Posts filed under ‘Belatarr’
Belatarr Boys at Crufts.
Crufts 2013 turned out to be a highly enjoyable and very memorable time for the Belatarr boys.
After shuffling and nudging through the sometimes impenetrable crowds around the TV-friendly flyball rings Django & Charlie Parker made it over to the HWV ring in good time.
Both were in a highly competitive Special Junior Dog class, amongst a quality entry of youngsters, and we were utterly delighted when judge Penny Williams placed Charlie 1st and then Django 3rd, immediately qualifying both boys for Crufts 2014. A great result, and very exciting for Jenny & David who, once again, did such a great job with Charlie, and at their very first visit to Crufts too!
Belatarr Charlie Parker’s Crufts wins.
The regular no-exit-before-4PM policy at Crufts ensured plenty of time for catch-ups, chinwags and some new meetings too, and the Wires attracted considerably more visitor attention than in previous years, with Adam manfully handling a nearly constant stream of enquiries and queries at the benches. After a 3:30AM start we finally made it home at 20:30 – so a very long day, but not one we’re likely to forget anytime soon!
Boston Championship Show Win.
Charlie in the ring at the Boston Championship Show.
Another great outing for young Belatarr Charlie Parker today, taking 1st Junior Dog & then Best Dog and Reserve Best of Breed at the Boston Championship Show under Stephen Hollings – excellent work, as ever!
Belatarr Year-End Round-Up.
2012 has been quite a landmark year for us here at Belatarr – Mingus gained his first CC in May and then managed to break his toe just hours before the Welsh Kennel Club Championship, resulting in a long and worry-some convalescence which was only completed at the end of October.
Django’s handsome brother Milo came back to stay with us for 4 weeks in Nov/Dec and proved to by an absolutely delightful boy who immediately fitted in to the pack as if he’d always been here, whilst he and Django had endless daily fun and games together:
The family together – Left to right – Milo, Django, Mingus & Phoenix.
Meanwhile our young pups have gone out and made their way in the world. Thanks to the sterling efforts of David & Jenny (with Charlie Parker) and Irene (with double-funster twins Billie & Gryphon) all four of the Belatarr show-pups qualified for Crufts, and all had significant wins at both Open and Champ Show level through the year.
The Midland Counties Championship was our last big get-together where a very substantial entry of Wires was present for breed expert Rachel Thompson to judge. We had a lovely, and highly successful show, with the Belatarr clan eventually achieving 1 x 3rd place, 3 x 2nd places and 1 x 1st place. This was Mingus’ comeback show, following his broken toe (and a definitely-not-yet-ready-for-the-ring-again effort at Darlington!) and he took a highly respectable 2nd in Open Dog, beaten only by this years Crufts Best of Breed, whilst Charlie won his large (8 entries) and highly competitive Junior Dog Class. Charlie’s excellent critique was a further source of pride for all concerned:
“Pleasing well balanced yearling. Lovely head and expression with good furnishings. Clean neck into well assembled front. Lovely proportions in profile with strong rear. Topped off with a coat of good colour and texture. Covered his ground with ease.”
Charlie & Jenny in action.
This great result proved to be just the start of a roll for Charlie, however. Just a few weeks later, at the Huntingdonshire Canine Society Open, he won 1st Junior AVNSC and then took best AVNSC, beating several top adult HWV’s, including one recent HWVA Best in Show winner along the way…not content with that victory he then went on to take Gundog Group 1, a phenomenal day, especially given that 12-month-old Charlie & his handler Jenny had never even been to a dog show just a few months earlier!
The show year finished on another high as Billie (Belatarr Mahalia Jackson) took 1st Open & Best of Breed under Gavin Robertson at Yeovil & District Open on 3oth Dec. On the very same day Charlie was back in action too, this time at the two-day Luton Canine Association Premier Show, where he was 1st Junior HWV and went on to take another Best of Breed, beating a large entry including the years’ top-scoring HWV puppy (now also in Junior) as well as the Open & Post-Grad HWV winners along the way. Fabulous work!
