Issue: 16/08/2024
More news from the CLA Game Fair, Club treasurer and committee member Lisa Murch emailed to let me know that committee member and working test secretary Dave Rigby had no part in organising any part of the Chesapeakes at The Game Fair. The dog team and the general Chesapeake organisation was done by Lisa and Deb Herring, the minority dogs team. Lisa also tells me the Chesapeake team won the Minority Breeds Test this year. Not to be confused this is a totally different competition to the European Challenge run on the second day. I have asked and hope for a full report from Lisa.
Kirsty Watts has been doing amazing things again, this time with her German imported bitch Oakleaf Manor Bay of Oakmarsh JW, by AM CH Voyager Once In A Bluemoon x TD/VDH CH Coolwater’s American Oakleaf MULTI JR CH. Passing her Gold Good Citizen award, I believe she is the first imported bitch and only the second import to gain the Gold Award.
URC Championship Show for me has to be one of the nicest shows in the calendar year, everything about it is always so correct, so inviting, so friendly, so welcoming and so well organised, even down to the amount of litter bins around the show, which are hard to find at some shows. Held at the Three Counties Showground it is also one of the least expensive championship shows to enter. Every breed had the same amazing display of stunning black and yellow rosettes, this of course symbolising the two main colours of the black and yellow Labrador when the club first started. Not single tier rosettes but double, treble and quadruple. Then on top of all this was prize money first to third in every class. URC are the only show in the UK that give prize money in breed classes and I think probably in the whole world. There was benching and as is traditional with all URC events – field trials, working tests or show the day finishes with yummy cakes for everyone to enjoy. There was again a beautiful display of gleaming trophies, some are now glorious antiques. It saddens me to so that the Penrose Trophy of a bronze mallard (replacing the earlier Penrose Cup) was again missing. The Penrose Cup/Trophy is the oldest trophy given at any event for Chesapeakes. It seems to have disappeared between exhibitors. If anyone knows of the whereabouts of this trophy please could they return it to URC as it is part of breed history.
One Chesapeake or another will often place as a “best” in the Best in Show ring. Judge Mr David Bell did not pull any Chesapeakes out at the end of the day. Mr Bell is judging the breed at Richmond in September.
Breed judge Mr Allen who was awarding us CCs for the first time received an entry of 27 dogs – 14d, 13b, 5a. It was disappointing that there were 6 classes that had no entries at all. BOB & BCC Middleton & Mayhew’s SH CH Arnac Bay Hebe Wgc ShCEx Ew22; RBCC & BV Mayhew’s SH CH Arnac Bay Flax; DCC Mahon-Hunns & Hunns & Newton’s SH CH Arnac Bay Huron At Bergelle JW; RDCC Boyles’ Pixiesrock Mr Tumnus By Bleyos JW; BP Morris’ Penrose Visual Impact.
There were those, and well done to them, who competed in the third championship show of the week, Bournemouth Canine Association Championship Show. Without CCs Mrs C Morgan received an entry of 12 – 2d, 10b, 1a. BOB & BB Middleton & Mayhew’s Arnac Bay Hebe; RBB & BV Coppin & Davies-Jones’ Dallandor Jocasta; BD Veronika’s Battsrock Are You Ready; RBD not awarded; BP & BSB Blaber & Blaber & Blaber’s Oakmarsh Laural.
How many of you have now read Andrew Brace’s The Root Cause of Exhibitors Dissatisfaction? I am imagining there are thousands of exhibitors, most probably mature exhibitors, who are agreeing with what he has written. There are other factors which have pushed dog show fanciers old and new over the edge into giving up on dog shows. I have been talking to a blank wall for years about what needs to be done to stop the rot and bring pedigree dogs back to the fore. There are two main governing bodies which can make any difference to this downward spiral – that is the government through local authorities and the Kennel Club, who up to now seem more than happy to let many run things which benefit themselves. Their desire to control and dominate has driven exhibitors away and results in a decline of that breed.
Janet Morris
01873 880271
penrosechesapeakes@gmail.com