Entries in 2023 on average dropped from the mid 30s to the mid 20s, except for Crufts and The Club Show, which have always drawn the two best entries; with absentees some were even less than 20. The inlation affecting the mortgage rate, fuel, food and other amenities it has made many people think twice about the luxury of entering and travelling to dog shows as a very expensive hobby. I cut back in 2023 and saved over £2,000, which like others makes me think twice where I will show my dogs. I would really like to hear what you think the reason is for the drop in entries.
There were 13 sets of CCs in 2023 and there are going to be 15 sets this year. 27 dogs and bitches which won top honours last year, these awards went to: Top Dog SH CH Arnac Bay Huron At Bergelle JW – 3 BOB, 6 CC; SH CH Arnac Bay Hebe WGC ShCEx EW22 – 5 BOB, 5 CC, 2 RCC; SH CH Next Generations Arnac Arctic Storm (IMP USA) – 1 BOB, 3 CC, 3RCC; SH CH Arnac Bay Harvest – 1 BOB, 3 CC, 2 RCC; Oakmarsh Freedom – 2 CC; Petsalls Pride Beech At Glaneils – 1 BOB, 1 CC, 1 RCC, 3 BV; Chesepi Waco – 1 BOB, 1 CC, 2 RCC; Glaneils Count On Me – 1 BOB, 1 CC, 1 RCC; Top Brood Bitch SH CH Arnac Bay Flax – 1 CC, 1 RCC, 5 BV; SH CH Oakmarsh Diva – 1 CC, 1RCC; Tideflight Floki – 1 CC, 1 BP; Longmeadow Barnegat Bay’s Surfer At Penrose (IMP USA) – 1 CC; Pixiesrock Mr Tumnus By Bleyos – 2 RCC; Oakmarsh Acorn – 1 RCC, 2 BV; Top Stud Dog SH CH Arnac Weatherdeck Buoy (IMP USA) 1 RCC, 1 BV; Pixiesrock Green Kirkle – 1 RCC, 2 BP; Arnac Bay Invincible For Dunakitts – 1 RCC; Muireatai Life Journey At Dkai – 1 RCC; SH CH Oakmarsh Chestnut – 1 RCC; Dream Daisy Od Hostalky – 1 RCC; Dallandor Jocasta – 1 RCC; Arnac Bay Inca – 1 RCC; SH CH Next Generations Chesepi Range Rider (IMP USA) – 1 BV; Arnac Bay Gamble – 1 BV; Top Puppy Penrose Tay – 3 BP; Arnac Bay Jellicoe – 1 BP; Sea’nland Master Of The Sea For Riverrun – 1 BP.
As we look forward to Manchester and the start of another show calendar I won’t say good luck as I don’t think luck has anything to do with it, but I do wish everyone an interesting and hopefully pleasurable year to come.
Chris and Ed Hutt, who started off very enthusiastically as new show exhibitors soon decided the show world was not for them, Chris has spent much time gundog training her bitch Eide, which she finds very rewarding. Ed has turned his attention to encouraging as much wildlife and birds into his small urban garden, which has a stream running through it. Once fairly isolated they are now engulfed by new houses, which is an arm’s length from an estuary on the east coast. Ed has planted every spare piece of ground with fruit trees and shrubs which they hope will attract wildlife, backed up by a variety of bird feeders. Keen eyed Ed with his infrared night cameras have filmed badgers, foxes, muntjac deer and a variety of rodents which come and go all night long. In the daytime they have a flurry of birds come to feed throughout the day. Particularly taken by one small bird which Ed had not seen visit the garden before he was quick to identify it as a rare North American Water Thrush, which turned up in his garden and on the marshes. He reported this to the local ornithological group thinking it might be of interest to them, little did he know how rare this sighting was as they were soon swamped by over 150 “twitchersâ€. Ed was on the local ITV TV and Chris made 100s of cups of tea and coffee, Chris said it was nuts but incredibly interesting, heaven knows what will turn up next!
Whenever a Chesapeake wins its first CC or is made up I print the names of the parents. I missed this out in the results at LKA and apologise to Jason & Julie Hayes winner of the DCC with home bred Tideflight Floki by Penrose Marsh Gunner x Oakmarsh Faithful Of Tideflight.
It is always nice to hear from the wildfowlers in our breed; Simon Witherspoon was totally blown away with his young dog Rigby, not yet a year old, when he found a wounded goose in water, swam out and brought it back to shore. This was near Inverurie just recently in the freezing weather condition, wind and rain they have been having this winter this was no small feat for such a young dog. Simon said there were 4 guns, it was an overcast half moon evening. Approx 100 geese came in together in the same skein, 8 shots fired, 7 geese shot, they had 1 chance and then they were gone.
Klaske and Richard Munniksma came over from Holland for a few days between Christmas and New Year. They have read and heard so much about pheasant and partridge shoots in the UK but had never been to one. Richard took his dog beating while Klaske came picking up. Everyone on the shoot made them feed super welcome, they said it was one of the best days they had ever had. Richard mostly shoots geese in Holland, where there are many thousands and they are considered a pest. The very next day after they had returned home, Richard and his friend with 3 Chesapeakes bagged 28 geese, 3 pigeons, 2 mallard and a hare. A good morning’s work.
The second half of 2023 has been extremely sad with 8 friends diagnosed with cancer, 3 are terminal. This has brought great sadness to myself and Stuart as we known some of these people for 50 years, 4 of them are Chesapeake people.
I would like to wish everyone a happy and successful 2024.
Janet Morris
01873880271
penrosechesapeakes@gmail.com