The Hounds and Harriers Run Raises Record BY BARBARA RUSHMAN MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ- The 11th annual Hounds and Harriers Run was held in Loantaka Park on October 13. It was a gorgeous fall day. Sunny, cool and dry, perfect for running. The overall winner was Jason Sperry and his German short haired pointer Vaughin in a time of 16:34. It was their first Hounds and Harriers Run and he plans to come back and try to set a new race record. In 2nd place was Kevin Higgins, sponsor and owner of Runner’s Haven, Randolph. The woman’s division was won by Bonnie Linton (Hackettstown) and her wire-haired pointing griffon, Rusty. It was her 7th consecutive win in a time of 17:55. Runner up was Christine Kachinsky (South Orange) and her lab-mix Archie. One hundred and thirty-two runner/dog teams completed the three-mile course. Runners came from as far away as Coral Springs, Florida as well as Pennsylvania and New York. The winner, Jason Sperry, drove 4 ½ hours from Mexico, NY to participate. A second shorter event called the “Paws from the Past” was held for dogs that are retired from running the longer course due to age or disability. All 12 dogs that competed in this event were veterans of the three-mile run and were all 10 years old or older. That included two 15-year-old dogs, a pug mix, Rudy Moorhead (Morris Plains) and the race director’s Brittany mix Sunchi Rushman (Florham Park). This race is a favorite of all that come because there are no other opportunities in the Northeast to race with your dog. Here are a few comments send in by the racers: Joe Curran: “Your race is my reward to my dog for getting up with me EVERY day of the year, rain (he hates the rain), sleet, snow, heat, and bitter cold. I love your race for that reason alone. My dog gets to be the focus of the attention I usually get at races, after we both train the same. Please keep up your effort in this wonderful endeavor; we all appreciate all you do.” Bill and Kate Winterbottom: “As always the event was a cut above the rest. A new person that I introduced to the race was overwhelmed by the entire event. I am a race director with my club and I know how much work a race can be. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for your efforts.” Charlie and "Hunter" Lewis: “Great things just don't happen by themselves; your ability to tend to each and every detail absolutely shines through. I can consistently know when I will have a magical day, the day I run your race! Big THANK YOU!”
The grand prize was a $100 gift card for PETCO. All placement winners received a custom-designed show ribbon donated by PETCO, a large jar of Milk Bone treats, and a Milk Bone plush toy. In addition to 10 placement awards for men and women, awards were given to first shelter adoptee or rescued dog, first veteran dog (age 10 or over), first small and first large dog. The main goal of the event is to have a fun and safe event for runners and their most reliable and enthusiastic training partners, their dogs. The race prides itself on the amenities given to each participant. This included a specially designed T-shirt and bandanna. This years design was of the race director’s dog, 15-year-old Sunchi who is the only dog to participate in all 11 races and was the inspiration for its inception in 1997. Each entrant also received a goodie bag with gifts from Kraft Foods, PETCO, Morris Animal Inn, and Cadbury Adams. Milk Bone is the event’s main sponsor but other contributions