Show news for 2008
30/11/08 SOUTH OF ENGALND GUNDOG CLUB OPEN SHOW Ardingly
This is our last show of the year and what a way to exit! Fergus got 2nd in Puppy out 11!! And 2nd in Junior out of 11!! Wow what a result, in Junior Fergus beat two Junior Warrant winners and many other well known dogs, to say we're chuffed is an understatement! The other dogs were a lot older than him and I was not expecting to get a place in Junior! What a brilliant result!
02/11/08 BERKSHIRE DOWNS & CHILTERNS GOLDEN RETRIEVER CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW Slough.
Fergus got Highly Commended in his class of 10. I missed the entries for some shows mid November so he has to wait until the end of the month for his next show. Plenty of time for training in the meantime, although he is not too bad- as he seems to know what he's doing (touch wood)!
26/10/08 SOUTHERN GOLDEN RETRIEVER SOCIETY OPEN SHOW WITH LIMITED OBEDIENCE Leatherhead
Saffie and Fergus went to this show, Ferg got a 4th in Minor Puppy Dog and Saf got 1st in obedience!!! This is going to be the last show for a while as training classes have begun and theres a few things I want to iron out with Saf before putting her in the class with the big dogs!!
Safs critique:
1st - Saffron. Well done! Kindly handled in a happy manner that brought out stylish heelwork.
19/10/08 UNITED RETRIEVER CLUB OPEN SHOW Slough
Fergus went for a trip out to a show and did well gaining a 2nd in Minor Puppy and a 2nd in Puppy. The judge was picking hairs between Fergus and the puppy placed 1st as she just couldn't decide!
05/10/08 THURROCK CHAMPIONSHIP OBEDIENCE SHOW Essex
After a very windy night our tiny tent survived and we were back doing the same classes as yesterday! Although Saffie did not appreciate the wet conditions, she was okay. Not as stunning as yesterday in her heelwork yet still a heck of a lot better that she has been in the past.
For her original class we were placed 2nd! Not too bad I think!
For her new class she got 5th! What an excellent placing for her second outing in this class! She has certainly taken the increase in difficult well!
We went home at the end of a wonderful weekend soaking wet, freezing cold, faces full of windburn and a bundle of rosettes to hand! Most of all I am exceedingly happy with Safs performance proving that all the training has paid off. Sunday training lessons will begin again soon! Other members of our Sunday training group have also done well with many firsts and lots of placings at the shows attended, proving that our training methods really do work in practice!
04/10/08 ELM PARK CHAMPIONSHIP OBEDIENCE SHOW Essex
As we had entered these shows before Saffie's win last week we were still eligible for her original class. I also entered the next class as we were camping there and had time to burn!
For her original class we got 4th. Not too bad! Saf broke her wait on her recall, which took us down a few places (would have been 2nd), but her heelwork was amazing!! Sublime!! Outstanding!!!
This was the first time we have worked two classes in a long time, if ever, and it was also our first outing in this specific class in a long time (I put her in the class with the mistaken assumption that because she does it in training she will do it in the ring, wrong!). However, Saf took the step up well! We were just of out the placings (7th) in a tricky class. I was VERY pleased with her!!
Here are some video's of us working the round, they are a bit blurred, sorry!
28/09/08 SOUTHERN GSD OPEN OBEDIENCE SHOW Essex!
Although this was quite a way to go (but in the end only took about an hour) I felt that Saffie has not quite had a proper chance to work this year as she's had pups and she came into season missing quite a few shows, so I have placed her in a few more shows in October, giving Fergus the back-seat for a while.
What a start Saffie made! She got 1st in her class!! This is an amazing achievement, as we have been so close so often and just missed out. Her round was not brilliant, but she is getting back into the swing of things. Her recall was awful! Luckily, although it looked bad-it's only a small mark loss in the whole scheme of things. This 1st takes Saffie out of her class and into the next (scary!), which was my main achievement for her this year!
By going to this show we missed out on trying out for the Silver Good Citizen Dog Scheme display team for Crufts, which is a bit of a shame!
Loss 2 1/2 marks.
27/09/08 COULSDON AND DISTRICT CANINE CLUB OPEN SHOW Ardingly.
Fergus was so excited this morning and LOVED going to the show. He showed himself well, until he choked on something when we were running round and required a pat on the chest to catch his breath! Thankfully the judge did not mind too much and placed him a very respectable 3rd in Puppy and 4th in Junior. I was happy with the 3rd in Puppy as it was behind a lovely dog!
