News Jan - June 2007

24th June

Yesterday, I took Isla to Uxbridge and District Open show, where she was Best Puppy, but sadly she was the only one in her class. The Judge was Brian Hayward (Donacre) who is a Labrador man. He said she has good movement and is coming on well.

Critique

Promising 10 months bitch, nice eye, balanced head, well put together, moved well

17th June

Today, we took Isla to the South of England Gundog open show, where under breed specialist Jane Eyeington (Medowdale), Isla was 2nd in puppy.

11th June

At the Northern ESS Club Championship show held yesterday, Isla was 2nd in Puppy, which I was pleased with, as this was her first Puppy Class. She was also Reserve (4th) in Maiden Bitch. The judge was Trudy Topliss (Beresford). Our friends Jacky and Dave Mitchell were celebrating yesterday as their dog Seamus won the final point he needed for his Junior Warrent, so we send congratulations to them.

Critique

Built on smaller lines to 1 and for me I would prefer a touch more of her all through. has time to develop. decent outline, sound enough all over. neat feet with strong flexible pasterns. strong over the couplings. kept her topline well. good coat and condition. moved soundly.

4th June

We had a nice relaxing weekend, and the weather was much kinder. On the video page we have added some new video's and also changed the dogs scrapbook pages to galleries, which we hope you like, and as you will have noticed, we have also chaned the music. This piece is Hornpipe from 'The Water Music' by Handel. We hope you like it, it's one of the pieces that was played at our wedding.

26th May

No news to speak of, but we have given the website a face lift, which we hope you like. The bank holiday weekend is being predictable with the weather, we have had non-stop rain today, and the forcast for tomorrow is not much better - oh hum! All is well with the dogs, Grace has her stitches out on Tuesday, she was spayed two weeks ago, as we had no intention to breed from her. Our next show is on the 10th June, which is the Northern English Springer Society, and it's held in Yorkshire, so for Isla it will be a home coming!

12th May

And, now for something completely different, today we attended All About Dogs in Brentwood Essex.

This is a two-day doggie event, with lots of activities taking place, such as obedience and agility competitions,

arena displays of all kinds, and also breed advisors. I was on the breed stand today for the English Springer,

along with Harry and Isla. Another breed enthusiast – Gary Notley, helped us with his dog Adam. My mum

also came along for the day out. We spoke to lots of people who were interested in the breed and hopefully

we were able to help out with some of their questions. Here is a photo of the stand with Harry and Isla –

click the photo to enlarge.

7th May

At Chelmsford and District Canine Society Open Show, Isla won Best Puppy in Breed, under breed specialist, Maureen Read. Really pleased with this result as there were some nice puppies in her class. Our friend Jacky Beaton, took Seamus and Teasel, I handled Teasle for her as they were both entered in the Junior class. Seamus won the class and Teasel was second. They repeated these places in the AV Gundog Junior class under David Hutchinson.

Isla's critique: 9 months compact l/w bitch with feminine head, kind eye and good expression. Straight front and well bodied for age with tight feet. When settled she won the class on her steady movement.

27th April

Today Isla and I travelled to the West of England Ladies Kennel Association Championship Show, where we was judged by Chris Bexon. Isla was 4th today in a class of 7 puppies, but sadly her handler let her down (me)!!! I never really got control of her on the move, however I was still pleased with her place. Today we travelled with our friend Jane Eyeington (Meadowdale), Jane also has a Calvdale bitch, Calvdale Testiomony of Meadowdale (Fay), and Fay was 1st in Limit bitch, and she was in good company. Jane also showed her young GSP puppy today for the first time and she got a 2nd in her class, so is now Crufts qualified. We both really enjoyed our day.

21st April

No shows this weekend, we shall be having a nice break. For those of you that are at shows over the weekend, good luck and enjoy your day.

14th April

Today at The United Spaniel Association open show, under Paul Osbourne (Brageo), Isla was 2nd in Puppy Bitch. The show was held in Conventy, and I travelled with my mum, she enjoyed the show and her day out. It was a beautiful day, and not too much traffic, which all helps the day along.

9th April

First of all let me wish all of our visitors a happy Easter. The holiday weekend has been very good, both in terms of showing and the weather.

