2008 Newsletter - Dogs
We had two canine stars in 2008, Oliver and Ruby, but before we go into their exploits, there is some sad news to impart.
Cerys & Miar in the New Forest
In September, we lost Miar. She was 13 and had been a wonderful and loyal friend. She was the best birthday present I ever had. Fortunately she lives on in her children and grandchildren, the most wonderful legacy she could have left us with. Sadly, she was predeceased by her son Copper, who left the Barratt family in May. At least they are together and pain free at the Rainbow Bridge.
So, now on to some happier times.
Ruby attended her first show in February. I decided that since I was still recuperating from my hip operation, I would start at Winchester DCS' Limited show as it was close to home and fairly low key. Whilst I stood her, I "employed" the services of a junior handler (Becky) from our ring craft class to move her. Ruby won her class (AV Spaniel Junior) and then took her place in the Best in Show ring at the end of the day. To my delight she was awarded Reserve Best in Show and Best Puppy in Show - an amazing start to her showing career.
Oliver became a father again with two litters born in January (1 bitch & 5 dogs) and April (2 bitches and 1 dog). We are lucky enough to be in contact with a number of owners of the puppies. It is wonderful to watch their progress as they make their way in the world. A few of them are being shown, but as they seem to have inherited his late maturing body, it will probably be a while before they hit the limelight. Fortunately, Oliver appears to be passing on some very nice heads, so we are able to benefit the breed.
Oliver - 3rd CC - WELKS - Apr 08
In April, we went to WELKS, a show which is held in the shadow of the Malvern Hills. I am not really sure why I went, as I have never had much luck at that venue and the judge had not placed Oliver very highly the last time she judged him. Still, he had two CCs and only needed one more to become a champion, so I decided to campaign him to give him the chance of that wondrous third ticket. We were amazed to win our class, and even more elated to be awarded the CC - Oliver was a Champion !!!!!! I don't think I realised how much it would change things. We had a pile of congratulatory cards, emails and phone calls. A few weeks later, the day came when the postman brought confirmation from the Kennel Club and Oliver was now officially Sh Ch Barhi Crouching Tiger ShCM. It was a day I had often dreamed of, but never thought would actually happen.
After WELKS, things should have been a little quieter. However, I had already planned trips to Blackpool, Border Union (Scottish Borders) and Welsh Kennel Club (Builth Wells) in addition to the shows that I could do in a day trip, so decided to go ahead with them. I know I was being greedy, but somehow whilst having three tickets was officially enough to make Oliver champion, I wanted the fourth that would prove to me that it wasn't all a fluke. At Welsh Kennel, that fourth ticket arrived and then I decided that Oliver would only make the occasional foray into the show ring in future.
So, how about Ruby? Well, her behavior wasn't doing her many favours in the show ring as she found it almost impossible to keep all four feet on the ground. Brian did her Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze and Silver awards with her. She managed to get one BOB as a puppy, but life was pretty steady (well, as steady as it can be with a young Welsh Springer around).
Then in July, I decided to visit Dorset County show. We didn't have breed classes, but the judge had liked Ruby as a puppy and it was all good education for her. We managed to win our Junior class and went in for the challenge. You could have knocked me down with a feather when she was declared Best AVNSC (Any Variety Not Separately Classified) Gundog (beating her father, Oliver). Better was to come when she went Group 2 - Ruby had decided she could do as well as her father in the show ring!
Ruby's trophy - BIS Newton Abbot & South Devon - Aug 08
In August, I took Ruby to the Newton Abbot Open show. Ruby was in Graduate and won that. Then we went for Best of Breed, and she won that, so we had to wait around for the group. It was a big group with 15 breeds present, and we were short listed. You could have knocked me down with a feather when the judge called for the Welsh Springer to win the group . So for the first time ever, we were into BIS at a general open show (Oliver has won BIS at Hampshire Gundog, but of course there was no one else to beat once he had won the group at a Gundog show). We didn't have long to wait for the BIS as the gundog group was the last to be judged (as usual). I had heard BIS being announced as the Gundog Group was being judged. We were told that we would be the last to enter the ring, and so waited our turn. We entered the ring like they do at Crufts, one by one on the move. I couldn't believe I was there with my little girl . She moved like a dream and kept all four feet on the ground. It didn't take the judge long to go over the seven group winners, and very soon she was going for the Best in Show rosette - and then she too called for the Welsh Springer - WOW. The total entry for the show was 694 dogs. The cup that she won was so large that we were not allowed to bring it home, but we will be presented with a photo of Ruby with the trophy at their next show.
Ruby continued her winning ways throughout the rest of the year and in December at Exonian won the final points she needed to get her Show Certificate of Merit. To gain the Show Certificate of Merit (ShCM), 25 points are required from Open Show BoBs and Group Placements - each BoB is 1 point. Ruby's group placements were at Newton Abbot & South Devon (BIS), Dorset County (Group 2), Romsey (Group 3) and Exonian (Group 3). She also had 6 BOB and 3 BAVNSC Gundog. Her "posh" name is now Islemoor Ruby Tuesday with Barhi Sh CM (Subject to KC confirmation).
Whilst Ruby was making her mark in the show ring, Oliver wasn't just doing nothing. In Septemeber he was selected to join the Kennel Club Good Citizen Gold display team at Discover Dogs in November. He did very well in the display and the 25 minutes of our display went sooo fast each time we did it. He did decide to act the clown in the stays though, and broke a couple of times, though fortuantley not the time that I had been warned that he would be dropped from the exercise if he broke. His lying on his side for the "vet examination" was much applauded, as was the way he put his front feet on the table to be lifted up (mind you it was his grooming table).
Not to be outdone, Ruby also gained her KCGC Gold award in November, so maybe one day, she also will be in a demonstration team.
I could never have dreamed that 2008 would be an even better year than 2007. I wonder what 2009 will bring?