11/8 - 11/9 Southern Colorado Kennel Club, Pueblo, CO
Saturday Judge: Mr. Thomas J. Feneis
Sunday Judge: Mrs. Terry M. DePietro
It turned out to be a wonderful weekend for the dogs of Clannad. In previous years, the Southern Colorado Kennel Club show has had a very small border collie entry, but this year there were enough dogs to create majors for both boys and girls. On Saturday Aoife picked up the Reserve, in her very first day of showing. We were very pleased! Serene won her class both days, beating her “little sister” Splash each time. (They aren’t really sisters, but both are Clannad girls.) Torin also won his class, and so did Haggis. Fallon apparently did not like the 8 a.m. ring time; she did not handle well at all and did not place (at least that's our excuse).
Sunday was even better. We were thrilled that Torin won Winners Dog for a 4-point major, then Aoife won Winners Bitch and Best of Winners, thereby picking up her first major and 4 points. Yippee! (Aoife also snagged a purple Winners ribbon for her Bred By win--no green ribbons at this show.) Haggis picked up the Reserve. Then Fallon won Best of Opposite Sex…hooray! According to mom Amy, Haggis ended 2008 with 1 Best of Breed, 2 Best of Opposites, 6 Winners Dogs, 1 Best of Winners, 7 Reserves, and 20 class wins. What a year!
Our 13-year-old nephew, David, made his debut in Jr. Showmanship. He has been practicing with Clodagh, but she could not compete as she is in heat. David showed Fallon on Sunday, and they both did just fine. We look forward to watching David handling Clannad dogs in future shows.
9/6 - 9/7 Evergreen Kennel Club, Greeley, CO
Saturday Judge: Mr. Fred C. Bassett
Sunday Judge: Dr. Robert M. Brown
The summer showing season ended well for the dogs of Clannad. We brought Fallon out of her temporary "retirement" to compete as a Special, and she was special indeed, winning Best of Breed each day. She handled very well in the Herding Group ring, although she did not achieve a placement either day. The experience was very valuable for her and Dan, especially if we decide to attend the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in December.
On Saturday, Conor won Winners Dog, Best of Winners, and Best of Opposite Sex for two points, and Haggis took the Reserve. Serene (Conor's daughter) won Winners Bitch and her first point!
Sunday the tables turned, and Haggis won Winners Dog, Best of Winners, and Best of Opposite Sex, earning him two more points! He now has 11 points total.
This is the end of Conor's career as a "class" dog--we will have to decide if we want to show him in the Best of Breed competition in the future. He finishes with a total of 25 points from 9 different judges, and 6 majors from 6 judges.
Our next show will be in Pueblo in November. We plan to show Fallon in the Best of Breed competition, and we hope Aoife, Splash and Torin all make their show "debuts."
|
|
Dan and Conor |
Judge Brown, Dan, and Fallon |
8/30 - 8/31 Cheyenne Kennel Club, Cheyenne, WY
Saturday Judge: Ms. Beverly Capstick
Sunday Judge: Mrs. Barbara Dempsey Alderman
Once more the Clannad clan was happy about this show. On Saturday Conor again took a major, and then he beat our friend Finnigan (sire of Clodagh's recent litter) for Best of Breed! We were shocked, as Finnigan is such a beauty and moves with such grace. Conor went on into the Herding Group competition, where he moved well, but did not place.
Haggis also had a good day Saturday, picking up the Reserve, but then on Sunday he had a GREAT day with his first Best of Breed win! Yay, Haggis! He and Amy had their first time in the Group ring, which was terrific experience (even when another handler "accidentally" dropped treats in Haggis' path to distract him). Haggis did not place, but he moved well and had fun, which is the most important thing of all. Below is a photo of Amy and Haggis, showing off their Best of Breed purple and gold ribbon.
8/16 - 8/17 Greeley Kennel Club, Greeley, Colorado
Saturday Judge: Mrs. Kimberly Anne Meredith-Cavanna
Sunday Judge: Dr. Dale D. Simmons
This was Conor's weekend! Saturday he finished his championship by being awarded Best of Winners and his fourth major win by the very-thorough hands-on judge, Mrs. Meredith-Cavanna. We were so thrilled!
It was a terribly long day. It had been pouring rain for over 24 hours, and the 1.5 hour drive to Greeley was miserable. When we arrived for our 10 a.m. ring time, we were told our outside ring had been moved indoors due to lightning, but we would not show until 2:15. So, back home we went to care for the other dogs, then turned around and drove back to Greeley. Dan and Conor did not get into the ring until 4:30, but it was worth the long wait. Conor did just great--the conformation classes and Dan's hard work paid off. We had professional studio photographs of him made to celebrate his championship.
Other Clannad dogs did well too. Haggis won a Reserve, so we were very proud of him. This was the first show for Conor's little daughter, Serene, and she won her class. More importantly, she really seemed to have fun in the ring.
Sunday was a much finer day weather-wise, so we showed at the scheduled time outside on the still-wet grass. We decided not to move Conor up to Best of Breed competition because we did not want to reduce the number of points for the other dogs competing. Conor did not need to do anything at all, so of course he again won the major (#5!) and also won Best of Opposite Sex! Conor moved just beautifully, and Dr. Simmons really prizes movement. Conor even did a perfect "free stack," which he has never done before. What a great way to go! Haggis again took the Reserve. And Serene again won her class. Perhaps rain is lucky for the dogs of Clannad!
