Posts tagged ‘Phoenix’
Red Letter Day.
Two very happy events in the life of Team Phoenix occurred today…more details of the second, and most momentous, will be posted shortly, but for now it will suffice to say that we had a truly excellent show at the South Western Gundog Open where Phoenix again moved terrifically well, and achieved the following results:
- 1st Junior HWV
- Best Puppy in Breed (her 15th BP)
- Best of Breed (her second BOB)
- shortlisted/pulled out for Best in Show from a group of 25 Best of Breed winners, the rest of whom were all adults
- 3rd Best Puppy in Show (from a group of 14 breed winners)
Stacked in the huge line for Best in Show.
Oh, and along with 4 x soopa-doopa rosettes we even managed to bag a cash prize for 3rd Best Puppy in Show – an unexpected bonus!
The judges critique read:
“11 month old puppy with a well proportioned head and intelligent expression. Good depth of chest and correct angulation front and rear. Feminine but with a well proportioned body and well developed thigh. Level topline. Lovely coat. As her natural exuberance settled she moved very well maintaining a level topline. Best of Breed, Best Puppy and Puppy Group 3.”
In Motion.
Today was Phoenix’ 20th show…amazing to think how far we’ve all come since our debut back in Taunton on May 29th!
But much more importantly, today was also the day when everything came together perfectly, and for the first time in any show, anywhere, Phoenix really showed what she was capable of in the ring.
The scene of this happy occasion was a biggie, The South Wales Kennel Association Championship Show at the Royal Wales showground in Builth Wells. This was also the location of our first Champ Show Best Puppy award at the end of August, and today it certainly proved to be a lucky venue for us once again.
We arrived with about an hour to spare, and, both in practice and around the showground it was apparent that Phoenix was very excited and also very fluid in her movement, definitely “up for it”.
This was carried through into the ring in spades and she didn’t put a foot wrong at any stage, first becoming best puppy bitch and then, after going head to head with the winning puppy dog, Phoenix was named Best Puppy in Breed, her 3rd Champ Show Best Puppy award.
We had recently been given some detailed handling tips by a professional handler (thanks Emma!) who observed what Tim & Phoenix were doing together and made a few suggestions. The changes were seemingly small, but seem to have made a huge difference and Phoenix is finally demonstrating in the ring what we’ve been seeing in practice and at ringcraft, that she really can move very well!
After she emerged from the ring one seasoned HWV observer/exhibitor was heard to comment of Phoenix that she had “totally outmoved the rest of the class” – particularly pleasing after a number of shows where it was purely her movement that had held her back. Also, she’s always been a major attention seeker, but it was abundantly clear that she was really enjoying herself in the ring today – as was Eileen Hughes, the judge!
The judges critique read:
A well made puppy bitch, well up for size, although balanced, and with the correct length in body. Matching angles front and rear, moved truly. Best Puppy.
Just a few days before turning 11 months it feels like our gal has finally grown into her body and has, at the same time, figured out exactly what is required of her in the ring. Exciting times lie ahead!
Bird Dog.
Autumn brings lots of young game bird releases in the woodlands across the river from our garden, and a fair number of these inevitably take up residence amongst our trees and shrubs…or at least they have done in past years.
Prey.
Whilst the adult birds are quite capable of looking after themselves, and, in breeding season, regularly take on all-comers, with Phoenix on patrol the garden is now perhaps a rather less favourable place for a young and naive pheasant.
Predator.
This was borne out today when Phoenix stalked and then caught her first such game bird, delightedly retrieving the still perfectly intact poult back to Tim. Sadly a camera was not to hand to capture the occasion…Does this count as gundog work without a gun we wonder?
Best Puppy #12.
Sun Oct 4th saw us head into neighbouring Somerset for the 65th Anniversary West Country Dog Club Open Show, quite a large affair with a substantial entry of gundogs in particular.
Steely Focus.
Phoenix was awarded Best Puppy in breed, her 12th of the year. She was also following in the pawsteps of her half-brothers Leiborschy Ylai & Leiborschy Ekko who achieved the same Best Puppy result at the previous two West Country Dog Club shows. Although not a hugely memorable event in other respects we did meet up with some good HWV friends and much in-depth wire talk ensued.
Ready for the Weekend?
