PORTIE SEVEN FOR EIGHT

GCH CH Claircreek Impression de Matisse

(Photo by Rhonda Cassidy)

We are getting an early start this morning in reviewing  our back log of show results.  While we were away from our keyboard, several dogs have been hard a work posting multiple BIS wins. 

No dog has been more impressive of late than the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Claircreek Impression de Matisse, collecting seven BIS in the last two weeks.  A week ago Matisse and handler Michael Scott were in Concord NC for four days, starting the set with BIS judge William Rodriguez’ final for the Columbia Kennel Club.  Judge Rodriguez chose Matisse from a seven that included the Nova Scotia duck Trolling Retriever, GCH CH Pikkinokka's Lightning Bug, the Whippet, GCH CH Karasar’s Remembrence, the Welsh Terrier, GCH CH Shaireab's Bayleigh Maid Of Honor, his Reserve, the Shih Tzu, GCH CH Krissy's Savvy Jasper, the French Bulldog, GCH CH Lionheart's Fortune Five Hundred, and the Puli, CH Cordmaker Topsy Turvey.

GCH CH Lionheart's Fortune Five Hundred

The CKC’s day two final Friday saw Michelle Billings chose Matisse and the above named Frenchie as her top two while the English Setter, GCH CH Stargazr'n Wingfield Time Will Tell, the Afghan Hound, GCH CH Tells Matrix Reloaded, the Australian Terrier, CH Temora Ri Diercc, the Pekingese, GCH CH Oakhill's Two Times The Dragon, and the previously seen Puli watched.

GCH CH Tells Matrix Reloaded

Saturday, Johnny Shoemaker took over for the Greater Monroe Kennel Club and chose Matisse and the aforementioned Afghan over the previously seen English Setter, the Russell Terrier, CH Goldsand's Billie Jean, the Smooth Chihuahua, GCH CH Grannycreek's One And Only Wild Bill, the Chinese Shar-Pei, CH Jade East Is This The Way To Amarillo, and the Shetland Sheepdog, GCH CH Homespun Casual Blues PT NA OAJ NF.

GCH CH D’s Remember When 

(Photo by Perry Phillips)

The Doberman Pinscher, GCH CH D’s Remember When would take the Salisbury North Carolina Kennel Club’s closer, leaving Matisse back in the Working group with a Group Two Ribbon.  BIS judge Helen Winski Stein would also like the French Bulldog, Bobby, who picked up his second RBIS of the set.  Challenging them for the win were the now familiar English Setter, Afghan, the Irish Terrier, GCH CH Sharob's Commander In Chief, and the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Wolf Creek Galaxy Of Merivern.

It was the first BIS for the Doberman, Jackson, in eight final appearances this year.  Congratulations to breeders/owners Dr Anthony DiNardo, Sheila DiNardo, co-breeder  Ann Ramsbottom-White, and owner/handler Gwen DeMilta.

GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect 

(Photo courtesy of Best In Show Daily)

Matisse and Michael would move on to Valley Center KS for this week’s quartet of shows hosted by the Hutchinson Kennel Club, the Salina Kennel Club, and the Wichita Kennel Club.  Robert Vandiver had the HKC’s final on Friday, choosing Matisse out of the lineup featuring the Spinone Italiano, CH Bela's This Time It's Hudson, the Saluki, GCH CH Aurora’s The Song and Dance Man, the Miniature Bull Terrier, GCH CH Cambria's Kid N Play, the Japanese Chin, GCH CH Pem We-Syng Lucky Mi, the Bichon Frise, GCH CH Vogelflight’s “Honor” to Pillowtalk, and his RBIS, the Old English Sheepdog, GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect.

At Saturday’s SKC show Patricia Laurans considered the Brittany, Rainbow Splash's Ruggedly Handsome, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Raquel Welch Of Malabo APD, the Kerry Blue Terrier, GCH CH True Blue Madonna, the Maltese, GCH CH Scylla Small Kraft Re-Lit, and the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Dawin’s Hearts on Fire, before going with the same two.

GCH CH Pem We-Syng Lucky Mi

The WKC had the rest of the weekend and they asked Susan St John Brown to choose her two, the Portie, Matisse, and her Reserve, the above named Chin, from a group that included the previously seen Spinone, Kerry Blue, & OES, the Afghan Hound, GCH CH Exlysta Aries Ciel Noir, and the Chinese Shar-Pei, GCH CH Jade East Do You Know The Way To San Jose.

Monday Matisse would cram yet another big rosette into his tack box before heading home.  Carl Gomes also like the OES, Swagger, who took home his second RBIS of the stop.  Rounding out the seven were the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, GCH CH Chesastar Hudson Bay RN, and the previously seen Afghan, Kerry, Chin, & Shar-Pei.

Matisse now has 14 BIS this year, nine in the last three weeks.  We will wait for the final numbers to see how much he has tightened the race.  But it does look interesting from here.