Issue: 23/08/2024
I do not know if the commentator said dogs or entries but one of them was up 100 on last year’s Welsh Kennel Club Show. This was not the case with Chesapeakes, who yet again this year have had another extremely low entry at a championship show of 16 dogs. On top of this 4 unfortunately were absent. Of the remaining 12 there were 4d and 8b, 4 of these entries were puppies, competing for 2 CCs and 2 ResCCs. Personally I felt this as a hard blow to the breed. When I think back to the beginning of the 80s and in the years in-between I feel desperately let down for all those wonderful dogs and especially the owners who worked so hard to build this breed up in field trial, working tests, working, wildfowling and in the show ring. Where has all of this gone? I was delighted, ringside to meet and chat with owners from those bygone days who have attended and exhibited at WKC making it their annual 2-week holiday who sadly no longer compete in the breed or have gone into other breeds. I have been exhibiting Chesapeakes at WKC for 45 years next year, I hope to see a better entry.
Mrs Jill Peak (KC) awarding CCs for the second time awarded BOB & BCC (1st) to Broomfield (CBRC), Broomfield, Mahon-Hunns & Newton’s Glaneils Daydream Believer, handled by co-owner James Newton (KC);RBCC Watts’ Oakmarsh Freedom SGWC; DCC Rigby’s (CBRC) Chesepi Waco, winning his third CC, by Next Generations Chesepi Range Rider x Chesepi Pensacola, this is the second home bred show champion for CBRC secretary Molly Barker; RDCC & BP Morris’ Penrose Visual Impact (7 months old on the day); Best Bitch Puppy was the litter sister Penrose Victrix Ludorum; BV Rigby’s Chesepi Ulysses, full brother different litter to C Waco. There were no BSB entered.
Delighted to receive this report from Lisa Murch on this year’s CLA Game Fair:
Apologies for my delayed response to your request for information, life gets in the way at times. Deb Herring had set up an event much earlier in the year, open to any Chesapeake where an independent A panellist judge chose the eventual running team as below based on ability on the day. Deb spent many an hour organising and sorting the sponsorship for the team, passes etc.
The dogs and handlers who were part of the team for the minority breeds event were as follows,
Anthony Ciraolo with Ebb – Franeo Ebbing tide
Fleur Bament with Chester- Pixiesrock Maestro Cadenza
Kevin Aimira with Zoar- Petsals Canuck
Res & team captain. Lisa Murch with Odhran- Franeo Original Long Gunner at Pixiesrock
The tests were in the same arena as the Euros so the environmental challenges were nothing that anyone can train for, 3 scurries going ahead one side of the valley less than 100 yards away with runners tooting whistles and pistols galore and the other side the clay range which was so busy it was seemingly non stop, all VERY distracting for any dog.
The first lot of tests had 1 dog from each team (Chessie, Curly, IWS, Toller) Tests included walk ups, marking dummies and then turning to send the dogs on a blind, water retrieve, long retrieve next to the river, blind over a jump in the corner. The ground was challenging, once the dogs were cast the handlers had a job to see them as the grasses and reeds were so tall, the tell tale movement of grass would have been the only indication to the handlers where their dogs might be.
Second test involved all 3 members of the team entering the arena together. A water retrieve, one in the corner over the jump and another over a fence. The team had to decide who was taking which retrieve. Dogs set up and all 3 dummies deployed it was the judges choice which dummy was collected and in which order. The chessies scored a very impressive 58/60 marks for this element.
Thanks must go to Chudleys dog food for sponsoring and supplying Harkila training vests for team members.
Also a mention to the dog pavilion team, Danielle, Gareth and Patrick Adger with Mac and Hooper, Steve and Kay Camoccio with Muddle and Mucker and myself and Martin with Joss and Odhran. Record crowds, extremely hot and very long days but all dogs exceptionally well behaved and wonderful breed ambassadors.
Unfortunately I could not stay for the Puppy Group at WKC as I had kennels to sort out at home before leaving for the ACC National on Monday.
Well done to Kirsty Watts coming 2nd in the Breeders Stakes, judge Anne MacDonald; 1st in the Junior Stakes with Oakmarsh Little Acorn; 3rd in the Eukanuba Pup of The Year, judge Dr Ian Gabriel; 2nd KC Charitable Trust AV Junior; 3rd pup; Oakmarsh Freedom 3rd Open, judge Frank Kane.
On Sunday Kirsty was at Kent County Canine Association competing in AV classes. Well done with Oakmarsh Little Acorn winning Puppy Group 1.
Janet Morris
01873 880271
penrosechesapeakes@gmail.com