Posts tagged ‘Championship Show’
Belatarr Boys at Midland Counties Championship
A great day for the boys at the Midland Counties Championship show today, presided over by judge and long-time breed expert, Lindsey Townsend. There was an excellent entry and a lovely, happy atmosphere both in and out of the ring and Belatarr Hercules continued his unbroken run of Championship class wins, taking 1st in Junior Dog. His big brother Belatarr Charlie Parker then went one better, taking 1st in Post Graduate Dog and then, against extremely tough competition, was also awarded Reserve Best Dog.
Charlie’s Reserve Challenge Certificate.
Hercules, awaiting his designated driver.
Charlie, awaiting his driver too.
The boys together.
Welsh double wins for Billie.
Belatarr Mahalia Jackson (Billie) continued her fabulous year by taking 1st Open Bitch and Best Bitch at both of this weeks two Championship Shows. Firstly renowned judge Pam Blay awarded her at the weekend’s South Wales Kennel Association Championship Show, and also rewarded her with this wonderful, memerable critique:
“This cracking bitch has come on so much since I judged her last. She is now the finished picture of a typical Wirehaired Vizsla, she has the stance, bone & outlook needed for this breed. She is so balanced that she couldn’t put a foot wrong, she has substance but maintains her femininity, in excellent coat of the correct texture with undercoat, feminine head & expression with a lovely eye & pigment, excellent neck & shoulders with a lovely depth of chest, in hard muscular condition which showed in her excellent, precise movement. Delighted with her progress, no hesitation in making her BB.”
Pam Blay
Just four days later Billie beat a classy line up of HWV bitches at the Gundog Society of Wales Championship Show to be awarded Best Bitch once again, this time under judge Jill Peak.
These two wins now give Billie 6 Championship Best of Sex wins for the year, and all before the age of 3!
Belatarr Boys at Birmingham.
Today was the double show at the Kennel Club HQ in Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. The Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla Association holds it’s second show of the year in the morning, whilst the Birmingham Championship Show classes are held in the afternoon, giving a long, but potentially productive day of showing.
The morning show was presided over by judge Marion Wadell and, now 13 months of age, Belatarr Hercules started the day by taking 1st in his first ever Junior Dog class. Shortly thereafter his big brother Belatarr Charlie Parker also took an excellent 1st in a highly competitive Limit Dog Class, also Charlie’s first step up into Limit.
Charlie in the ring.
Lovely trophies accompanied both wins – a memorable double for the boys and for Jenny & David.
Charlie, Hercules and proud mum Jenny amidst the days winnings.
Traditionally a completely different set of dogs win at the afternoon Birmingham Champ Show, and most followed this pattern today too, but young Hercules bucked that trend and took 1st once again in his debut Championship Junior Dog Class under judge Aideen Howes who’s super critique for Herc was:
“So pleasing in head with good furnishing on muzzle, clean fit neck to shoulder, has good bone, slope to pastern & oval feet, depth through body & ribbed well back, powerful quarters, good tailset, let down in hock, moving well” Aideen Howes
That wasn’t quite the end of proceedings, though, and, having also won the Breeders Competition for HWV’s, team Belatarr then headed off to the Gundog Breeders Group where the two boys, now joined by sister Belatarr Mahalia Jackson, took another 1st place under judge Tom Mather.
Team Belatarr win the Breeders Group.
Belatarr Best of Breed at Bournemouth.
Dodging endless ominous looking thunderstorms. all of which seemed to break just beyond the showground, Belatarr Mahalia Jackson (Billie) scored another memorable win today under breed specialist Mike Lewin at the Bournemouth Championship Show.
Billie in the Bitch Challenge.
Billie in action in the Gundog Group ring. Photo courtesy of Katherine N. Gunstad.
Having won 1st in Limit Billie then beat the assembled Champions to take an excellent Best Bitch and was then awarded her 3rd Champ Show Best of Breed of 2014, further consolidating her place as the Top Scoring HWV bitch this year.
