On 19th March, Keith and I flew off to Newark, New Jersey, for our 1st Cruise, we boarded the Explorer of the Seas on 20th bound for the Southern Caribbean. We had a wonderful time, we visted Haiti, Dominican Republic, St Thomas, St Kitts and Antiguia. This was our first cruise, and we would definatly do it again. The food was out of this world, we ate so much!! Back to the diet now though sadly. The girls went on holiday to the boarding kennel and Harry went off to spend time with Stacie. Eula has decided to come into season today (I was hoping she would start whilst we were away), so know shows for us now until proabably May!!!!

13th March

Crufts for the gundogs is over for another year, we were on, on Thursday 10th March. We didn't enter any dogs this year, but I did go to watch, and enjoyed my day very much. Without dogs, there is much less pressure and you can take in more of what is going on. Congratulations to our friends Jacky and Dave Mitchell on gaining the Dog CC with Seamus, Sh Ch Barecho Hold Your Horses for Peaslbossom JW, to Vicky Warrener for Best Puppy in Breed with her homebred Waterswarren Whitewash, and to the Best of Breed, who had travelled all the way from Denmark to
 take part in this great show, International Chamption Seiger's Extra Point.

I have added Eula's critique for her BOB at East Kent, go to news of 6th Feb and some new, well old actually, photo's on the front page.

2nd March

Well I have finally found some time to update the news page with news of last weekend and the Southern English Springer Spaniel Societies Championship show. I went along with Eula and Toby, Isla stayed at home as her breeder Nicola Calvert (Calvdale) was judging. Both Eula and Toby (W Elm) were 3rd in their respective yearling classes and Willow, (W Willow) was 4th also in yearling. Thanks to our friend Jenny Trazc, for handling Willow on behalf of her her owners as Sylvia has hurt her leg.

20th Februay

Yesterday we headed off to Reading for Maidenhead and district under breed specialist Jo Cunliffe (Fallenleaf). She had a lovely entry of 22 ESS with about 5 absent. Isla had yet again a good day winning Post Grad and Eula was 2nd in Open. It was a long but enjoyable day, and nice to meet up with some of the other exhibitors, that we don't see very often.

Lack of any current photo's has forced a revisit to Ireland last year, and the front page now has a photo of Isla strutting her stuff last summer.

Isla's Critique: Lovely L/W bitch, beautiful head and kind expression, good body with ample reach of neck leading into strong body with deep ribs and good angulation, stood on strong well boned legs and delightful tight feet, moved with enthusiasm and drive and beautifully presented.

6th February

A nice local show today, East Kent. What a great day we had, not only did Eula get Best of Breed and Gundog Group 2, Isla, 2nd in Post Graduate and both girls were in good company. But, it was a lovely day with friends. We had a good laugh as I had managed to go to the show with one of my trainers on, and also one of Keiths!!! how on earth did I manage that??? I know I was tired this morning, but that is just dozy!! Well we were in fits of laughter at the show today and that just paved the way for us continuing on in good spirits. Springers did well, with Teresa Dunsdens, Matilda, getting Best Puppy and Puppy Group 1, and also Wendy Walkers, Mac, gaining his last points for his Junior Warrant - Contratulations to them. Our judges today were Miss S Whiting for the breed and the group judge was an ESS specialist, Fran Glendinning (Plaiglen).

Eula's Critique from breed judge: Prettiest of bitches, kind gentle expression, strong neck, well constructed front, deep chest, well sprug ribs, strong rearquarters used on the move, moved so true with style.

30th January

I took Isla and Eula to City of Cambridge Open show today at Wood Green. It was a good entry, which is so encouraging as entries in general have dropped off. Anyhow, Isla won Post Grad and Eula was 3rd in open under a Finnish judge Kirsi Niemined (Heilurihannan) - I won't even start to try and pronounce that, I have enough trouble with some English affixes!! We faired better in AV Gundog, where again Isla won Post Grad and Eula won Open, Eula going on to Best AV Gundog, with Isla in Res. Our judge for these classes was Diane ritchie (Gwendariff). Isla was handed in the challenge by our friend Lin Cole, so thanks to her for helping out.

I have also added Eula's critique for her Group win at SWECA, how quick is that for a write up! Go to 16th January.

25th January

Well Sunday saw us heading up to the Midlands for Manchester Championship Show under Ken Green (Kennair). Not the best of days for us, Eula was 2nd in Yearling Bitch, her penultimate show where she can still enter this class, the last one will be the SESSS Championship show in February. Then she will be up with the big girls in Limit. The Green stars that she has won in Ireland have unfortunately excluded her from the classes in between. Oh well, we knew that was a possibility when we went, so now we have made our bed, we must lie in it!!

16th January

We have had a brilliant day today. I took Eula and Isla to South West Essex Canine Association Open Show. We travelled with our friend Teresa and her two puppies Matilda and Evie. Eula was Best of Breed under Mr Ed Wisniewski (Kayth), Group 1 under Gloria Horrocks (Itchenwych) and BEST IN SHOW under Steven Seymour (Beagriff). Isla was Res. Best of Breed, and Teresa's puppy Matilda was Best Puppy and Puppy Group 4, what a fantastic day.

To make it even more special, this is the fourth time 'on the trott' that an ESS has had Best in Show at this show, the first two were Eula's father Harvey, and the other was her brother Ash - talk about keeping it in the family!!!

Eula's critique from Gloria Horrocks the Group judge: Balanced and beautiful and what a mover. All these qualities gave her BIS, congratulations!

Eula's critique from Steven Seymour, the BIS judge: BIS was the beautiful young Springer bitch Woodspa Eucalyptus JW, I loved her overall balance and unexaggerated compact shape, clean and typical kind expression, correct bone and feet, moved with ease and purpose.

5th January

Eula's critique from South of England Gundog Club Show last November, I have run out of room on that news page, so it will have to go here.

Liver & White bitch, good head and expression, nice dark eye, good length of neck leading to good shoulder placement, well sprung ribs, good turn of stifle, moved with reach and drive.

1st January

Here we are at the start of a new year, we hope that you all have a good one.

'We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.' ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce