**Wild thang, you make our hearts sing...!!!**
(5/11/2013) Okay, The Troggs didn't quite sing it like that, but this girl does indeed make our hearts happy. At the Southern California Ibizan Hound Club Lure Trial held in Chino, Yamadan RFR Tiflah Al Hadiya JC made her debut running in the Open Stake. She did so very nicely earning first place for her first points in AKC Lure Coursing, a major! Way to go little girl,
you enjoy chasing the petroleum hare almost as much as the real thing!
(Photo by Clark Kranz, Agiledogs Photography)
**Nomsa does her thing and does it well!!**
(5/4/2013) Nomsa runs in her first lure trial of the 2013 season in Laihia, Finland and becomes Fin LC Ch, SSaKMM-12 Al Yasamin Samina! She needed that one win from another season (having completed all the needed requirements for a Finnish Lure Coursing Championship last season) and she went right out and earned it! The complete Saluki results can be seen HERE.
Congratulations go to Tiina Torkko, Nomsa's owner and to Marjo Aittokari, Nomsa's breeder!
(Photo by Ilkka Niemelä)
**Who would have guessed??!!**
(4/11/2013) We'd have never thought that both Zelia and Tilfah would love the pursuit of the petroleum hare so much, being the die-hard open field (live game) coursers that they are. It seems, though, that as long as it moves fast, the chase is on! At the San Angeles Saluki Club AKC lure trial Tiflah ran in the Singles Stake and with seven Salukis in competition she won first place. Zelia ran in the Open Stake and is now BISS Ch. Amala Zelia at RFR CC, CM, SC! She finished her Senior Courser title on this day at ten years, eight months of age. Way to go girls! Tiflah also ran for her Qualifying Certificate and earned it with ease, so now she will compete in the Open Stake.
**Nova wins the Archives Plaque!**
(3/23/2013) The American Saluki Association held the Archives Plaque Hunt for veterans this past Saturday on a beautiful, sunny, yet cool morning. Our Santana Novastar at RFR CC, CM won both of the courses and the trophy with a total score of 141. His brother, Santana Hello, Goodbye at RFR CC, CM was second place at 132 and fellow fine coursing veteran, FC Doubletime's Red Dot Rising SC, FCh, was third, only a half point off of Ringo's score at 131.5. Nova's name will now join his sire's (2006) on the plaque, a lovely honor.
It was a small, but mighty group of hunters and hounds on the day and a great time was had by all. Hats off to the dogs that are still running strong into their veteran years and to their owners for keeping them fit so they can still get out there and put some scare into the hares!
"What a great weekend for two of Sky's sons!"
(3/9 - 3/10/2013) First, Blue Nile Special Keeper went to the Heart of America Kennel Club shows in Kansas City, MO and on Saturday he won Winners Dog, Best of Winners, Best of Breed and Group IV from the Bred by Exihibitor class under judge Helen Lee James! The next day under judge Brian Harris of New Zealand, Keeper was Winners Dog and Best of Opposite Sex for another major to complete his championship. He is now Champion Blue Nile Special Keeper and is the fifth in this litter to finish their AKC championship. Congratulations, Michael and Sara!
And, on the same weekend at the oval track races in Northern California, Mocha added yet another title to his list of achievements. His name grows ever longer: Ch. Timaru Wild Acclaim SC, SGRC2, SOR, RN, CGC, ORC and has earned his Oval Track Racing Championship at almost eight years of age. Congratulations, Margaret, on yet another milestone for Mocha!
**Tiflah has two great weekends!**
(1/6/2013 and 1/12/2013) Our Yamadan RFR Tiflah Al Hadiya JC has started out the new year with a flourish! First, at the Kennel club of Palm Springs show on 1/6/2013, she won Winners Bitch and Best of Winners under long-time breeder/judge David Miller for her first major. Tiflah now has eight points, one major towards her bench title at nineteen months of age!
(Photo by Cook Phodography)
The next weekend at the TCC breed hunt, Tiflah had two excellent courses and earned second place! She has now run in three TCC hunts and has a first place and two second placements with 83 points of the 100 needed towards her coursing championship. She is doing great for her first season on hares. From ring to field, Tiflah seems good at doing it all. What a super little girl! We cannot thank Brad and Stephanie Gamble (Yamadan Salukis) for sending her out west to us!
