer. This last title is the highest achievement in the CWA system, awarded to whippets demonstrating excellence in both racing and conformation. Tiercel is my first DPCX, and I consider him the finest athlete I’ve ever had the privilege to have bred or owned.

Kestrel (Serendipity Sparrowhawk, FCH, OTR, CGC) finished her ASFA title in the spring and her OTR in the fall. She was a late bloomer, scarred by bad experience and injury early in her career, and I wasn’t sure she’d ever run with another dog, much less finish a competitive title. I couldn’t be prouder of this brave little whippet for overcoming her fears and learning to run with such confidence and joy.

Our youngster Branwen (Shamasan Caerbannog) made her NAWRA and CWA straight racing debuts, and, although she has not raced enough to earn any titles yet, I am pleased with her progress and look forward to her continuing education in 2010.

Best of all, we are blessed by the continued robust good health and good spirits of our retirees – 12 year old Wren (CanCH Priory HH Silver Lining, CD, FCH, OTRM, CGC, AV), 9 year old Nori (HH To The Lighthouse, FCH, OTR), and 8 year old Ringer (CanCH HH Serendipity Eight Bells, LCM, TRP, DPC, SR, OTRM-2, CGC).

Beth Levine
Serendipity Whippets
http://www.serendipitywhippets.com

In March we added to our family with the Rock &  Roll litter of which Louie & Ivy went to live with the Swans, and Mack, Johnny, and Peggy Sue chose to stay with Mom and Dad.  Mom, little Tea’ of which this is her last litter, and Nacho, who injured his toe first time out and was out for the entire year.  Now our two Big Guns were out for the year so we relyed on our little guns to carry us through out the year.  And carry us they did.

Obsidian Night (OB) held onto the NOTRA Top Ten for the majority of the year finishing his ORC title and Dominant Jeans (DJ) finished his ORC title as well. The girls, O’Brady, Solar, Tango helped out during the year and last but not least is O’Cool.

He started out a clown, not being or doing anything right.  We came close to placing him but Glen kept saying “give him some more time.”  So we kept working with him on and off the track and even with his wierd sleeping habits he surprised us.  Breaking first from the box’s from the get go, but not knowing how to make the curves.  Someone once mentioned he ran like an egg beater.  Well, he is smoothing out and I am betting he will be a great runner one of these days.  Just got to get rid of those sleeping habits.

Oh, and we acquired a new boy.  Not permanent but sweet little Blue Italian Greyhound.  We call him Soda. He was supposed to be a whippet. He is looking for a forever home and won’t leave the Sowards family until a good one can be found.

We want to wish all WWWA members a Happy New Year, and a ton of fun with all those fancy and fast friends.

Jo & Glen Sowards
http://www.shadowrunwhippets.com/

Our big event this year was a trip on the Idaho and Montana circuit. We met some great new friends and came home with some AKC points for Miranda (MSBPIS Can CH Lost Creek Cerasuolo)! I had a chance to try my hand at handling a couple of Italian Greyhounds for a friend in need – what a blast

This summer we also had Christy (Sporting Field’s Embraceable) join us for some road trips to Canada. We brought home the rosettes for Best of Winners/Best of Opposite Sex for owner Peggy Hewes – an honor from breeder judge Stacy Davis at the Sighthound Club of BC.

As his breeder, I was proud to see that Ricky (SBIS Am/Can CH Strebor’s Life of the Party, JC) was recognized again at this year’s specialties with a select, BOS and best in veteran sweepstakes – was glad he and Charles were able to show well in all that heat.

Thanks to all my friends for making 2009 a great year.

Looking forward to a *very* special 2010 – see you along the way!

Jeanette Dorsey
Treadway Whippets
http://www.treadwaywhippets.com

Over the course of 7 months, our youngster, Elliott (Ch. Lost Creek Vendange) was shown on 7 occasions and took the points 5 times, finishing by taking back-to-back majors both days at the WWWA specialties. He started off the year at the Puyallup show with a Breed from the classes under breeder-judge Lori Nelson for a 4 point major. He picked up Best of Winners at Seattle KC under Sandra Goose Allen and another Breed from the classes at Puyallup’s show in June under Christopher Abraham. The grand finale was the specialty weekend – special thanks to judges Espen Engh and Gyr-Flyckt Pedersen for really making our weekend something special! Elliott is now taking a well-deserved break from competition to focus on becoming a world-class couch hound.

We had a great specialty weekend again this year – as if Elliott’s wins weren’t enough, Rupert (Am. Can. Ch. Whimsy’s New Way To Fly)  made his sole appearance in the ring for the year at the Friday specialty under Espen Engh and was rewarded with Best Opposite. This is Rupert’s second consecutive BOS at our specialty, and we have to give special thanks this year to Mom for handling him to this very nice win.

Tyra (Chelsea Tyrendarra), Toby (Am. Can. Ch. Whimsy’s Speedwell , Monika (Am. Can. Ch. Whimsy’s Chamonix) and Spirit round out the household -  the whole lot of them make for very busy and fulfilling lives for us!

Chris & Chris Downing