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The Belgian Asian Hound Club of Belgium organized an international coursing challenge contest on the 16th and 17th of September 2023.
Great was our surprise and enthusiasm when we were honored with a participant from as far as Japan. We were curious as the organizing committee to learn
more about what brought this lovely lady to our coursing event in Belgium all the way from Japan.
I was asked from the club to talk to Mrs. Hiromi Koike and have a little interview published in our magazine at the end of the year and I was eager to found out what brought this lady with her Saluki to our coursing.
The main reason for being here is that there is no official Lure coursing competition in Japan although there is for fun.
When Mrs. Hiromi Koike went to the US due to a cultural exchange program on New Year’s day 2022, she took her Saluki “Sophie” with her.
“Sophie” is her third Saluki and is officially Ch (JP), Ch (AM), Dual Ch, Field Ch, DC Vogue Beside The Lesedi La Rona SC from kennel Vogue Salukis breeder Mr. Shuichi Suda. During her stay in the US, Sophie could pass her coursing license and attended many AKC Lure
Coursing events. She earned Best in Field twice and was ranked N°2 Saluki in 2022 Top AKC Lure Coursing Salukis (Bowen System). Dual Champion means that the dog have earned an FC title in Lure Coursing and a Ch title in conformation dog shows. Therefore Sophie also attended Westminster in 2023 with great results.
Sophie became the first travelled Japanese bred and owned dog officially recognized by the Japanese Kennel Club (JKC) that has twice earned Best in Field (BIF) and achieved the AKC Dual Championship for both Field Champion and Conformation Champion within a single year.
If I asked if coursing in the US is much different from our system, Hiromi told me that in the AKC Lure Coursing hounds run in packs of 3 and the color of
the blanket to differentiate each dog is pink, yellow and blue. The best of breed dogs have opportunity to run together with different breeds to challenge for best in field. The categories they are judged on are also the same as in Belgium: overall ability, follow, speed, agility and endurance according to a structured point system.
By this achievements Hiromi wants to motivate other Japanese sighthound owners to recognize the existence of this official lure coursing events under international rules and regulations of Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and understand the importance of
the system to evaluate not only the conformation but also the performance of sighthounds.
Hiromi also believes the Salukis and sighthounds are meant for performance and enjoy it so much as it is their instinct. The mean reason is that Sophie enjoys it so much.
But now I wanted to know why Belgium and why our Club. Hiromi would like to attend the
World Coursing Championship event next year in Poland and therefore Sophie has to run in a FCI country. Hiromi found it very difficult to found some information in Europe to participate in an international
coursing competition. As a club we can be proud to say Hiromi found information and an entry form on our website with location and dates. This way she could enter Sophie at our coursing.
Hiromi says through this participation she could actually experience and learn the FCI lure coursing event as a system, and was able to watch the beautiful coursers in Europe in person
which is priceless. The friendship with the other participants and club members are the precious treasure to her and she appreciates the kind hospitality of the wonderful club.
I found it very interesting meeting Hiromi and talking to her. She is so inspiring and so committed to the performance of her Saluki, letting her hound do what she likes best: hunt for the rabbit at the lure coursing dog sport.
Thank you Hiromi for your kindness and sharing your experiences with us. It was great having you participate to our coursing.
We wish you all the best for your future plans and may your efforts inspire other committed Saluki and Sighthound owners to organize official Lure coursing events in Japan. This would be a great achievement.
We are looking forward meeting you again for another coursing event.
INTERVIEW WITH MRS HIROMI KOIKE by Audrie Benoit
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