Well done The Kennel Club, what an amazing Crufts Dog Show. Four days packed full of dogs, dogs and more dogs. The were so many activities, displays, demonstrations, things to do, see and buy. The main ring had activities or showing from 8:00am to gone 8:00pm every day. On top of the was the actual dog show. I was told the entry was over 24,000 dogs, the biggest and best dog show in the world.
65 Chesapeakes entered, 26 dogs 39 bitches, 4 of these were puppies and 16 were veterans, 12 dogs came from overseas. Of the UK dogs 9 were imports and 3 were by AI. Only 5 dogs were absent. It was most interesting with all the different unrelated dogs to see many different types, all of which could and would fit the breed standard. My only disappointment was in seeing how many exhibits had high tails, we have seen this before, but tails have been getting better. Hereditary, it is very hard to improve such tails and may take several generations to correct. I have seen some very undesirable tails over the years in young dogs, which amazingly went on to straighten themselves.
It was disappointing to see a lack of supporters this year, two sides of the ring were almost empty, many who came to sit only came to rest and then were gone again. There were very few of the working gundog people who normally come, such a pity to see this dwindling lack of interest. Those that did come seemed to have a good time. Anne Law came over from New Jersey and said it was a thrill to handle one of the Oakmarsh Chesapeakes in the ring. Brad and Dawn Logan from Pennsylvania were likewise thrilled to handle a bitch they had bred North Flow Pay The Piper Of Cheslebay (imp USA) CGC, and her two offspring for owner Jo Nash.
Judge Dr R James KC gave BOB & DCC to Mahon, Hunns & Newton’s SH CH Arnac Bay Huron At Bergelle JW – handled by James Newton KC; RDCC Murch & Mayhew’s SH CH Next Generations Arnac Arctic Storm (imp USA); BCC Kuchařová’s Cz/sk/pl CH Dream Daisy Od Hošťálky – owner breeder Jana travelled from The Czech Republic, this was her second trip with Daisy after winning the RCC last year; RBCC (BCC & BOB last year) Mayhew and Middleton’s SH CH Arnac Bay Hebe Wgc ShCEx Ew22; BP Playle & Thomas’ dog puppy Riptide Gentlemans Relish; BV Thompson’s Arnac Bay Gamble (the dam of Huron & Hebe)
Almost 20 Chesapeakes entered in the different BASC classes. In the Gamekeeper class for Any Other Variety Retriever 5 Chesapeakes entered (11 total), 2nd Poulton’s Passione Knightspool; 3rd Watts’ Oakmarsh Freedom SGWC. In AOVR dog class 6 Chesapeakes entered (21 total), 2nd went to Poulton’s Passione Knightspool (they also won a 2nd in the breed ring). In AOVR bitch class 7 Chesapeakes entered (30 total), Res Middleton & Mayhew’s SH CH Arnac Bay Hebe WGC ShCExEW22; VHC Watts’ Oakleaf Manor Bay of Oakmarsh (imp DEU) JW. Kirsty Watts had a very busy day racing between rings, with her Oakmarsh team representing Bergholt Hall placed VHC in the BASC Gamekeeper team competition, they were then off to the main ring to compete in the grand final of The Breeders competition against 42 other teams that had qualified throughout the year, unplaced this time but well done for representing the breed.
Below are notes not published in the previous paper.
I was pleased to receive the first ACC Bulletin of the year, one of 6 annually filled with information, news, photos and results, including a full page advert for the CBRC CH Show on the 31st March.
Also on the 31st March is North Wales Gundog Club with 5 Chesapeake classes, all sponsored by the American Waterdog Club (pending). I am told that there is amazing prizes and gifts not just for the prize winners but for all owners who enter.
Near the end of the shooting season Klaske Munniksma and her husband came over from Holland to collect Cheesy – Bayana Ut It Fryske FriJe Fjild, which Klaske bred at the end of July 2017. Fully trained and retrieving anything from pigeon to a Canada. She was never shown but is the easiest dog to own and live with. When Klaske contacted me saying after the dam was spayed that had hoped to get a puppy from one of her offspring, as time has gone on they have become desperate for a replacement hunting dog. It was hard to let Cheesy go but I know Klaske would love her as much as I do. I was amazed to receive the news that last week they competed at the Martinidogshow – Holland Cup. Cheesy, who had never been in the show ring, won BOB, CACIB, CAC, Holland Cup Winner & has qualified for Crufts! The next day she was out on geese again, who could ask for anything more.
Very sad news comes to me from Kirsty Watts. Her beloved Tia Maria AKA Oakmarsh Acorn VW SGWC 3/10/10 – 26/2/24 has passed away (Sh Ch Devonshot Indian Goes Brave x Devonshot Jamaica Beach at Oakmarsh). Kirsty writes:
Tia was the pup I kept from my first litter. She was my “heart dog” from the moment she was born. From the start she was going to be something special, with the typical Chessie attitude. At 12 weeks of age she bypassed the puppy class and went straight into the Competition Obedience class! Her instructor, Paul, said she was the best Chessie he’d ever seen, and a few had gone through his Obedience club (Halstead). She achieved the KC Gold Good Citizen award. We did a few competitions and she got 2 COMs (Certificate of Merits), but she had her own way of doing things, which wasn’t what the judges were looking for! We moved on to do Working Trials, which we both enjoyed, unfortunately she didn’t like the “out of sight stay” and so we never achieved the CD, but we learned a lot. We learned Tracking and Scent detection and she could do the 6’ scale, the long jump, the high jump and the most superb heelwork, with changes of direction and speed that rivalled the collies and GSDs. Unfortunately the WT club closed down so that was the end of that.
