Wednesday, February 9, 2011

WWW: THE HOUND GROUP

GCH CH Starline’s Chanel
(Photo by Carol Beuchat)

Over the past three seasons the Hound Group has been one of the most hotly contested groups.  Leading our Hound Group we have two great Whippets.  Last year’s Hound Group winner,  GCH CH Starline’s Chanel, was last year‘s Number One Hound finishing the year with 36 BIS and a dominating 110 Hound Groups.   Chanel was bred by Diane Bowen, Lori Lawrence & Carey Lawrence, is owned by the Lawrences & Nicole Lawrence, and handled by Lori Wilson.

GCH CH Sporting Field’s Bahama Sands,

Chanel will be challenged in the breed by GCH CH Sporting Field’s Bahama Sands, the current Number One Hound and winner of six BIS so far this year.  Tawny finished 2010 with 12 all breed Bests and 70 Hound Group Firsts.  Tawny was bred by AKC 2010 Breeder of the year, Debbie Butt. & Jesse Martin, and is owned by Debbie & Jane Cooney-Waterhouse, and handled by Amanda Giles.

GCH CH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind

Whatever Whippet makes it to the Group judging will be challenged by last year's Hound Group Three, the stately Scottish Deerhound, GCH CH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind.  Hickory and handler Angela Lloyd collected 10 BIS and 57 Hound Group top prizes in 2010.  Hickory bred and owned by Cecilia L Dove & Dr R Scott Dove, is co-owned by Sally Sweatt.

GCH CH Torquay Midnight Confession

Sure to be a crowd favorite is the 15" Beagle, GCH CCH Torquay Midnight Confession.  Lola is the top winning 15" Beagle of all time, with 34 all breed BIS.  She finished 2010 as the Number Two Hound collecting 21 BIS and 71 Hounds Groups.  Lola is always elegantly handled by breeder/owner Marcelo Chagas for co-breeder/owner Alessandra Botelho, and co-owner Marco Flavio.

GCH CH Northgate’s As You Like It
(Photo by Infocusbymiguel)

This year’s Westminster will have a distinctly European flavor with Italian judge Paolo Dondina doing BIS and several European dogs competing.  One such dog is the top Pharaoh Hound in AKC history, GCH CH Northgate’s As You Like It.  Qing, who hails from Sweden, picked up 15 BIS and 51 Hound Group Ones in 2010.  He’s already won one of the year’s biggest prizes, Best In Show at last month’s Tualatin kennel Club show in Portland OR.  Qing was bred by Hanna Ukura, is owned by Jenny Hall & Annika Lundquist, and handled by Brian Livingston.

GCH CH GrandCru Erasmus

Despite taking maternity leave in 2010 the Greyhound, GCH CH GrandCru Erasmus, gathered 16 all breed BIS and 51 Group Firsts.  Era, last year's Hound Group runner up, is one of the showiest Hounds of recent years and is sure to be a crowd pleaser.  Era is handled by breeder/owner Rindi Gaudet.  Co-breeders are Melanie Steele & Clint Livingston.  Melanie is also a co-owner.

Next Boxers.

28 comments:

  1. For me its toss up between Chanel.Her record in the show rings speaks for itself.

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  2. ERA all the way!!!

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  3. To bad Tawny did not enter

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  4. My moneys on Moxi !!!

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  5. Gotta love Qing! (Though owners are from Sweden, he has a "Made in Finland" stamp on him, as he was bred there...) ;)

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  6. Go Qing! In whippets, I would take Tawny anyday over Channel.

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  7. what about lola who was number 2 hound last year and now the all time winning 15" beagle?? i think she is a strong contestant as well, and is presented to perfection by her breeder/owner/handler. and whatever lola wants lola gets, go lola!!

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  8. My Greyhound and I will definitely be rooting for Era! She's always puts on a wonderful show! But it really is anybody's game; the Hounds have by far been the most competitive group in recent years (in my opinion). And this year is no exception!

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  9. I wouldn't count the Elkhound out of it!

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  10. A black whippet is going to win the breed ! ! ! just sayin' : )

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  11. In whippets, don't count Feather out as a contender! Also heard Tawny is not entered.

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  12. Agreed!! Even before the judge change in whippets Feather was the one to beat!!

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  13. I wish we could like comments... I agree about the Whippets, I am 99.9% certain neither one will win the breed, IF they are even shown after the judge change, and I won't be shocked if the Elkhound comes out from the shadows to win the group. He did give it the BBE group at Eukanuba, remember?

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  14. Feather is GCh Snowhill Onyx @ Stoneledge. Is Moxi going to be there??

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  15. Moxi is 8 or 9 years old and been retired for years, can't believe they would haul her all the way from ca

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  16. I saw moxi at Lompoc. They have her in fabulous show shape. She looks like she's 5 !!!

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  17. Another cheer for Qing!!!

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  18. Got to love Mufasa, the number one Redbone Coonhound - GCH CH CWSG CCH Sidearm Jungle King Mufasa. He has 50 Hound group placements and will be one of the new breeds this year at WKC! Go Big Red!!! He is beautiful!!

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  19. personally a fan of Era and Qing! Have had the honor of watching Era in the ring many many times, she always shows beautifully!
    Qing is equally breathraking though!
    THe hound group is always exciting

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  20. Qing all the way... Also love Tawny. Can't see the hound group judge going for the Beagle.

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  21. I heard Tawny won the Breed at the NJ Hound Show today, so let's see if she shows up at the Gardnen.

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  22. as the owner has already said,they did not enter Tawny at the garden

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  23. I'd be surprised if Chanel was even shown -- the judge saw her earlier this year and beat her with Feather.

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  24. Altnamara Scottish DeerhoundsFebruary 12, 2011 at 9:06 AM

    Um, isn't the judge going to decide *on the day* which is the best example of the Breed?
    Oh, am I being naiive again :-p

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  25. The Garden is always full of surprises, and so is the Hound Group. Top hounds have won and lost under the very same judges who had them before, so anything can certainly happen... and probably will! Hats off to all participating, and enjoy your hounds. BTW, saw Moxi at Palm Springs and she does look as good as the day she won at the Garden!

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