Nancy and Gerry Daly and owned by Nicola Croxford and her son Will and Robert Greaves. She is campaigned by Will, Junior Handler of the Year in 2013, who trained with ourselves for a while, so especially satisfying for us. She is sired by Ch/Irish Ch Whittimere Pandemonium ex Irish Ch Barbelka Lila. Topping the herding group is Debbie Pearson’s blue merle Shetland Sheepdog Ch Edglonian Singin The Blues, by Ch Milesend Night Force ex Ch Edglonian Kiss N’Tell. He has been a consistent winner over several years, with group wins in 2009, ‘11 and ‘13, but his great day came at the Three Cts where he not only took the breed record but went on to win his first general ch show best in show under Marc Cocozza and then repeated this at Leeds under Espen Enge from Norway. Later in the year he was myself and Michael Coad’s winner of the Eukenuba Champion stakes final, and represented the UK in the World Challenge at Amsterdam where he reached the final 12. The top gundog competition has been quite open this year and in the end it was a breed that does not have cc approval for its breed yet, the Spanish Water Dog, Valentino’s Castro, which is also the top rare breed too. He is owned by the Egginton family and sired by Spanish ch Coco De La Galea, from the country of origin, ex Valentinos Gordviday. I believe that the AKC has just recognized this breed and will compete from January 1st 2015.
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s the year draws to a close we have a couple of shows that take on the Christmas effect. The first is BUBA or to give its full title-The British Utility Breeds Association Ch Show, or to shorten it, the non-sporting group ch show, the only one we have for this group. On days gone by the biggest breeds were the coated ones, Lhasas, Shih Tzus, etc. Now its the Bull breeds, Bulldogs, with French Bulldogs having the biggest entry of 163 dogs entered. Frenchies are one of the top 5 most popular breeds in the UK. Sadly because of this demand, there has been an influx of dogs being imported from Eastern Europe, not always the best quality either, which is sad for this most lovely of breeds. I have been hooked for over twenty years with the breed, they are the best companions you can have in your home. The overall entry was 1850 dogs and being so close to Christmas, each judging table
had a little Christmas Tree on it, a very nice festive feeling for the show. Breeds here are usually judged by breed specialists as it’s the breed clubs that are allowed to select their own judge. Best in show judge however has to be multi breed approved and this year that honor fell to Tom Mather, a toy specialist and Crufts committee member. It was a new face to the top spot (no pun intended) which fell to the Dalmatian bitch Ch Dalliviro Reba Mac at Ellemstra, in fact every placing was a new face to group winning. In reserve best in show place was the grey and white Lhasa Apso bitch Marnbri Miss Miranda owned by Mark Nutley and Brian Agnew. Into third was the red Chow male Ch Kwaitang Kristian at Kyong winning his 23rd certificate. In fourth it was the untitled Shar Pei Loupei’s Three little Birds at Pontshannon. It is rare here for a Bulldog to win best of breed from the puppy class but it did here and also went onto best puppy in show and it was the all white bitch Pheorn No Surrender. The nearest big win for an import was the the Schipperke that won the Eukanuba champion stakes, Tricia Morley’s Ch/Am Ch Chatalat Aradet Rugby handled by Mary Deats. And final show of the year, and one of the most popular of the year, is the Ladies Kennel Club. The Kennel Club has set up a working party to look at new ideas for shows to encourage more participants. One of those ideas is that championship shows ought to be able to apply for ALL breed status. Many believe that the LKA should be one of those such is its popularity, as this society has been in existence for 100 years. The venue can well accommodate the increased number as it’s the same venue as Crufts!! It was certainly very chilly outside, with thick frost, but once inside it was a hive of activity. 10,126 were entered with Labradors being the top entry of 219 dogs, so you can well understand the thrill of winning a cc or even best of breed in an entry of this size. But this year the entry was slightly down as it clashed with the huge Amsterdam Winners Show, which of course this year incorporated the Eukenuba World Challenge. Holland is very close to these shores and several British exhibitors tried their luck there instead, AND were successful too. It was a 13th best in show for the Wire Fox Terrier Ch Travella Striking Seal, owned by Victor Malzoni. Reserve best in show was the Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Ch/Finnish Ch Miletreee Montesuma of Lodoncor for Cesar Cortes and Marte Londono. I judged the non sporting group and my winner was the gold Lhasa Apso bitch Chethang Petronella for Jacquie and David Chalmers, interesting as l see she is sired by my dog certificate winner at Crufts Ch Chethang Nikodemus. Jenny Dove, famous for her Saringas Afghans, judged the hounds and her winner was Steve Rose’s Mini Wire Dachshund Ch Ridanflight Ricardo, Steve is better known for his Ridanflight Pointers. Sandra Marshall did the gundogs and her winner was the BIS winner from Belfast Karen Whitehead’s Weimaraner Show Ch Gunalt De Ice at Strideview. Bred by Stephen and Patsy whose phenomenal kennel have now bred 80 UK champions, quite a record. Meg Purnell-Carpenter did the working group and her winner was the Doberman Ch Jovavik Midnight Express. Stella Clark did the herding and it was the 18th group win for the Australian Shepherd Angie Allan’s Ch/Finnish Ch Allmark Fifth Avenue, sired by Am/Braz Ch Dazzles Bill-A-Bing Bill-A-Bong. Dog News 115