National Championship week is here!
5/7/2008 10:21:06 AM
Journal entry for Wednesday, May 7, 2008
This morning I’m humming, “My bags are packed, I’m ready to go... Taxi’s waitin’ he's blowin' his horn….” Well, there’s no taxi waiting but I will be driving to the airport in a few minutes to begin what has been a long time coming. I’m heading to Greensburg, Indiana to join the Coonhound Events Management Team, along with the Clifty Creek Coonhunters Club and the Rush County Coonhunters for the 2008 AKC National Coonhound Championship.
I’ve always said the National Championship is the toughest hunt in the country to win because of the caliber of competition the event produces. Each of the 208 dogs entered in this year’s event are already winners, having placed in the Top 16 in either of the State, Breed, Black Gold – Gold Medal, or Youth annual competitions. The entries come from 25 states to the National Championship this year and that alone should prove the scope of the event. All six coonhound breeds are represented with Treeing Walkers leading the way, comprising approximately 80 percen nt of the entry.
The much-heralded Remington truck is the grand prize, the grandest ever presented to the winner of a competition coon hunt but the winner will also take home the coveted AKC All American Cup, a trophy to be cherished for a lifetime as well.
We have lots planned for you at Greensburg including $500 Added Purse open events on Friday and Saturday, the AKC National Bench Show Championship on Saturday, the American flag fly-in and the Top 16 Awards Banquet on Saturday afternoon at 5 PM, and the All American Bluegrass Band performing at the banquet and during the Internet Play by Play of the final cast from AKC headquarters at the fairgrounds.
I hope you will make plans to join us for the biggest celebration in the history of our sport. I promise you that while the prize to the National Champion is indeed grand, the celebration we have planned will be just as memorable. Come and be a part of it all in Greensburg on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week. I’ll look forward to seeing you there!
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