In Mid-November Django and sister Ruby (Belatarr Nina Simone) trekked over to Hampshire in order to be hip-scored. Their results came back a few weeks later and exactly matched each of their parents – 5/5 for Django, the same as Phoenix, and 4/3 for Ruby, the same as Mingus. Django has had a pretty full-on and energetic puppyhood, which has perhaps resulted in a little additional wear & tear, but both scores are pleasingly under the breed average and represent the final test for the success of this litter.
A quick mention too of the Hungarian Wirehaired Viszla Club of Great Britain Breed Specific Seminar that Tim attended. Scheduled for the day after the Midland Counties Champ Show, and presided over by Crufts judge Lindsey Townsend, this proved to be a really excellent, well-organised and highly enjoyable day which attracted a very large attendance. The afternoon was dedicated to an exam and the writing of a highly detailed set of 5 (full-A4 page) critiques, and, a week later, Tim was delighted to learn that he had successfully passed the Seminar, nicely in time for his first confirmed HWV judging appointment.
Another Happy Birthday!
Although it seems like only yesterday that Mingus was a little pup riding in a sling, he’s now three years old, a father of 12, of course, and a very intense fellow who takes his responsibilities as pack leader very seriously. When out-and-about Mingus is always scouting ahead with his head in the air, alert for possible dangers (and/or opportunities) whilst everyone else romps around having fun with sticks etc. Back at home Mingus remains incredibly affectionate as well as the most wonderfully co-operative and biddable dog we’ve ever had, whilst his beautiful coat and head command everyone’s attention wherever he goes – every day living with him is a absolute joy and privilege.
Happy Birthday Mingus!
Django’s First Birthday.
Time has certainly flown since Phoenix brought her 12 babies into the world, but Django is now, officially, no longer a puppy as today our lovely boy celebrates his first birthday!
Django back at 6 weeks old.
Happy Birthday Django!
Stellar show weekend.
Django’s Saturday rosettes.
Evidently saving their best for last, this very memorable weekend saw three of the Belatarr Puppies excel in the showring:
Django moving for the judge in the Gundog Group.
On Saturday our own Django headed off to the Okehampton & District Open, where he dodged the intermittent heavy rain showers to take Best of Breed & Pest Puppy in Breed under Ms N. Walker, before heading indoors where he scored an amazing Gundog Group 2 & Gundog Puppy Group 1 under judge Simon Luxmoore. Remarkably this is the exact same result that his father, Mingus, achieved at the same show 2 years earlier, and the third year out of the last 4 that Belatarr HWV’s have been awarded Best Gundog Puppy in Show at Okehampton, following Phoenix’ win here in 2009. Many thanks to Nige Small for taking these great shots of Django in action!
Django stacked for Best Puppy in Show.
Not to be outdone, the next day saw Django’s siblings Gryphon (Belatarr Dizzie Gillespie) and Billie (Belatarr Mahalia Jackson) head off to the South Wales Kennel Association Championship show. There judge Mick Howes awarded 1st Junior Dog, Best Puppy Dog and a terrific Reserve Best Dog to Gryphon, and then 1st Junior Bitch and Best Puppy Bitch to Billie, leaving brother and sister to compete against one another for Best Puppy, eventually taken by Billie:
Billie & Gryphon’s SWKA awards.
Many congratulations to both, as well as to handler Irene for a job very well done!
Belatarr Litter Reunion Mega-Post!
A few weekends ago we had a very exciting not-quite-Birthday-Party day for the Belatarr babies, and 9 of the 12 pups (all minus Charlie, who was on hols in France, Ella, who was in season & Otis, who was working) returned back here to their birthplace for a wonderful reunion afternoon.
