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GCH CH Lockenhaus Rumor Has It v Kenlyn
(Photo by Infocusbymiguel)
The 2015 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship (AENC) in
Orlando FL finished Sunday with the grand flourish one would have hoped for the
15th and largest iteration of the sport's end of year tradition. Most of the nation’s Top 100 Dogs were among
the 4,600 entered. There were surprises
and upsets along the way.
GCH CH Roundtown Queen of Hearts
(Photo by Infocusbymiguel)
Judge Bruce Schwartz had the first of tonight’s groups. Missing from his Terrier Group was
the 2014 BIS winner, the nation’s Number One Terrier, the Skye Terrier, GCH CH
Cragsmoor Good Time Charlie.
Nonetheless, judge Schwartz had plenty of star power in his group. He chose the Scottish Terrier, GCH CH
Roundtown Queen of Hearts, the daughter of the 2009 AENC winner, as his Group One. Queenie was followed by the Norfolk Terrier,
GCH CH Yarrow Venerie Winning Ticket, the Airedale Terrier, GCH CH Wildside
Windancer, and the Miniature Schnauzer, GCH CH Yanga’s All the Time.
GCH CH Aviators Ladys Man de Remis
Judge Bill Shelton had most of the Top Twenty Working Dogs
in his Group, but named a Portuguese Water Dog with an impressive pedigree, GCH
CH Aviators Ladys Man de Remis, as his Number One. Manley is the son of 2013 AENC winner, GCH CH
Claircreek Impression de Matisse, 2014’s Number One Dog All Breeds and the Number
One Working Dog in AKC history. Rounding
out judge Shelton’s placements were the Samoyed, GCH CH Pebble Runs Play It
Again Ham, the Boxer, GCH CH Mephisto Speak of the Devil, and the Great
Pyrenees, GCH CH Rivergroves Enough Said.
Judge Thomas Coen’s Herding Group might have been the
strongest of the show. His Group One was
the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Lockenhas Rumor Has It v Kenlyn, is the nation’s
Number One Dog All Breeds. His Group
Two, Three, and Four were all multi-BIS winning dogs, Top Ten Herding Dogs, the
Shetland Sheepdog, GCH CH Thunderhills Apple Bottom Jeans, the Beauceron, GCH
CH De Joie Du Chateau Rocher CA, and the
Australian Shepherd, GCH CH Wind Spirit Rods Amazing Grace.
The three Sunday winners joined the Irish Setter, GCH CH Darnelles
Pennies From Heaven, the Whippet, GCH CH Sporting Fields Shameless, the Toy
Poodle HIDDEN VALLLEY B R8, and the Chow Chow Eastern-Magic Fly Me Safe, who
had earned their spots on Saturday. The mix
of four top ranked, multi-BIS winners alongside three relative unknown dogs afforded
judge Robert Stein a unique blend of the familiar and new. To complicate his decision further, all of
the seven showed beautifully.
However, the German Shepherd, Rumor, dominated the ring, striding
across the floor impressively and stopping each time in a perfect Shepherd
stack without owner/handler Kent Boyles touching her. Also showing commanding ring presence was the
Scottie, Queenie, who hit her mark when required, but never let the judge
forget there was a Terrier ready to work before him. In the end the nation’s Number One Dog All
Breeds, the GSD, Rumor, would collect the big paycheck and the Scottie,
Queenie, would pick up the Reserve award.
It was Rumor’s 100th career BIS, a fitting end to a perfect
year. Congratulations to Kent,
breeder/owner Pamela McElheney, and owners Deborah Stern, Pamela Buckles, &
Patti Dukeman.
