NUMBER TWO CHASING NUMBER ONE

 GCH CH Szumeria’s Wildwood Silver Six Pence

We start today at Purina Farms in Gray Summit MO, near St Louis, where the Spirit of the Heartland Kennel Club and the Jefferson County Kennel Club of Missouri held their two shows May 4th & 5th. One dog dominated the proceedings, the Kuvasz, GCH CH Szumeria’s Wildwood Silver Six Pence, taking both of the BIS. 

GCH CH Copperridge's Little Black Dress

At the end of the day one Houston Clark would find himself in the final ring with the English setter, GCH CH Stargazr'n Wingfield Time Will Tell, the Saluki, GCH CH Sandstorm Blue Nile Bubbles of Jatara, the Kuvasz, Tanner, the Colored Bull Terrier, CH Aragon's Ruffin It At Honeytree, the Pug, GCH CH Belaire's Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the Chow Chow, GCH CH Dreamland's Wanna Be A Billionaire, and his RBIS, the Australian Shepherd, GCH CH Copperridge's Little Black Dress.

GCH CH Summits Emery It's In The Bag

Sunday John Madieros’ seven finalists were Tanner, his Reserve winner, the Golden Retriever, GCH CH Summits Emery It's In The Bag, the same Saluki & Bull Terrier, the Papillon, CH Topflite Tiger in the Woods NA NAJ, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Dawin Hearts on Fire, and the Puli, CH Cordmaker Topsy Turvey.

Tanner is the winningest Kuvasz in AKC history, spending the last three seasons introducing the breed to the general public.  Tanner has a somewhat more relaxed schedule this year, but has four BIS in eight final appearances this year, all since mid-April.

The country’s Number Two Dog All Breeds, the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Claircreek Impression de Matisse, spent this past week in Jackson TN with the Paducah Kennel Club and the Jackson Tennessee Dog Fanciers Association.  Matisse and handler Michael Scott returned home with three of the four top prizes. 

GCH CH Claircreek Impression de Matisse

On Thursday judge Paula Hartinger made Matisse her Reserve, behind the aforementioned Standard Poodle, Flame.  Rounding out the final were the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, GCH CH Chesastar Hudson Bay RN, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Raquel Welch Of Malabo Apd, the Russell Terrier, Goldsands Columbus, the Pug, GCH CH Caper's Sirius Endeavor, and the above named Puli, Charlotte.

Theresa Hundt would see it the other way round, choosing Matisse as her BIS and Flame as her RBIS Friday, while the English Springer Spaniel,  CH Seaview’s Too Busy Being Fabulous, the American Foxhound, GCH CH Dunstan Tucker, the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH CH Broxden Waybroke Simphuni Burlesque, the Papillon, GCH CH Fenice Le Beaudreaux, and the Puli, Charlotte, looked on.

GCH CH Dawin Heart on Fire

(Photo by Rhonda Cassidy)

On Saturday Matisse and Flame would persuade judge David Kirkland to see it the same way.  He might have chosen the Pointer, CH Seasyde Edgehill Heart Of Gold, or the previously seen Ridgeback, Russell, Pug, or Puli, but he didn’t.  Sunday Anne Bolus would place Matisse fBIS and the russell, Bosse, RBIS.  Dutifully showing up were the now familiar Springer, Pug, & Standard Poodle, the Scottish Deerhound, Highlander Celtic Carol, and the Briard, GCH CH Lightning Strike El Xargall.

Matisse now has 25 BIS in 42 final appearances this year.  Matisse still trails the Number One Dog by a substantial amount, but the coming holiday weekend will provide plenty of opportunities to shake up the rankings.