21/09/08 PORTSMOUTH & SOUTHSEA CANINE SOCIETY Portsmouth.
I decided not to go to this show and rest Fergus instead.
14/09/08 EASTBOURNE & DISTRICT CANINE SOCIETY OPEN SHOW Ardingly.
Unfortunately Fergus was not in A1 condition for this show (as he seems to have hurt his paw - typical Ferg!), so we understandably lost what would have been a really good placing in a large Puppy class as the judge was really impressed with him.
In Junior he got 4th and a hug from the judge. Hopefully he will be better for next week.
This was a bit disappointing AND he was a bit naughty in the ring too- dancing instead of standing still!!! So not a good day!
07/09/08 RICHMOND CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW Guildford.
This time Fergus had a little bit of breakfast and we got there early to settle him down. It worked and he was placed an excellent 4th in Minor Puppy in a relatively big class too!!!
Richmond 2008
Retriever (Golden)
Dogs-Judge: Mrs Pat Cooper (Goldsmill)
Class 1608 MPD (10 Entries) Abs: 2
1st: 7021 Wheatcroft Cabledeck Navigator
2nd: 6944 Erinderry Rhythm And Blues
3rd: 7014 Shinehill Shadows Run
Res: 6988 Serenedrift Apple Crumble ----> Fergy!
VHC: 6947 Trade Secrets at Fieldacre
The actual show was a nightmare due to the rain. The whole show ground was a big bog and Ferg had to be carried into the ring! We were lucky to leave when we did, as our car only just made it out. It looked like everyone else may need the assistance of a tractor to pull them out of the boggy car park! I hope everybody gets out okay!
I am very happy and Ferg enjoyed the day too!
31/08/08 BIRMINGHAM CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW Birmingham.
This was Fergus's first Champ show and he was very naughty! I made the mistake of over feeding him in the morning so he was not interested in my treats and with all of the energy from the food he just wanted to play outside the ring! It was also very rushed as we got lost in Coventry for some time! It was a bit of a repeat of the last companion show we went to!
24/08/08 HORLEY AND DISTRICT OPEN SHOW Ardingly.
What a horrible day! The weather was awful and Fergus kept lying down in the mud but it did get better! Thankfully the judging was moved inside and we cleaned Fergus up as best we could for his first proper show. He was placed 1st in Puppy and 2nd in Junior and consequently was Best Dog Puppy! I was so happy with this result! Fergus was on his best behaviour today and really seemed to enjoy the experience!
17/08/08 SHOREHAM COMPANION SHOW Shoreham.
Molly and Fergus attended this show but it was not meant to be. Nether of them were placed in their classes. The judge did not like the fact that Molly was spayed, although spayed dogs can be shown at a companion show. Fergus admittedly was not on his best behaviour, but I think that was due in part to all of the background noise of the show, it was very loud with aeroplanes practising dives above our heads!
27/07/08 NORTH WEST KENT DTC OPEN OBEDIENCE SHOW Kent.
Saffie did her best performance yet with some super heel free work! Sadly her heel on lead was not quite as good. Overall I was VERY happy with her! Had she have lost one less mark she would have been 1st! We ran off for 4th place with two other dogs (doing a recall, which is not our strongest area) and came home with a rosette for 6th place, which I'm really pleased with. This is our first placing "in the cards" with the big dogs as they say!
Loss 3 3/4 marks.
Saffie's critique from the judge: :
6th 144 Cloverice Serenity at Serenedrift. Goldie. This was a well motivated Goldie that I really liked, faults caused by enthusiasm but I’m sure will go a lot further. Well done
22/07/09 SHOREHAM RINGCRAFT CLUB COMPANION SHOW Shoreham-By-Sea.
Fergus entered the Puppy class for training. He was very good and the judge said he was very nice indeed! I also put him in the Open class, as the classes were very quick and the judge again would have liked to have placed him but because of his age, she couldn't. Fergus also got complements from fellow competitors, which all bodes well for his show career.
Molly did her bit. Although she was not placed in her Sporting group, a class which I find is a bit hit and miss with Molly, she was placed 1st in her Veteran class. This was apparently because she had the cleanest teeth. As the Veteran class was in the Novelty ring, we found ourselves in the Best In Show line up, which we won! This was Molly's second Best In Show in a row! Thank you to the judge and Shoreham ringcraft club, we found everybody very friendly and welcoming!
19/07/08 SOUTH EASTERN DTC OPEN OBEDIENCE SHOW Near Croydon.