I had done some Canicross with Tia’s mum, Marli, and when Tia was old enough I started running them together, progressing to Scooterjor and Bikejor, and swimming together. We took part in the first K9 Triathlon, TriDog, in April 2017, completing the whole event with Tia and Marli swimming in the relay team, in which we came second! We competed again in Sept 2017, April 2018 and September 2018, with Tia doing the Triathlon and her daughter Fennel doing the swim in the relay, either side of her having pups on 1st August 2018. In 2019 there was only one event in September, in which Tia and five of Fennels pups competed (Fennel was in pup with her second litter). We made up an Oakmarsh relay team, in which Tia and I did the bikejor each day, Selina and Izzy and Gareth and Juno did a swim each and Heather and Gibbs did the Canicross over the two days. The stars of the show were Trevor and Bella who came second in the 5k Canicross! Libby joined Zoe, a vet student whom she had only just met, when her own dog went lame, and they competed in the Aquathon (swim and 5k canicross) and they came 8th! Tia certainly passed on her abilities!
I started showing Tia as a puppy and she followed in Marlis footsteps by being the Our Dogs and CBRC Top Chessie Show Puppy for 2011. She gained her first CC under judge Patsy Hollings at URC 2013, her second CC as a Veteran at East of England 2018 under judge Jenny Miller. She gained 5 RCCs, Driffield 2015 judge Jenny Miller, National Gundog 2016 judge Jinty Gill-Davis, Richmond 2016 judge Moray Armstrong, Windsor 2019 Jinty Gill-Davies, SKC 2022 judge Carol Coode.
A new award was announced in January 2019, the Veteran Warrant (VW). Points are gained from the AV Veteran classes at Open shows. Once shows resumed after Covid Tia quickly gained her VW in 5 months, becoming one of the first dogs to gain it, and the first Chesapeake. Her daughter Fennel was the second Chesapeake to gain the VW.
In July 2023 it was announced that dogs with 2 CCs and 5 RCCs would be able to claim their Sh Ch / Ch title, unfortunately the 5 RCCs had to be gained AFTER 1st July 2023. Tia gained her 6th RCC at Darlington 2023 at the age of 13yrs.
Alongside all of these other activities Tia was my Gundog. She excelled in all that was asked of her. A natural game finder, retriever and swimmer. She helped keep the pheasant and partridge chicks in, standing in the doorway of the pens whilst I fed and retrieving any escapees, and dogging in the release pens leading up to the start of the shooting season. She retrieved fur and feather, still retrieving hares, ducks and geese, at the age of 12, and passing her SGWC (Show Gundog Working Certificate) in November 2022, which would have made her a full Champion had she got her 3rd CC. She completed 12 days beating and picking up on the shoot after she turned 13 in September 2023, her final day being a walked up day on 1st February 2023.
Tia was BASC Gundog of the month October 2020, here was her write up;
Tia Maria is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, she accompanies me throughout the season, rearing the poults, dogging in, rough shooting, beating and picking up. She will push through the hardest of cover; like the best of the spaniels, break ice with her powerful stern and climb steep banks with her tough nails, she floats over the thickest of mud flats whilst carrying a heavy duck or goose, and she swims and dives like a beaver – some may say a Chessie is a Beaver crossed with a dog! She picks up all manner of feathered and furred game. We train hard and work together as a team and she needs minimal handling to do her job. Love them or hate them, Chesapeakes are independent thinkers and are best with owners who teach them well and then “trust them to get on with it”, if you work in this way then they will become your best friend and partner and you’ll never look back.
Tia was one of 5 pups, her brother, Rana (Oakmarsh Assateague) was very lightly shown but gained 4 RCCs, he sadly died suddenly the day before his 12th birthday in September 2012. Sister Fly (O.Accokeek) passed away in March 2013. Sisters Clarence (O.Annapolis) and Lola (O.Appeal) are still going strong.
Tia had two litters, her first on 7th February 2016 to Ch, Swe Ch Penrose Jack Tar, she produced 8 pups, 6 dogs and 2 bitches, of which one dog sadly died at 8 days of age and the other bitch, Hettie, sadly had a fatal accident at 8 months of age in her new home. I kept a bitch, Fennel, Sh Ch Oakmarsh Chestnut VW, a true show girl, she gained her Show Champion title and Veteran Warrant. Her brother Archie (O.Castleton), only ever attended two shows, his first was Manchester Champ show in 2018, where, despite his owner not having a clue what to do, he was Best Dog (No CCs) and qualified for Crufts, were he was 2nd in a large Post Graduate class! Sadly he was neutered and never shown again. None of the other pups showed, all going to working homes. Drake (O.Chaptico) sadly died suddenly in December 2023, Riley (O.Connowingo), Rusty (O.Coperville) and Duke (O.Cornish Duke) are still going strong.
Her second litter was to Sh Ch Longmeadow Dundela’s McIntosh (imp USA), she produced 7 pups, of which sadly a boy and a girl were stillborn. 3 girls and 2 boys survived. Prudence (O.Elm), Bree (O.Echo) and Dexter (O.Elkton) all attended a few shows and qualified for Crufts. Trigger (O.Ermine) & Yogi (O.Eagle) both went to working homes.
Tia’s Legacy; Fennel produced 3 litters, of 14 (13 survived), 13 (12 survived) and 12 pups. Fennels daughter, Libby (O.Freedom SGWC) produced 2 litters of 12 and 10, and from this litter, Tia’s great grand-daughter, Vixen (Oakmarsh Little Acorn), who is now 12 weeks of age, has big boots to fill!
Janet Morris
01873 880271
penrosechesapeakes@gmail.com