Predicated on the weather and David’s not having to work on a weekend, we will be holding several practices in November and December:

• Sunday, November 6, 2011
• Sunday, November 27, 2011 CANCELLED – WEATHER
• Saturday 10 December CANCELLED
• Saturday 17 December CANCELLED

Practice starts at 11:00 a.m.

I will send out a reminder mid week before practice.  If David ends up having to work, I will know the Friday before practice and will let everybody know that day.  Otherwise, I will send out an e-mail early (by 8am) on each practice Sunday to let everybody know for sure that practice is still on.  What would be stopping us at that point would be rain/wind/snow.

Practices will be held at the Cascade Family Fliers field south of Snohomish.  One last thing, my phone number is 425-293-3776.  Please don’t use the number on the Cascade Family Fliers website. That goes directly to the field owner, Mark.  I’m quite active on my computer.  If you e-mail me with questions, almost for sure, I will be back to you within a day if not sooner.

-submitted by Shirley Konizeski, aumbre@earthlink.net

Western Washington Whippet Association

Saturday, October 1, 2011 — NAWRA/LGRA/ISWS
Whippets: 200 yards, 4 programs, 6 dog races
Whippet Puppies: 150 yards, 3 programs, 4 dog races
Other Breeds: 200 yards, 3 programs, 4 dog races

Sunday, October 2, 2011 — ALL-BREED NOTRA/ISWS
Whippets: 350 meters, 3 programs, 4 dog races
Other Breeds: 350 meters, 3 programs, 4 dog races

Inspection: 9:00 a.m. each day

Eligible entry
NAWRA: Whippets; puppies 8-14 months may be entered in puppy races. LGRA: Open to any Afghan Hound, Azawahk, Basenji, Borzoi, Chart Polski, Cirneco dell’Etna, Greyhound, Ibizan Hound, Irish Wolfhound, Italian Greyhound, Pharaoh Hound, Magyar Agar, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Saluki, Scottish Deerhound, and Sloughi one year or older on the day of the meet. ISWS: Open to any Silken Windhound one year or older on the day of the meet. NOTRA: Open to any Afghan Hound, Basenji, Borzoi, Greyhound, Ibizan Hound, Irish Wolfhound, Italian Greyhound, Pharaoh Hound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Saluki, Scottish Deerhound, Sloughi, or Whippet one year or older on the day of the meet.

General Rules
All racers must wear muzzles. All racers will be boxed unless the race committee deems the boxes will not accommodate a breed in attendance. Entries will only be accepted from hounds qualified to race. Hounds must be registered with the parent organizations to participate. To register in advance see the appropriate website (NAWRA: http://www.nawra.com; LGRA: http://www.lgra.org; NOTRA: http://www.notra.org) for more information. Registration will be offered the day of the meet; for each organization, please bring a copy of hound’s registration and the $2 registration fee. However, pre-registration is greatly appreciated by the race secretary – thank you for your cooperation!

Pre-Entry Fees: $12 first dog, $10 each additional dog; $35 kennel fee (four dogs or more). Puppy races: $8.
Day-of-Meet Fees: $15.00 per dog, no kennel discount.
Checks payable to: WWWA

Pre-entries close: Thursday, September 29, 2011, 6:00 p.m.
Day-of-Meet entries close: 9:00 a.m. the day of the meet
Entries to: Kerie Swepston, kerie@swepston.us, 253-224-9980

Accommodations
Camping (sorry no hookups) is allowed on the field at no charge.

Prairie Hotel (~13 miles from field) 360-458-8300
701 Prairie Park Lane, Yelm, WA
http://www.prairiehotel.com/

Crossland Economy Studios (~16 miles from field) 253-538-9448
8801 S. Hosmer St, Tacoma WA
http://www.crosslandstudios.com/property/Crossland-Economy-Studios-Tacoma-Hosmer-hotel.html
(general hotel policy is one dog per room, but waived for our club events: mention WWWA or ask for general manager Jeremiah Durham)

Food: There will be a potluck lunch each day. Unless time is an issue, we will be stopping for lunch so we can all rest and enjoy each others company! Remember, there is electricity available at the field, so crock pots are more than welcome! We’ll offer a prize for best dish, so make your contribution a good one!

