SHARING A NATION'S GRIEF

Before I head over to the Orange County Convention Center to cover the first day of the 2012 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, I join the millions of people in the US and around the world that grieve over the tragic loss of life yesterday in Connecticut.  Any loss of life is tragic, but the death of one so young is bewildering and incomprehensible.  I may be a maudlin old man, but as a father and grandfather, my tears are genuine.

I will gather up my gear and go to the dog show this morning because that's the only response to senseless tragedy, keeping moving forward.  I don't want to hear the "what ifs" or another debate on gun control.  I simply hope that those families that lost their precious children find the support and strength to keep moving forward.  As you go about your business today take a moment and grieve with those families, send them your support, and be thankful for the day you have today.

I will enjoy myself today, but I won't be quite as exuberant as usual.  I know I don't won't to hear any complaints for those that don't win today.  Whatever happens you are here today. 

ORLANDO, DAY THREE

 GCH CH Casablanca's Thrilling Seduction 

While the Number One and Number Two Dogs were doing an end of year tango in Cleveland, much of the dog world was in Orlando Fl at the last warm up before the AKC/Eukanuba National championship.  The Central Florida Kennel Club drew over 3300 dogs and every breed ring was actively contested. 

The seven dogs that made it to Houston Clark’s final were the Black Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction, the American Foxhound, GCH CH Kiarry’s Pandora’s Box, the Boxer, CH Hi-Tech The King of Sherry Shot JP, the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky, the Miniature Pinscher, GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare, the Schipperke, GCH CH Dante’s Fire When Ready HOF, and the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Babheim’s Captain Crunch.

GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky
(Photo by Infocusbymiguel)

Reserve went to the country’s Number One Terrier, the Wire Fox, Sky and  Best In Show went to the winningest Sporting Dog ever, the Cocker, Beckham.   Beckham and handlers Michael and  Linda Pitts have collected 121 career BIS, 29 this year.  Beckham is currently the Number Three Sporting Dog and Number 11 Dog all Breeds.

MEDINA KENNEL CLUB

GCH CH Wynmoor Champagne Supernova

(Photo by Lights, Camera,Canine)

The race for Number One Dog All Breeds is going down to the last show of the season as the current Number One & Two Dogs met again today in Cleveland OH at today's Medina Kennel Club show.  The German Wirehaired Pointer, GCH CH Mt View’s Ripsnorter Silver Charm, and the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Wynmoor Champagne Supernova, faced off in Robert Slay’s Sporting Group at the Medina Kennel Club show, and took the top two placements with the Springer, Peyton advancing to Betty-Anne Stenmark’s BIS final.

GCH CH Goldsand’s Columbus

Joining Peyton and handler Robin Novack were the Harrier, GCH CH Downhome Hitech Innovator, the Newfoundland, GCH CH Roseland’s Royal Flush, the Russell Terrier, GCH CH Goldsand’s Columbus, the Maltese, GCH CH Scylla’s Small Kraft Re-Lit, the Standard Poodle, CH Hillwood Dassin Rock On By, and the Icelandic Sheepdog, CH Vinlands Leifur. 

The only Russell Terrier, Bosse, to win a BIS added an RBIS to his resume, while the Springer, Peyton, grabbed a must have BIS.  We don’t have the exact numbers tonight, but we estimate that Peyton now trails the GWP, Oakley, by about 1500 points, which means it is still too early to declare a Number One Dog for 2012, two days before the end of the season.  We couldn’t have asked for a more exciting year.

DAY ONE IN CLEVELAND OH

GCH CH Downhome Hitech Innovator

 (Photo by Kayla Bertagnolli courtesy of Best In Show Daily) 

The Number One Dog All Breeds, the German Wirehaired Pointer, GCH CH Mt View’s Ripsnorter Silver Charm, and the Number Two Dog, the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Wynmoor Champagne Supernova, quit Orlando FL and headed for Cleveland OH to compete at today’s Richland Kennel Club Show.  The met again in Betty-Anne Stenmark’s Sporting Group where they finished one/two, with the Springer, Peyton advancing to Dr Ronald Spritzer’s BIS final.

GCH CH Wynmoor Champagne Supernova 

(Photo by Kayla Bertagnolli courtesy of Best In Show Daily)

Joining Peyton in the final ring were the Harrier, GCH CH Downhome Hitech Innovator, the St Bernard, GCH CH Jamelle’s Aristocrat V Elba, the Russell Terrier, GCH CH Goldsands Columbus, the Maltese, GCH CH Scylla’s Small Kraft Re-Lit, the Chinese Shar-Pei, GCH CH Shine’s Deck the Halls, and the Pyrenean Shepherd, GCH CH La Brise Sun Bear.

Reserve went to the Springer, Peyton, and the Best In Show went to the Harrier, Chet.  Chet’s 26^th BIS of the year puts him right on the heels of the Number Ten Dog All Breeds.

