Tom Bianchi and Les Pekarski

Tom attended his first lure field trial in Canada in 1977 watching a coursing demo of Salukis and Afghan Hounds. Tom has been involved in Lure Field Trials in the United States since 1978 with his first Saluki, Lando, and the coursing involvement started.

Tom has contributed many ideas and innovations to the sport. I will list a few below:

Up until 1979, pulleys were made of bicycle hubs mounted between two Oak blocks or were modified fishing reels epoxied to a plywood base using Bondo. Toms Saluki (Lando) was coursing in Canada, when he fell and hit one of the pulleys. He received a severe cut to his side.

That is when Tom decided to invent a better "mousetrap". The pulley designs he came up with has been used and copied ever since. He has developed many pieces of equipment that helped train young dogs to get keen on the lure. One major example is the reversible machine. Before his idea the machine was not easily manufactured or available. Another big introduction of an old idea was the reintroduction of the continuous loop wheel. The original continuous loop wheel disappeared from the market around the 1980's. People would try to use pie plates or grain elevator pulleys to run the string around the course. This often didn't work so Tom borrowed one of the old continuous wheels and remanufactured it so that even today it is a standard.

Tom was very active in Region 8 and started American/Canadian Border Runners Association in Vermont, so that some of us easterners could see what the winters were like up north. We ran trials in Stowe, VT at the Von Trapp family lodge & in Burlington, VT

Tom was Region 8 Director from 1983 thru 1985.

Tom was an ASFA Judge from about 1979 until 1990's. Even though he has found it necessary to retire from coursing he still remains active in consulting with the fancy and in developing new and safer equipment.

Because of Tom's inventions and refinements we would not have been able to put on some the large trials or run our hounds as safely.

~Nomination letter submitted by Peter A. and Camille Mendicino

PRESENTING THE AWARD TO LES IS GARY ROUSH, ASFA PRESIDENT 1980-1984 l.-r. LES PEKARSKI, GARY ROUSH

Les Pekarski - Les has been an active, enthusiastic supporter of ASFA lure coursing since 1978. His original breed was Afghan Hounds, and he was the owner of Lil' Man, the first #1 sighthound hailing from Region 7. Les dedicated a perpetual trophy, the Florida Classic Cup, in Lil' Man's memory, and today that trophy is one of lure coursing's oldest trophies.

Les has served our sport in a variety of capacities. He has been an all-breed judge since 1981. He was on the ASFA Board of Directors as Regional Director from Region 7. He is a talented lure operator and equipment guru. He has served as Field Trial Chairman for several Regional Invitationals, and was co-Field Trial Chairman of the 2002 ASFA International Invitationals, which is widely considered to be one of the most successful I.I.'s in the history of the event.

Les is the longtime President of GANG, the Greyhound Association of North Georgia. In that position, he has built one of the most successful club lure coursing programs in ASFA. GANG regularly ranks among the top clubs in both average and total entries. It was the first club to receive the Excellent Performance Award. Les and GANG are known for putting on three and four day "marathon" trial weekends and for innovating the night lure trial concept.

Les is also known for mentoring individuals and clubs getting started in lure coursing. He is always ready to lend a hand to clubs whose programs are encountering difficulties. Most recently, he stepped in to help save MAWA's program and to keep alive its traditional three day Thanksgiving trials.

Les is a talented breeder of top flight Whippets. He has owned and bred a number of #1 Whippets. He owns the highest titled sighthound in ASFA history, the Whippet Comet's Royal Gala, LCM XX.

Les travels the country, judging, lure operating, and running his Whippets. Like Joshua Deets in Lonesome Dove, he is "cheerful in all weathers, and never shirked a task." Few people have dedicated as much of their lives or as many years to ASFA lure coursing as has Les. He embodies the ideals of the Gary Forrester Award.

Respectfully Submitted,
John Parker