Practice: We will offer practice runs between programs both days – workers, time and equipment permitting – for $5/dog (no charge for workers!). See race secretary for sign up the day of the meet.

Directions
From the North: From I-5 take exit #127 (Hwy 512 Puyallup exit) towards Puyallup. Take the Pacific Ave exit (Hwy 7) and turn right. Go south on Pacific Ave approximately 5 miles to the Roy “Y” and bear right on WA-507/Spanaway McKenna Hwy. Go 1.2 miles and turn slight left onto 8th Ave. Go 5.2 miles and, after the flashing yellow light at the intersection at 288th, look for the first driveway on the left. Turn left into the driveway and follow the dirt road to the clubhouse.

From the South: Take I-5 exit 88A (Tenino exit) and follow to Yelm. Turn right at the stop light and follow to McKenna. Turn right at stop light in McKenna (Exxon station) on Hwy 702/352nd St. Go 5.3 miles to flashing yellow light and turn left on 8th Ave. Go approximately 3.5 miles and look for the last driveway on the right before the flashing light at the 288th Street intersection. Turn right into the driveway and follow the dirt road to the clubhouse.

Saturday will a regular ASFA trial with certification runs offered before the trial. Sunday will be the 2011 Region 1 Invitational, the premier ASFA event for our region!

To be eligible for the Regional on Sunday, dogs must have previously earned 1 ASFA point, so if your dogs are not eligible, entering the Saturday trial is your chance to get them a spot in the Sunday event! The Regional offers special ribbons and prizes for BOB winners. We’re also offering kennel and breeder stakes on Sunday at the Regional. As always, we’re offering our outstanding potluck lunches both days with prizes for the best dishes.

Judges are Al and Mary Crume from California, with local judge Avery McLeod filling in for for four breeds as a provisional judge on Saturday and as a fully licensed judge for whippets only on Sunday.

We need volunteers to help with a variety of jobs. You don’t have to be an expert to help out! We would love to help you learn the ropes, and there are plenty of non-running-related duties to help with.

For all the details, please download the premium list. Word versions of the trial entry forms and kennel/breeder stake entry form are also available. Direct any questions to WWWA’s field trial secretary Beth Levine at serendipitywhippets@gmail.com.

The meeting will be at Chris and Chris Downing’s home in Monroe (directions available by request) off Fern Bluff Rd, off Highway 2. We will meet at 1:00 p.m. Please email Chris if you plan to attend so they can provide refreshments.

If you cannot attend, but have input, please forward to someone planning to attend so your thoughts can be included in the meeting.

-submitted by Mary Downing

Saturday, August 27
Saturday, September 3
Sunday, September 11
Sunday, September 25 CANCELLED – RAIN

Practice starts at 11:00 a.m.

Unfortunately, the month of October is entirely out for practices.  We are putting on a week end of race meets and a weekend of lure trials.  The ridgeback club is also putting on a weekend of lure trials.  The other two weekends, I will be out of town.  Into November, if the weather permits there are at least two weekends, possibly three, upon which we can hold practices.  After that, if we have a weekend day that is really nice, I will call an impromptu practice.  Other than that, practices will be pretty much over until late winter/early spring.

Practices will be held at the Cascade Family Fliers field south of Snohomish.  One last thing, my phone number is 425-293-3776.  Please don’t use the number on the Cascade Family Fliers website. That goes directly to the field owner, Mark.  I’m quite active on my computer.  If you e-mail me with questions, almost for sure, I will be back to you within a day if not sooner.

As usual, I will remind everybody mid-week prior and if there is to be a cancellation I will let everybody know by the latest 8:00 day of.