**Mocha does it again!!**
(12/22/2012) We have learned that Ch. Timaru Wild Acclaim SC, SGRC2, SOR, RN, CGC has finished out 2012 as the Number One LGRA AND NOTRA Saluki! Congratulations, again, to Margaret Smith on these remarkable achievements with Mocha. Mocha became a veteran in May of this year and is still running strong!
(Photo by Gary Ellis of Mocha in October 2012)
**Tiflah is off to a great start at the hunts!**
(12/22/2012) Our Yamadan RFR Tilfah Al Hadiya JC has done well at her first two TCC hunts this fall with a second place and first place wins! She now has over half of the points and all the placements she needs towards her breed coursing title. She is gaining experience in the hunt format this season and we are very pleased with her progress. Way to go little red girl! She is pictured above on a chilly afternoon at home with some of her recent spoils.
(Photo by J Lonero)
(12/16/2012) There are new photos of Dhabi and Ducati on the Ringo x Cat litter page! These boys are maturing so beautifully!
**Keeper and Surprise win in Dallas!!**
(12/7 - 12/9/2012) What a fabulous weekend for the littermates Blue Nile Special Surprise and Blue Nile Special Keeper. At the North Texas Saluki Club Specialty show under sighthound specialist Robert Stein, Keeper goes Winners Dog for a five point major! The next day, at the Texas Kennel Club show, Surprise wins Winners Bitch and Best of Winners for a four point major under judge Monica Canestrini.
At the Greater Collin Kennel Club show not only does Keeper earn Winners Dog and Best of Winners for a three point major, sister Surprise won Winners Bitch for her fourth major to become Champion Blue Nile Special Surprise! Surprise completed her title in very limited showing with all of her points coming from major wins! Keeper now has both of his majors and only needs a few single points to complete his title.
Congratulations on Champion number four for the Sky x Rent litter to Sara Winsted and Michael McMillan (Blue Nile Salukis)! What a great way to finish out your year at the shows!!
(Surprise is pictured above and Keeper, below, photo by Luis Sosa)
**Fall family coursing fun and more!**
(12/1/2012) On our homefront there hasn't been a lot of "official" news lately and that is largely due to it being fall and time for our hounds to be out in the deserts and fields coursing. All of the photos above were taken in the last month or so and the pack is fit and fast. Tiflah did go to her first TCC hunt on the 17th of November and scored 2nd place in the hunt. Way to go baby girl!
We did just receive some fabulous news from overseas and it is that Sky's daughter SSaKMM-12 Al Yasamin Samina finished out the 2012 Lure Coursing season as Finland's Number One Saluki!! What a fabulous accomplishment for Nomsa in her first season out! Congratulations to Tiina Torkko, Nomsa's owner and to Marjo Aittokari, Nomsa's breeder and co-owner on this wonderful accomplishment!
**Rusty and Dhabi win in New Mexico!**
(10/12 - 10/13/2012) At ten years of age Rusty becomes Grand Champion Owl Ridge High Rustler CC, CM, NACC, NACM by winning the Select Award at the Sangre de Cristo Kennel Club show under judge Claire Steidel for yet another major!
The next day Abaqero Kineahora Dhabi wins Best of Winners for his third major at the Valencia Valley Kennel Club show under judge Karen Arends. This brings Dhabi to thirteen points! What a great weekend for the veteran, Rusty, and the youngster, Dhabi! Congratulations to Jean Warner and Joel Scheinberg, Rusty's breeders, owners and handlers and to Frances Zeller, Hugh Pohle and Anne Vigneri, Dhabi's breeders. Dhabi is handled by Frances.
**Dhabi wins his second major!**
(10/7/2012) At the Chaparral Kennel Club show under sighthound specialist Barbara Ewing, Abaqero Kineahora Dhabi goes Winners Dog for his second major! This young hound is maturing beautifully and is breeder owner handled by Frances Zeller. Congratulations to Frances on this lovely win! Dhabi is one of the two boys from the Ringo x Cat litter and was bred by Frances Zeller, Hugh Pohle and Anne Vigneri.
