Well here we are ...and year and a whole new set of challenges and hopes and dreams. .......

First show of the year - Judge was Jeff Horswell with not a huge entry but lots of absentees due to the snowy weather (actually wish we'd stayed where we were) Holly 3rd in Open after putting on her usual magnificant performance. Congratulations to Ray and Gordon on your 3rd CC and Helen for your Best of Breed and Group 4. One to cross off the list for future reference

The Lancs and Cheshire Open Show is a well run and friendly show and one of the more local ones for us. Our judge for the day was Anthony Allen of the Allenie affix who I had been under previously at a Gundog Show where he gave Holly Best Puppy in Show so I was hopeful that he still thought the same 2 years on.

There were quite a few absentees and it was quite a small entry but still - the judge can only judge what he has on the day. Holly was on her own in Open and so was in the final line up for Best Bitch. I was delighted when we were awarded Best Bitch with Kath and Bonnie (Trimere Tranquiliser at Bethryn) Reserve Best Bitch - who is Holly's auntie. Ths was Bonnies first time out after her 'maternal' break so a nice return to the ring for her. Best puppy bitch was Fran's Beaters Bedazzled.

The Best Dog was won by another Calvdale - the lovely Rob (Calvdale Great Escape) and Reserve Best Dog to Ray Smiths' Gordon (Mistilys Golden Flash) Rob, as Best Dog was a puppy so automatically was declared BEST PUPPY DOG. The challenge for the Best in Show was then between Holly and Rob - both moved exceptionally well and I expected Rob to get it as although he is just a puppy is very mature and I think stunning. So I was delighted when we were awarded BEST IN SHOW and Rob the RESERVE BEST IN SHOW being automatically declared BEST PUPPY IN SHOW. Sylvia and Graham Gibson' slimmed down Bliss (Calvdale Come Catch Me) made a good return to the ring being awarded BEST VETERAN IN SHOW

This is a lovely show if the weather is dry but sadly it was not to be - it just rained and rained so we all got soaked but delighted to have been awarded the RCC with Holly behind Holly's Neice in the form of the lovely Calvdale Hearsay - well doneNicola and Gracie. In fact the Calvdale kennel fared exceptionally well today given that Calvdale Great Escape (Rob) was the RDCC and Calvdale Zero to Hero was BPIB ...... not a bad day at the office for the Calvdale team. Well done to Trudy on your CC and BOB with Nico

Back up north of the border today for our next Ch Show under our judge today inthe form of Jan Wood. Jan judged Holly when she was in a really good junior class and gave her a brilliant critique saying she considered her for 'top honours' then so we thought it was worth a punt to see if she still thought the same.
Tough competition greeted us but delighted when Holly won her Open class and was awarded the CC - then up against Helen Merry with Deisel for the Best of Breed. So over the moon when we were awarded Best of Breed - so thank you to our judge for making this a very special day for us. In the group we were short listed to the last 8 by Jock Mackay who had previously awarded Holly her 2nd CC so good to see she still 'had it'

Darlington judge Holly was awarded 2nd ina lovely Open Bitch class receiving great comments and critique fomr the judge

June 2013 RCC at Border Union - Graham Osbourne

Aug 2013 CC & BOB at SKC - Jan Wood (Ardencote)
Sept 2014 Res Best Bitch at Driffield Ch Sh (no CC's on offer) - Neil Woods
July 2015 RCC at East of England - Ernie Lockett (Fayem)
Aug 2015 CC at National Gundog - Joanna Jaggers (Jaraina)