The British Scene by Geoff Corish
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t will come as no surprise that the UK’s top dog all breeds for 2009 is the Wire Fox terrier bitch Ch Blackdale Carousel. “Rudy” has had a phenomenal career taking seven all-breed championship show Best in Show awards and of course a major win for her was Best in Show at the European Winners Show in Dublin early in 2009. Owned by the young and talented handler Andrew Goodsell, she was of course bred by that world renowned Wire breeder Harry O’Donaghue form Northern Ireland, and is all Blackdale bred, quite some feat. She is by Blackdale Magic ex Blackdale Sunshine. She was not really destined for the show ring and it fact Harry had her as one of his famous brood bitches, in her first litter she produced Irish Ch Blackdale Celtic Queen. He was grooming her one day when he had a re-think and thought there was something special about her and so she was got into show form, and the rest as they say is history! Andrew Goodsell spent some time learning his skill from Peter Green, his best known charges have been Ch Fairwyre Commander at Grambrae who was my group winner at Crufts some years ago. Also Crufts group and Reserve Best in Show winner was the US imported Ch/American Ch. El-Rays Snowtaire Iceni Payback. Her career started back in 2007 when she quickly gained her title and top wire plus two group 1’s. In 2008 she was again the top wire and won another four group firsts plus a championship show Best in Show. During that year she broke the long-standing bitch record for wires which had been held for so long by Ch Gosmoore Kirkmoor Tessa. The overall record is held by Ch/Am Ch Gosmoore Kirkmoor Craftsman bred by another amazing wire breeder Mr. Billy Mitchell father of the famous Vincent. Second top dog and the top working dog is the brindle Boxer male Ch/Irish Ch Winuwuk Lust at First Sight. This is one of the most famous Boxer kennels in the UK having been founded 50 years ago by Marion and the late Ivor ward-Davies. Today Marion continues with the help of Julie Brown and Tim Hitchings. It is Julie that is usually on the end of the lead. Known at home as ‘Max’ he is sired by the very successful stud dog Ch Winuwuk Lust In The Dust ex his grand-daughter Ch Winuwuk Story Book. His early career was really an up and down one, but then with maturity he really reached his potential with 13 group firsts, one of which was Crufts 2009, plus a group win at the European show in Dublin. Another working dog was close on the heels of “Max” and yet another with a lot of stamina travelling to shows from Northern Ireland. Willie and Amanda Dobbins Swiss import Newfoundland 30 Dog News
Ch/Irish Ch Fairweather’s Knockout with Brooklynbear, bred by Loredana and Giorgio Salina-Borello by Americanbred Darbydales Smart Alec ex Am Ch Fairweather’s Fine Fellow from Salina and combines European and Nth-American breeding in him. The tussle for Top gundog has been a tough one this year and in fact the top three gundogs are all within 3points !!!Eventually the top went to the top certificate winning solid-colored Cocker ever Show Champion Dillonpark Ambrogina, bred and owned by Michael Parkinson and Brian Dillon and sired by Show Ch Claramand Rock-n-Roll with Molkara ex show Ch Quettadene Amelia at Dillonpark. As well as a mountain of cc’s she also has won 3 general ch Best in Show wins and is now officially retired. Right on her heals is another gundog and was the Flat Coated Retriever Show Champion Vbos The Kentuckian and yet another of the more mature dogs to finally reach their best when at 8 years old he took his first group win. He is bred and owned by Jim Irvine up in Scotland and sired by The sorcerers apprentice from Jaeva ex Sh ch Vbos Lady from Louisiana. At the East of England he went onto best in show and was the first Flat Coated Retriever to achieve this award at a UK ch show since his famous ancestor Ch/Irish Ch Shargleam blackcap in the 1980’s. In sixth place and the top toy for the second year running is Rosemary and Sarah Jackson’s Maltese Ch Benatone Gold Ring. He is by the American import Ch’Am/Can Ch Hi-Lite Risque Gold Fever. Interesting in that he himself was twice Best in Show at general ch show and his dam Benatone Love Heart is by yet another BIS winner Ch Snowgoose First love. In seventh place is yet another gundog and one of the most famous dogs of our time, yes l speak of “Yogi.” If you don’t know who l am talking about he is of course the famous Hungarian Vizla who has now broken the all time Best in Show record held since the 1930’s by the Scottish Terrier Ch heather Realisation. To give him his full name he is Sh Ch/Australian ch Hungargunn Bear Itn Mind owned by breeder Naomi Cragg and Katherine Armstrong. He was top dog all breeds in 2006 and 2007, top gundog in 2008 and won two more BIS in 2009 and so it was in 2010 at our first two shows of the year he won BIS at both making it 15 BIS awards and in so doing broke that all time record. In 8th it was another working dog with the Bullmastiff Jaynoss Big Bopper and in joint 9th the well know Dalmatian bitch Ch Dvojica Voodoo and Sue Garsides well known Bulldog Ch Iceglint I’m Harry. Top hound was the veteran elkhound Ch/ Irish Ch Kestos ISpy at Graythor and top herding dog was Sarah Taylors Cardigan corgi Ch Bymil Picture this. This is the first time a Cardi has reached these heights and she was the breeds first ever group winner for the breed.•