**Nomsa wins in Helsinki!!**
(9/29/2012) SSaKMM-12 Al Yasamin Samina goes to the International Lure Coursing Competition in Helsinki, Finland and in her field of 14, earns 3rd place. This win would have finished Nomsa's Finnish Lure Coursing Championship, but she will have to wait and earn her final CC next season per club regulations. None the less, another very fine day and great finish for this young female! Congratulations to Tiina Torkko (Nomsa's owner/trainer) and Marjo Aittokari (Nomsa's breeder and co-owner)!
(Photo by Ilkka Niemelä)
**Tiflah and Zelia enjoy the pursuit of the petroleum hare!**
(9/15 - 9/16/2012) Our girls enjoyed a weekend at the California Coursing Association Lure Trials (AKC Sanctioned) held in Camarillo. Tiflah (Yamadan RFR Tiflah Al Hadiya) ran two swift courses and earned her Junior Courser title over the weekend. Our ten year old BISS Ch. Amala Zelia at RFR CC, CM ran in Open Stake and on Sunday won first place and then won the run-off for Best of Breed, earning her a three point major towards her Field Championship! Both days she ran qualifying courses towards her Senior Courser title. Way to go girls! It is always extra fun when the dogs will chase plastic, despite being life-long open field coursers. They just know how to have more fun!
(Top photo of Tiflah by Colleen Summerfield, Zelia by Dotty Franke and other two of Tiflah by Cathy Chapman.
Thank you friends for sharing these photos!)
**More super summer happenings for the Finnish duo!**
The two offspring from the Sky x Ada litter have been busy this summer starting out their lure and track coursing careers. Nomsa (right, above) is being a typical young lady, more mature than her brother and has won at four straight lure coursing events by winning 1/20 (20 entered and run), 1/14, 2/15 (VIDEO by Sanja Kuusela) and 1/6. She has already earned four of the five needed CC's for her Finnish Lure Coursing Championship and will have to earn the 5th next year as Finnish rules prohibit a dog from completing a title in only one season. Here is more about Nomsa on the Suomen Salukikerho RY website.
Not to be outdone by his over-achieving sister, Armel (left, above) has been practicing on the track and lure and ran in the top half of the males at the trial held in Helsinki on 8/26 (7/15). He is running very clean and focused and we have high hopes for this boy to be more mature for next season's trials! Meanwhile, he looks very promising and continues to be the life of the party wherever he goes. Congratulations go to Marjo Aittokari (Nomsa and Armel's breeder and co-owner, Al-Yasamin Salukis), Tuija Tuominen, Armel's owner and training partner and to Tiina Torkko, Nomsa's owner and training partner. Out thanks to you for enjoying your Sky puppies so much!
(Photos by Tuija Tuominen)
**Tiflah wins another major reserve!**
(7/29/2012) Our Yamadan RFR Tiflah Al Hadiya goes Reserve Winners Bitch at the American Saluki Association Celebration supported entry at the Lompoc Valley Kennel Club show under breeder judge Carole Tipler (Al Yaman Salukis) from the 12 - 18 months class! In very limited showing Tiflah has won three specialty major reserves (all from the puppy class) and now this supported entry major reserve. Our sleek little redhead is growing up nicely and is looking forward to "getting serious" about dog shows and moving up into the Open class. Go Tiflah!
(Photo by Cook Phodography)
(7/27/2012) BISS Ch. Amala Zelia at RFR CC, CM wins another Best in Veteran Sweepstakes at the San Angeles Saluki Club Specialty show held in Lompoc, California. Zelia is now ten years of age and earned this honor under breeder judge Kathleen Waller (Walkirk Salukis). This is Zelia's fourth Best in Sweepstakes as a Veteran!
(Photo by Holloway)
**Nomsa wins again!**
(7/14/2012) Wow, SSaKMM-12 Al Yasamin Samina does it again! She wins another CC towards her Finish Lure Coursing Championship by winning first place at the SA-FA Coursing 2012 meet held in Vihti, Finland. This makes back to back wins for this youngster, both times running in the sand. Our congratulations go again to Tiina Torkko, Nomsa's owner and trainer and to Marjo Aittokari, Nomsa's breeder!
(Photo by Ilkka Niemelä)
**Wow, Nomsa wins the Finnish Saluki Club Lure Championship!!**
(7/7/2012) In Tampere, Finland, Al Yasamin Samina wins the bitch's title at the Finnish Saluki Club's Championship Lure event! This was only Nomsa's second time on the lure and she is off to a great start while running two strong, clean courses over the challenging sand course. Here is video of her Prelim and her Final runs.
