New from Alan Costley, that  last weekend at Newark & District Canine Society Dog Show, Beaufield First and Foremost at Axlehurn (Ffion) won the Gundog Group, the Judge was Malcolm Kent, many congratulations.

News from Allison McNaughton that she and Adele Blades braved the snow and fog and went to the Northern Counties Gundog Club show last Sunday and were rewarded with Best of Breed and Reserve Best in Show with Andela Leonardo, Mrs Mc Murnie was the judge for the breed and Best in Show.

I had an e-mail from Zoe Stirk, she went with her Mum & Dad, Karen and Graham to Plymouth & DCS Show yesterday Doonbeg Morgan Le Fay at Grakar (Mimi) won the AVNSC Gundog Open Class, Best AVNSC Gundog Puppy then went on to win Gundog Puppy Group 3, the Judge was Antony Allen, to complete the day their English Setter Ravensett Diamond Romance with Grakar won Best of Breed and a bottle of wine.

Georgia Brown who many of you will know handles Crazy Daisy for me in the show ring attended a YKC and Eukanuba Junior Handling Training day recently, the participants were divided into two groups. Handlers in Group 1 who were relatively new to handling began the day training with either Helena Hutchings or Marina Scott in two separate rings while those in Group 2 who have more experience in handling had the morning to learn how to show different breeds of the UK’s top winning dogs including the very popular ‘Donny’ Ch Afterglow The Big Tease and Top dog all breeds 2011 ‘Eric’Ch Pamplona Bring Me Sunshine at 1pm Group 1’s Junior Handling Competition began, this was judged by Helena Hutcings. Helena made a short list of 8, aked them to move up and down, and she then chose 5 handlers in no particular order, to go to the finals being judged at the end of the day by a secret judge.

At 1.40 the groups swapped places, so the younger handlers now had the opportunity to have a go with the dogs and the older handlers were now in training with their own dogs. Helena asked each handler in her group what they wished to focus on, so everyone could practise doing what they wanted to get the best out of the their day,each handler spent about five minutes on a one-to-one basis and did a triangle up and down then each were asked to conduct a pattern from ‘reverse’ triangles to reverse Ts’. Soon it was time for Group 2’s competition. Again, judged by Helena, she then she shortlisted 8 handlers and then chose her top 5.

The Judge of the final part of the competition was kept secret until the end of the day and it was not a Junior Handling judge, but instead a very well respected judge  Carl Johnson. The commentator for this was Marina Scott , giving a short resume on the 10 handlers that were chosen by Helena who were called back into the ring with their original dog. The judge aked them to execute a straight up and down and he then picked his top 5 in no particular order, this included Georgia. These five were then each given one of the country’s top dogs to handle in the Grand Final. They were then judged as if it was a normal class and solely on the handler not the dog. He even made a comment before placing saying how high the standard of handlers were. The winner was Melissa Osbourne Brown handling the Norfolk Terrier Ch Valentines Cherry Crumblein second place was Georgia handling Mike Gadsby and Jason Lynn’s Ch Afterglow The Big Tease. I am sure you will all join me in sending Congratulations to Georgia, it’s nice to know that in Georgia and Jennifer Nicholls were have two very talented handlers.   

 

Keep the news coming

Jean

01494 260458/07941830666

E-mail chessrose@sky.com

 

 

Under Kennel Club rules, we have to organise a Breed Seminar, we have started to make arrangements but we still need a few more dogs, the proposed venue is Roade Northamptonshire, any one interested in helping can you please contact Chris Attwood on 01526 322081 or doonbeg@tiscali.co.uk.

 

We are still looking for a volunteer to help man the booth at Discover Dogs for half a day at Crufts on Saturday 10^th March again if you can help out please contact Chris.

 

I heard from Jane Stockley that she has lost her beloved Murray, he was bred by Chris and Keith Attwood, he was only shown a few times but was successful when he did venture into the showring he was Jane’s constant companion and will be greatly missed by her.

 

Debbie Robinson has obtained some IWS calendars from America, which are for sale, anyone interested please contact her direct, her details are in the Year Book

 

Show news is a bit slow at the moment so if you go to any Open Shows don’t forget to let me have the results.

 

The Association is having a new website built so some pages cannot be logged on to, if you need any information but cannot obtain it on the website please contact Chris or myself as we may be able to be of assistance to you. Talking about the site, the Calendar of forthcoming events is now available.

 

Well the snow has arrived, the dogs love it, we are marooned at the top of the hill, no vehicles going up or down at the moment. For the second year running Chesham made it on the TV and in the National Press as the coldest place in the UK -11 degrees. Please take care if you are travelling anywhere in this weather. 

 

Keep the news coming

Jean

01494 260458/07941830666

E-mail chessrose@sky.com   

I have received any enquiry from one of our overseas members Ms Ruth Bruskiewitz who lives in the United States of America if there is any member who belongs to the American Irish Water Spaniel Club that would be willing to be membership partners, that is she pays your subs in America and you pay hers in the UK, there are a few of us who do this already I being one of them, if you are willing to do so please contact her, you can obtain her details from the Year Book

This weekend the Manchester Championship Dog Show is taking place, Gundog day was today, we did not have classes but 6 Irish Water Spaniel were entered in AVNSC under Judge Mr Ben Reynolds-Frost, Best Dog and Best of Breed was AMCH/Sh Ch Whistlestop’s Elements of Magic (Merlin) owned by Judith Carruthers and Coleen McDaniel, Best Bitch was Foulby Calm before the Storm owned by Angela Williams, David Craig and Penny Willoughby.Merlin went on to win Gundog Group 3 under Judge Mr Mike Gadsby, what a start to 2012 for Merlin, having won the Gundog Group at Boston Championship Show and Group 3 today.

Unfortunately, the member who was going to cover Discover Dogs on Saturday 10^th March at the NEC cannot make it so if any of you who have the day free and who has a dog who has a “rock solid” temperament and would be willing to help the Association showcase the breed to the general public, can you please contact Chris Attwood on 01526 322081 or doonbeg@tiscali.co.uk. You do not have to pay to get into the NEC as they provide passes for those who are willing to man the Discover Dog booths.

 

Keep the news coming

 

Jean

01494 260458/07941830666

E-mail chessrose@sky.com