BACK2BACK BIS IN MINNESOTA

GCH CH Hill Country Tag I’m It

Pugs are always competitive and this year is no different.  The Pug, GCH CH Hill Country Tag I’m It, made it clear who was the Number One Pug in the US this year by taking back2back BIS in Albert Lea MN where the Kennel Club Of Freeborn County, Minnesota hosted two shows this weekend. 

GCH CH Vogelflight’s “Honor” to Pillowtalk

(Photo by Tom Weigand, The Winning Image)

Judge Michael Dachel had Saturday’s final, choosing the Pug, JJ, and the Bichon Frise, GCH CH Vogelflight’s “Honor” to Pillowtalk, as his Top Two.  Also hoping for consideration were the Vizsla, GCH CH Jakra’s Flirtn With Fifty Shades, the Whippet, GCH CH Starline Oxford Victim of Love, the Great Dane, CH  Alpine’s Ice Warrior V Hawthorne, the Australian Terrier, GCH CH Dunham Lake’s Scout Master, and the Shetland Sheepdog, GCH CH Grandgables The Frat Boy.

GCH CH Starline Oxford Victim of Love

Sunday judge Thomas Kilcullen, would see the same seven, save one, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, GCH CH Cumhill Hell Raiser.  He would make the Whippet, Hartley his Reserve to JJ.  JJ and handler Barry Clothier now have nine BIS in 46 final appearances this year, good enough to make JJ the Number One Pug, the Number Two Toy Dog, and the Number 17 Dog All Breeds.

SUNDAY IN LITTLE ROCK

GCH CH Shaireab's Bayleigh Maid Of Honor 

(Photo by Gay Glazbrook)

Dog shows here in the Mid-South often get dismissed as small entry, back water events.  However, this weekend’s Arkansas Kennel Club shows in Little Rock AR had all the drama and star power you look for in marquee shows.  Saturday’s event saw the Great Dane, GCH CH Longo Miller n Lore’s Diamond Lil, break a 30 year old breed record. 

GCH CH Longo Miller n Lore’s Diamond Lil

Sunday’s final featured judge Nancy Liebes and seven BIS winners, all of whom enjoy a Top 100 All Breeds ranking.  They were the Pointer, GCH CH Chesterhope State Of T Art, the Saluki, GCH CH Sandstorm Blue Nile Bubbles Of Jatara, the aforementioned Great Dane, Scout, the Welsh Terrier, GCH CH Shaireab's Bayleigh Maid Of Honor, the Bichon Frise, GCH CH Saks Winning Card, and the Puli, GCH CH Cordmaker Topsy Turvey.

Her Best was the Welsh, Jennie, and her Reserve was Scout, the Great Dane.  Jennie is the nation’s Number One Welsh, Number Three Terrier, and the Number 14 Dog All Breeds with 11 BIS and 39 Terrier Groups.

SUNDAY IN OBERLIN OH

GCH CH Avatar Cosmac Storm

In Oberlin OH the Loraine County Kennel Club wrapped up their two day stop yesterday with judge John Ronald in the final ring.  Joining him were the Irish Setter, Shadowmere's Storm Chaser, the Irish Wolfhound, CH Ansa Mo Caoimhim Modigliani, the Rottweiler, GCH CH Avatar Cosmac Storm, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH Broxden Waybroke Halstan Heritage, the GCH CH Stillmeadow Solo In The Spotlight, the Dalmatian, GCH CH Folklore Celtic Crossfire Trail, and the Bouvier des Flandres, GCH CH Stonepillar's Steel Blu.

GCH CH Folklore Celtic Crossfire Trail

Going one/two were the Rottweiler, Mac, and the Dalmatian, Rafe.  It’s Mac's second BIS in four final appearances this year, all of which have come in the last month.

NEW AMSTAFF RECORD IN WA

GCH CH Alpine’s Highwayman

It’s not often we get to announce two breed records in one weekend.  Earlier we told you that the Great Dane, GCH CH Longo Miller n Lore’s Diamond Lil, broke a 30 year old record for the breed with her BIS in Arkansas this weekend.  Today we can tell you that the American Staffordshire Terrier, GCH CH Alpine’s Highwayman, broke his breed yesterday at the Nisqually Kennel Club show in Lace WA, collecting his 28^th all breed Best In Show.

GCH CH Quiet Creek’s Kiss and Tell

(Photo by Infocusbymiguel)

After a Reserve win on Saturday, Jelly, would return to the final ring on Sunday to plead his case with judge Ann Hearn.  Joining him were the Irish Water Spaniel, GCH CH Poole Ide’s Reversal Of Fortune, the Bloodhound, GCH CH Quiet Creek’s Kiss and Tell, the Bernese Mountain Dog, GCH CH Villairn’s Tag You’re It, the Toy Manchester Terrier, GCH CH Blossom’s Lets Dance, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Brighton Lakeridge Encore, and the Shetland Sheepdog, GCH CH PaRay’s Preferential.

Judge Hearn made the Bloodhound, Kissy, Reserve to Jelly.  Jelly is the first AmStaff to win a Grand Champion title and was the BISS at the 2010 and 2011 national specialties of  the Staffordshire Terrier Club of America.  Jelly was the Number One American Staffordshire Terrier in 2012 with ten BIS and 34 Terrier Groups, but has taken it easy this year. Yesterday’s win was his third in just four final appearances this season.  Congratulations to  breeder/owner/handler Ed Thomason, breeder/owner Karen Thomason, co-breeders D Nechemias, & L Claus, and owner Zane Smith.

RACE REMAINS TIGHT

GCH CH Claircreek’s Impression de Matisse

We start our Monday Morning Mop Up in Harrisburg PA where the country’s Number Two Dog was doing everything he could to close the gap between himself and the Number One Dog.  The Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Claircreek’s Impression de Matisse, collected his third consecutive Best In show, taking home the top prize at Sunday’s Harrisburg Kennel Club show.

 GCH CH Kiarry’s Pandora’s Box

Judge Rita Holloway’s Reserve winner was the American Foxhound, GCH CH Kiarry’s Pandora’s Box.  Joining the Top Two in the final ring were the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, GCH CH Chesastar Hudson Bay RN, the Miniature Schnauzer, GCH CH Joker Land’s Glacyka, the Pekingese, GCH CH Yakee Easily Persuaded, the Chow Chow, GCH CH Fair Hill’s Plymouth Rock, and the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Karizma’s Ike of Edale.

Despite capturing three BIS this week worth around 3200 points, Matisse would see the Number One Dog, the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky, increase her lead by about 300 points, with a clean sweep of the five shows on the Adirondack Circuit in Ballston Spa NY.    Nonetheless, it is clear that the race for Number One is far from over as we head into the last quarter of the year.