Full results are HERE.
Nomsa is from Marjo Aittokari's Sky x Ada litter whelped on March 28th, 2010. Nomsa's brother, Armel, plans to make his debut on the lure field later this month. Congratulations to Marjo Aittokari (Al Yasamin Salukis) and Tiina Torkko, Nomsa's owner and trainer!
(Photo by Ilkka Niemelä)
**Surprise wins her second major!**
(6/3/2012) At the Saluki Club of America supported entry at the Mississippi Valley Kennel Club show under judge Jane Sheppard, Blue Nile Special Surprise wins Winners Bitch and Best of Winners for a five point major! Surprise has only been shown a handful of times and already has two five point majors to her credit. Also on this day, her brother, Blue Nile Special Keeper was Reserve Winners Dog to the major and her sister, GCh. Blue Nile Special Promise earned the Select Bitch award. What a great day for the Sky x Rent litter!! Congratulations to Michael and Sara McMillan on all the fine wins!
(Photo by Downey)
**Tiflah turns one year old!**
(5/14/2012) Time is flying and our Yamadan RFR Tiflah Al Hadiya has just turned one year of age. Along with earning five points from the puppy classes towards her AKC show championship, our little gal has been having a blast growing up in the fields and learning her craft of catchin' hares. Not only is Tiflah a complete joy to live with (a real snuggler and love along with being a comedian!) she seems pretty adept thus far at reeling in the ribbons in the ring and the hares in the field. Happy Birthday Tiflah, we love you!
Click on Tiflah's page to view some recent photos from the ring and the field!
**Wow, more Mocha milestones!**
(5/8/2012) We have just learned of more accomplishments for Margaret Smith's Mocha. He has completed his Senior Oval Racer and Superior Gazehound Racing Championship 2 titles and finished as the #1 Saluki in the National Oval Track Racing Association's 2011 final standings. He is now Ch. Timaru Wild Acclaim SC, SGRC2, SOR, RN, CGC!! Our hat's off along with our congratulations to Margaret and co-owner and breeder, Lesley Brabyn (Timaru Salukis)!
(Photo by Dave Mills Photography)
**What a great weekend at SASC and Western Hound for our girls!**
(4/13/2012) Starting out the weekend on Friday the 13th at the San Angeles Saluki Club Specialty show our BISS Ch. Amala Zelia at RFR CC, CM wins Best in Veteran's Sweepstakes under breeder/judge Terry Smith (Ramazahn Salukis). What a lovely honor to have our girl at almost ten years of age recognized by a fellow coursing enthusiast. Thank you Terry Smith!
(Photos by Cathy Chapman)
Later in the day, in the middle of a strong thunder and lightening storm, our baby girl, Yamadan RFR Tiflah Al Hadiya won her 9 - 12 month puppy class under breeder judge Starr White (Windstorm Salukis), then went on to win her third Specialty Reserve Winners Bitch award! Wow, what a great time this little sleek redhead is having while she is learning about having fun at dog shows. Thank you Starr White for honoring our girl with such a lovely win!
(Photos by Cathy Chapman, day after the specialty in fairer weather!)
(4/14/2012) While ringside the first day of the Western Hound Shows getting ready to handle for clients, I received fabulous news from Oklahoma. Journey is now Champion Blue Nile Special Journey, finishing her title at the Northeast Oklahoma Kennel Club show under judge Dana P Cline! She is Champion number three for the Sky x Rent litter! Congratulations, Michael and Sara!
(4/15/2012) And, to round out the weekend at Sunday's Western Hound show, Tiflah wins another Best in Sweepstakes. Thank you Ingrid Romanowski (Firuza Salukis) for this lovely win! It really is such a wonderful honor to have fellow long time Saluki breeders appreciate our little Red Zinger!
(Photo by Kit Rodwell)
(4/9/2012) Blue Nile Special Journey wins Winners Bitch and Best of Winners at the Wichita Kennel Club show under judge Judy Webb. These two points bring Journey's point total to fourteen. One more point and she becomes Champion number three for the young Sky x Rent litter! Congratulations to Michael and Sara McMillan, Journey's owners and breeders!
