"STRIKER"
TWO TIME IDITAROD
VETERAN
Tumnatki's Bosun NorthWapiti
(Meomar's Faux Pas x
Spindrift's Shulaces)
June 22, 1995 - March 2, 2006
Life has its own schedules and agendas that often pay little or no attention to what else is going on.
Right after the Iditarod Driver's Meeting on Thursday, I received a call from Anna that Striker had suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. It certainly took us by surprise. When I told Mark he said, "Who's Striker?" because it never occurred
to him that it might have been
OUR Striker.
My stories and remembrances about Stiker are many - the story of how he came to live with us, of how he almost ended up being named Bozo, how he got his nickname "The Fugitive",
etc., etc. Unfortunately, I just don't have the time right now to 'put them to paper', but that doesn't mean that Mark and I aren't remembering and sharing stories of his life.
Finishing Iditarod 2001
Striker was one of the best wheel dogs I've ever driven. He was a finisher in my 2001 Iditarod team and many other 200 and 300 mile races - but what I am most grateful to him for are the furry legacies he left behind.
His litter with BIS Ch. Chuchinka's Dance in the Wind SDX
(Breezy) was perhaps one of the most versatile and accomplished litters in the history of the breed. They included:
Kara |
Loki |
Odie |
Freya |
Hugi |
Iditarod finishing
Group Placing
Ch. NorthWapiti's Valkyrie Kara
Four Time Iditarod Veteran
The first & only bitch in the history of the breed to be a Champion Show Dog and an Iditarod
finisher |
Iditarod finishing
Ch. NorthWapiti's Loki
Four Time Iditarod Veteran
|
Iditarod finishing NorthWapiti's Odin
Four Time Iditarod Veteran
|
Ch. North Wapiti's
Freya, WD, CGN
2003
Iditarod Ceremonial Run
a St. John's Ambulance Therapy Dog
(owned by Brenda Potter) |
Multi High
in Trial winning NorthWapiti's TuColdtuRain Hugi CDX, CGN
The #1 Siberian/#7 Working Dog in Obedience in Canada for
2003
(owned by Jackie Wepruk and Rick Austin) |
We are forever grateful to Karen Yeargain for
a call - "How would you like pick male of that litter?"
(Referring to a repeat breeding of Meomar's Faux Pas x Spindrift's
Shulaces.) Our kennel would not be where it is today without it - without Striker.
As I once again venture onto the Iditarod trail, capably lead by some of Striker's children and grandchildren, you can be sure my thoughts will often turn to my 'Handsome Little Man'.
Godspeed My Friend.
Karen L. and Mark Ramstead
NorthWapiti Kennels
"Pretty Sled Dogs"
Iditarod Finishing and Best in Show winning Siberians
Photo by Jlona Richey
Tracks of Alaska
2006 Ceremonial Start - NorthWapiti
team led by:
Kara (Striker daughter)
Dasher (Striker grand-daughter)
Loki (Striker son)
Odie (Striker son)
|