2009 Newsletter - Dogs
Oliver had a good year in 2009. He started it by winning a first in his class at Crufts. His next highlight was fathering two more litters, one of which was a repeat mating of Ruby. Bath championship show found us madly running between rings. First Ruby and Oliver were second in the Brace class and then a few minutes later, Oliver won the Open Dog class and won Best Dog in the challenge. Not a bad result for his first show as a veteran. A week later, Oliver was Reserve Best in Show and Best Opposite Sex (for the second year running) at the South Eastern Welsh Springer Spaniel Club open show.
Oliver winning his 4th BIS at Hampshire Gundog 2009
In June we made the long trip to Border Union at Kelso. Oliver was unable to show in the breed as the judge had previously given him a CC, so he was only entered in the Veteran Stakes, which was open to all sporting breeds (Gundogs, Hounds and Terriers). There were 38 entries, many of which were champions. I have to say that Oliver felt really good on the other end of the lead and I was very pleased when we were short listed. However, the icing on the cake was when we were called into first place.It is extremely rare to leave a show unbeaten, particularly a championship Show - only the Best in Show and winners of the Veteran and Champion Stakes can do this (assuming that the stakes winners were not shown in the breed). It was a lovely feeling. Oliver was placed in a couple of other Veteran Stakes during the year, which is no mean feat.
August saw us once again at Hampshire Gundog's open show. This year, Oliver was only entered in the Veteran class. It was a strong class, featuring the previous year's Best in Show winner, so I was very pleased that Oliver won his class and took his place in the Best In Show line up. As usual, there was a full compliment of dogs that filled the tennis court that was our ring. As the winner of Veteran, we took our place as the end of the lineup. After each of the other dogs had been put through their paces, it was our turn. As usual, Oliver moved like a dream, but I had little hope to be short listed as it is very rare for a veteran to be highly placed at this level. So, you can imagine my surprise when Oliver was not only short listed, but eventually called out as Best in Show. We had hardly been handed our rosette before the announcer was telling the crowd that it was Oliver's fourth Best in Show at Hampshire Gundog - without doubt, his "lucky" show. You will not be surprised to hear that I have decided to go out on a "high" and retire Oliver from Hampshire Gundog shows.
At the final championship show of 2009, LKA, Oliver won his second veteran stakes class of the year. There were over 30 dogs and bitches in the class, many of whom were champions. What a wonderful year he has had. As one friend has remarked, he is like a good wine - he gets better as he ages.
Oliver's Progeny at Manchester 2009
Rosie, Fred, Ruby, Beemer, Lulu (and Seren, mother of Beemer and Lulu)
with
Sally, Becki, Finuala and Sue
Whilst her father was continuing in the limelight, Ruby also had a good year. At the WSSC AGM, she won the puppy match and was awarded with the trophy for Open Show Bitch of the Year for 2008. In March she won the Gundog group at Bristol open show. May saw us travel to Dublin for the European Winners show - our first showing trip to Ireland. Irish shows offer a very different experience from those in UK, and this show felt much more like a large open show. We had the pleasure of meeting a number of dog lovers at the hotel and were lucky enough to find a near-by park which allowed dogs at certain times of the day. We were very pleased that Ruby won the RCACIB (Reserve International Certificate of Beauty). She also won Post Graduate Bitch at Southern Counties, National Gundog and Paignton championship shows, was placed in many more championship shows and had a number of Best of Breeds at open shows.
Now that Oliver has a number of offspring around, we have many more Welsh to keep an interest in. At Manchester, the very first championship show of the year, all bar one of his offspring present qualified for Crufts 2010. In fact, as the year went on and more puppies came into the ring, only one that is shown has not (yet) qualified. Lulu has four of the seven Green Stars required to become an Irish Show Champion. Between them, Oliver's offspring have gained numerous open show Best Puppy awards, championship show places and Kennel Club Good Citizen Puppy and Bronze awards. They have done their father proud.
As the family grows, we thought it would be a nice idea to have a canine family get-together. So it was that on a beautiful late September day, eight Welsh Springers and seven humans got together for a walk in the New Forest followed by a BBQ at our house. Unfortunately, a few had to drop out due to seasons and kennel cough. Those who were able to join us had a wonderful time and it was great to see so many dogs playing together. Hopefully, this walk will become an annual event.