2nd November

Went to a show outside of our usual circuit to support the judges doing our breed and the AV classes, the Romsey show. Easier journey than I thought and we got there in well under two hours. Mac delighted me by beating Frank for BOB. Olivia won best AV Puppy, Frank was best AV Gundog. All in all a very happy day. Thanks to Bernadette Scotting for her help when I had two to show at the same time!

And I think I forgot to report that last month Mac passed his eye test including the Gonio test, he is also clear for Cord 1. Will probably get his hips scored at some point but not until he is at least 18 months old.

31st October
Another long long journey from the south to Doncaster for the MESSS show. At least I had good company, Anna Naylor (Bridies) travelled with me and brough the breakfast (yummy). Between us we had a super day. Mac won BPD. Olivia was beaten into second in PB by a super puppy (well done Jo Cunliffe with your lovely girl) who also beat Mac for best puppy. Nellie won a super limit class which was thrilling but the icing on the cake was my dear sweet Kizzy who won the Veteran class and delighted us when she also picked up the Reserve Bitch CC. What a fab day. The 5 hour journey home was a tiring one but at least we had something to celebrate. The Midland put on a super show and I hope to make the journey again in years to come.

28th October
Good day for the team at Midland Counties, another Best Puppy bitch for Olivia (her 5th) but this time she was beaten by her brother Mac for BPIB - Frank and Nellie were well placed too.

24th October
Lots of news to catch up on again as I have been really slack and not updated for a month! The puppies have all gone off to their new homes and we are getting lovely feedback. Got some lovely pics to add when I geta minute.

The kids did well at the ESSC of Wales champ show where Kizzy again was Best Veteran in Show - and we had some lovely compliments about how well she is looking. Nellie also won her limit class and was in the last 3 for the ticket. I hope if she keeps knocking on the door loudly enough one day it might open!

17th October
Little embarrassed to report that the Dexis had a clean sweep at the SWESSC: Frank BIS, Kizzy RBIS/BVIS, Mac Best Puppy in Show and RBD, Olivia Best Puppy Bitch. It is always a super show at Pucklechurch and it was good fun. Could hardly fit the dog food in the car - thanks SWESSC.

Showing has been going really well lots of wins but still the very top honours seem just out of reach at champ shows. See the results page for full details.

22nd September
Windsor Gundog and the easy to reach Kempton Park Racecourse was held today. A better entry than recent shows with 12 springers entered. Although the overall entry for this show was down by several hundred - a worrying trend for show organisers. We went "mobhanded" with 4 entered. Mac and Olivia both won their classes and it was the first time they had met "head to head" - Olivia came out on top with BP, she pleases me more each day becoming more and more like her mum (Kiz). They are such a lovely pair of characters - I am lucky to have them. Nellie was in open and behaved appallingly as she could only concentrate on the bait in my pocket but still managed to win the class. Kizzy came out to play now she is a veteran and it was a lovely surprise when she not only won the class but BOB as well, daughter Olivia was RBOB. Kiz then went on to be 3rd in the BIS competition. Thanks to Jess and Daisy for helping in the challenge.

19th September
Eastbourne & DCS today at our local showground Ardingly. Another appalling entry for our breed. The secretary told me we would not keep classes next time which is disappointing but also worrying, pretty soon we won't have any classes scheduled at open shows and where then will up and coming judges get experience of our breed???.
Mac was BP and Frank BOB, Mac won his third puppy group in a row, very pleasing indeedy.

13th September
Lots of news to catch up on! Richmond yesterday was not one of our best shows! Mac got a nice third and we took advantage of an "early bath" and came home and had a traditional Sunday, gardening bit of tv and a good old roast dinner.

Last weekend it was Birmingham and the team did well, Mac got a good second behind Robin, well done again Trudy he is being a star for you. Olivia thrilled us with a win in Puppy bitch being the baby of the bunch. Frank held his own in Limit with a second. All in all a very satisfactory day.

