Our Irish Terriers in Lure Coursing Events
Twenty years ago, lure coursing was the exclusive domain of sight hounds.
But the sport has since opened its doors to all breeds.
If your Irish terrier likes to run and has even a little prey drive,
lure coursing can be a fun and rewarding event for both you and your dog.
Sprint Racing
When we first started running our dogs in coursing trials, there were no
AKC-affiliated events. There were, however, non-AKC entities that put on
sprint racing trials. The organization near us (in Northern California)
was called Racing and Coursing Enthusiasts (RACE).
In a sprint race, up to four dogs of the same breed or of similar size pursue
a lure down a 200 yard straight-line course. The dogs wear colored jackets
("blankets") to make it easier for the course judges to identify the dogs, and
muzzles to prevent them from "killing" the lure when they catch it at the end
of the sprint. To make a qualifying run, the dogs must concentrate only on the
lure and not interfere with each other. Sideline and finish line judges watch
to ensure each dog makes a clean run and records the order in which the dogs
cross the finish line. The sprints are not timed. Instead a complex set of
rules based on the dog's placement at the finish line and the number of dogs in
the race determine the number of points each dog is awarded. Points add up to
earn "Sprint Racer" titles (SR1, SR2, etc.).
RACE is still running sprint races, oval track racing, and lure coursing events
in Northern California and Nevada. The
RACE web site
has information about how to join the fun.
Druid (Red), Mocha (Blue), and Ayfa (White) have their eyes on the lure
at a RACE event in Livermore, California.
May 9, 2010.
Photo by Olga Maderich
Druid shows complete concentration on the lure as he approaches the finish line
at a RACE event in Sloughhouse, California.
May 3, 2011.
Photo by Olga Maderich
False Start! Ayfa breaks loose and captures the lure before the start signal
at a RACE event in Sloughhouse, California.
Irish terriers exhibit intense interest in catching the lure.
September 9, 2010.
Photo by Olga Maderich
Coursing Ability Test
On February 24, 2011, the AKC announced a new sporting competition called the
Coursing Ability Test, or CAT. In a CAT event, the dog chases a lure around
a 600 yard loop course. Unlike sprint racing, only one dog is on the course
at a time. A CAT run is not about speed. It requires a lot of stamina and
determination. If the dog chases the lure with enthusiasm and completes the
course within two minutes, it is judged to have completed a qualifying run.
Three qualifying runs earn an AKC Coursing Ability (CA) title. Ten completions
gets an Advanced (CAA) title, and 25 completions gets an Excellent title (CAX).
See the
AKC coursing ability test web site
for more information.
Eight-year-old Mocha chases the lure with enthusiasm
at a Coursing Ability Test in Hollister, California
September 29, 2012.
Photo by Olga Maderich
Daragan shows pure joy when she finally "catches" the lure
at a Coursing Ability Test in Hollister, California
September 29, 2012.
Photo by Olga Maderich
Three generations, left to right:
Daragan (CAA), her mother Ayfa (CAA) and her grandmother Mocha (CAX).
Elena and Joe are done for the day. We have our ribbons, it's time to go home.
Mocha objects! The lure is still running!
Ayfa and Daragan agree.
Coursing Ability Test in Hollister, California.
December 30, 2012.
FastCAT®
In 2018, the AKC opened another coursing event called FastCAT®. This competition is
all about speed. The dogs sprint down a 100 yard straight-line course. The run is
timed and the dog's (handicapped) speed in miles per hour is calculated. Points are
awarded based on the speed achieved on each run. Dogs accumulate points to
earn AKC titles: BCAT (150 points), DCAT (500 points), and FCAT (1000 points).
Titles beyond FCAT (FCAT-1, FCAT-2, etc.) are awarded for each additional 500 points
earned. The
AKC FastCAT® web site
has information about how to get started in FastCAT®.
Our dogs have taken to FastCAT® in a big way. You will find many Red Branch Irish
terriers listed in the
AKC FastCAT® rankings
going all the way back to 2018. Red Branch Voyager Of Kinsale CDX BN RM CA FCAT3 CGC TKN
has owned the top of the Irish terrier list for six years.
Ten-year-old Daragan still loves chasing the lure
Sacramento Dog Training Club FastCAT® event
Elk Grove, California, April 25, 2021
Brynn hot on the trail
Ferndale, California, July 22, 2022
Photo by Terry Tuttle
Cayenne going all out
Anderson, California, March 14, 2022
Photo by Terry Tuttle
Serrano has his eye on the lure
Sequim, Washington, July 29, 2023
Photo by Laurie Gregory
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