16th October 2020

The UK Sighthound Sport held a lure trial last Sunday in the beautiful Cotswolds,
under very strict COVID rules.  Credit to the organizers as pulling this event together with the restrictions could not have been easy.  We were all very happy to meet up after such a long time in isolation.  The weather was rainy and miserable but no one cared as it was so wonderful to be out, doing something we love.  
 
There was a good entry for Salukis with 5 new dogs making their debut.  Oxana Grigorenko was one of the new participants. She has written the following: 
“My UK Show calendar for 2020 is dead empty. But thankfully to UK Sighthound Sport's massive effort last weekend we were treated to a lure coursing event! It was a great success despite all the Covid restrictions. At the UKSS Autumn 2020 Open the Salukis were represented by a strong entry of 7 participants, good mix of champions and up and coming novices: Lena, Smudge, Altai, Artie, Nicole, Zak and Jazz. All competitors had a lot of fun on the field (and some maybe had too much). Despite a rainy day our spirits were high and it seemed like everyone had a great time.

Huge congratulations to the winner of the day Lena (Ch Al Zubeyda Lena at Kasaque (IMP) JW) owned by Michael & Helen Williams.  I was very pleased that Jazz (Imhotep Rears Natural Jasmine) took a 2nd place and Artie aka monkey (Alishamar Roxane owned by Natasha Hamilton came away with a 3rd. Congratulations to all 5 podium winners!

Massive thanks to our Masha Shaverneva for your hard work and dedication to the sport. Spending most of the day out in the rain judging sighthounds chasing a lure is not for the fainthearted!”
Another quote from a first timer: Jeaqn Strong wrote “Was a great day and this is from someone who didn’t want to go because it was so wet!  And ended up with rosette and a very happy pup.”
 
Salukis do not always have the best reputation at lure trials as sometime they decide enough is not enough so refuse to be picked up.  All the dogs on Sunday were excellent.  No courses were held up waiting for dogs to be picked up. If we keep up the good work then maybe in the future we will not always have to be the last breed to run.   Dates for UK Sighthound Sport 2021 have been listed as Spring Championship 21st March, Weekend Event with BBQ, camping and trial and Summer Championships 26, 27th June and the National Championship September TBC.  For qualifications please look at the UKSS website or their facebook page.
 
I have received a notification from Diana Klein, editor of “The Saluki” the magazine of the SGHC Club.  She is planning on the magazine being distributed from the 22nd of October.  Subscription prices are as follows.  Annual subscription for two editions is £20.00 UK, £25.00 Europe and £30.00 rest of the world.  It can also be obtained as a digital copy for £12.00.  Payment in British Pounds Sterling only by cheque or by bank transfer.  You do not need to be a member of the club to obtain the magazine.  
 
 
The new K C Journal is out with a couple of new judges.  Pam Marston Pollock will be judging LKA for 2021 and Graham Hill will be doing Driffield 2022. 
 
I have been informed that the facebook group ‘UK Saluki Friends’ is separate and fully independent from the Northern Saluki Club.  The group is the brain child of and is hosted by Caroline Pickering.  In my opinion it is the most interesting and varied site that `I know of in the social media realm.  Well done Caroline.
 
Having read in the newspaper that in Finland they were having success with dogs detecting COVID.  These dogs were being use at the airport for incoming travellers.  It is good to hear that the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medical Detection charity and Durham University is asking COVID suffers to let their dogs smell their body odour.  Whilst Salukis are classified as ‘sighthounds’ we know like all dogs they have a very good sense of smell.  I have asked Maya Monk how her Shasha sense of smell compares to other dogs.  She has said that Shasha is very methodical on how she goes about finding the smells she is trying to locate and she is very accurate in finding them.  Some of the spaniels are more frenetic but not necessarily more accurate.  So there is no reason why Salukis cannot be COVID detecting dogs.  
 

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