2010 ASFA Greyhound Specialty - Part 1

Banner is a running dog.

Yeah...  yeah....  I know....  ALL greyhounds are "running dogs".  True, but few approach it with as much gusto and intensity as Banner.  Banner truly loves and lives to run.  He loves to compete and he really dislikes it when he doesn't win.  Yes, I think this boy knows when he doesn't win.

Back in November 2010, the American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) Greyhound Specialty lure course was being held in Tyler, Texas.  It was to be a weekend of lure coursing and a Greyhound LGRA (Large Gazehound Racing Asso.) Specialty.

Up until 2010, the event had always been held on the East Coast, usually in Georgia.  Since the event was so close, relatively speaking, we just had to go.  It was also a good time to check out the dogs as potential mates for Glory.  So, off to Texas Banner & Glory went.  I only hoped that Banner would uphold the family honor as Glory was not entered due to a chronic toe injury.

It was time for a road trip.

Laurel Drew & I loaded up the Toyota 4Runner with the dogs, our stuff, coursing stuff, and other stuff and hit the road.  I had contacted Buddy Scitern at C&C Greyhound Farm to see if he'd allow Banner to take a lap around his training track. It was a desire to see how well the boy could run. We worked our way down towards Buddy's and found ourselves there on Friday, the day before the Specialty.

Immaculate kennels...  Such a clean floor!
(courtesy of C&C Greyhound Farm)

Buddy has a lovely place.  The kennels & runs are immaculate...  The dogs are happy & well fed...  The track is impeccable...  His is a top notch, well run organization.  Buddy & his family are top notch dog people.

There were a few hounds to run before Banner was to get his turn but the first time he saw the lure zip by on the track, he knew what this was about.  He impatiently waited for his turn.  Since we did not have a dog to test the boy with, Buddy had one dog left to run and he graciously allowed Banner to load up next to him, a Grade A Gulf dog, to do the 3/16's of a mile.

I was so thankful that Banner knew how to load in the box, thanks to NOTRA racing.  Buddy's wife (I think it was his wife) took the boy by the collar to walk him to the box and she was almost pulled off her feet by the lad. He was eager, especially after being on the road for a couple of days. She loaded him up and then loaded the Gulf dog, Stomper, and, quick as a flash, the traps were sprung!

Banner never passed Stomp, but he wasn't distanced either.  He held his own and finished lapped onto the dog's hip. The time was under 17 secs.  Coming off the track, he had dirt on his face (a first), but the boy was content and it served as a good warm-up for the weekend.  It cleared the kinks, mental & physical, out. Putting an edge on him for the upcoming Specialty.

Leaving Buddy's, we stopped at the free, Dog Collectibles Museum in Waco, TX, spent more money, and then proceeded to Tyler, TX to check into our hotel and then to scope out the Texas Rose Horse Park - the location of the Specialty.

That's Part 2....

Banner Baby....

DCh DM Star Spangled Banner FCh SOR ORC

Like his auntie Jib, Banner is into everything!  He and she are making themselves into quite a team.  If it isn't one; it's the other...  my tag team!

Banner Baby, age 7 wks

Now, instead of always hearing "JIBLET!" ringing through the house, you are more likely to hear, "BANNER!"  We laugh as it seems that it is always Banner.  He's my heathen child, but what a talented child he is.  Banner is exceedingly smart and he's very keen when it comes to running.  The boy does not like any other dog to get ahead of him.

Banner was the first puppy born and weighed 1 lb 6 oz.  That is huge for a greyhound newborn!  When he was whelped, he hurt Abbey and she turned around to bite whatever it was that was hurting her.  Laurel & I both blocked her from the puppy and, after he was out, she was fine and started cleaning & polishing him.  After Banner, the rest of the pups were whelped fairly easily, except for Nampa.  Abbey delivered him standing up.  We had to catch him as he was born.