(3/31/2012) Our Yamadan RFR Tiflah Al Hadiya goes to the Kern County Kennel Club show and wins Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex under judge Carol Esterkin for another point from the 9 - 12 months puppy class!
**Tiflah loves Arizona and Arizona loves Tiflah!**
(2/18 - 2/20/2012) Our Yamadan RFR Tiflah Al Hadiya took some time off from chasing hares out in the Mojave desert to travel to Mesa Arizona for the Central Arizona Saluki Association and Saluki League of Southern Arizona Specialty shows. On the first day she won her 9 - 12 months puppy class and went on to win Reserve Winners Bitch to a five point major under judge Robert Robinson! Wow, what a wonderful win for our nine month old baby!Then, the next day Tiflah won Best in Puppy Sweepstakes under Dixie Hirsh, long time sighthound enthusiast and lure coursing judge. Later in the day under another sighthound specialist, Tiflah repeated her five point major reserve win under judge Carol Esterkin!! Wow, what a weekend for the girl!
(Top photo by Kohler, others by Jim Lonero)
Other fabulous family news over the weekend was what while Tiflah and her housemates were enjoying the sun and fun in Arizona, Sky's grand-daughter, GCh. Owl Ridge Outlaw CC, CM (Ch. Owl Ridge High Rustler CC, CM, NACC, NACM x Ch. Midbar Hamra B'Shemesh CC, CM) won the Saluki Breed hunt at the Grand Course! Unfortunately, Josie could not compete the last day in the mixed hunt as she sustained a torn pad, but wow, what a fabulous win for such a young gal! Our congratulations go to Jean Warner and Joel Scheinberg, Josie's breeders, owners and handlers!
(Photo above from a prior hunt, Josie in Yellow)
More news from Arizona at the shows, the Sky x Rent litter did very well...
On Saturday, the same day Tiflah earned her first Reserve, the Uncle to the Sky x Rent litter, SBIS GCh. Blue Nile Vanila Ice won Best in Specialty Show from the Veteran Dog class! Way to go Uncle Slik! Our congratulations to Sara and Michael McMillan, breeder, owner, handlers of Slik!
Then, on Sunday, along with Tiflah winning her second major reserve, GCh. Blue Nile Special Promise won the Select Bitch award!
On the last day, under breeder/judge Katrina Hamilton (Hounds of Khiva) Blue Nile Special Keeper (pictured above) won the major Reserve Winners Dog and his sister, Blue Nile Special Surprise won Winners Bitch and Best of Winners for her first points, a five point major! This was only Surprise's third weekend out at shows. To round out the day, GCh. Blue Nile Special Promise earned an Award of Merit. More Congratulations to Michael and Sara! What a great weekend for the family in the ring and in the field!
(Photo by K Lonero)
**Sally is now a Champion!**
(1/21/2012) At the Carroll Kennel Club show held in West Friendship, Maryland, judge Edward Hall awards Desperado PB Sally JC the last point needed for her title and she is now Champion Desperado PB Sally JC! Sally is the sixth member of the Sky x Chrissie litter to optain their AKC championship and this is the 17th title for the Sky x Chrissie litter! Our hearty congratulations to Tina and Dick Jumbelick on this latest title and on all of the successes of this fabulous litter!
(Photo by John Ashbey)
**Clark and Ringo have fun at the Christmas Cup hunt!**
(12/10/2011) Pictured above on the left is Santana Clark Uziduzit Kent CC, CM. At the American Saluki Association's annual Christmas Cup hunt, Clark completed the requirements for his Coursing Championship and Courser of Merit title! The same day, his brother Santana Hello, Goodbye at RFR CC, CM (pictured on the right) won 2nd place in his field at the same hunt. Both of these boys also earned High Score Veteran honors in their respective fields. This was Ringo's first appearance at a hunt this season and he makes the best of it! Congratulations to Vicky Clarke (Uziduzit), on completing Clark's titles and to Warren and Victoria Cook (Santana), breeders of the Sky x Boushra litter!
**Journey wins her second major!**
(12/10/2011) The same day her half brothers were having fun in the field, Blue Nile Special Journey was at the Texas Kennel Club show in Dallas, TX. Under judge Karen Wilson, she won her second major towards her championship. This win brings Journey to a total of eleven points and both majors! Congratulations to Michael and Sara McMillan (Blue Nile Salukis)!!
