29th July 2010
Huge congratulations to Ashley Place (Aarminias) who did such a fabulous job of handling Indy (as ever!) in the YKC handling class at Leeds Championship show that she won!!! This was a well deserved win for a very talented young handler - here's hoping her winning streak continues!
23rd July 2010
Well, we haven't been to many shows recently. The rain has been incessant so we haven't been doing much training either, and walks have been shorter than usual.
Blue had a good day at Blackpool champ show at the end of June - 2nd in Minor Puppy Dog (behind an absolute stunner of a puppy!) then 1st in Puppy Dog. It was a lovely sunny day; a bit too hot for the dogs though. Indy was not invited along for the trip as she was expected to be out of coat and was very much not impressed! She had a good long sniff when we got back, with an accusing 'you've been to a show and not taken me!' look on her face! Soooo funny...
Since then however, we have only really had the odd training session to look forward to, and have had a bit of a lazy month. Zora is showing promise in training, and will hopefully be well enough behaved to take out this winter when the shooting season commences. All the heat and rain makes me long for cold, crisp, clear winter days out on shoots.....
We have a few shows entered though, and have Richmond to look forward to; more for the JHA Junior Handling semi finals than anything else. Merlin was keen to go, and so was our friend and occasional spare handler Ashley (a fabulous handler - she always looks so calm and collected!), so we're giving it a go. At least the girls will get a free lunch - I bet it's something tasty while I have to make do with a burger :)
Blue had a good day at Blackpool champ show at the end of June - 2nd in Minor Puppy Dog (behind an absolute stunner of a puppy!) then 1st in Puppy Dog. It was a lovely sunny day; a bit too hot for the dogs though. Indy was not invited along for the trip as she was expected to be out of coat and was very much not impressed! She had a good long sniff when we got back, with an accusing 'you've been to a show and not taken me!' look on her face! Soooo funny...
Since then however, we have only really had the odd training session to look forward to, and have had a bit of a lazy month. Zora is showing promise in training, and will hopefully be well enough behaved to take out this winter when the shooting season commences. All the heat and rain makes me long for cold, crisp, clear winter days out on shoots.....
We have a few shows entered though, and have Richmond to look forward to; more for the JHA Junior Handling semi finals than anything else. Merlin was keen to go, and so was our friend and occasional spare handler Ashley (a fabulous handler - she always looks so calm and collected!), so we're giving it a go. At least the girls will get a free lunch - I bet it's something tasty while I have to make do with a burger :)
25th May 2010
At SKC on Saturday it was the first time there for quite some years that the sun shone all day, and it was so hot!! Lovely weather! Its a shame it hasn't hung around.... We had a great day out and none of the dogs were out of the top three in their classes, with everyone who went qualifying for Crufts. Blue had a great day, taking 2 firsts and a second behind the best puppy in breed, and Maya had a good start to her show career with a second place in minor puppy bitch. Indy was third in the open class, gaining her stud book number which qualifies her for Crufts for life! If only I had had enough hands as I was leaving I would have bought them all an ice cream :)
4th May 2010
Where do I start? We've had a hectic month; had lots of fun but suffered a loss too.
Indy took BoB at Penrith on 10th April, followed the next day by a win in her first class and a second to the BoB winner in the next class at Cambuslang. The following weekend Merlin and Indy won their junior handling class at Selkirk qualifying Merlin for the SKC finals next year!
Indy came on holiday and became a completer of the West Highland Way - 95miles of walking in some of the most scenic parts of Scotland. We woke up one morning with the peak of Buachaille Etive Mor just outside the window - fabulous! The walking was classic and Indy had a whale of a time - particularly in the bars at night where there were loads of people to fuss over her. She is now extra fit!
Sadly we came home to a very quickly sick Zilla, who suffered a recurrence of the aggressive cancer we hoped we had seen the back of before we went away. She had been so well before we went and in the week we were away, but was off colour the night before we got back and by the following evening I knew there was trouble in store. In the space of a month she had gone from being a stunning, healthy girl capable of being placed at a champ show to being a shadow of her former self, and I couldn't put her through any more trauma - I had no option but to let her go on Friday 30th April. RIP my gorgeous, loving, sweet girly - I miss you loads.
It was with a heavy heart the next morning that I got the ferry to Belfast for the Lab Club of Northern Ireland show. New boy Blue tried his best and qualified for Crufts at his first show, at the age of six months and one day old, by taking 3rd in minor puppy dog and then 2nd in puppy dog. Indy was 3rd in special beginners bitch and then ably assisted Merlin to win the junior handling. Blue followed this up by winning the minor puppy class at Tay Valley Gundog on Sunday - what a lovely start to his showing career!
