Before Telling Our History, Region 8 Would Like to Take This Opportunity to Thank California, and Its Sighthound Owners for Starting Lure Coursing

REGION EIGHT (By Dean Wright) Before telling our history, Region 8 would like to take this opportunity to thank California, and its sighthound owners for starting lure coursing. Region 8 would especially like to thank Lyle Gillette, Tom Leone, Betty Blalock, Betz Leone, Bud Pine, Royce Northcott, and Nancy Oliver, Region 8 considers you the people that started lure coursing, and without your efforts there would be no history of lure coursing in Region 8. “Region Eight of 1989” dedicates the following article to “Region One of 1972,” where it all started. Our history began in Pennsylvania and Connecticut at about the same time in 1974. The Delaware Valley Afghan Hound Club and the Borzoi Club of Delaware Valley had been doing Afghan and Borzoi racing out of starting boxes for several years. When they heard of ASFA trials it was a logical step for them to start putting them on. They had several fun trials, and hosted their first sanctioned ASFA trial in the spring of 1974. This trial was open to Afghans and Borzoi only. They had a similar trial in the fall. In the spring of 1975, they hosted their first all- breed trial. Afghans were run on Saturday and all other breeds ran on Sunday. The driving force behind these clubs were Bob Sellers, Norma Jordan, Ann Filetti, and Ed Filetti. The trials were held in West Chester, Pennsylvania at Vale Vue Kennels, the home of Bob Sellers and Norma Jordan (becoming Bob and Norma Sellers with their wedding on December 30, 1975.) The trials were held in an eight acre fenced field right at their front door. It was a beautiful setting with the hounds running over the rolling hills and slopes of Vale Vue Kennels, with the hillsides in the background dotted with cattle and an occasional deer. Ann Filetti was an organizer and great promoter of the sport. She planned and was the Field Trial Secretary for the early trials at Vale Vue Kennels. It was a family affair with Ann as the Secretary, her husband Ed judging, and her son Mike restringing the lure on a mini bike after each course. “Tammy,” the Sellers Afghan, ran extremely well and helped get them excited about the sport. For the Filettis it was “Nicki” and “Rugay,” their Borzoi, who love to run, and passed their enthusiasm on to their owners. Kathy Budney and Sue Murphy were the force behind the Connecticut Sighthound Club (CSC). This club was affiliated by ASFA in March of 1974 as a trial giving club. They ran fun trials in 1974 and after attending a trial at Vale Vue, they hosted their first sanctioned ASFA trial in 1975. Their first real equipment was purchased from Bud Pine and the lure consisted of strips of an old mink coat. Prior to that they had used an upside down bicycle wheel and pedal to move and control the lure. Their first trial was held at Red House Kennels. Kathy and Sue traveled throughout the Region promoting the sport of lure coursing. Kathy O’Brien moved to New Jersey from California with her Afghans. Kathy had been active in open field and lure coursing in California. She teamed up with Ingrid Wood and the Afghan Hound Club of Southern New Jersey, becoming the authority on the sport on the East Coast. Kathy and Ingrid traveled almost every weekend to put on a practice for a club somewhere in the northeast. They were very verbal about what they saw and ruffled some feathers along the way, but they were a strong force in promoting lure coursing in our Region. Ann Filetti with Bob and Norma Sellers helped the following clubs get started in lure coursing: Mohawk- Hudson Afghan Hound Club with Betty and Chester Hickok; Tri-State Sighthound Club; Greater Pittsburgh Afghan Hound Club; Potomac Afghan Hound Club; and the Potomac Saluki Club. The Potomac Saluki Club and the Potomac Afghan Hound Club were existing breed clubs that started doing practices in 1975 and early 1976. The active people in these clubs were the Van Horns, Roger and Terry Smith, and Liz Lowe. The Ibizan Hound Club of the United States (IHCUS) became an automatic member in 1976 when the breed was accepted by ASFA. The first Ibizans competed at a trial on May 16, 1976 at Vale Vue Kennels. The IHCUS along with the Potomac Saluki Club hosted the “SIGHTHOUND EXTRAVAGANZA” in the fall of 1976. It took place over two days at Timonium Fairgrounds in Baltimore, Maryland. The SIGHTHOUND EXTRAVAGANZA featured conformation judging both days and a coursing fun trial each day. A dinner was held Saturday night at the Holiday Inn with Dr. Northcott giving his presentation on the double suspension gallop, along with his film. This event brought sighthounders together from all over our Region for an exchange of ideas and thoughts on coursing. Region Eight (con’t) In 1976, several hounds and owners attended the Grand National in Colorado. “Bandit” and “Weah”, two Afghans from Region Eight were two of the three Afghans to run-off for Best of Breed, with “Bandit” winning. “Heather,” a Borzoi from our Region, was in the Best of Breed run. “Reina” won Best of Breed Ibizan Hound; and Region Eight brought back two Best of Breed trophies. The Region I usually represented at each year’s Grand National and our hounds perform well. At the March 1977 ASFA Annual Convention of Delegates held in Las Vegas, Ann Filletti was elected to the ASFA Board of Directors. Ann represented our Region, which at that time was Region Five. Our Region was originally designated as Region Five, with no specific boundaries. The first ASFA Northeast (Region) Invitational was held in 1976 in Somerville, New Jersey. It boasted a wind and rain storm that had the leaves doing go-bys on the Greyhounds. This event was hosted by the Delaware Valley Afghan Hound Club and the Borzoi Club of Delaware Valley. A second ASFA Invitational was held in our Region in 1977. This invitational was held in Durham, Connecticut and was hosted by the Connecticut Sighthound Club. The Best in Field and Best of Breed winners from these trials are shown in the boxes below. At the ASFA Annual convention of Delegates in 1977, the country was officially divided into eight Regions, thus our Region became Region Eight with specific boundaries. Each Region was to elect a Regional Director to represent them at the ASFA Board meetings. Our first Regional Director was Mary Ann Repman. The first term was for six months and then Mary Ann was elected for another two year term. She resigned during this term and Dean Wright was elected to fill the vacancy. Nancy Drips was the next Regional Director, and when she was elected to the position of Corresponding Secretary, Tom Bianchi finished the term as Regional Director. He was followed by David Garriss, who resigned. The next Regional Director was Dean Wright, who served for four years. Pete Mendicino was then elected and is the current Regional Director. 1976 – Somerville, NJ – Entry 54 Best in Field – Saluki, Pandahari’s Joker BOB’s Afghan Hound –Tamora’s Image of Ali, CD – G & M Forrester Basenji – Mytarka’s Lalejana – M. McNeil Greyhound – Rocket’s Miss Chief – M Trubek Ibizan Hound – Treybeau’s Spanish Flyer – D Wright Irish Wolfhound – Ch Sammuella of Tipperary – G Odum Saluki – Pandahari’s Joker – B & C Hickok Scottish Deerhound – Daraich of Gwent – N Naines Whippet – The Honorable Lord Alfred – P F Traino 1977 – Durham, CT – Entry 48 No Best In Field BOB’s Afghan Hound – Hexe Gefunden – I Wood Basenji – Princess Knight of Tara – A Koppelman Greyhound – Perfecta Pat – H & C Hickok Irish Wolfhound – Seawolf’s Mako McQueen – J Grillo Pharaoh Hound – PHCA Ch Beltara’s Mister Futura – E & V Rees Saluki – Simand Beda Cito Al Kahtahdin – Copenhaver & Andrews Scottish Deerhound – Fairyforts Highland Fling – H & J Mayo Whippet – Greyfriar Phoenix – Garwacki & Stevens Region Eight (con’t) Our Region has always been well represented on the ASFA board. Kathy Budney acted as Recording Secretary at the 1977 Annual Convention of Delegates. She also has served on the Board as Corresponding or Recording Secretary since 1978. Gary Forrester was elected Second Vice-President in 1978, and moved up to First Vice-President, President, Past-president, and came off the Board after 12 years of service. Leigh Littleton, who moved into our Region in 1982 served as Corresponding Secretary and is now President of the ASFA. Dean Wright is now the First Vice-President. Jane Schreiber, Ariel Duncan, Camille Mendicino, Lessia Newcomer, Diana Darling, and Sandy Wright have all served as key chairmen now or in the past. The following information was obtained from Field Advisory News and includes Clubs active in Region #8 during the years represented. Clubs Initials Name Years Active AHCSNJ AFGHAN HOUND CLUB OF SOUTHER NEW JERSEY 1976 – 1986 CSC CONNCECTICUT SIGHTHOUND CLUB 1976 – 1989 BCDV BORZOI CLUB OF DELAWARE VALLEY 1976 – 1989 BCGNY BORZOI CLUB OF GREATER NEW YORK 1976 – 1989 DVAHC DELAWARE VALLEY AFGHAN HOUND CLUB 1976 – 1989 IHCUS IBIZAN HOUND CLUB OF THE UNITED STATES 1976 – 1989 MHAHC MOHAWK HUDSON AFGHAN HOUND CLUB 1976 – 1986 PSC POTOMAC SALUKI CLUB 1976 – 1980 BCCNJ BORZOI CLUB OF CENTRAL NEW JERSEY 1977 – 1989 BCOA BORZOI CLUB OF AMERICA 1977 – 1989 GSSA GARDEN STATE SIGHTHOUND ASSOCIATION 1977 – 1989 PAHC POTOMAC AFGHAN HOUND CLUB1 1977 – 1989 TSSC TRI-STATE SIGHTHOUND CLUB 1977 – 1989 CC COASTAL COURSERS 1978 – 1989 GPAHC GREATER PITTSBURGH AFGHAN HOUND CLUB 1978 – 1980 ACBRA AM/CAN BORDERS RUNNERS ASSOCIATION 1980 – 1989 DASH DISTRICT AREA SIGHTHOUND ASSOCIATION 1980 – 1989 NAHC NUTMEG AFGHAN HOUND CLUB 1980 – 1989 SDCA SCOTTISH DEERHOUND CLUB OF AMERICA 1980 – 1989 SHANE SIGHTHOUND ASSOCIATION OF NEW ENGLAND

Load more