Saffie entered today and was not placed. Her round was not her best, and she messed up the recall. We think her mouth was hurting her. Saffie does a lot of playing with Fergus, carrying things around in her mouth and playing tug-o-war with you. Every so often, she finds that she strains her mouth, so I think this was one of those days. She is on complete rest before next weekends show.
The judge on the other hand was full of complements, stating that she was the best dog he had seen all day, she was ready to go "professional" and that she carried a nice heelwork position throughout. He said it was just me who needed to put everything together!!
Lost 8 marks.
22/06/08 BOGNOR REGIS AND DISTRICT COMPANION SHOW Bognor.
Molly entered the show today and came home with Best In Show! Well done Molls and thanks to the judge!
Fergus also went along for some training. He was very good this time, but preferred to be outside the ring meeting his adoring public, rather than inside the ring waiting for his turn!
He was good in letting the judge go over him, he did shy away at first because the speaker system played up, however after the noise he settled down and was a good boy.
14/06/08 BASINGSTOKE AND DISTRICT OPEN OBEDIENCE SHOW Basingstoke.
Saffie entered and did her best round yet! She was at heel all the way round with only a few loose about turns and an off centre present . Overall I was really impressed with her. Unusually rosettes and cards were to 10th place in the class of 30, and we managed to scoop 8th.
We lost 9 1/2 ( high mark loss for the whole class- average loss 24 marks!!)
08/06/08 FINDON OPEN OBEDIENCE SHOW Worthing.
Saffie entered this show in the morning and despite the heat she didn't do to badly. Saf was joint 2nd but we had to leave before the end to go to the companion show. As usual the end few competitors knocked us down a few places and it seems as though we were just out of the cards.
Lost 6 marks.
08/06/08 INGFIELD MANOR COMPANION SHOW Billingshurst.
I wanted to take Fergus for training. He was very good in his class and stood very nicely. He did his signature tumble as he ran round, he just thinks its all a big game! The judge picked him out the line up before remembering we were just there to train! It was a good start!
Molly entered A.V. Veteran and came 2nd, pipped to the post by a stunning goldie!
18/05/08 CULVERSTONE CHAMPIONSHIP OBEDIENCE SHOW Kent.
I encouraged an over the top performance from Saffie and didn't she do that! Keeping only two feet on the floor at anyone time we hopped round the ring. Although her heel position was not precise, the enthusiasm was great! If I had of stayed we would have run off for 5th place. She was joint third until the last two competitors! Typical!
Lost 4 3/4 marks.
17/05/08 CULVERSTONE OPEN OBEDIENCE SHOW Kent.
Saffie entered the shows this weekend. But for misreading the stay time, she would have been placed 7th. Her round wasn't too bad, but I felt she could have been more enthusiastic.
Lost 6 1/2 marks.
05/05/08 BOXGROVE COMPANION SHOW Chichester.
Molly entered Veteran and A.V Sporting, but unfortunately was not placed. I don't know why she was not placed, breed judging is often biased and very much up to the individual judge. In saying that she may just have been beaten because there was dogs of better quality in the class. That's hard for me to take, because to me, Molly is the best there is! (I'm defiantly biased!)
Saffie flew the flag. Entering two obedience classes and gaining a respectable 4th in one. In the other class, Saf was up against our own trainer and a whole host of other talented young dogs due to the wording of the class. She did not work as well as she can today, although it was hot and she was very over excited!
27/04/08 MOUNT NODDY COMPANION SHOW Chichester.
Molly entered A.V Gundog and Veteran. In A.V. Gundog she gained a 5th, in a very good quality class. In Veteran she got 1st and then went on to gain Reserve Best In Show! Thanks to everyone who thought so highly of her.
Saffie entered an obedience class at the show and she came 4th. In my opinion her standard of work was excellent and deserved a higher placing. But I am very proud of my little lady, being placed in an obedience class only 10 weeks after having her pups!
We also met two of Baloo's (SH CH TIDELOVER OLEANDER AT CANINA) progeny there, Delta, Squirrelsmead Jemima at Tidelover and Echo, Siatham Nicodemus of Tidelover J.W who were also both placed highly in their classes.
A successful but very wet day!
13/04/08 COMPANION DOG SHOW IN AID OF PDSA (Brighton Fund-raising Group) South of England Show ground Ardingly, West Sussex.
Only Molly attended this show. She was placed in both of her classes, gaining a 3rd in Any Variety Veteran and 4th in Any Variety Sporting.
The Pedigree judge said that Molly has excellent movement for her age.