Banner has a lot of his sire's mannerisms.  He'll grab your hand and lead you somewhere.  He's a funny, funny dog.  Just last night, I was watching him with his brother, Nampa.  Nampa was nitting Banner's ears and Banner squealed.  When he squealed, Rob hollered at Nampa to "knock it off."  Nampa stopped and was just standing there when Banner, started chomping on Nampa's feet.  However, Rob didn't see the foot chomping and when Nampa retaliated, Banner again squealed, and Nampa again was chastised.  LOL....  Banner just lay there on the floor, quietly thumping his tail with a big ol' greyhound grin on his face. The brat!

Banner is a musician...  He's a Gene Krupa wannabe.  During the summer, we have small, plastic kiddie pools for the dogs out in the backyard.  The hounds like to lay in them during hot weather.  Well, the wind this past autumn blew one of the pools upsidedown and we never turned it back over.  The other day, I hear this drumming outside.  I look out the kitchen window and I saw Banner by the pool.  He was looking at it and his tail was slowly wagging.  Hmmm.....

Next thing he did, while still looking at the pool, was lean back on his haunches.  He lifted his front feet off the ground, supporting himself with his back and haunches and started slapping the pool, drumming it, with his front feet!  He couldn't support himself this way for long and as he put his front feet back on the ground, he got this big ol' goofy grin on his face and the tail was wagging again.  After a minute or so, he did it again.  LOL....  The boy is a musician!

Banner is pointed in both the breed ring and in the lure coursing field.  His win in the breed ring came at the Coronado Kennel Club shows under noted saluki breeder judge, Sharon Bartosh Kinney.  He garnered 2 points in that win with Rob showing him.

Banner, NOTRA Winner

The boy really shines in the coursing fields.  On 19 Oct 2008, Banner went Best of Breed at the Albuquerque Whippet Fanciers Asso. October AKC lure coursing trial for a 5 point major win.  The judges were Barb Ewing and Joel Brady.   The next weekend, Banner competed in his first NOTRA racing event.  Banner was awarded 1st place in greyhounds, a JOR leg, a SOR leg, ORC points.  Not too bad for a first time entry.

The following weekend, he competed in his first ASFA lure coursing event.  On Saturday, he finished first in Open to win 24 points and a placement towards his FCh.  We decided to flip a coin for the breed win with the owner of the #1 ASFA greyhound, Tally.  Renata won the toss and Tally went Best of Breed.  However, the points that Banner won by winning the Open stakes earned him a start in the next day's ASFA Region 3 Regional lure course.  On Sunday, Banner again went 1st in Open stakes, allowing him to run for Best of Breed against, Tally, the winner of the Field Champion stakes.  Tally & Banner ran in the breed stakes run off.  The judges tied them.  Oh geeez.....  We came to the line again, and at the "Tally Ho!" both hounds were slipped.  This time, Banner emerged victorious and won his first ASFA Best of Breed.

Now then, we wondered, does he have enough left after 4 runs to compete in Best in Field?  Is it even remotely possible that our 16 month old greyhound could win the Regional, like his momma?  We were about to find out.  Banner drew a very hot running borzoi named Nitro (owner: Tom Golcher) and a good running Rhodesian Ridgeback, Finely.  Nitro is fast - greyhound fast.  Finley is a great running Ridgeback.  Both are seasoned competitors.  This could be interesting.  It definitely would be a test of Banner's desire & ability.

The hounds are slipped and it soon becomes clear it is a very, very fast run between Nitro & Banner.  The two exchange leads and Banner makes a diving take attempt on the bag.  He misses, rolls and comes up running.  He has a lot of distance to make up on Nitro.  He finds another gear and he's driving....  driving....  He's still behind but closing, inch by inch.  Finally, near the end of the course, he passes Nitro and picks up the bag in his mouth!  He's running with the bag!  Then, the line breaks!  The judges call it a course and now, we wait.  The next course on the line is the afghan hound, Summer, and the Pharoah, Xena.  Who will win?  The winner was.....  BANNER!

Not to let Banner rest on his laurels, most recently I took him hunting.  He shows great promise, especially for being a big dog, at being pretty good in the hunting field.  However, only time will tell.

Banner in pursuit of a NM jackrabbit