ORLANDO, DAY TWO

GCH CH Kiarry's Panodora's Box
(Photo by Kayla Bertagnolli courtesy of Best In Show Daily)

Although the Number One and Number Two Dogs All Breeds left Florida to try their hands in Cleveland OH today, there was still plenty of star power left here in Orlando to compete for the 2,580 points available at the Brevard Kennel Club show.   

Raymond Filburn Jr’s final included the winningest Sporting Dog of all time, the Black Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction, the Number Three, Four, Five, Eight, & Ten Dog All Breeds, the Doberman Pinscher, GCH CH Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici, the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH  AfterAll Painting the Sky, the Affenpinscher, Banana Joe V Tani Kazari, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Jaset’s Satisfaction, and the American Foxhound, GCH CH Kiarry’s Pandora’s Box.  Rounding out the stellar seven was the Number One Herding Dog, the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Babheim’s Captain Crunch.

GCH CH Baheim's Captain Crunch
(Photo by Kayla Bertagnolli courtesy of Best In Show Daily)

Reserve went to the GSD, Capi, and BIS went to the Foxhound, Jewel.  The big win elevates Jewel’s BIS record year to 32.

ORLANDO DAY ONE

GCH CH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari
(Photo courtesy of Best In Show Daily)

We had an amazing day at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando FL where the Space Coast Kennel Club Of Palm Bay opened the five day year end extravaganza culminating in the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.   Included in the 2353 dogs that showed up today were all of our Top Ten Dogs All Breeds.  One would fail to make it out of the breed today, four would be bested in their respective groups, and five would make it to Janet Turnage Nahijian’s final.

Paula Hartinger’s Sporting Group was perhaps the most dramatic with seven of the Top Ten Sporting Dogs represented.  Considering there are two German Wirehaired Pointers, two English Setters, and two Weimaraners in the Top Ten, that’s pretty impressive.  Not only did we have the continuing rivalry between AKC’s Number One Dog All Breeds, the GWP, GCH CH Mt View’s Ripsnorter Silver Charm, and the Number Two Dog, the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Wynmoor Champagne Supernova, we also had 2011’s Number One Dog, the winningest Sporting Dog of all time, the Black Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction, make an appearance.  All three, along with the Irish Water Spaniel, GCH CH Whistlestop’s Riley on Fire, would take group placements with the GWP advancing, the Springer finishing second, the IWS taking third, and the Cocker picking up the fourth place.

Enrique Jorge Filippini’s Working Group had its share of drama, with the Akita, GCH CH CR-Wicca’s Trade Secret, topping a group that included the Number Three Dog All Breeds, the Doberman Pinscher, GCH CH Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici, and the Number Seven Dog, the Kuvasz, GCH CH Szumeria’s Wildwood silver Six Pence.  Finishing one/two in Vicki Abbot’s Toy Group were the Number Five Dog All Breeds, the Affenpinscher, GCH CH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari, and the Number Six Dog, the Miniature Pinscher, GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare.

GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky

(Photo ourtedy of Best In Show Daily)

Joining the GWP, Oakley, the Akita, Trader, and the Affenpinscher, Joey, in judge Nahikian’s final were the Number Ten Dog All Breeds, the American Foxhound, GCH CH Kiarry’s Pandora’s Box, the Number Four Dog, the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky, the Number Eight Dog, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Jaset’s Satisfaction, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, GCH CH Riverside’s Get Over It.

After a day of thrilling performances the two dogs collecting the top awards were the Wire Fox, Sky, with the Reserve and the Affenpinscher, Joey, with the Best In Show.  The win, Joey’s 37^th of the year, puts him 4500 points ahead of the MinPin, making an end of year finish as Number One Toy Dog almost a certainty.

MALIBU MONDAY

GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky 

(Photo by Infocusbymiguel)

Costa Mesa CA was the only place you could see an AKC all breed dog show in the US Monday and our top dogs took full advantage of the opportunity.  The Number One Dog All Breeds, the German Wirehaired Pointer, GCH CH Mt View’s Ripsnorter Silver Charm, and the Number Two Dog, the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Wynmoor Champagne Supernova, met in Brian Meyer’s Sporting Group and as they have so many times this fall, finished one/two with the Springer, Peyton advancing to Cindy Meyer’s BIS ring.

 GCH CH Wynmoor Champagne Supernova 

(Photo Courtesy of Best In Show Daily)

There Peyton and handler Robin Novack plead their case alongside the Bloodhound, GCH CH Quiet Creeks Kiss and Tell, the Samoyed, GCH CH Glacier’s N Rowdy’s Czargent Trouble, the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky, the Maltese, GCH CH Scylla’s Small Kraft Re-Lit, the French Bulldog, GCH CH LeBull’s New Hope Wooly Bully, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, GCH CH Coventry Allure at Wyndstar.

Peyton would take home the Reserve win and the Wire Fox Sky, would pick up her third BIS of the four day set.  Sky and handler Gabriel Rangel go into the last week of the year with possibly the best batting average of the year, winning better  than 92 percent of the groups she has entered.  Meanwhile the Top two dogs are still basically 2700 points apart.  We will keep you updated as the numbers come in.