Dexbenella News 2008 . . . . .

Thursday 18th December

The day we have been looking forward to - Kizzy's litter. Not only did she have them during the day (what a good girl) but she had 5 girls and 2 boys - just what I had hoped for. I admit that when the first one came out with with white ears I was a bit panic-stricken and imagined they might all be marked like that, but she was the only one! I'll post some more pictures when I get time to download them.

Friday 12th December
Early start today for LKA. Being first in the ring with Minor Puppy Dog at 9.30 Anna Naylor and I left well before the sun came up and arrived in plenty of time to allow Frankie to settle. To find that judging was delayed by an hour was very frustrating - doesn't everyone build in an hour or two contingency in case they get caught in traffic?? The delay was because of a serious accident on the M6 so it was understandable but frustrating nonetheless when you have arrived two hours early to be sure to be in time for your class!!! Frankie got a second in his class, Anna's puppy Berry also got a second so we came home happy until we hit the M25 - the ruination of many a good day at a show! The thrill of the day was to see Chester's son Petranella Perfick JW ShCM win his second CC and BOB to go with his numerous RCCs, if there is any justice in this world he will gain his title sooner rather than later, and hope I am there to see it. Fingers crossed.

Now we are focused on the arrival of Kizzy's babies - she is stretched out in the whelping box next to me as I type.

Sunday 30th November
Local show today so it was really nice not to have to leave before thye sun comes up. We had a good day again with Frankie winning the Junior class taking BP and going on the 3rd BPIS. The day really dragged on and it was pitch black before BIS started then half way through it there was a power cut!! Luckily one fo the generators kicked in and after relocating to the bottom of the building were able to complete the competition. It was bitterley cold and we were glad to get home.

Saturday 22nd November
Travelled to Southam today for the ESSC open show. Frankie did me proud with a win a very nice class of minor puppy dogs. Chester got a good second in veteran dog. Trudy Topliss was in charge of the kitchen and the lunch was superb. Highlight of the day was Vicky gain Reggie's JW - congrats t the pair of you.

Monday 17th November
Much excitement today as it was the day for Kizzy's scan. I was already sure she was in whelp but I always like to know a rough idea of numbers. Liz, our lovely scanning lady, counted 6 puppies and thought there might even be 7 or 8. Fingers crossed now that all goes well with the whelping (during the day please Kiz!!) and that Kizzy enjoys her babies like she did last time. Got to put my thinking cap on now to come up with some names. We are hopeful that there might be a puppy (ot two??) good enogh to keep.

Sunday 16th November
Todays show started badly getting lost on the way to the venue but I luckly I still arrived in plenty of time for my classes. Frankie again won the puppy class (judge Ron Ellinor) and we were delighted when he was placed 3rd in the BPIS competition by judge Penny Williams.

Saturday 15ht November
Busy weekend with shows today and tomorrow. Today was Crystal Palace at Ardingly. There was a small but quality entry. Frankie was in Junior and I was really pleased when he won the class as I think he was the youngest in the class of four. He also won Best Puppy and Res BOB. Nellie won the open class and BOB. Chuffed with our day.

Saturday 8th November
Today was the JW semi finals held at Earls Court during the Discover Dogs weekend. Nellie (Dex Drstarteeama Queen) had qualified as had Chester's granddaughter ChristineSavell's Petranella Perfickly Dealt. When we arrived we found out that Christine House had also qualified her litter brother and sister - also grandchildren of our dear old Chester. The four springers were drawn two in each of the two halves which was good and I was thrilled with Nellie who moved beautifully round the ring but sadly wasn;t the judges "cup of tea" and we did not make the final selection to go through for the Finals. However, there will be a springer representative at the finals as Chris House's bitch qualified - WELL DONE Chris.

Sunday 2nd November
Went to East Kent open show today. There weren't any breed classes but we were entered in the AVNSC Gundog. Frankie came first and was BP and also went Puppy Group 2, Nellie was placed 2nd in Open. Frankie also came second in a huge Puppy Stakes class. There is such good prize money at this show we actually came home in profit!!

Wednesday 22nd October
A sad day at Dexbenella. Our dear Becky had a relapse and we were left with no choice but to save her from further suffering. She was the dearest undemanding little dog, a n exhuberant worker and matriarch of the working kennel. We will miss her.

