Slight correction on the last breed notes – Middleton & Mayhew’s Arnac Bay Jellicoe was 5th and not 3rd in the BASC Working Gundog Dest Bitch Class at Crufts.
BOB at South of England Gundog Club Open Show was Watts & Mellersh-Tett’s Oakmarsh Land Of Promise; RBOB Corcoran’s Oakmarsh Kingsley. Judge was Claire Leavy.
At Windsor Gundog Open Show Middleton & Mayhew’s Sh Ch Arnac Bay Hebe won BOB, handled by Amie-Jayne Mellersh-Tett.
Lorna Murray said she had a great day at Gundog Breeds Assoc of Scotland picking up a fistful of prizes. I thank her for sending me the results. Under judge Tanya Lewis BOB went to Tracey Boyle’s Pixierock Mr Tumnus by Bleyos. Lorna’s Muireatai Teri’s Love 2nd in AV Gundog PG & Muireatai Miracle Of Dreams 2nd in AV Gundog GBAs Member’s Open.
Quite a few weeks ago the CBRC held a special general meeting. Sunday last week was the AGM, held on Zoom but unfortunately it clashed with Mother’s day and family come first. This is the time of year and event when the Annual Club Trophies are awarded for Top this and that. These trophies are not automatically awarded to a dog, the owner must apply with the dog’s details – if you don’t submit your dog’s details then you cannot be considered for one of these trophies. These are the trophies awarded as I have been given them – Top Show Bitch & Most Species Retrieved SH CH Arnac Bay Hebe; Top Show Dog SH CH Arnac Bay Huron At Bergelle; Top Show Puppy Oakmarsh Little Acorn; Best Working Veteran Arnac Bay Grebe With Riptide; Best Working Puppy Riptide Gentlemen’s Relish; Top Working Franeo Ebbing Tide; Top Dual Purpose Sea’nland Master Of The Sea For Riverrun.
Well done United Retriever Club unveiling a ground breaking twist for its upcoming championship show: an AI-powered judging system called “PawBot 3000”, developed by x AI. The organisers have claimed it will revolutionise canine competitions and will be an additional tool to help judges with their decision-making. Exhibitors can choose, when they make their entry, whether they would prefer their dog to be judged by a human or PawBot. It is hoped this will give exhibitors even more choice about which shows to enter.
PawBot 3000 is sleek robot that can be rolled into the ring either alongside the judge or instead of the judge. It scans each dog with laser precision, analysing coat texture, tail symmetry, and even the sassiness of their struts. The robot generates AI projected holographic scorecards, rating each dog on a scale of 1-10.
Whether genius or jest, PawBot 3000 will make dog show history – one paw at a time.
There were a few who felt irritated while all others had a real hoot, coming a close second to the spaghetti growing tree.
Tim Hall grieving the recent loss of his wife has been sending me regular updates of his litter by my American imported dog Longmeadow Barnegat Bay’s Surfer At Penrose and out of his German import bitch Oakleaf Manor Bay Lamberton. I believe this is the first litter whelped in the UK out of two imports from two different continents. Tim said he is thrilled with all of the pups and that they came at the best time for him. He has kept a clear light deadgrass puppy which is the third Chesapeake of this colour in the UK at the moment.
Training days up and down the country are now in full swing, from club days for all members to AV days, private days, group training and full weekends. Some trainers even offering accommodation with all hospitality. The cost for club days will probably be the most reasonable but climbs with the intensity and level you may look for. Do not think all training is the same. If you are just starting out or have your first dog or are very novice your day will be at a very different level from those competing at open and field trial standard. I have found in the past that top trainers are really only interested in training open and advanced level where noisy, badly behaved and out of control dogs are not welcome. I have spent years helping beginners, going over and over basics and at times even my patience wears thin. There would seem to be a huge difference today between novice Chesapeake level and open field trial dogs, and before anyone starts jumping up and down there will always be the odd good dog. It is sad that we have lost so many of the Chesapeake people that could work and train their dogs to a higher standard. All of these people have gone over to Labradors – Alan & Jane Towle; Jackie Simpson; Linda Partridge; Branwen Griffin; Jo Hodge and Jason Mayhew to name a few.
What a very disappointing entry at the Club’s premier Championship Show, Special Classes and Open Show. 39 dogs entered; this is the lowest entry since the first ever show. There were no new dogs entered in the Specials Classes or in the Open Show, all of course staged on the same day at the KC building Stoneleigh. Of the 39 dogs entered, 1 withdrew and 7 were absent. It is sad that many of the prominent competitors, handlers and kennels did not enter. Over the years the Club’s premier shows started with a Limit Show, moving on to an Open and Limit Show and now a Championship and Open Show, with the Specials Classes in between. The first Club Limit Show on the 7th of April 1984 had 35 dogs entered, this was in a barn on a farm in Wiltshire, the judge was Mrs Millie Buchholz, Chesachobee Chesapeakes USA. The largest entry was at the 14th Club Open Show on the 10th of July 2004, held at Baginton Village Hall – 89 dogs entered. The judge was Mrs Jane Pappler, Redlions Chesapeakes USA. The show secretary was Mrs Wendy Howitt (sadly no longer in Chesapeakes).
Judges at this year’s event were Mr Martyn Rees, partner of Miss Becky Johnson who has been one of the Club’s BECs, he judged the Championship show. The Specials Classes were judged by Alexandra Adshead and the Open Show by the Club secretary Mrs Tracy Boyles. As always there was a scurry which was organised and adjudicated by Mark Straw, the winner was Watts & Mellersh-Tett’s Oakmarsh Land Of Promise in 6.7 seconds.
BIS & BCC Thompson’s SH CH Arnac Bay Harvest; RBIS, BOS & DCC Mayhew’s SH CH Next Generations Arnac Arctic Storm NAF; RDCC Broomfield’s Glaneils Count On Me; RBCC Hewitson’s Melseed Don’t Stop Believing BP Mayhew’s BB’S Chesapeake Breeding Dory For Arnac (imp CHE); RBP Batsrock Smoke On The Water; BJ & BSB Blaber’s Oakmarsh Laural; RBJ n/a; BV & BSW Griffin-Woods’ CH Migwell Soloman’s Puzzle (AI); RBV Mayhew’s SH CH Arnac Bay Flax.
Unfortunately I do not have the results of the three Special Awards Classes or the Open Show.
The shows were generously sponsored by Chudley’s Dog Food. It is also nice to know that all the “Best” rosettes went back to the Club’s original colours representing the lightest to the darkest colours of the breed.
Janet Morris
01873 880271
penrosechesapeakes@gmail.com