7/12 - 7/13 Roaring Fork Kennel Club, Eagle, Colorado
Saturday Judge: Dr. Harry Smith Jr.
Sunday Judge: Dr. Lee Anthony Reasin
This was Conor weekend to pick up Reserves both days, so no points. We were pleased, however, that Haggis took Winners Dog on Sunday for two points, bringing his total to 8.
Entries closed for this show before the Buckhorn Valley show, so since we had already entered Fallon as a class bitch we went ahead and showed her there, even though she needs no more points to finish her championship. We figured more time in the ring is not a bad thing! She did well, and picked up Best of Winners both days, for four additional points (career total of 19).
6/28 - 6/29/2008 Buckhorn Valley Kennel Club, Loveland, Colorado
Saturday Judge: Dr. Klaus Anselm
Sunday Judge: Mrs. Monica Canestrini
We are pleased to announce our first Bred-By Champion! Clannad's Dynasty Daughter ("Fallon")(Omegan's Fire the Cannons RN X CH Advantage Highland Tegan) finished on 6/29 at the Buckhorn Valley Kennel Club in Loveland, CO, by going BOW. (While waiting for photos, I mentioned to the judged that Fallon had won all her majors by beating the males. Mrs. Canestrini said, "Well, she can hold her own." What a nice compliment!) Fallon finishes with 3 majors, and 15 points. She began her show career in February, and celebrated her first birthday May 14.
6/7 - 6/8/2008 Colorado Springs Kennel Club, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Saturday Judge: Mr. James E. Noe
Sunday Judge: Mrs. Mildred K. Bryant
What can we say about Saturday's show? We exhibited to Judge Noe three years ago, and he didn't like our dogs then, and didn't like our (totally different) dogs now. We will avoid showing to him in the future.
On Sunday, Fallon picked up another point under Judge Bryant.
6/1/2008 Flatirons Kennel Club, Longmont, Colorado
Judge: Mrs. Sheila J. Polk
With the judge's reputation for evaluating movement, we were not sure we would do anything at all. We were thrilled when Fallon took Winners Bitch again, then also took Best of Winners, earning her 3 points and her third Major. She now has 12 points toward the 15 required for her championship. And, "She is lovely," said the judge. :^)
Conor did not fare as well today, but did win his class. However, we were so pleased and excited when Fallon and Haggis' sire, Pirate, took the win for a 3-point Major and Best of Opposite Sex. You should have heard the hollers from all of Pirate's fans and Megan's friends. Congrats to Pirate on a well-deserved win!
All in all, we have to say that this weekend brought is everything we had hoped for!
(We did not wait to have any professional photos taken this weekend, as we were in a hurry each day to get home to the puppies.)
The weekend started nicely, with Fallon winning her class (Bred By Exhibitor, now that she is 1 year old), and going on to win Winners Bitch, which earned her an additional point. Then Conor really knocked our socks off by winning Winners Dog, Best of Winners, and Best of Opposite Sex. This brought Conor three more points and his third Major. We were pleased with the results, but honestly did not think he deserved the win as he was such a knucklehead in the ring. He now has a total of 11 points.
4/13/2008 Terry-All Kennel Club, Brighton, Colorado
The weekend just kept getting better--and not only weather-wise. Judged by Mrs. Margaret Sheppard, Conor again won his class, and went on to take Winners Dog and Best of Opposite Sex! This is Conor's required second major. Haggis was Reserve. And little Fallon was again Winners Bitch and Best of Winners for another major. Conor and Fallon now both have 8 points, and their majors are completed.
We are especially that pleased that Fallon took back-to-back majors this weekend, first because she won both majors by beating the boys (that always feels good!) and also because in May our point schedule changes and it will be even more difficult to get enough females entering each show to make majors.
What a fabulous weekend it was for the Clannad crew!
What a wonderful day! Two Clannad pups did terrifically in the ring under Mr. Randall K. Sheets (who is a true gentleman). Clannad's Going to Tri Haggis ("Haggis") picked up his first major, winning 3 points. And his litter mate, Clannad's Dynasty Daughter ("Fallon") achieved her first major also, winning Best of Winners and a 3-point major. Fallon now has 5 points. Haggis and Fallon are 11 months old, out of Pirate (Omegan's Fire the Cannons) and our CH Advantage Highland Tegan ("Tegan). Conor also did well, winning a Reserve.
 |
 |
Haggis' 1st Major! |
Fallon's 1st Major! |
These are our "home" shows, and they are generally the biggest shows we attend all year. They have been lucky shows for us, as both Tegan and Clodagh finished their championships here. Well, this year's shows were pretty special for us too. Conor (Taklimakan Conor of Clannad) picked up his first major win for 4 points (judged by the very thorough Mrs. Betty Jo Patrick)! We were absolutely stunned! We had almost given up hope for this boy. It's just a lesson that no matter what, you have to keep believing in your dog. He now has 5 points toward his championship title.
Then in a second stunner, our baby Fallon (Clannad's Dynasty Daughter) picked up her first win for 2 points (judged by Mrs. Wendy G. Willhauch)! She is just 9 months old, and this was her very first show. Her littermate, Haggis (Clannad's Going to Tri Haggis) won his first blue ribbon, so Amy and Tom were also ecstatic. We are so proud of the pups from the first litter we have bred.