Billie and Irene share a moment in the Group Ring. Photo courtesy of Katherine N. Gunstad.
National Gundog Championship
A lovely bright and breezy day greeted exhibitors at this years National Gundog and the Belatarr clan also got off to a great start with Belatarr Dizzy Gillespie & his sister Belatarr Mahalia Jackson beating a huge entry of 30 pairs in the brace class to claim their first ever Championship Gundog Brace 1st place under judge Colin (Jock) McKay.
That brace win – photo by Alan V Walker.
There was also a lovely breed entry of 78 for HWV specialist Chris Guest, the third highest entry of the year after Crufts and the HWVA Championship. At a few days over 12 months Belatarr Sculptor (Kofi) stepped out into his first ever Junior Class and was awarded an excellent 2nd place, whilst his big sister, Belatarr Mahalia Jackson (Billie) was also awarded 2nd in an extremely competitive Open Bitch class, and then excitingly went on to be awarded the Reserve Bitch CC – her second RCC in a row.
Billie at National Gundog.
East of England Championship.
Hot on the heels of Windsor, the next in the Championship round was today’s East of England show just outside Peterborough. Belatarr’s (somewhat!) more easterly contingent were out in action in the ring today, and young Belatarr Hercules was our star of the day.
Hercules started by winning 1st in Puppy Dog and Best Puppy Dog, maintaining his 100% record – this was his 6th such win out of the 6 Champ shows that he has so far attended. This was also Herc’s final Champ Show as a puppy and so he now graduates into Junior having been unbeaten in all his Champ show classes. His big brother Charlie Parker then took 1st in Post Graduate Dog and the brothers took their place in the Dog Challenge, with Hercules awarded an excellent Reserve Best Dog…not bad for 11 months! Once the bitch judging was complete Herc then lined up against the Best Puppy Bitch and came away with another Best Puppy in Breed award.
Belatarr Hercules with his East of England winnings.
Belatarr Charlie Parker – 1st Post Graduate.
Many congratulations to David & Jenny for their multiple wins today and what a wonderful start Hercules has made already this year – exciting times lie ahead!
Gryphon & Herc reign as the sun shines.
Following hot on the heels of his BOB at the Southern Counties Champ Show, Belatarr Dizzy Gillespie (Gryphon) and Irene negotiated their way through the dense, never-ending stand-still show traffic to just make the HWV breed classes by the skin of their teeth at this weeks Royal Cornwall Show…
Arriving at the show literally as his class was being called Gryphon & Irene still managed to perform to their usual standard and took Best of Breed, earning the lovely critique (below) from the breed judge before going on to take Group 2 in the huge Gundog Group under Jayne Eyeington later in the day and then winning best AV brace, along with his sister Billie, from a class of 8 pairs:
“My star of the day! Lovely masculine head with such a super expression, he melted my heart! His head is well balanced with good eye colour, he has good reach of neck into well laid shoulders. He has a straight front with good bone and feet. Well angled rear quarters with correct bend of stifle, he moved with reach and drive holding his firm topline well. BOB and so pleased to see him finish with G2.” Lesley McCourt
“Just loved this HWV dog, one I have judged before and he has developed into a super example of the breed. He has an appealing outline, with good balance and substance, and a head that is full of quality. Shown with a good harsh coat and at one with the handler on the move.” Jane Eyeington
“These two HWV’s made a splendid duo. In harmony with their handler both stood and on the move. Thought them to be a super matching pair.” Jane Eyeington
Gryphon on his way to BOB at Royal Cornwall.
Three days later Gryphon and his younger brother Belatarr Hercules were amongst those in action at the Three Counties Championship, presided over by Sandra Marshall.
Herc was first up and won 1st Puppy Dog, whilst Gryphon stepped out to win 1st Open Dog. Then, in the Dog challenge Gryphon was awarded another Best Dog, whilst Hercules was Best Puppy Dog, his 5th out of 5 Champ show appearances. He then went on to take Best Puppy too – a lovely double for the Belatarr brothers.