-submitted by Shirley Konizeski, aumbre@earthlink.net

Then we’ll set up for the match – good chance to practice for the Specialty weekend.  During the afternoon, we’ll fit in some practice runs for anyone interested.  The weather is suppose to be great and hope to see lots of club members and guests enjoying the day with WWWA.  Club members, please let Mary Downing know if you are coming, if you’re not, no need to respond, we’ll miss you but needs to get an idea of our numbers.  I know a lot of guests are coming and we need to show them what fun our club can have.

There is a $5 charge by the land owner for parking, but no charge for the match or practice runs.

These are the actual written directions but a map can be found on the website for the Cascade Family Flyers.
Main drag through Snohomish is 2nd, go east on 2nd and turn south onto Lincoln, go 1.8 miles, cross small bridge over French Creek and immediately turn left onto gravel road signed Cascade Family Flyers.  Follow all the way back, under tressle, through chain link gate to parking next to field.  If you’re coming from Monroe, you would be on the old Monroe-Snohomish Rd. and turn right onto gravel road.

-submitted by Mary Downing

Saturday, 4 June
Sunday, 3 July
Saturday, 16 July
Sunday, 17 July (practice available for Annual Picnic attendees)
Saturday, 23 July CANCELLED
Saturday, 13 August Rescheduled to Sunday, 14 August

I apologize for lack of practices in June, but with a new litter of puppies due the week following practice, we won’t be going anywhere for awhile.  However, Cascade Coursing Club is having two practices in June.  Please check their web site or the ASFA Region 1 calendar for further information..

Practice will begin at 11:00 and run until everybody’s had at least two runs.  Please remember that all participants and any guests will be signing an indemnity agreement.  We will be starting over for the new practice year.  We ask that you bring crates with to confine your dogs except during warm up, running, and cool down.  Appropriate collars for your dogs while being walked are martingales (when pulled up tight the rings should be an inch or two apart) or choke collars (if you have a choke collar and don’t know how to properly fit it, hollar and I will show you).  Poop bags and water are a necessity.  Anything that comes in with you goes out with you.  There are no garbage facilities at the field.  However there is a bathroom for the humans!   I will e-mail a reminder to everybody mid week prior to practice.  Be sure to check your e-mail morning of.  If the weather does not cooperate or David has to work the weekend, I will have an e-mail out by 8:00 the morning of the practice.  Cost is the same as last year.  $5.00 for the owner of the field and $2.00 per dog.  Minimum two practice runs, with the possibility of three or four dependent upon how many dogs show up.

Practices will be held at the Cascade Family Fliers field south of Snohomish.  One last thing, my phone number is 425-293-3776.  Please don’t use the number on the Cascade Family Fliers website. That goes directly to the field owner, Mark.  I’m quite active on my computer.  If you e-mail me with questions, almost for sure, I will be back to you within a day if not sooner.

As usual, I will remind everybody mid-week prior and if there is to be a cancellation I will let everybody know by the latest 8:00 day of.

-submitted by Shirley Konizeski, aumbre@earthlink.net

This event is a showcase of the versatility of our wonderful whippets and the other sighthound breeds, and there will be something for everyone!

• Saturday is straight racing – NAWRA for whippets and LGRA and ISWS for other breeds.
• Sunday is all-breed NOTRA oval racing, followed by a conformation match. We’ll have a special class just for Versatility entrants, but also classes for young puppies, adults and veterans, so bring out your youngsters for training and your oldsters to revel in the fun.  ILPs and spayed/neutered hounds welcome! Our judge is Darien Adley (Hilerica Whippets) from West Vancouver, BC.
• Monday is ASFA lure coursing.
• At the end of the day on Monday, Versatility awards will be conferred to the top ranked hound in each breed who completes all four events.
• Other fun stuff: potluck lunches with prizes for best dish, vendors, and plenty of practice opportunities.

We need volunteers to help with a wide variety of jobs. You don’t have to be an expert to help out! We would love to help you learn the ropes, and there are plenty of non-running-related duties to help with.

For all the details, please download the premium list. Word versions of the entry forms (race, match, ASFA) are also available. Direct any questions to Beth Levine at serendipitywhippets@gmail.com.