Christmas 2010

Miss Spirit - looking SO pretty here, she is such a beautiful girl! Do you think she knows it???



Thanks to Mike for these beautiful photos of Spirit.....Looking prettier everyday.
Deana

Photos from the 2010 AKC NLCC

Here are some photos taken by Steve Surfman of Spirit, new NFC, during the weekend of the event! Congrats again Miss Spirit!

Win photo:Right after they announced the winner:Several photos throughout the weekend of Miss Spirit - always beautiful!Look at that position!!!Here is a photo of Spirit during the Best of Breed Finalist run - see 4 whippets all running together:Best of Event run-off #3 for Spirit - the final run with the last 4 breeds:

Spirit wins 2010 AKC NLCC

New AKC National Lure Coursing Champion!

This past weekend started out cold and windy! Not the kind of weather that Miss Spirit likes, that is for sure. The NLCC starts out as 2 individual AKC lure coursing trials. Spirit is a very consistent runner and did well, earning a 2nd place in the Specials stake both days, but ended up making it to the NLCC finals event by having the highest combined score (tied with another dog) from both days.

By the time we got to the Best In Event/finals, the weather had changed. The sun was out, the wind was gone and the temperatures had risen. Much better running weather for this red girl. The crowd enjoyed it as well and the hillside was covered with spectators, all excited for the upcoming event. The finals course was set up and the final runs began!

The whippet BOB run was beautiful, all 4 dogs ran their heart out and in the end it was given to Miss Spirit. I was thrilled and overwhelmed with joy that this special girl had won the honor of being the 2010 AKC Whippet Breed Finalist. However, Spirit said she was not done and insisted that she had more to give me.

The Best in Event consisted of 4 runs/10 dogs - Spirit was initially paired with the Greyhound (in the 3rd run) and started out having a gorgeous run that was stopped mid-course because the judges felt that the Greyhound was injured. Since she did not run the full course and it was a run of only 2 dogs, they asked her to run again as the 3rd dog in the 4th course. After the initial runs, the judges brought back 4 dogs - a ridgeback, a basenji, an ibizan hound and Spirit. I wish someone had video-taped this final run as it was truely a sight to see! These 4 incredibly talented dogs, all running together, were breathtaking and a sight I will not forget.

The overwhelming joy of hearing her name announced can not be expressed in words. Knowing the company that she was running with, I am truley honored that Spirit was awarded this prestegious title of National Field Champion for 2010! While this girl always runs with her heart, I know on this particular day she was running for me! She gave me her whole heart and made a dream come true! I hope that the "late" great Lyle and her "late" grandpa Moe would have been proud of her running!

I want to thank everyone who made this day happen. I want to thank her breeders for allowing this special girl to live with me. Spirit is a beautiful girl, an amazing athlete, and a loving companion. This talented girl has proven everything there is to prove about her on the coursing field. I can't ask anymore of this her. Thank you Miss Spirit!! From this point on, she is offically retired. I know you have other great accomplishments to achieve! I can't wait to see what your future holds for you next! I know that you will forever be running in your heart! Run on Spirit, Run on!

Deana

Happy 3rd Birthday!!!!!

Happy "3rd" Birthday to Spirit and all her siblings!
Spirit celebrated her 3rd Birthday doing her favorite thing, "what else"!!! Lure Coursing!
- Congrats to her 1st placement in the Field Champion Stake at the SHOT ASFA trial today in Williamsburg, VA.

Spirit 9/2010

Miss Spirit - grown up now - she will be 3 years old in November!
Thanks to Mike for these beautiful photos of her at Buck Creek Campgrounds in Marion, NC.
What a pretty red girl!

Deana

Spirit goes Best In Field at SHOT Trial

We attended an AKC Lure Coursing trial in Williamsburg, VA this past weekend. The weather was much cooler than home and despite the rain on Sunday, we had a great time! We spent Saturday night hanging out with friends in front of bon-fire!

Spirit was happy to be on the field again after a 3 week rest and ran like a wild girl - she went Best of Breed and then on to a Best in Field on Saturday!! The dry field was havock on the dogs feet and the trial on Sunday was much smaller. Spirit went on to win the Specials stake with Morgan placing 5th. I didn't run her for BOB, her pads seemed irritated and I want her to be able to run next weekend when we try out our new field in Marion, NC!

Thanks to Lori Strebritz for these photos of Spirit!

Congrats to Miss Spirit - I am always proud of this girl and her never ending heart and drive! What a joy to see her run! Run on Spirit, run on!

Deana

A Best of Breed Win in Virginia

Congratulations Miss Spirit on another Best of Breed at the CHAMP AKC Lure Coursing trial this past weekend in The Plains, VA. It was a hot and HUMID and ended up being a long day. However, in the end she performed 4 wonderful runs against some great competition and took home the Purple and Gold Ribbon. I am even happier that my Mom, Carol, and Stepdad, Ray, were visiting from Wisconsin to see this fantastic win. I am always proud of this special red girl! My only regret is not taking any pictures of Mom and Ray while we were there!

Deana

Summer Photos

SPIRIT

Here are some photos taken of Spirit on a semi hot day in August...... she is about 2.5 years old now, hard to believe!

Back to Back Best of Breeds

AKC Lure Coursing Trial in Hanover, PA

Congratulations to Miss Spirit on another successful weekend.
During the weekend of July 24th and 25th, she went back to back Best of Breeds against some tough competition. Spirit is currently the #1 whippet in AKC Lure coursing for 2010!! Way to go RED! This special girl always makes me proud and she has such a good time running, who could deny her the fun!

Thanks to Mike for this great photo!
Deana

New LCX 3 title!

Just like last year, we had a great weekend at the BGCC's spring AKC lure coursing trial. Spirit seems to love the hot weather and ran beautifully! From the bottom of my heart, watching her run makes me smile and she loves it SO much!

To keep things exciting, Spirit went BOB both Friday and Sunday! At just 2.5 years old, her BOB win on Friday earned her, her LCX3 title! I am so proud of this red girl!

Run on Spirit, Run on!

Deana
PS photo by Mike!

AKC Lure Coursing, Hanover, PA

Back to back Best of Breeds and then, to top it off, a Best in Field!!!

We had a great time in Hanover, PA, this past weekend. The weather was hot (which by the way Spirit LOVES!) and the competition was tough, but Miss Spirit went BOB both days and then went BIF on Sunday. Thanks to all that made this a wonderful experience for us! This makes 8 BOBs out of 13 trials so far this year! Congrats to Spirit!!! I am very proud of this special red girls (as always!!!)

Lure Coursing in Camden, SC

Every day I get to see this "red" girl run puts a smile on my face.

While it was HOT and HUMID in Camden, Spirit could have cared less. She ran great and had tons of fun! I don't know what this girl would do if she couldn't "chase bunny"!
Congrats to Spirit on her 6th of 11 Best of Breeds so far this year!

Run on Spirit, Run on!
We are proud of you as always!!
Deana
PS. Thanks to Mike for the photos!!!

Photos of Spirit from the 2010 AWC National

Me and Spirit at the Parade of Honors:
Spirit winning "Best Performance Dog" :
Spirit winning First in the Lure Coursing Bitch Class:
All by Steve Surfman

Another fun weekend lure coursing for Spirit!

We had a great time Lure coursing in Rocky Mount, NC this past weekend.
I am so proud of this red girl - she is always SO consistent! And boy does she love to run and get the bunny! Check out these photos by Mike - a series of photos from one of Spirit's runs (yellow) this past weekend:

The start:

Mid course:

A strong finish:Yeah - I got the Bunny!!!! Does that mean I win!!

What joy!
Deana