Indy took BoB at Penrith on 10th April, followed the next day by a win in her first class and a second to the BoB winner in the next class at Cambuslang. The following weekend Merlin and Indy won their junior handling class at Selkirk qualifying Merlin for the SKC finals next year!
Indy came on holiday and became a completer of the West Highland Way - 95miles of walking in some of the most scenic parts of Scotland. We woke up one morning with the peak of Buachaille Etive Mor just outside the window - fabulous! The walking was classic and Indy had a whale of a time - particularly in the bars at night where there were loads of people to fuss over her. She is now extra fit!
Sadly we came home to a very quickly sick Zilla, who suffered a recurrence of the aggressive cancer we hoped we had seen the back of before we went away. She had been so well before we went and in the week we were away, but was off colour the night before we got back and by the following evening I knew there was trouble in store. In the space of a month she had gone from being a stunning, healthy girl capable of being placed at a champ show to being a shadow of her former self, and I couldn't put her through any more trauma - I had no option but to let her go on Friday 30th April. RIP my gorgeous, loving, sweet girly - I miss you loads.
It was with a heavy heart the next morning that I got the ferry to Belfast for the Lab Club of Northern Ireland show. New boy Blue tried his best and qualified for Crufts at his first show, at the age of six months and one day old, by taking 3rd in minor puppy dog and then 2nd in puppy dog. Indy was 3rd in special beginners bitch and then ably assisted Merlin to win the junior handling. Blue followed this up by winning the minor puppy class at Tay Valley Gundog on Sunday - what a lovely start to his showing career!
3rd April 2010
A day out at Lanark today for the Lab Club of Scotland, and it was lovely to see baby Fife (from Satin's litter) who lives with his ever-so-nice family nearby. Merlin and Indy won the 6 - 11 years junior handling class - well done! Zilla (in food obsessed mode) tried to eat the judge's hand (well, he might have been hiding something edible in it!), but still managed to endear herself enough to him to get a very respectable VHC in Limit Bitch.
21st March 2010
Merlin and Indy had a good day at Three Riding Lab Club champ show - they won the special graduate class and the 6 - 11 years Junior Handling. Another couple of trophies for Merlin to proudly display and tell her school friends about! Well done to them, and also to Molly who made it a close competition with 2nd in the handling class :)
28th February 2010
Indy and Zilla had a good day today - Indy won both the graduate and open classes at Catrine show, then added Best of Breed and Group 3 to her haul. Zilla was second to Indy in the open class.
7th February 2010
Last weekend we had no shows as we had were out on a shoot on Saturday and training on Sunday, however this weekend Indy had a fab couple of days at shows - yesterday she gained Best of Breed at Caledonian show, which gave her the last point she needed for her Show Certificate of Merit! She then proceeded to take 4th in a very strong and very large gundog group. Today we went to Cumberland show in Carlisle, where she took Best of Breed and Group 2!
Zora and Zilla were also well placed, although Zora had a day off today after yesterday's long day of hanging around. Zilla was 2nd in her class at both shows, and Zora took reserve in a nice puppy class yesterday.
Zora and Zilla were also well placed, although Zora had a day off today after yesterday's long day of hanging around. Zilla was 2nd in her class at both shows, and Zora took reserve in a nice puppy class yesterday.
17th January 2010
Baby Skye (Satin's daughter) was accompanied on the trip to her new home today by Indy, Zora and Zilla. While Skye snoozed after a long journey the older girls went to Clitheroe show, where Zora and Zilla both took 2nd places and Indy took 1st and Best of Breed. There were some very nice dogs there, so the girls' results were very pleasing.
We would like to wish Skye (Afinmore Anona) all the best in her new home at Cuerdenlake Labradors, and her new owners the very best of luck with her in the show ring. Hopefully she's going to be better behaved (and quieter!) than her sister Maya is already proving herself to be.....
We would like to wish Skye (Afinmore Anona) all the best in her new home at Cuerdenlake Labradors, and her new owners the very best of luck with her in the show ring. Hopefully she's going to be better behaved (and quieter!) than her sister Maya is already proving herself to be.....
10th January 2010
Our first show of the year was Carlisle & District Canine Society, as Waverley Gundog was cancelled because of the snow. Zora was one of 3 labs in her class, and tried her best not to be distracted by all the noise - despite this being her very first show - to win 1st AV Gundog Puppy at the tender age of just 6 months! Go Zora!
Indy was 2nd in the only breed class, which had a big entry for a little show! The competition today was quite strong, and Indy was placed between a successful mother and son duo.
Indy was 2nd in the only breed class, which had a big entry for a little show! The competition today was quite strong, and Indy was placed between a successful mother and son duo.
