Friday, February 5, 2016

2015 LGRA Breed Rankings

LGRA has posted the 2015 year-end breed rankings. I always have a hard time keeping track of the beginning and end of the LGRA racing season, because in my head, racing "season" starts in the fall and ends in the spring, since the summer months are really too warm for any kind of running sport.

Anyway, congratulations to all the finalists, especially our #1 dog who is also our rookie of the year at age 7 years! We're all looking forward to more racing in northern California, starting in March.


#1: Yumi
Acélváros Yumi


#2: Pirate
CH Stouthearted Chocolate Soldier CC CM GRC JD


#3: Rietsu
Sárréti-Portyázó Boróka



#4: Luna
GRCH Betcha-Katcha Ojeda GRC

2015 NAMAA Nationals

I apologize for the tardiness of this post. We had our third annual NAMAA Specialty back in October (Halloween weekend), and it was a blast. I'm pretty sure 2015 saw the largest gathering of MAs in North America and it was a real treat to get all the dogs together and enjoy each other's company.

Our traditional group photo. From left: Luna, Dude, Gator, Patti, Gypsy, Jussi, Gil, Rietsu, Fecni, and Yumi
Photo by Nolan Cromwell

Saturday was punctuated with a special Hungarian lunch prepared by Ruthye and the Yates'. We enjoyed home made goulash with a side of spaetzle and sour cream, and a hearty bean soup with warm dinner rolls for dipping. Delicious!

We had three hounds present for whom this was their very first time in the show ring, and all three did great. Young Jussi was the only puppy, but showed like a champ.

Jussi getting the go-over
Photo by Nolan Cromwell

Our Saturday show was judged by Audrey Sutton, who selected Patti as her Best of Breed Winner, and Yumi as her Best of Opposite Sex Winner.

Patti, BOB under Judge Audrey Sutton
Photo by Iola Stetson

Yumi, BOS under Judge Audrey Sutton
Photo by Iola Stetson

Saturday was also noteworthy for it's warm and sunny weather, which made for good show conditions but less than ideal running conditions. The drought had left the field quite dry and hard, and after our preliminary lure coursing runs several of the dogs came off with minor injuries. So we decided to call the trial on prelim scores and cancelled the LGRA meet for the following day.

Luna burning rubber
Photo by Nolan Cromwell

Gypsy running in Singles
Photo by Nolan Cromwell

Dude running a close second in Singles
Photo by Nolan Cromwell

We had four dogs running in the Open Stake, and three dogs running in Singles. The scores were close on all counts, but Gil emerged victorious as the winner of the Open Stake and Rietsu as the winner of the Singles Stake.

 
Gil winning BOB and Rietsu winning 1st in Singles
Photo by Nolan Cromwell

Our Sunday show was judged by Arlene Grimes, who selected Pi as her Best of Breed Winner, and Patti as her Best of Opposite Sex Winner. Although we had cancelled the LGRA meet, we were relieved to be met with steady rainfall throughout the day, which proved to be the beginning of the end of our drought.

Pi, BOB under Judge Arlene Grimes
Photo by Nolan Cromwell

Fecni, winning Best Veteran under Judge Arlene Grimes
Photo by Nolan Cromwell

Since this event, California has seen record amounts of rain and snowfall all across the state. The landscape is green again, giving us much to look forward to this coming spring. Hopefully, by October of this year we will have much better field conditions for our next NAMAA Nationals.

Gator running hard
Photo by Nolan Cromwell