This weekend saw us attend two separate shows here in the SouthWest and once the canine dust had settled we had achieved a number of firsts…
The 1st first came as we pulled up at the Cornwall Gundog Club show only to find that we’d left our “Phoenix Bag” at home…this contains leads, collars, foods, camera, money, show schedule, in fact pretty much everything we need at the show aside from Phoenix herself…Luckily it was a Saturday and we were near a town so a quick dash into Wadebridge yielded cash (thanks to a wallet in the glove compartment that had escaped the pre-show Phoenix-bag sweep) and doggie training/show treats. On returning to the showground we then found that many of our Gundog friends from ringcraft were also at the show, so a variety of leads were very kindly proffered and, once the initial panic had subsided, we were still ready in good time.
We were reliably informed that forgetting everything that you need for a show is extremely good luck, and this was partially borne out when we achieved another (and this time rather more pleasing) first… Phoenix was, for the first time at a show, awarded Best in Breed, being placed above the adult HWV’s at the show, as well as Best Puppy in Breed.
The judges critique read:
“I loved her balance and construction. Sound as a bell and showed herself off to perfection both standing and on the move. Best of Breed. Best Puppy.”
Two superb rosettes were duly collected and the long wait for the Group judging started…
A good few hours later Phoenix was revved up once again and we took to the “big ring”, firstly alongside the adult dogs for Best in Show, and then with the winning puppies from the other breeds for Best Puppy in Show. Unfortunately though, the wait had taken its toll on our pups’ energy & concentration levels, and she moved really quite poorly – displaying what was memorably described by Sam from Farlap as “the wet knickers look” – which was never going to win friends or influence people, so needless to say we didn’t get placed amongst the top 4 in the show.
Okehampton Show - the examination (minus front feet!).
The very next day we brushed off our miscellaneous show gubbins and headed just 30 mins. due south to arrive at the Okehampton & District Canine Association Open Show. No class for HWV’s here, so Tim & Phoenix were in Not Separately Classified Open, a class that attracted 9 dogs, all of whom were adults aside from Phoenix & 1 American Cocker pup.
Stacked for Gundog Puppy Group.
The judge was Gill Tully, of Highclare Welsh Springer Spaniels, and, despite the stiff competition from older dogs, she awarded Phoenix 2nd in the Open class, as well as Best Puppy. Not too long afterwards Tim & Phoenix once again lined up alongside the winning puppies from the other Gundog Breeds, and we were thrilled to achieve another first when Phoenix took Gundog Puppy Group 1 – Best Gundog Puppy in Show – her second Group win following North Devon back in August.
Stacked for Best Puppy in Show.
Then started the wait for the Best in Show judging, a wait that eventually extended nearly 6 hours…We endeavoured to keep Phoenix entertained & rested with alternating periods of play, walking & snoozing and when she hit the best puppy in show ring she was in sparky form (which usually bodes well), but what followed was our final and most unfortunate first of the weekend’s showing.
After standing nicely, Tim stacked her for the judge’s examination. The judge in question was an elderly gent with a very deep voice, and as he started his examination and asked for Phoenix’ age, she suddenly pulled sharply away from him, something she’s never ever done with any judge in any situation…Being more than a little surprised by this turn of events Tim gamely stood her once again, which she accepted without any problem. The judge started his exam once again, and all was well until he spoke, at which Phoenix again pulled away as if she’d been snapped at by another dog….
It was only after they’d come out of the ring and Team Phoenix had reconvened for a dissection of what could have just gone wrong that we realised that it was purely the judge’s voice that had freaked Phoenix out. She was, as ever, happy to be handled, but something about the sound of his voice struck her as threatening.
Over the next few days Phoenix was “test examined” by as many dog folks as we could round up, without showing the slightest hint of being uncomfortable with anyone else, so it seems it was just a one-off…just a shame it had to happen when we were lining up for Best Puppy in Show!
Lots of highs and a couple of heart-stopping moments certainly made for a memorable weekend of showing.
Ever Elegant.
Phoenix takes time out from her hectic schedule of shows, training, running-on-the-beach, chasing pheasants, digging, swimming etc. etc. for a moment of quiet reflection.
Special Guest Appearance.
Todays special guest star on the Phoenix blog is Tulip, our calico coloured British Shorthair foundling cat-of-uncertain-origin…
Purrrrrr.
Tulip wandered into our lives a good while back when, as a pregnant & starving teenage runaway, she was attempting to survive on bony frogs in our London back yard. In no time at all she had birthed her 3 kittens on the bed (at 2AM ) and decided that, since the food was considerably easier to come by indoors, this was the place to raise her urchin waif family.
Now, many years and some 200-odd miles further on, Tulip has a pretty serene existence where all her concerns revolve around sleeping/eating/getting tickles – all skills in which she displays considerable mastery – together with the slaughter of untold hundreds of short-tailed field voles. She has recently taken to elbowing Phoenix away from her dog food at any and every opportunity and clearly has some form of internal clock which allows her to be pre-stationed at the dog bowl for Phoenix’ every meal.
