Lark

Lark is one of my two keepers from the 2nd Bird litter. What can I say about Lark other than that she is my pride and joy and is just what I was hoping for when I bred Wren to Raven. She is beautiful and athletic, balanced and smooth, and has the most incredibly charming, cheerful, sweet, and sensible temperament I have ever encountered.

In the Ring…

Lark made her show debut in July 2006 at the Canadian National specialty, where she went Runner-Up to Best in Sweeps under breeder judge Lorna Leinbach (Sailaway) and won her regular class under breeder judge Tracy Hite (Tivio). The next day at the LMWA specialty, she went Best in Sweeps under sighthound specialist Barbara Turpin (Of Course) and won her big senior puppy class under English breeder judge Gay Robertson (Moonlake). Thanks to all four of these judges for these wins, as well as to the many exhibitors and spectators who so generously went out of their way to pay Lark such nice compliments!! Lark continued her winning ways in August 2006 when she won Best Puppy at the WWWA specialty under breeder judge David Samuelson (Dashing).

Lark earned her first points in July 2007, going Winners Bitch for 5 points at the Whippet Club of British Columbia specialty, under English judge Pauline Oliver (Spyanfly). Two weeks later at the Western Washington Whippet Association specialty in Auburn, WA, she was Winners Bitch and Best Opposite Sex over top winning specials for a huge 5 point major under breeder-judge Doug Arthur (Marial). Her next outing in the show ring in October 2007 resulted in a 4 point major RWB at the Cascade Hound specialty under breeder judge Betty Stites. She added to her strong specialty win record with a 5 point WB at the Lower Mainland Whippet Association specialty in July 2008 under breeder judge Lori Nelson (Wildfire). Lark earned her 2nd major in January 2009 at the WWWA supported Sammamish Kennel Club, going WB/BOS over top ranked specials (including a best in show winner!) under breeder judge Lori Nelson (Wildfire). She finished her Canadian Championship in October 2009, shown to her final point by our friend Jenn Hughes.

In addition to her strong specialty win record, she has also been a favorite in the race meet matches. She was the #2 CWA conformation whippet in 2007, and finished 2008 in the #1 spot! She was BOS Adult at the 2008 NAWRA National match under whippet specialist Dr. Lisa Costello.

On the Track…

Lark is a enthusiastic, clean-running and very determined racer! She is a high C/low B racer in CWA with several top-10 finishes to her credit. She easily earned her SR, and, after a year of retraining after a mis-start on the oval when she cut through the track to intercept the lure in her very first meet,  finished her OTR in May 2008. She has never gone off course on the oval again and is working towards her OTRM as well as her SRM on the straight track.

In the Field…

Lark made her ASFA debut in April 2007 with respectable results despite being in a false pregnancy slump. In May 2007, she finished 2nd at the EBC trial in Auburn, WA for her first ASFA points and placement. Never in a million years could I have guessed this would be a start of what I came to call the 2nd place curse… I lost track of how many 2nd placements she earned since that first innocent placement. In lure coursing, at least, Lark seemed to be always the bridesmaid and never the bride! She came so close in full stakes (including, most notably, a tie for first in her open stake at the 2008 AWC National specialty trial) on numerous occasions but that crucial first placement – all she needed to finish her ASFA title – continued to elude her for nearly a year. She FINALLY earned her first placement, and finished her ASFA field championship, at the April 2009 SISFA trials in Emmett, ID!

At the 7th Annual NW Versatility weekend in May 2008, Lark was the runner-up in the Versatility competition! This is the highest any of my dogs have finished in the 7 years we’ve been participating and I am very proud of her!

In the Whelping Box…

Lark will be bred in the spring of 2010 to CH Shamasan Hound Hill Cherokee, ARX, DPCX, RN; see the planned litter page for pedigree and more information.