21st September

A Fantastic day at Darlington Championship show yestereday. Eula won her Minor Puppy Bitch class and qualified for Crufts first time out under breed specialist Graham Osborne (Beaters). We are so pleased with her. Isla was entered in the Open Bitch class, and was unplaced, she had some really stiff competition - she moved and showed well. The weather was glorious - too hot at times for the dogs, but it was a lovely atmostphere around the ring and on the benches. It was a very long day, up at 3.45, I met up with my friends Jacky Mitchell and Celia Woodbridge at 5 am. We had a good journey arriving at the venue a little after 8.30am. Jacky won Best of Breed with her dog Seamus and Celia got a 2nd place it Limit dog, first place in limit dog was Harvey, Eula's father - so the journey home was a very happy one for all of us. We finaly arrived home at 11.30pm - very very tired!

13th September

Another companion show today for Eula, Isla. Well I am delighted to say that Eula won Best in Show and Best Puppy - I am delighted, but also I was a little shocked as she is still just a raw 6th month old baby. But the judge liked her, and that is the main thing. Isla was 2nd in the Sporting class, and Toby W Elm, was VHC in Puppy and Res. in Open (very brave is Tezz, to enter a puppy in Open, but it paid off). After the show we then took the dogs for a walk around the Goose Fair, good experiences for them, with the noise of the fair and all of the side shows and of course the crowds of people. Glad to report none were botherd by any of it - mainly due to the fact that they mostly had their noses stuck firmly to the ground!

7th September

Eula, Isla and Toby went off yesterday to a companion show held in Central Park, Dartford. What a lovely day we had - the star of the day was Toby, Woodspa Elm when he won Best Puppy in Show - really well done to Tezz. Eula was third in puppy, having bounced around the ring on the move. Isla won the gundog class, and I managed to win the Adult Handling class - which I was really shocked at.

I have added a photo of Eula taken yesterday at 6 months to her page - and yes it's the same 'T' shirt that I was wearing in the 15 week photo - but I think the colour suits her!

31st August

Eula and I attended the ESSW companion dog show yesterday her first proper show and a good training ground for the bigger shows that are hopefully to come. She was placed 4th in puppy, and her brother Toby, Woodpsa Elm, was 3rd, really well done to Tezz and Ian who had a great day at the show. The whole day raised £1500.00 for Welfare, so that will go towards helping out English Springers that find themselves needing a helping hand.

14th August

Yesterday was Isla's 3rd birthday, she had a lovely day, but she also had to say goodbye to Harvey (Wings) who went home after his holiday. So, Eula is now the only puppy here at Woodspa, she will miss the others I'm sure, but with the company of Isla, Harry and Grace she will have enough to keep her occupied.

We have not had much news of late and August is going to be quiet as well, we are hoping to get up to Newmarket on the 23rd to see Tess (Titch) and her owners, so that will be nice and something to look forward to.

We had an update from Tosca's new owners, her name is now Izzy - which is lovely. She has settled in well and is just like one of the family and it seems it's like she has been there for years - although she is only 5 months old!! So that is good news.

24th July

Today we said goodbye to our beautiful Tosca, she has gone to live with a lovely family, who have recently lost their Springer, we hope she brings them as much happiness as she has us. We wish, Caroline, Graham, Hannah and George, the very best of luck and our best wishes go to them all.

19th July

Yesterday was the Southern English Springer Spaniel Society Open Show at New Haw in Surrey. Being a committee member of the society, it's always a busy day, but the weather was kind to us again this year and we were able to show outdoors. Isla had a good day, being 2nd in Post Grad, 1st in Special Beginners and 2nd in the Stakes class. Not bad for her first real show after the puppies were born - and we came home £4.50 richer!! The judge was breed specialist Liz Glass (Covinia)

5th July

Keith and I took Harry to check out a new country park that is near to where we live. It has been developed from reclaimed land. The good thing about this park is that there is safe swimming for dogs. So, off we went taking just Harry, the park is nice but at the moment quite bland to look at, however there has been a lot done to it and many trees have been planted, so as it matures it will be beautiful. We found the lake for Harry to have a swim in and after temping him with his ball, he went in and really enjoyed it. I was so pleased and a bit like an excited child!!!! Sam our old Golden Retriever would swim in a puddle he just loved the water and we have never had a dog since that has been keen. Hopefully we will be able to get there more often and take the others as well. I have put a video on the vidio page, and also one of the pups playing with the hose pipe. Go to the Gallery menu.

27th June

We are just back from a lovely day at Nurstead Court's Companion Dog show and Fete. We were joined by Terrylle and Ian, the owners of Toby (Woodspa Elm). The venue is really lovley and the weather was glorious, which adds to the atmosphere of the day. I entered Eula in the puppy class, just for training, she is not old enough to compete, and she went very well, managing to stay on four feet some of the time at least. But the main thing is that she enjoyed it and is happy on the move. Isla had a good day, winning the Sporting Class and ending up Reserve Best in Show - photo's on her gallery. Tosca also enjoyed her day, and both pups coped really well with all the noise, dogs and people. Photo's on the main gallery. Luke, Terrylle and Ians's Black and White Springer had a brilliant day, he won the best long coat class and was placed in all of the other classes that he was entered in. Needsless to say both Tosca and Eula are now sleeping like babies! Thank you Terrylle and Ian for making our day out so enjoyable.

20th June

At last some news...I have been waiting for photographs before updating the site, but they are still not forthcoming, so the update will have to go ahead without them.

Last weekend was our companion dog show held in aid of the KC Charitable Trust, which is a charity that the Kennel Club set up to help the reasearch into health issues for all breeds of dog.

We were blessed with glorious weather and had an entry of 117 dogs. The classes, 7 pedigree, 4 obedience, 10 novelty and 3 handling classes were all well supported. We arrived at 8.30 to set up the showground, and the exhibitors started to arrive abound 10. With juding starting at 12 noon - it was a very busy day. Best in Show was a lovely Briard, and I hope to have some photo's in due course. After clearing up the showground, we were on our way home by 4.30, completely exausted and burnt to a crisp! We are still waiting for the final profit figure, but we are confindent that a nice profit for our charity was made - unlike last year where we made a loss. The best part for me was that Terrylle and Ian brought Toby (Woodspa Elm) to the show for some socialising along with their other Springer, Luke. Luke did very well and won the Waggiest Tail class.

Some nice news about Eula, last night at our ringcraft clubs match Eula won the puppy walk! We were so pleased with her, at least the practicing is paying off. She stood well and enjoyed her walk around the mats - again, photo's to follow.

13th June

There has not been much news of late, Eula and Tosca are continuing to do well, both have been to ringcraft classes Eula for training and Tosca for socialising. Eulas' training is going well, we have had some nice comments about how well she is doing. Let's hope it continue's. Finaly today I managed to get them both in the bath, Tosca was really good including the hairdryer. Eula was ok in the bath, but not keen on the hairdyer....more practice needed there I think.

Tomorrow I should have been going to the Northern English Springer Spaniel Championship show with Isla, but she is not ready since having the pups, for competition. So, I will now be able to go to our ringcraft clubs companion dog show, and as I am on the committee, I will be put to work, no rest for the wicked!