A GHOST FROM CHRISTMAS PAST

GCH CH Claircreek’s Impression de Matisse

(Photo by Jeffrey Hanlin)

So far this Christmas season we have watched four different versions of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.  We have watched a faithful to the novella animated adaptation by Disney, a modern retelling featuring Bill Murray as Scrooge, a traditional version featuring a type casted George C Scott in the lead, and our favorite, The Muppet Christmas Carol.  One of the things we love about the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is that it is one of the shows that you can expect a Ghost from Christmas Past.  This year it was 2011’s Number One Dog All Breeds and the top winning Sporting Dog of all time, the Black Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction,  returning to the show ring at today’s Brevard Kennel Club show in Orlando FL

GCH CH Whistlestop’s Riley on Fire

However, it was this year’s Number One Sporting Dog, the Irish Water Spaniel, GCH CH Whistlestop’s Riley on Fire, who advanced to judge Gene Blake’s final, leaving the Cocker, Beckham behind with a Group Two ribbon.  Riley was joined by the Harrier, GCH CH Downhome Hitech Innovator, the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Claircreek’s Impression de Matisse, the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky, the Pug, GCH CH Caper’s Sirius Endeavor, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Dawin Hearts On Fire, and the Bouvier des Flandres, GCH CH Stonepillar's Steel Blu.

Collecting his 93^rd BIS of the year was the PWD, Matisse.  Accepting the RBIS was the IWS, Riley.  The win seals Matisse’s status as the Show Dog of the Year, which is based on number of all breed BIS.   Hopefully this will allow all of our top dogs to hang around in Orland for the weekend so fanciers from around the world can watch them via Eukanuba’s live streaming.  We will give you the details on that tomorrow.