On Saturday 7th April, Isla and I travelled to the English Springer Spaniel Club Championship show with our

friend, Dave Mitchell. Our Judge for the day was Colin Muirhead (Shipden); we both had a good day. Isla

won the Minor Puppy Bitch class, which secures her place at Crufts 2008 at only her 2nd Championship

show, and for me it was the first time I have ever won a 1st place with any of my dogs at a Championship

show, so I'm sure I will remember this day for a long time to come.

Critique Nicely made pup, nice head and expression, reminiscent of some of the quality Brandyhole

bitches of the sixties

Dave, with his Swedish Import, Barecho Hold Your Horses for Peasblossom (Seamus) one all of his FOUR classes which gained him 12 Junior Warrant Points.

On Sunday 8th April, Dave and I attended the East Anglian Gundog Club open show, where Dick Pattenden (Berina) judged us. Today Isla was 3rd in the puppy class, which was won by Dave's pup, Alanea Flame for Peasblossom (Teasel). Dave's Seamus, won the Junior Class and then went on to win Best of Breed. Teasel won Best Puppy in Breed.

Later in the day, Dave took Seamus into the Best in Show competition, where he made the first cut from some really lovely gundog best of breeds. I took Dave's puppy Teasel into the Best Puppy in Show Competition, which to my great delight we won!!!!

All in all a really good weekend, and I would like to say a big thank you to our friends Jane Eyeington, Dave Mitchell and Jacky Beaton for all the help and encouragement they are giving me. This is helping greatly to Isla's success, because I think my handling skills are in need of help!!

1st April

Today, Isla attended her first championship show The Lacashire & Cheshire English Springer Spaniel Club, where the judge was Mrs Frances Jackson (Mompesson). Isla was in Minor Puppy Bitch and was placed 5th, in a very good class. I was very pleased that she was placed under such an experienced judge. Best In Show was Sh Ch Calvdale Claire Blake, litter sister to Isla's Grandfather Sh Ch Calvdale Softly Softly - so it's all in the family. Click here to see photo of principle winners

30th March

At our ringcraft clubs monthly match that was held tonight, Isla was declaired Best Puppy In Match. The match was judged by Julie Squires, a championship show judge of German Shorthaired Pointers.

25th March

At Gravesend and Medway Towns open show today, Isla was 3rd in Junior, there were however only puppies entered so it was a very even class, and all were about the same age. The judge today was Mrs P Armstrong, who shows Golden Retreivers. The weather was much nicer today than it has been so it was a nice day. Click here to see Isla waiting to be judged.

20th March

Brrrrr!!! Winter appears to have returned. After a really Sping like few weeks, and last week being warm & dry, this morning we walked in a snow blizzared! The dogs didn't mind at all, and enjoyed their walk as usual.  Hope it doesn't last too long!

18th March

At Woolwich & Bexley Canine Society Open Show, Isla won Best of Breed and Best Puppy under

breed specialist Daisy Toublic (Cobhay).

Critique: A pleasant surprise, feminine throughout, very together for her age. Lovely size and

shape, good front angulation and turn of stifle with muscle developing nicely. Good bone, level

topline and correct tail set, moved well. Looked very at home in the ring and should have a

bright future. BOB BP.

4th March

Finally Isla made it to her first show, the Midland English Springer Spaniel Society's Open show, which was held in South Yorkshire. My thanks to our friend Dave Mitchell (Peasblossom) for doing the driving and helping the day along. Isla was 4th in Minor Puppy Bitch, under breed specialist Celia Woodbridge (Crackerjanne). Dave's puppy Barecho Hold Your Horses for Peasblossom won Best Puppy in Show, so congratulations must go to them. Full resluts can be found on the Southern Enlgish Springer Spaniel Society's website www.sesss.org

12th February

Oh dear! this morning Isla came into 'season', and she's not 6 months old until tomorrow, so that means she will now miss her first two show's. What a shame, but you can't halt Mother Nature!!

8th February

Today the snow's came to Kent. The dogs enjoyed their snowy walk this morning, even though mum didn't enjoy the drive to and from the park. Take a look at a few photo's of them enjoying themselves.

7th February

Tonight Isla completed her puppy socialisation course. During this time she learnt to 'come' when called, sit, lie down and walk to heel - in a manor of speaking!!!

2nd January

Well, here we are at the beginning of another year. We await with anticipation, Isla's fist show which will be the Southern English Springer Spaniel Society's Championship show on the 24th February. In the meantime we'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year.