The judge’s critiques for the boys also made for very happy reading:
“Belatarr Hercules. Super puppy who can only go on. Nothing to dislike & everything to play for. Should continue his winning ways. BP”
“Belatarr Dizzy Gillespie. What a super dog. Loved his shape & balance, excellent construction throughout. Shown in lovely coat & condition. Moved on a ground covering driving stride. BD”
Sandra Marshall
Hercules in preparation!
…and saying hello to the judge.
Amazingly, Gryphon’s win today also means that Belatarr dogs have now taken either Best Bitch or Best Dog at 8 out of the last 10 Championship Shows, a run that started way back at LKA last December!
Gryphon at Three Counties.
The judge going over Gryphon in the Open Dog class.
Belatarr Boys win at Southern Counties.
Following hot on the heels of the near-underwater Bath Championship Show, the sun shined today at the Southern Counties Championship and this time it was the turn of the Belatarr Boys to take center stage.
Kicking things off Belatarr Hercules took 1st Puppy Dog, soon to be joined by his big brother Belatarr Charlie Parker who won 1st Post Graduate Dog. Then Belatarr Dizzy Gillespie (Gryphon) made it a Belatarr hat-trick by taking 1st in Limit Dog. The three brothers took their places in the Dog Challenge all were awarded with Gryphon emerging as Best Dog, Charlie Reserve Best Dog and Hercules Best Puppy Dog.
Once the bitches had been judged Gryphon then went one better and, following his previous Best Dog award at Manchester in January, he took his first Championship Best of Breed, matching his sister Billie’s achievement at Bath just 6 days earlier.
Best Dog & Best Of Breed for Gryphon.
Big Belatarr wins at Bath.
The Belatarr youngsters continued their run of Championship Show successes today at Bath where the monsoon conditions failed to dampen (or, more to the point, wash away) spirits!
Three Belatarr’s were in action at the show and at 10 months and a day young Belatarr Sculptor (Kofi) was Best Puppy Dog and later won the puppy challenge to collect his first Champ Show Best Puppy award. His big brother Belatarr Dizzy Gillespie (Gryphon) was placed 2nd in Open Dog and went on to take Reserve Best Dog, whilst sister Belatarr Mahalia Jackson (Billie) was 1st Open Bitch and Best Bitch before collecting her second Champ Show Best of Breed of the year.
Billie & Gryphon’s Bath winnings.
To round things off Billie & Gryphon then zipped off to another part of the showground where they were placed an excellent 4th out of the 19 entries in the Gundog Brace Class.
Belatarr HWVA Championship wins!
Absolutely fantastic day for team Belatarr today at the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla Association Championship Show:
1st Minor Puppy Dog – Belatarr Hercules
1st Puppy Dog – Belatarr Sculptor
1st Special Award Junior Dog – Belatarr Sculptor
1st Limit Dog – Belatarr Dizzy Gillespie
Best Puppy Dog – Belatarr Hercules
Reserve Best Puppy in Show – Belatarr Hercules
1st Limit Bitch – Belatarr Mahalia Jackson
Best Bitch + Bitch Challenge Certificate – Belatarr Mahalia Jackson
AND
Best in Show – Belatarr Mahalia Jackson
Billie and Irene share a moment.
Belatarr Mahalia Jackson – on her way to Best in Show.
Billie also received this really sensational critique from judge Marion McAngus:
“Oh boy! This was my star & the one to take home, this is my interpretation of the Standard, I could not fault her everything, shape, coat, feet, topline, tailset, shoulders & head, moved as expected, animated, flowing & ground covering gait with strong rear driving action. She was fit & fit for function, good luck in the future & go to every show, she deserves to be made up, loved her.”
We’re just so thrilled and proud of all the babies today and delighted for Vivien, Jenny & David + MASSIVE congratulations to Irene Collier for Billie’s first CC today!
Some of the magnificent Belatarr trophy haul!
The Belatarr babies enjoy a well-deserved post-show team romp!
Belatarr Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. 