A few random photo's to brighten up the page.
Today is our wedding anniversary, well, you may or may not be interested in that fact, but I thought I would share it with you anyway.
During the week I received an email from Bob Barnett, who has Isla's sister, Sammie. They live in South Africa and Sammie has been doing really well there, she has four CC's to her credit. In South Africa, the system is different from ours in that your dog must receive 5 CC's to become a Champion. They can earn CC's that count after 9 months of age, but they have to earn one out of thier province and one after 18 months of age. Sammie's next show is in September - so we will be keeping our fingers crossed for her and hope that she gets her 5th and crowing CC. Bob kindly sent me a photo of Sammie and if you CLICK HERE you will be able to see her.
14th May
Yesterday evening Isla was entered into Folkestone Hythe & District's Limited Show. I have not been to this show before, but found it to be very relaxed and enjoyable. Isla was entered in two classes, both of which she won, Any Variety Yearling and Any Variety Sporting Post Graduate. The judge was Yvonne Odell (Sukeshi) and she has Afghan Hounds.
My mum came with us and it was her birthday, so it was nice for her to get out for the evening. On the way home we got lost - well, we took the wrong turning off the roundabout and was on a duel carriageway that led to Dover - so we ended up coming home via Dover, which took about half an hour longer than it should have done- oh well !
We don't have any more shows now until June the 8th, but on the 1st of June we have the All Breeds Educational Seminar, that I am helping to arrange along with Jacky Beaton and Teresa Dunsdon. All proceeds from this seminar will be donated to the Cambridge University Research Project into Canine Hepatitis in the ESS. This is a subject very close to Jacky's heart, as she lost a two year old bitch to this illness a few years ago. The seminar promises to be a very good and informative day, and if you are interested in finding out more, just CLICK HERE.
We'd love to see you.
11th May
We attended Mid Hearts Gundog Club Open Show today, under breed specialist Jacky Beaton (Peasblossom). Isla was 2nd in Graduate and 1st in Special Beginners. The venue was really hot and the dogs, and owners, were all flagging, but we met up with our friends and it was a really nice day.
Isla will be 21 months old on the 13th May, click here to see a photo of her taken at the show, by our friend Jane Eyeington
CRITIQUE: Petite and feminine bitch in super condition. Loved her balanced head and dark eye. Decent neck and shoulders, lovely deep chest with good bone and the neatest of feet. Very compact in build with moderate rear angulation. Falls away over the croup which can affect her topline a little. Moved soundly and well in spite of the heat.
5th May
There has not been much in the way of news lately. We have not attended any shows, the dogs have been having a break and just enjoying being dogs.
Yesterday I attended the Breed Education Day for the English Springer. It was very interesting and enjoyable. I was able to pick up some useful tips from some of our Championship Show judges, so it was very worthwhile.
I have added Isla's critique for the ESSC Championship Show as you will see below. It's doesn't say much - well, nothing at all really!
13th April
We've have a good weekend this weekend, yesterday, we attended the English Springer Spaniel Championship Show, and under Alan Bower (Bowswood), Isla was 2nd in Yearling Bitch (behind the Crufts BOB winner). She then went on to win Undergraduate Bitch and was also Second in Graduate bitch. Her half sister Calvdale Litigant, won the Bitch CC - so we send congratulations to Nicola and Martin on their successful day - a day which turned out to be a good day for the Calvdale Kennel all round.
CRITIQUE : Good outline. Needs time to mature to complete the picture. Moved well.
Today we went to East Anglian Gundog Open Show and Isla won Post Graduate and was awarded Res. Best of Breed. Our judge today was Sue Long (Tryhard).
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTO'S FROM THE WEEKEND
30th March
At Gravesend and Medway Towns open show today, Isla wins BEST OF BREED. CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTO The judge was Paul Carpenter (Ruphill)
16th March
At the SouthWestern English Springer Spaniel Club’s open show yesterday, Isla won Yearling and Special Beginner Bitch. The judge was breed specialist Teresa Dunsdon (Seaspring) to see photo CLICK HERE
This is a really nice little show, but for some reason is not well supported. It’s easy to find, just off the M4 motorway, they provide a lovely lunch and also delicious cream tea’s in the afternoon. This, coupled with a nice relaxed atmosphere make’s it a really enjoyable day.
Sadly this club is facing closure because of lack of resources. They are desperately in need of committee members to help those that are dedicated to the club turn it around and make it once again successful.
IF YOU – OR YOU KNOW OF ANYONE THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN JOINING THIS COMMITTEE, PLEASE CONTACT THE CHAIRMAN – KARL PAYNE ON esscepen@aol.com
CRITIQUE
Very compact bitch of good size, neat feet, attractive head with pleasing expression, strong deep body, a touch more length of back would give her better symmetry, broad thigh, moderately bent stifle, a steady mover who looked smart in profile but was a little close behind.
7th March
On Friday 7th March we attended Crufts. We had a nice day, Isla was entered in the Yearling Class, but along with a lot of other dogs she was unplaced. Her Grandfather Sh Ch Calvdale Softly Softly JW (Twist) however, did rather well by winning the Dog CC and Best Opposite Sex, so we send Congratulations to Angela Calvert, who handled him to his success.
Crufts is always a good place for meeting up with people, and yesterday was no exception, we spent much of our time there talking to people that we had not seen for awhile, as well as watching the judging, and of course, shopping!!
CLICK HERE TO SEE ISLA STRUTTING HER STUFF AND PHOTO OF TWIST,
We had a nice time today at Folkestone , Hythe & District Open Show. Our judge was Geoff Cunliffe (Fallenleaf). Isla was in her first Post Graduate class in the breed and was placed 3rd. After this she was entered in Any Variety Gundog Post Graduate. She won her class and then went on to Reserve Best AV Gundog. The judge was Greta Ross (Autumnglow). CLICK FOR PHOTO
No show news this week. We don’t have any shows now until the beginning of March.
Click Here to see a photo of Grace taken this morning during our walk, doing her show pose, (which she would never do in a ring) and handled by Keith!! and CLICK HERE to see a short video of the dogs enjoying the frosty conditions.
Today has been a really nice day, although cold and frosty we have had blue sky and sunshine.
And now for something completely different, yesterday I attended the Border Collie of the Year. This event was put on by the Southern Border Collie Club of which a friend of mine is the secretary, and I was asked if I would like to go along to help out and enjoy the free lunch!!
It would be nice if we could do something like this within the English Springer Breed.
We also have good news about Isla's father Sh Ch Calvdale Call off the Search (Jacob), as he has now gained his Spanish and Portuguese titles and we wish him well in his quest for his International Champion title.
Anyway, I have updated the video page with a couple of short clips from our very muddy walk today – this is what dogs are all about – enjoying life and having fun! CLICK TO SEE VIDEO
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