AAaack! I never saw a golf cart cross the lure string and get stuck... and I was there the whole time. When did that happen???
The Army processing onto the field happened after the coursing had been completely finished, we just hadn't gotten the pulleys up yet. Our fault since we accidently went 10 minutes over time. But that situation was not a problem and no one and no hound was ever in danger. As far as how much string we used... I really have no idea. I didn't pace it out but rather used the capacity of the space available to us (Yasmeena, we had roughly half to 2/3s the entire battlefield for our use). I did a very gentle light bulb shape each time (longer or more horizontal depending on the space available) to compensate for the older guys and the new coursers. We had an average of 20 or so dogs per session, with maybe 40 or so people there with their dogs, and a larger crowd on the sidelines watching. The crowd around the lure was amazing. I could have pushed people back a little, but I thought the barrier of people helped to control the hounds at the end from bolting back into the castle area and heavy fighters who continued to do pickups during the afternoon or were warming up in the morning. We had maybe 6-10 sight hounds per session (greys, whippets, salukis and IGs), sheppard mixes, malamutes, terriers, a boxer, great danes, a dalmation, a collie and more. We had one injury -- a greyhound from our kingdom dislocated a toe, but before I could whip out my emergeny vet contact, the grey and her family were escorted over to Calontir's encampment -- they just happened to have a vet camping with them. So the toe was put back in place in moments and the family given an aspirin prescription to keep her comfortable. The timing and logistics could not have been any better. We were able to course 3 out of the 4 sessions (Friday it waited until we were completely set up and then began to pour). The ground really couldn't have been more perfect, even after the rains (good desert ground/drainage). One of the most annoying parts of Estrella war is the dust. We had none this year :) And the weather was wonderfully cool, even in the afternoons. We had so many compliments and excited people wanting to watch and participate... I'd say it was a complete success. Got the crowd warmed up for you for next year Yasmeena!!! :) Christiaen --- In [email protected], "Fionnghuala The Fewterer" < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Greetings! > > Nyla ran....mostly away and around, and made a spectacle of herself > but we did discover that she LOVES to chase Ludwig around the course. > That worked out pretty well, except for when Ludwig lost sight of the > lure and they both went dashing into the crowds. I think Nyla has the > prey instinct down pat but she had no interest in the baggy. I wonder > how many times around the course it would take for her to figure out > that we're chasing the baggy not other dogs? I think Nyla was well > matched with Ludwig though since he could outrun her because she > likes to knock back legs out if she can catch up. > > We did discover that whippets and grey's coursing around the corners, > probably should warn people that they might turn a wide corner and > crash into them at speeds capable of knocking people on thier butts > too! I think all the doggies had fun though and it was very > entertaining for everyone to watch and see what each dog would do out > there. We had clowns and pro's represented. Ludwig was very > impressive with how intent he was on the lure start to finish, and > how he couldn't wait to get out there and chase it! We also had > mundane greyhound owners that I found in the market place the day > before, return the next day to try a turn at lure coursing with their > two rescues, they had a blast. Maybe we got new SCAdian's out of > them, if not, we certainly have a couple of people turned onto lure > coursing. > > Perhaps we might think also about having some people to stand around > certain spots in the course to keep things like....golf carts and > royal processions from crossing into the course during a run. There > was some potential problems with that as...both sorts of incidents > happened. Luckily the royal procession was occuring just as we were > done but I'd hate to have a Queen bowled over by a hound at full > speed. But there was a hound running when the golf carts decided to > cut across the lure course and got stuck on the line. I'd hate to see > what happens when a golf cart and a hound meet during a coursing. Any > ideas/experience on this one? > > My son took photos of every dog that ran, but the best shots are of > Ludwig and Nyla turning a corner and heading straight for him. You > can see the hounds at top speed, muscles bunched together and at a > goodly lean as they are turning. Funny, the next shot is of a blur of > grass...must have been when the hounds got my son to fly over the > bale of hay! We'll post some of the good shots on the group site. I > think the two Great Dane pups were the slowest runners I've ever > seen, each breed had it's own approach, the shepherds were trying to > herd the lure by cutting it off! Too much fun! > > Fionnghuala the Fewterer ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/pkgkPB/SOnJAA/Zx0JAA/PJ_qlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! 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