Paul Sagar Salukis and Falcons
September 27 1969, I was on holiday, 15 years old and fishing on the River Ant in the wonderful Norfolk Broads. I have always enjoyed field sports, ratting and fishing were special and enjoyed on a regular basis. Norfolk is mainly reclaimed from the sea and much of the land there is below sea level, so when you fish there you seem higher and the view is far reaching.
As I stood with rod in hand I looked behind me and there in full flight was a lovely big hare, about 25 yards behind her was a very nice cream lightly feathered saluki bitch. I had seen saluki’s in books but never in real life. I don’t know how long the course had been going on before I saw them but I watched intently for the next 2- 3 minutes. I was in Paradise! I continued to watch the action, I saw another two quick bends and that was that, the saluki stood proudly over her kill.
I dropped my rod and ran over to see this wonderful “work of art” but as I got close she calmly picked up the hare and trotted away with her prize. I never saw her again but I have never forgotten her.
Norfolk Lady
History
In March 1983 Joanna and I got married - we had two choices - a honeymoon or a hound...... well after a couple of days living with no dogs in the house the choice was made and Joanna bought me a black feathered saluki as a wedding present. Suki was seven months old when we got her and already set in her ways, she taught us a lot and we remain grateful to her, next came a chocolate feathered saluki, Fern.
In 1984 we were asked to collect a smooth cream bitch and return her to her breeder as the owner couldnt keep her any longer. We picked her up bathed and fed her and the night before the coursing meeting that we were going to take her to to return her, it snowed - HEAVILY. The meeting was cancelled and so she had to stay, on a regular walk she cut herself on wire and needed stitches, she reacted badly to the anaesthetic and Joanna sat up all night with her, we really didnt think she would survive, Joshuas Annie never went back to her breeder and our love affair with smooth salukis began.
