"The Show MUST GO ON" vs Safety of humans and critters

Sometimes I think that I am from a different planet because of the way I look at things. When any coursing or racing event is approaching and the weather leading up to the event has made the grounds questionable, conditions for traveling to the grounds less than safe, or conditions forecast for day of trial unsafe for humans, when do you cross the line of running the trial vs cancelling the trial and how soon do you do this. This is an amazing balancing act to accomplish. Perhaps the thought is; the show must go on no matter what because of the parent club, besides this is (any location) and the conditions right here at the coursing site may be different than 10 miles away. If you show up the hounds will run, if you don't, well we were here because we are tough. I can see this way of thinking as a lot of planning and effort goes into putting on an event and we are (any named club). After all, is it not up to the individual, who needs to make the decision of playing or not.
Decisions:
The field has been frozen solid for 4 or more days, the temps are not going to get anywhere near or above freezing for another 4 days with nights going into single digits. The field is frozen solid with a light covering of snow and ice. OK fast, powerful dogs (sighthounds) are at higher risk for toe injuries and stretched/pulled/torn muscles because of these conditions(?). 
Because of temps not expected to get above 25 (F) and the winds forecast to be 15 mph or greater, the humans will be at risk of asthma attacks, frostbite and hypothermia, but they are all smart and will dress for the weather (?). 
The roads are clear but a snow/ice pack still covers most rural area roads, leaving the roads less than safe. Anyone traveling to the site knows how to drive in the winter (?). 
So you are the Field Chairman - what would you do?
This is not written as a criticism to anyone or to any club. I am trying to gather opinions and insight. Perhaps my understanding of the duties/responsibilities of a FC is different than other's or perhaps my definition of safety is misguided. I am interested in your input.

December at the Ranch

Dec 5 & 6 - AKC NLCC, Florence TX
Dec 12 - RMBC Fun Run - CANCELLED
Dec 11 - 14 - Tori Visit
Dec 25 - Christmas Day - Merry Christmas to all

AKC National Lure Coursing Championships

We will be leaving by Thursday noon for the 2009 AKC NLCC.


I will be sending updates through my twitter account. Follow me at:
http://twitter.com/tomgolcher

Happy Thanksgiving

To all who take the time to read my blog - 
From the ZoiBoyz Ranch to you and yours
"We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving" 
Tom, KC & the ZoiBoyz

October 09 ZoiBoyz news from around the globe (2 new items added)

1.  Have just been advised by Gretchen & Charles, of Princeton, NJ,  that their FC Aria Svora Serrano Ex Libris FCh, MC, LCX, CGC (Kazan/Scandal) has added ASFA LCM to his titles.
2. BIF Ch. Aria Svora Cascabel-Belle, (Kazan/Scandal) lives with Paul and Jessica Nettles in Louisiana gave birth to 4 girls and 3 boys. Kazan's a Grandpa!!!!!
3.  Zoiboyz Dove Creek Drambuie (Kazan/Sara II), owned by Renata Roder, from Breckenridge, CO, won BOB both days in KS at ASFA trials.
4.  Zoiboyz Coffee Time v. Rosehill (Ambassador/Phoenix) owned by Petr Vodicka from Marianbad, CZ, got a perfect score at he Halloween coursing in Landstuhl, Germany, finishing in 1st place.
5.  Zoiboyz Chevelle (Kazan/Sara I) Owned by Christa Hassel from Tholey-Hasborn,  Germany, finished in 4th place at the Halloween Coursing in Landstuhl, Germany with a score of 97 
6.  Zoiboyz Perfect Storm (Ambassador/Phoenix) Owned by Herbert & Dagmar Kohl from Groß-Umstadt, Germany, finished in 5th place at the Halloween Coursing in Landstuhl Germany, with a score of 94 (some great coursing was had there)
(Photos of the Halloween Coursing taken my Marina Franz - Turgai Borzoi - can be seen at http://www.barsoi-info.com/Landstuhl1009.htm)
7.  Zoiboyz Comet (Kazan/Sara I), living here at the Ranch, finished 4th in the LGRA OB NATS  and 3rd in the NOTRA OB Nats.
8.  Zoiboyz Challenger (Kazan/Sara I) also here at the Ranch, was undefeated Sunday at a LGRA meet hosted by CLCA and earned 2 points towards his GRC.
9.  Zoiboyz Durango and Zoiboyz Denver, (Kazan/Sara II) both here at the Ranch, earned their AKC JC titles at an AKC trial in NM. Denver went on to win a 3 point major by taking BoB later in the trial on Sunday.
10.  Zoiboyz Dillon, (Kazan/Sara II) also with Gretchen and Charles in Princeton, NJ, earned his AKC JC title at a trial in CT the same weekend as the OB Nats.
11.  Attaway Kinobi Summer Breeze (Breezy), (Nitro/Carmen) owned by Rebecca Peters Campbell & Melissa Pearce went WD Friday and Saturday in conformation shows in CT and on Sunday went to the AKC LC fields and took a 5 pt major over some very nice running hounds, including the current #1 AKC LC hound. 
12. Firebird's Tulane (Kazan/Laika) owned by Corrine Miller, Idaho, earned his JC & RN titles along with taking BOB at an ASFA trial.