were made by sponsors Murray Hill Veterinary Associates, the Perambulating Pet Sitter, Liberty Abstract title insurance company, Smith Barney Citigroup, the PETCO Foundation, TriBoro OBGYN, Runners Haven, Doggie Feel Good Massage, Bark Ave Mobile Pet Spa, Happy Tails Inc., Dr Paul Banks (DDS), Julie Corbin (pet bereavement), DMC Athletics and Rehabilitation, and Benefits and Premium Review. Food contributions came from Kraft Foods, Cadbury Adams, the Bagel Chateau (Madison), and Whole Foods. Other local contributors donating goods include Schnippers Gift Shop, Well Bred, Shop Rite, and the Staples. St Hubert’s adoptees: Max and Scotty Brown, JJ Colrick, Kelly Moran, , Nellie O’Brien, Sunchi and Daisy Rushman, Shadow Prebenda, Casey and Skippy Redling, Rudy Moorhead, Maggie Tso, Pepper and Rusty Weeks. Veteran Dogs (10 or over) : 10 years: Sparky Dawson, Ajax Guella, Relic Prebenda, Lucy Sanders 11 years: Phobe Grund, Tucker Fox, Stargazer Prebenda 12 years: Bailey Deery, Dakota Maccaroni, Beri Mandak, Lizzy Hunt, Charlie Koziol, Max Brown and Harrison Farishian 13 years: Gretl Dawson, Kate Winterbottom, Charlie Sodora, Maxie Gass, Chinky Prebenda and Casey Redling 15 years: Sunchi Rushman and Rudy Moorhead Paws from the Past: Jenny Deery & Bailey, Karen Fox & Tucker, Toby Gass & Maxie, Sean Grund & Phoebe, Mary Guella & Ajax, Ann Moorhead & Rudy, Collin Prebenda & Stargazer, Shelly Prebenda & Chinky, Diane Redling & Casey, Barbara Rushman & Sunchi, and Joe Sikora & Charlie Only dogs to run in all 11 Hounds and Harriers Runs: Sunchi Rushman and Tucker Fox
MEN Place Time Award 1 16:34 Sperry, Jason/Vaughn(Greyster) Mexico, NY 1st overall 4 17:10 DeRosa, Jerry/Mizuno(Lab) Bridgewater 1st shelter 12 19:15 Winterbottom, Bill/Kate(lab) Jackson 1st veteran 7 18:19 Hyland, Peter/E.D.(golden retriever) Glen Gardner 1st large 31 22:00 Deddens, Carl/Bandit(jack russell) Maplewood 1st small 2 16:57 Higgins, Kevin/Sneakers(golden retriever) Randolph 2nd overall 3 17:06 Semple, Steven/Katie(golden retriever) Convent Station 3rd overall 8 18:24 Paul, Chuck/Lady(speedmix) Madison 4th overall 9 18:41 Kelly , Chris/Brody(weimaraner) Somerset 5th overall 10 18:44 DePiano, Mark/Dillon(border collie) Augusta 6th overall 11 19:11 Joralemon, Christopher/Otter(blk/tan coonhound) Summit 7th overall 13 19:25 Somers, Thomas/Tyler(golden retriever) South River 8th overall 14 19:27 Johnson, Scott/Sheba(Alaskan husky) New York, NY 9th overall 15 19:49 Dawson, Robin/Gretl(plothound) Princeton 10th overall WOMEN Place Time Award 5 17:55 Linton, Bonnie/Rusty(wire haired pt. griffon) Hackettstown 1st overall 6 18:11 Kachinsky, Christine/Archie(lab/pointer) South Orange 1st shelter 28 21:17 Maccaroni, Cheryl/Dakota(Australian Kelpie) Titusville 1st veteran 19 20:25 Scheuch, Christine/Annie(German shepherd) Vernon 1st big 32 22:03 Sanders, Jill /Lucy(beagle/husky) Butler 1st small 17 20:12 Locke, Wendy/Victor(Australian Shepherd) Boonton 2nd overall 22 20:51 Curry, Jennifer/Fred(shepherd mix) Sparta 3rd overall 30 21:38 Halper, Nancy/Otis(Italian Spinone) Sumit 4th overall 33 22:04 Greer, Jocelyn/Boomer(lab/greyhound) Stanhope 5th overall 34 22:13 Giacomantonio, Karen/Grady Blu(boxer) Chatham 6th overall 36 22:25 Cabanillas, Grace/Rex(german shepherd) Hopelawn 7th overall 38 23:00 Sunda, Lisabeth/Jaeger(german shepherd) Sussex 8th overall 39 23:13 Racht, Darlene/Jesse(golden retriever) Phillipsburg 9th overall 41 23:20 Welch, Heather/Callie(mix) Parsippany 10th overall |
