MEMBERS OF the Happy Hounds 4-H Club are excited about the start of the 53rd Annual Howard County Fair on Aug. 15.
The young people, who range in age from 8 to 18, have been working with their canine companions to prepare for the dog match at the fair.
Since January, the club has almost doubled its membership. Recently, the club has welcomed new members Jenny Fox, Holly Fox and Kathy Rockstroh.
Jennifer Melichar, who will be a ninth-grader at Glenelg High School this year, is club president.
"The most important thing," Jennifer said, "is not winning, but having a good time."
She noted that July was a busy month for the Happy Hounds.
Not only did members show their dogs at the American Kennel Club Shows at the Howard County Fairgrounds during the July 4 weekend, but the club sponsored its own dog match at the fairgrounds July 18.
The AKC shows at the Howard County Fairgrounds were open to all dog handlers -- amateurs, professionals, young people and adults.
Jennifer and club member Jenna Starr rose to the occasion, handling their dogs beautifully. Jennifer and her Gordon Setter, Smash, took first place in Smash's breed class all three days, and Smash was Winner's Dog twice.
The Winner's Dog designation is one notch below Best of Breed.
Smash received the honor by defeating other dogs his age, then competing against winners in other age groups.
In the Junior Showmanship category, Jennifer showed her new dog, DJ. DJ did not place, but Jennifer considered the competition as an opportunity to log some quality practice time.
Jenna and Snickers, a Bernese mountain dog, walked off with a number of honors, too.
Snickers took 2nd place in her breed class on the first day. On the second day, she "went Reserve" -- one level below Winner's Dog.
To qualify for the designation, Snickers had to win her class and compete against winners of other classes.
On the final day, she won Best of Opposite Sex (female) and received points toward her championship.
Club members participated in their own Happy Hounds match, open to 4-H Club members and their dogs. There were more than 64 entries from Howard, Frederick, Harford, Carroll and Allegany counties.
The match gave the young people an opportunity to gauge the competition and evaluate their own performances before the Howard County and Maryland State fairs.
Obedience judge Linda Parrish and fitting and showing judge John Jarvis rendered decisions and answered questions about individual performances.
Happy Hounds Club members and their dogs walked away with an impressive number of honors.
In the Sub-Novice category of Junior/Intermediate Obedience -- in which young people, ages 8 to 13, handled dogs on leads -- Jennifer and her dog, Betsy, won first place, Holly Fox and her dog, Bonnie, took third place, and Amy Frasier and Rascal won the eighth-place award.
Jennifer and Betsy were also High Scoring Obedience Team at the match.
In the Senior Sub-Novice Obedience category in which dogs were on leads and handlers ranged in age from 14 to 18, Jenna and Snickers took fourth place and Michelle Johnson and her pooch, Q, took fifth place.
Brianna Rickle and Pickle took third place in First Time Junior Fitting and Showing, a category more commonly known as "junior handling."
Jennifer took second place with Angus in the Graduate Novice Obedience category -- a very challenging category because the dogs are not attached to leads.
Jennifer and Smash also took third place in Open Junior Fitting and Showing.
Parents contributed to the success of the July 18 Happy Hounds 4-H Club match.
Nancy Lemich ran the food booth. Jan Starr, Kathy Frasier and Karen Fox ensured that registration proceeded smoothly.
Al Starr, Phyllis Johnson and Dave Frasier were such good sports that they volunteered to serve as "posts" in the obedience ring.
And Sandy Melichar, parent leader of this dedicated group of young people and chairwoman of the event, kept things running like clockwork.
The Happy Hounds Club competition provides an opportunity for the club's members to qualify to show their dogs at the Maryland State Fair on Aug. 30.
Jennifer qualified with dog Betsy in the Intermediate Sub-Novice Obedience category and with Smash in the Intermediate Open Fitting and Showing Class.
Kristen Willie qualified with her Labrador Retriever, Canyon, in Senior Novice Obedience and Intermediate Novice Fitting and Showing.
Don't miss the Canine Show in the Show Pavilion at the Howard County Fairgrounds. It begins at about 8: 30 a.m. Aug. 16.
Stop by and chat with one of the members if you are interested in joining the Happy Hounds.
Despite an abundance of young ladies, young men are most welcome.
Support our Fire Department
The West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department will hold its annual fund-raiser from Aug. 15 through 22 at the Howard County Fair.
Department members hope to raise money for the purchase of fire and emergency medical equipment by selling raffle tickets.
The $1 tickets can get you some great prizes.
First prize is $1,000, second is $500, and third prize $250. The fourth prize consists of two round-trip tickets to Atlantic City, courtesy of Eyre Bus Service. And fifth prize is a basket of Beanie Babies.
The drawing will be held Aug. 22. Ticket holders need not be present to win.
If you are unable to attend the fair, tickets may be purchased by calling 410-313-5403.
Proceeds from previous raffles have enabled the Fire Department to order a new ambulance, scheduled for January )) delivery.
Fall sports
School opens in a few weeks, and high school sports begin even earlier.
A reminder: To be eligible to participate in a fall sport at a Howard County high school, a student must submit a parental permission/insurance form; a physical examination form dated after June 1; a copy of his/her birth certificate; and a participation agreement for the sport, signed by student and parent.
River Hill High School athletes should give their forms to athletic director Don Van Deusen by tomorrow. His number is 410-313-7114.
For students planning to play football at River Hill, testing will be held Monday and Wednesday. Equipment will be issued Aug. 14.
Practice for football, cross country, girls' soccer, and field hockey will begin at 9 a.m. Aug. 15.
Practice for volleyball and boys' soccer will begin at 3 p.m. Aug. 18.
Glenelg High School athletes must return their forms to the coaches on the first day of practice.
Football and field hockey practice will begin at 8 a.m. Aug. 15.
All other teams begin practice Aug. 17.
Information: Athletic Director Mike Williams, 410-313-5528.
If you are already thinking about the winter season, River Hill High School's ice hockey team is looking for players at the varsity and junior varsity levels.
Last year, the varsity team was 10-0, finishing in first place in Howard County.
River Hill's coach is Mike Hendrix.
In addition to coaching the River Hill team, Hendrix is a coach for the Tri-City Eagles, director of the Southeastern Roller Hockey League and manager of the Laurel Gardens Ice Rink.
River Hill students who would like to play ice hockey for one of the school's teams, should call Joyce Runkle, 301-854-0480.
Planning for the 1998-1999 season is already in progress.
Driver training
The River Hill Boosters' Club has arranged for a driver training class to be offered this fall on the River Hill High School campus.
Nice and Easy Driving School Inc. will offer the class from 2: 30 to 4: 30 p.m. weekdays, with the possibility of a parallel evening class for fall athletes.
The $249 tuition covers 30 classroom hours and six road hours.
Information: 410-313-7120.
Pub Date: 8/06/98