(Stay tuned for photos)
**Charlie Brown is now a Grand Champion!**
(11/26/2011) At the Chesapeake Kennel Club of Maryland show under judge W J Coombs, Charlie Brown wins another major (5 points) and completes his Grand Championship in grand sytle! He is now GCh. Desperado PB Charlie Brown JC! CB is now Sky's second Grand Champion offspring. Our congratulations to Tina and Dick Jumbelick!
(Stay tuned for photos)
**Dhabi wins again!**
(11/19 - 11/21/2011) Abaqero Kineahora Dhabi follows up his major win at the Skyline Kennel Club of San Mateo County in October by going to three shows in Tucson, Arizona and earning the Winners Dog ribbons each day! He is pictured above with judge Jeffrey Pepper and his breeder/owner/handler, Frances Zeller. Our congratulations to Frances on this young boy's fine start! Dhabi is bred by Anne Vigneri, Frances Zeller and Hugh Pohle and is one of the two red boys from the Ringo x Catania litter.
(Photo by Kit Rodwell)
**Tiflah goes to her first shows!**
(11/20/2011) Wow, our little girl goes to her first weekend of shows and wins her first points! At the San Luis Obispo Kennel Club show under breeder/judge David Miller she wins Winners Bitch, Best of Winners and Best of Breed over specials for her first two points! Tiflah thinks dog shows are fun and plans to enjoy many more in the future. What a wonderful and fun puppy she is. Our thanks to Mr. Miller for recognizing her qualities and rewarding her on the day.
(Photo by Cook Phodography)
**Happy six months old birthday to our Tiflah!**
(11/14/2011) Our Yamadan RFR Tiflah Al Hadiya is six months old today! Wow, time is flying! Some new photos have been added to her page, so click on her name to go and see them. Happy Birthday little girl and to all of your brothers and sisters!
**Sky's offspring continue on...**
(11/13/2011) Pictured above, on the left, is Blue Nile Special Journey who has just begun her show career in fine style. At the Galveston Bay Saluki Club Specialty show (11/11/2011) she earned Reserve Winners Bitch under breeder/judge Robert Frost (Karob Salukis) and was awarded Best Bred By Exhibitor! Her sister, GCh. Blue Nile Special Promise also earned and Award of Merit!
Then on Sunday, at the Cypress Creek Kennel Club show she was Winners Bitch for a four point major under judge Debbie Petersen! Journey is indeed off on a very special journey towards her championship. Congratulations to Michael and Sara McMillan on these lovely wins!
Pictured on the right is Tina and Dick Jumbelick's newest champion, Ch. Desperado PB Linus SC, FCH! Linus earned his second major completing his title on 11/6/2011 at the Back Mountain Kennel Club show under judge Hal T Biermann. Linus is the fifth AKC show champion for the Sky x Chrissie litter. He is the 16th conformation champion for our Ch. Moshire RFR Red Sky CC, CM and the 54th titleist (all venues, does not include JC titles)!! Congratulations on your new champion, Dick and Tina!
**Wonderful Pleasanton results for Zelia, Zoey and Dhabi!**
(10/22/2011) Our BISS Ch. Amala Zelia at RFR CC, CM went to the Saluki Club of Greater San Francisco Specialty Show and repeated her Best in Veteran's Sweepstakes win from last year, this time winning the award under breeder/judge Jeff Lipps (Windrush Salukis)!
Later in the day, she won her regular 9 - 11 year Veteran Bitch class and went on to win an Award of Merit, along with her daughter Ch. Uziduzit Second Amendment CC, CM under judge Marianne Klinkowski! Another great Mother/Daughter winning day!
(Top photos by Vicky Clarke, win photos by Vicky Cook, Cook Phodography)
(10/20/2011) The first day of the five days of shows, Ringo's son, Abaqero Kineahora Dhabi won Winners Dog for a three point major under judge Karen Arends. These are his first points at just 19 months of age! What a great start for a fine young man. Congratulations to Frances Zeller, Hugh Pohle and Anne Vigneri, Dhabi's breeders! Dhabi is breeder/owner/handled and loved by Frances.
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