Sunday 19th October
Went to one of our favourite shows today - the South Western ESS Club held at Pucklechurch just off the M4. The day started well with Frankie winning MPD and later Best Puppy Dog. Gracie who has recently gone to live at Waterswarren won Best Puppy bitch and later BPIS. During the lunch break we all had some bubbly and wine to celebrate (or should that be commisserate) with me for my fiftith birthday. After lunch Nellie went in and won Limit Bitch. Just before the challenge we all enjoyed the traditional west country cream tea. We were thrilled to win Best Bitch and even more so when Nellie beat the dog for BIS. What a great day.

Friday 17th October
Took Kizzy for mating today, fingers crossed now for the next nine weeks that she takes and produces me something lovely. I will be sad to no longer show her as she is such a joy to handle. The prospect of some "little Kizzys" makes up for it, but we will have to wait and see.

Wednesday 15th October
Another long trek today up to the beautiful Malvern Wells for Gundog Society of Wales where Gareth Lawler was the judge. Frankie swopped places with his brother today to be 3rd in a lovely class of puppies. Nellie was also well placed in a strong PGB class. After judging we had a party to celebrate the recent marriage of Jacky Beaton and David Mitchell, it was a great social gathering and virtually everybody stayed for a glass or two (or seven or eight but naming no names!!!). The day was tinged with sadness for us as we had made the decision to part with our Dexbenella Gracie May - but she has gone to such a fabulous home we will not be sad for long. She will still be shown and benched virtually next door to us at champ shows so we hope to see lots of her. See her page for full details.

Sunday 12th October
The day we have been looking forward to - Frankie's first show - the English Springer Spaniel Club of Wales. After a lengthy journey into mid Wales we arrived a little later than planned only to find Frankie had managed to dip his tail into something rather dark and dirty!! Thanks Trudy and Eve for their help in sprucing him up!   He performed well and enjoyed his day out and we were thrilled with his 2nd place behind an older more mature puppy. Chester also gained a 2nd in Veteran dog behind Sh Ch M. Royal Destiny - the dog judge was Michael Keeley (Alhambra - Australia) . Bitch judge Kate Keeley placed Nellie second behind the eventual bitch ticket winner and Kizzy was second in an open bitch class that teemed with quality. An excellent day all round!

Thursday 9th October
Good news today - Frank went for eye testing today and was passed clear including Glaucoma.

Wednesday October 8th
What an exciting day today!! I went with Christine Savell to the Pet Plan Junior Stakes Final held at Kempton Park Racecourse. There were 32 superb youngsters there, some were already champions, some multiple ticket winners. Christine had qualified her youngster Petranella Perficly Dealt (a granddaughter of Chester) and had asked me to go as her guest. Lesley McCourt and Celia Woodbridge came along too so there was a good support group. All the dogs were judged by 3 different judges and were given marks for Conformation, Type and Movement. We were delighted to see Christine's Delta go through to the final selection beating some super young dogs. WELL DONE DELTA!! We were then treated to a fabulous champagne reception and 3 course meal. What a great day - thanks Christine for inviting me to be part of it.

Saturday 27th September
Went to Coulsdon show today, Nellie had to miss it as she is in season. Again Gracie was the only puppy entered and it was hard to show her properly in the miniscule rings. But she went very well in the group ring to get PG4.

Tuesday 23rd September
Matchnight at ringcraft tonight - judge was Sonia Gourbold of BMD fame. She fell in love with Frankie and gave him the best underage puppy in the puppy walk. What a good boy!!

Sunday 21st September
Had a really good day at Ashford and Faversham. Gracie got a really good 4th in a large classe of puppies. Nellie won a good PG class then went on to take Res Best AVNSC out of a really big entry. she topped the day off by QUALIFYING FOR THE KC/KENNEL GAZETTE JW SEMI-FINALS to be held at Discover Dogs in November, the qualifier was judged by Trudy Short. She is the 4th dog we will have at the event but the first home bred so we are really proud of her.

Wednesday 17th September
Windsor Gundog today. We had Gracie, Nellie and Ross entered. Sadly Gracie was the only one in puppy so took BP by default - but the judge (EdnaCraske) was very complimentary about her. Nellie was 2nd in PG and was called in to challenge for RBOB. Ross won the veteran class and was awarded Best Veteran which qualified him through to the veteran stakes where he came third.