The Wire Gods were definitely smiling on us all that day since we somehow managed to stage it on what was the only sunny & dry day that we’d had for weeks, and, indeed it feels like it’s been raining non-stop ever since then too…
Cakes & snacks were eaten (by humans… and very probably by puppies too), everybody had a good chance to compare puppy notes and catch up on wire-chat, and, most importantly, much highly excited puppy play was undertaken (on land and in water) as a whirlwind of bouncing, swimming, chewing and hurtling was unleashed!
For us it was also quite wonderful and a source a great pride to see the boys & girls back together and all now grown-up into such beautiful, confident and happy young dogs. We were struck by how lucky we were to have found such lovely and loving homes for this first Belatarr generation – and huge thanks, once again, to everyone for bringing their pups to the reunion.
Tim’s camera unfortunately managed to conk out early on in the proceedings, so we are extremely grateful to Marcus & to Emma (thanks guys!) for kindly both sending on their many pics of the day, some of which are included here.
Big Beach day out.
After seemingly endless rain the sun has finally made a return, so what better time to take everyone to the beach for a sandy romp! Little Django is now 9 months old (time certainly flies…) and is looking not so little and all-grown-up all of a sudden….looks can be deceptive, however!
Django in a rare moment of stillness.
This is a more usual pose.
Racing with dad.
…and with mum too.
The family emerges from the surf.
Django leads the charge.
A brief pause to pose with a stick.
…and swiftly back to bounce mode.
Strutting his stuff, showing off that awesome stick, whilst Phoenix looks on and hatches a plot.
In tandem with Mum…who, having hatched her plot, now has ownership of the stick.
So much sand, so little time.
And relax.
Mingus hits the big-time!
This last weekend saw Tim & crew set off on the 950-mile round trip to the Scottish Kennel Club Championship Show at the Royal Highland Showground on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Mingus was up against the big boys in his first Champ Show Open class, presided over by breed expert Jonathan Parry. Despite being the youngest in the class Mingus well-and-truly rose to the occasion, driving round the ring in great style, and we were absolutely thrilled when he was awarded 1st Open Dog – beating the Crufts 2012 Best of Breed, along with the only UK male Champion HWV plus the only male currently with 2 CC’s in the process.
Moments later things got even more exciting when Mingus was awarded Best Dog and won his first Challenge Certificate – given to HWV’s at only 8 shows each year, these are the ultimate accolade in showing:
The CC means that Mingus is granted a Kennel Club Stud Book Number and an entry in the revered Stud Book, which in turn means that he is also now qualified for Crufts for life and is one third of the way to becoming a champion, and all at just 2 years of age! We were delighted that his breeder Jacqui could also be at the show (en route to a working test with Mingus’ sister Love) to witness her baby all grown-up and hitting the big time in the show ring! We’re just so very proud of our beautiful boy.
Mingus back on home ground – wet and muddy in the garden.
A little later in the show Phoenix (who had most definitely never looked better – motherhood certainly becomes her!) also put in a great performance and qualified for Crufts 2013 at her first Champ Show for nearly a year, and also her first since her humongous litter of 12.
…and speaking of the Belatarr Twelve, Charlie Parker was the first of the baby boys to take to the ring, and went straight in at the deep end earlier in the month at the National Championship Show, where he thrilled Tim and also attracted a lot of other attention ring-side with his ultra-stylish and ultra-sound movement, not to mention his super-affectionate personality and beautiful head. Owners David & Jenny’s hard work and dedication certainly paid off when Charlie also qualified for Crufts at his (and their) very first show – cue excited squeals all round! Charlie took the whole thing in his stride and proved that he’s definitely made for the ring…his journey is only just beginning!
Mingus Vs. Jaws…
The gang had a quick (drizzly) trip to Northam Beach today to enjoy the massive several-mile-deep expanse of sand exposed at low-tide. Mingus also caught a shark!! (albeit only a young Small Spotted Catshark – a very common species in the waters around North Devon) which instantly became a very prized possession….plus we managed to get a couple of nice head shots of him too, despite the extremely low light levels:
A Dog and his Shark.
Belatarr Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. 