(Apologies to blog-fans, this is two weeks' worth of blog. We should be back to normal weekly updates soon. Thanks for your patience!)

Update 8th May 2009

Following on from last week’s blog, I have had an e-mail from Zoe & Karen Stirk to let me know that Sh Ch Grakar The Dark Faerie Sh Cm (Jasmine) was in fact the first IWS to win a Show Certificate of Merit in July 2005 at just two years old. She claimed her Show Certificate of Merit after winning Best in Show at Evesham & DCS. Man thanks for letting me know, that makes four IWS who have gained this title.

News from Vibeke Sandberg in Denmark, SWE Sh Ch. Dan Sh Ch Doonbeg Rare Flair (Truffle) has qualified for Crufts for the second time.

News from Finland that Seidi Linnavuori has lost Catanka Winnie the Pooh, (Arthur) he was eleven and a half years old. Arthur was from the first Catanka litter and with his sibling Alma, who lived with Seidi’s friend Susanna travelled and was shown in the Nordic Countries, he was an FCI International, Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian Champion, he was also  an all breed show group winner and one of his finest wins was at the breed specialty in 2003 when he went Best Male and Best Opposite Sex under Pepi Barrington (Fynder) and his sister Waltzing Matilda was Best of Breed, his final dog show was in Stockholm, Sweden in December 2006 where he ended his show career by being Best Veteran, and Best of Breed which made him also Swedish Winner-06. Arthur had a very easygoing personality and he was often lent to other children for the Junior Handler competitions. He only sired one litter of nine puppies but produced many international champions, including Sh Ch Catanka Hurley Curly owned by Chris & Keith Attwood I am sure he will be greatly missed.

This weekend  the National Dog Show is being held, it was Gundog day today and the judge for the IWS was Mrs Penny Williams, there was only 22 entered and two were absent on the day therefore Mrs Williams only had 8 dogs and 12 bitches to judge. Dog CC and Best of Breed was Sh Ch Zanfi Ego owned my Mrs E Waters, the Reserve Dog CC went for the second championship show  running to  the young dog Fynder Seabiscuit of Glenderry owned by Vickie  Norman – Massa, the Bitch CC was won by Foulby Fire Opal owned by Angela Williams, David Craig and Penny Willoughby, the Reserve Bitch CC was won by Holbain Capercaillie owned by Pauline and Stuart Furber  Best Puppy was Foulby Calm Before The Storm owned by  Angela Williams, David Craig & Penny Willoughby, she then went on to win Gundog Puppy Group 3 under Mr Frank Kane.

The Irish Water Spaniel Association has arranged for eye testing to be done at Kitebrook, more details to follow.
 

 Update 17th May

 

Our Secretary Chris Attwood has returned from her trip to Finland where she was judging IWS and Field Spaniels, judging in Finland is done on a different system there but she was very impressed with her winners. Chris had an entry of 36 IWS and her main winners were , Best in Show Fin Ch Catanka Free Kick who was sired by Fynder Freethinker owned by Judith Carruthers and Seidi Linnavuori he was bred in Finland by Seidi from her Catanka Taste of Waltz, he is owned by Paula Valkonen, Best Opposite Sex was Multi Ch Catanka Havis Amanda at Catanka Winnie the Pooh and Akvavtix Sally Be Good also bred by Seidi and owned by IWSA members Petra Jeminen and Nina Kujala Best Puppy was Bogdogs Tara (Bogdogs Grolsh and Wilma at Bogdogs) bred by Susan Salminen and owned by Susan in partnership with Annika Tapaila.

Chris was also honoured to be asked to judge Field Spaniels and obviously judged to type as both her two top puppies were litter mates and sired by the dog she choose as her best dog. She was told that normally Field Spaniels have an entry of under a dozen but she drew a marvellous entry of over 40 dogs.

As she was in Finland Chris was unable to attend The National Dog at Birmingham but the Doonbeg Kennel was still winning honours as a Chinese Crested bred by Chris won Best Puppy in the breed from an entry of 44 puppies.

Today was Gundog Day at The Scottish Kennel Club Show, the judge for IWS was Dr R.W. James, the Dog CC , which was the important third one was won by Antdela Oleander (Ollie) owned by Ant Andrews thus making him a Sh Ch subject of course to KC approval, Reserve Dog CC was Ir Ch Stanegate Storm Warning at Sosteli (AI) owned by Mr & Mrs Belcher, Bitch CC and Best of Breed was Foulby Fire Opal owned by   Angela Williams, David Craig and Penny Willoughby with the Reserve Bitch CC and Best Puppy going  Foulby Calm before the Storm also owned by Angela, David and Penny.

I shall be posting the latest mailing out on Monday, this will include the newsletter, Championship Show Shedule, so it should be with you all by the end of next week.

Thank you all for the news, keep it coming
Jean

01494783599/07941830666
e-mail jean.gomm@ntlworld.com