Sunday 14th September
Didn't manage to get to our show today, but great news from Jeanne van Beers in Holland - Kizzy's daughter Maddie (Dex. Devil Woman) won another CC today. We are very proud of you both Jeanne!

Monday 8th September
Hoorah - I have mastered the adding of video clips. Okay, the first one isn;t very exciting but I will now start practising! Several new pictures of Frankie added today and a couple of Ross and Chester. The Dearly Departed section (in "Others" tab) is almost complete.

Sunday 7th September
Mud, glorious mud!! That just about sums up Richmond champ show. Took an hour and a half to get into the show due the dreadful conditions. Well done Chester's son Dez (BOB) and his granddaugther Duffy (BP). Kizzy was first in Open and Gracie VHC in puppy.

Saturday 6th September
Not looking forward to getting the dogs ready for tomorrows show - absolutely filthy weather. Was hoping to get some more pictures taken for the website over the weekend - but it has harldy stopped raining for a minute. Hope all of our friends around the country are okay - there has been some dreadful flooding in parts of Wales and parts of England.  Both Kizzy and Gracie are dropping coat like crazy - I guess both will be in season any day now. Really must make a decision about who to use with Kizzy!!

NEWS JUST IN....Just had a phone call from Jeanne van Beers Maddie has added another title to her name! She is now Dutch and LUXEMBOURG Champions Dexbenella Devil Woman - Many congratulations Jeanne - so thrilled for you. Must work harder to get this site completed - I've got some lovely pics of Maddie to add when I get a minute.

Tuesday 2nd September
Phew!  Redundancies and restructuring announced at work today. Looks like I will keep my job although it will change slightly. As well as co-ordinating hospitality in the boxes at Lingfield Park Racecourse, looks like I might be co-ordinating events too. Hope someone invents the 36 hour day really soon!!!!

Sunday 31st August
Up bright and early to go to Birmingham National. The day started well with Chester winning Veteran and he was also given consideration in the challenge. Sadly it went a bit pear shaped for us after that......Gracie was unplaced, Nellie was placed 3rd out of three and Kizzy was also unplaced - so least said about our day at this show the better!!!  Except to say Well Done Bob and Frances on their BOB, Sue and Derek with Kevin (Dog CC) and to Christine with Duffy who went BP.

Sunday 24th August
Went to the Horley show today, Steve joined me mid morning. We had a really enjoyable day. Gracie, who is 7 and a half months old now, was second in Junior behind Christine Savell's lovely puppy (thank goodness she'll be out of puppy soon!!) Nellie won Post Graduate and was ResBOB behind Christine's Delta. Frankie came with us and he loved being at the show - hopefully he will enjoy being shown as its much more fun for both of us that way.

Sunday 17th August
Got up at some unholy hour to make the long but very pretty journey to Builth Wells for WKC champ show. As you have probably read elsewhere it was very much worth the journey. We were so thrilled to gain Kizzy's tenth CC. To get BOB as well really was the icing on the cake! She went superbly in the group which is all we could ask of her, it was a shame she didn't make the cut but she had done her very best for me. As you can imagine we floated home on a cloud - the five hour journey flew by.

11th August
Really disappointed to have missed three champ shows on the bounce, Nat Gun and Bournemouth in particular - but instead of going to the show we spent 3 lovely days visiting my Mum and stepdad Jeff. We were spoilt rotten, Mum cooked us all our favourites and they also took us to a lovely seafront restaurant where we had the best fish and chips I've ever had. We took Kizzy, Nellie, Chester and Frankie who all really enjoyed their paddle in the sea.

29th JULY
Today was Steve's 50th birthday and as he was still recovering from a spell in hospital we kept the celebrations low key. We had a lovely lunch with his parents and a meal out in the evening with his sister and brother in law. Happy Birthday Stevie!!

July 18th
Today we had a local open show - what a change from the hideous early starts at champ shows. Just Nellie and Gracie entered today. Although not a huge entry there was stiff opposition from the Petranellas entered. So we were really chuffed to get Best Puppy with Gracie and Best of Breed with Nellie. Frankie and his brother Gus came along for the day out and really enjoyed having a good old rough and tumble.

July 12th
Really excited to be taking Gracie to her first show, although it's always a bit nervewracking not knowing how a puppy will behave. With only Chester and Gracie entered at the show we were delighted with Gracie's performance and her BPIS and also with Chester's BVIS.