Wow - it is tough keeping up with the Zoiboyz family but also fun to see so many in homes that allow them to be all they can be. It is really a blessing to have so many wonderful homes for these magnificent hounds. Thanks to all of you who have given so many of the Zoiboyz a good and loving home.

November at or near the ZoiBoyz Ranch

Nov. 1 > LGRA at the Ranch hosted by CLCA
Nov. 7 & 8 > Borzoi Fall Classic - Mountain Time Zone
Nov. 11 > Veterans Day
Nov 13, 14, 15 > TSA AKC Lure Trials - Chickasaw, OK (KC photographer - Tom Judging)
Nov 14 & 15 > ASFA in Stanley, NM hosted by ESCA
Nov 21 & 22 > ASFA in Golden, CO hosted by RMIWA
Nov. 26 > Happy Thanksgiving
Nov. 28 > Fun Run (coursing format) at the Ranch hosted by RMBC

2009 OB Nationals in the can

I got back home from the 2009 OB Nats on Saturday 10/24. 3600 miles round trip in an automobile with 230k miles and two hounds. 
I had been watching the weather reports for the event site for a couple of weeks and knew that the reports were not favorable for humans. It was clear when I started out on Wednesday morning (10/14) that I would be traveling with the weather system that would impact the event. It was Monday after the event that I first saw the sun.
First of all let me give a big round of applause to the two clubs responsible for this year's OB Nats. Count Basie Racing Association (COBRA) and the Lehigh Valley Coursing Club (LVCC) put on a very well run, smooth operating, and organized event. The grounds were ideal, even with all the rain it never got so sloppy that it became dangerous for the hounds, or affected their running abilities. The event workers did a great job at adjusting their plans for the adverse weather conditions, and the final outcome was a very well put together event weekend.
Their were many club members working hard both days. I cannot remember all of the names but kudos go to Terri Jones, Jean Pennie, Tracy, Dawn (welcome bags), Jen (banquet), and others that I just cannot pull up their names at this time.
Besides the bone chilling weather the only complaint I could actually make were the ribbons below 1st place. This was a national championship event and the lower placed ribbons could not be distinguished from ribbons given at a regular meet. Nuff said as I do not want to take away from the spectacular event that was held. In all the breeds, from my perspective, there were no controversial decisions leading to the winning placements. The equipment ran very well and the score keepers, boxers, lure operators, paddock masters, foul and line judges all were on the top of their game. 
The banquet was well attended and worth every penny. The atmosphere, food, and attendees were just great.
I know some are reading because they want to know how the ZoiBoyz did. After having the LGRA trophy for 3 of the last 4 years and the NOTRA trophy for the last 4 years, I must say that neither came home with me. Mrs Peel, Ashtoria Wild Hunt Mystery Unveiled SC - Ariel Duncan,  took home the LGRA trophy and Bartleby, BIF FC Silkenswift Black Lightning SC LCM SGRC ORC JOR - Jamie Bobrowski, went home with the NOTRA trophy. Bartleby also placed 2nd in the LGRA. Comet finished 3rd in LGRA and 4th in NOTRA. Challenger, who went in place of Charger, did not finish the 3rd program of LGRA (he saw me and came direct) and went off course in NOTRA pgm 1 and I scratched him.
It was fun visiting and competing with folks from another part of the country. It was a pleasure to see Karla, Renee, Jamie, and Marie, especially since we have had the pleasure of knowing each other previously through the hounds. 
So another OB Nats is in the books and KC & I will look forward to the next one, whenever and where ever it will be held. I know that we have been the farthest travelers at several of these.