Winnie's First Show

Today was Manchester Dog Show and our judge was Mr Tony Taylor. This was a championship dog show although there were no tickets available for our breed and being local to us (at Stafford Agricultural Show Ground) it was an ideal opportunity to take Winnie along and get her accustomed to the hustle and bustle of a big show.
Despite the fact that she had only attended three ringcraft classes, Winnie showed no sign of being phased by the crowds, the dogs or the noise and she stood and moved in the ring beautifully. We were delighted to be placed fourth in the puppy bitch class.
To finish our day Gary and I took Winnie to our local dog friendly pub, The George and Dragon, where she enjoyed a nice bag of scratchings before curling up and going to sleep amongst all the feet.

Winnie's First Pheasant

Well living in the back of beyond most definitely has it's drawbacks (far more outweighed by the advantages though, I must admit) - one of them being the problems that we have encountered with our broadband.
Despite having had internet for the best part of a year now, we were unable to access our Blog and were on the verge of pulling it and designing a new one, when we decided to give it one last go on our new computer (which has Windows 7) and low-and-behold, the Blogg was accessible!

Today we took Winnie (our eight month old puppy from our Tilly to Timo litter) to join our local shoot for the last hour and only for the second time this season. We were delighted that she readily retrieved to hand one of the pheasants that had been shot. She really is a delightful little lady, who is so willing to please.
Fergus accompanied Gary, as he has done all season. Prior to moving to Newhouse Farm Gary whilst being very active with the dogs behind the scenes, has not been involved in showing, training or working them. However, since our move and being invited to join our local shoot, Gary has taken a more pro-active involvement with them. They have made quite a team and I think they will both miss their Saturday mornings out together!

Crufts 2009

Well it comes to something when I have to sit on the Samsung stand at Crufts to update my Blog!! We have been at Newhouse Farm since the June last year and we are still waiting for Broadband! After waiting for months for Virgin to install it, we cancelled our order in November with an assurance from BT that we would be up and running with them within ten days, ha, ha. They did come out on Christmas Eve and attempt it but apparently further works need to be done on the lines before it can be installed. BT have advised us that work is planned in March but lets just see - so for now its any port in a storm and today that means popping into the Samsung stand!!!
We were here yesterday for Gundog day. Lottie (Kimmax Kiss Kurl for Klancraig) and her litter brother Milo (Kimmax Kiss My Brass) both won their respective limit classes which was smashing. Lottie really enjoyed the attention she was getting from everyone who came to meet her and was quick to jump up and give everyone a cuddle and a friendly lick on the face in return for a treat!
Helen has attended Crufts on all four days with Dilise (Kimmax Kiss N Make Up) supporting the Safe and Sound Team. Well done to both Helen and Dilise who by tonight I am sure will both be shattered.
It was lovely to see everyone again at the start of the show season and great to meet up with some of our puppy owners too and catch up on all their news.

Welsh Kennel Club 2008

Lottie (Kimmax Kiss Kurl For Klancraig) won second place in Junior Bitch at the weekend under judge Val Fosse. Her litter brother Milo (Kimmax Kiss My Brass) owned and handled to perfection by Paul Gardiner took second in Post Graduate Dog.
Lottie went on to win Reserve in the Junior Stakes class which had an entry of 46 (gundog and utility) under judge Mr E Engh (Norway).

Paignton August 2008

Lottie (Kimmax Kiss Kurl for Klancraig) won the Junior Bitch class under judge Sandra Marshall. Since I was unable to attend myself, thanks go to Tracy Cartwright for taking Lottie to the show and to Maxine McCullough and Sarah Turner for handling her in her class and the Challenge.

National Gundog Association August 2008

Lottie (Kimmax Kiss Kurl for Klancraig) took second place in Junior Bitch under judge Pat Dempster. Her litter sister Dilise (Kimmax Kiss N Make Up) owned by Helen Hinks took Reserve in the same class and their litter brother Milo (Kimmax Kiss My Brass) owned by Paul Gardiner was third in Post Graduate Dog.

Call Me Easily Pleased...

I had a really wonderful suprise last night when I left home to pick my daughter up from work. It was dusk and as I rounded the bend in the lane, what should be in the road ahead of me but two stags and a doe! I knew that there were deer in the woods and fields around us but hadn't had the pleasure of seeing any. It really made my day to see such magnificent creaures - my only disappointment was that I didn't have my camera to hand.