She and Phoenix have a remarkably amicable relationship and have even taken to curling up on the sofa near one another on occasion. As anyone who gives housespace to one of these beasties must surely be aware, cats are continually plotting to overthrow us all, and invariably “run things” in any household. Although Tulip is very much the understudy (to our other cat, Midge) we are still convinced that she will outlive us all and will one day be found feasting upon our remains…
Richmond Championship Show.
After falling off the rails at the Birmingham show last weekend Phoenix was back on track today at the Richmond Championship Show, where, under Australian judge Kay Eldred, she was awarded Best Puppy Bitch and then clocked up her second Champ show Best Puppy in Breed.
Conditions were pretty much ideal for showing: cool and cloudy, but bright and dry. There was also a particularly friendly and even jolly atmosphere ringside, fueled in part by the judge herself who was extremely chipper, despite (or maybe because?) the HWV’s were the last of the 9 separate breeds that she had presided over during the three days of the show.
Even more important than the result, though, was the fact that Phoenix showed with real enthusiasm and animation and although her movement was still a bit “ragged” she was certainly very excited to be in the ring. We’ve determined that it definitely pays to keep her engaged and involved in other interesting things for as long as possible before hitting the ring, and then scoot in as close as possible to show time so she’s fresh and super buzzy.
Sadly no pics this time…
The judges critique read:
“1st Puppy Bitch & Best Puppy. Presented with good balance and correct size. Pleasing dry head and expression with harsh whiskers and good coat. Still young, so movement was a little awry, but should tighten to produce good reach and drive.”
Farlap Portraits.
All photos by: www.farlap-photography.com
Many thanks to Sam for taking these superb portraits of Phoenix at recent shows.
Quelle Horreur!
So today we rolled up to the double-whammy Birmingham championship Show and combined HWV Association Show feeling quite good about our prospects as well as greatly looking forward to meeting up with Phoenix’s Mother (Flo) and sister (Dolly) together with her breeders Jane & David, all for the first time since the big litter reunion back in May. OK so we’d had to get up at 5.00am on a Sunday, and ate breakfast out of Tupperware in a car park overlooking a rancid sheep shed, but we were, nevertheless, excited about plunging into a sea of 62 HWVs: all copper waves and russet ripples.
We’d taken a couple of radical steps beforehand: 1. no training for a week – the theory being that Phoenix would be effervescing and overflowing with puppy bounce and take to the ring “like she owns it” as “they” say. Secondly, following some experiments in pre-show warm-ups we thought that it would be a good idea to get the li’l lady all gee-d up prior to showing by taking her out for a play and a romp, and then – through the miracle of mobile telephony – simply swish into the auditorium just before she was due to go into the ring. This way she wouldn’t peak before she freaked. We knew it was a gamble but “chance is all we’re given/So chances we must take” as Sir Cliff would apparently put it…
HWVA Show - stacked.
All started well in the morning with everything more or less going to plan. Phoenix trotted round the ring faster and with more determination than the other puppies – like Naomi Campbell with a beard – but just as Naomi took a dive on those ten inch Vivienne Westwood shoes in 1993, so it was with Phoenix. At the very moment when the judge was doing her final comparisons and deciding between Phoenix and another pup for first and second places, Phoenix broke right out of her stand. So we got second place, which was pretty respectable, but left us considering what might have been had she only held that stand.
The judges critique was:
“Nine-month-old well-balanced youngster with deep russet colouring and wiry coat. Liked her head which had sufficient facial furnishings for age. Good hind angulation. Moved Well. Should change places with (1st placed puppy) many times.”
HWVA Show - the examination.
Birmingham Champ Show - stacked.
In the afternoon we were showing at the prestigious Birmingham Championship Show. This was the second show on the same day, and although it was in another part of the same venue, poor Phoenix was pretty tired out, mentally, and really not tuned in to the show at all. She’d had a snooze in the car for an hour or so but it clearly wasn’t enough. She moved very sluggishly and wouldn’t stand with any conviction. She just wanted her bed or to be doing something more rumbustuous and exciting like playing with her sister…. which is exactly what she did after the show and seemed very happy to do so.
Birmingham Champ Show - the examination.
We were awarded Reserve Best Puppy Bitch – which is a euphemism for fourth, and, in this case, last. After so many recent successes in the ring it was perhaps inevitable that we’d come a cropper at some point, but it has taught us a valuable lesson about Team Phoenix’s tolerance for long show days. From this day forth this disappointing effort will be referred to as our Naomi ’93 moment…
Belatarr Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. 