29th August
Another one of my favourite open shows today - the Horley show. My dad came along so we made a day of it with a picnic shared with out friends and Steve came too. We had the most fabulous day. There were 3 puppies present and Mac although the youngest by a long way took the class. Frank won the open class, so I handled him and Steve took Mac in. Much to our delight our homebred boy took top honours - not sure Frank was so impressed, but he got RBOB so an excellent day so far. Then to my astonishment, Mac took the Gundog Group against some lovely mature opposition and also the Puppy Group, BIS was held up whilst the Gundog Group was finishing so they had to wait for us to transfeto the other building a good 200 yards away in the pouring rain. Thank goodness good friend Jenny Warbrick stayed to support me (BIG thank you) as she helped me trolley him across and keep him dry. I am thrilled to report that Mac went Reserve Best in Show and also Best Puppy in Show. In fact thrilled doesn;t quite cover it! Not forgetting our Olivia, Mac' sister who also won the AV MPB class on.  Thank you to everyone for their lovely comments about My Mac, and thank you Dave and Jacky Mitchell's Seamus for my lovely boy.

22nd August
No wonder I love open shows. You don't have to get up too early (didn't leave home until 8am), used barely an diesel as the venue is 35 mins away, we won some lovely classes, rosettes and even prize money - we came home in profit!!!! Mac is getting the hang of this showing lark and really enjoyed his day, winning best AVNSC Gundog puppy and then also winning the Puppy Group. Kizzy won best Gundog veteran, then did her "I'm such a princess" thing in the BViS ring when she didn't like the feel of the ribbed rubber mats on her tootsies. As she can do no wrong in my eyes she was of course instantly forgiven. Frank again brought home the bacon coming 1st and then second in the stakes classes - star boy!!!!

15th August
The beautiful Bournemouth show, always one of our favourites especially as my lovely Mum and step-dad Jeff came to watch. We had four entered, the boys Mac and Frank, in bitches Olivia and Nellie. Mac won his MP class and Olivia won hers too, a good day for our babies. Frank was 4th in LD. Nellie was second in a lovely LB class and delighted us by being called back in to challenge for the the RCC...she didn't get it...maybe next time!!!

8th August
What a great weekend! Mac did us proud at National Gundog winning his MPD class. Then great news from Lynn Ozanne in Guernsey that Eryn (D. Sariska at Lyntonridge) won the Puppy Group at the Jersey show. This is the Crufts qualifying show for the Channel Islands (although Eryn had already qualified at Southern Counties on Lynn's visit to the mainland).

1st August
No show news as we planned to wait in all this weekend for the puppies which came a week early. Puppies doing really well and piling on the ounces. Ziva is turning out to be the perfect mummy (touch wood) and is thoroughly enjoying her new role.

25th July
Well, Ziva certainly gave me a surprise today!! Luckily I like to get ready for my girls to have their babies at least a weeke usually 10 days before their due date. Because I was at a show yesterday, and she showed no signs of being ready she came indoors and into the whelping area last night. She was settled and showed no imminent signs of whelping. During Sunday morning she didn't show any signs either, I even went out shopping!! Then and about 1.30 she had a couple of tears at the bedding and by 2.15 she had the first puppy. She had fours lovely boys, all very nicely marked and a very good weight considering how early they were.

24th July
Mac and Olivia made their debut today at the local Kingston show. All I was concerned about was that they enjoyed it and learn to love showing. We were third or fourth in the ring, so I set up the cages nearby under a shady tree. Both puppies behaved impeccably, icing on the cake was that Mac went BP & RBOB, the judge had been tempted to give him BOB over Frank (watch out Frankie!!!) but decided he was maybe a little young for that at 6 months and 1 day! Frank was shortlisted in a huge group and Mac went PG2 behind a lovely mature GSP puppy. I was thrilled! Olivia did the AV-MPB class and strode round the ring like a pro - fidgeted for England on the stack mind you, but was well placed and I was very pleased with her also. All in all a very satisfactory day.

17th July
Another of our favourite shows - the SESSS Open show, this year judged by Christine MacDonald. We had a fab day!! Frank won Limit and RBD, Kerys stood alone sadly so obviously won her class, Nellie was second behind a lovely bitch, so no complaints there. Kizzy won the veteran class and delighted us when she was awareded BB, RBIS and BVIS. What a shame it wasn't the South Western, we'd have come home with enough food to cover our entry fees and more!!!! Very surprised that there wasn't even a sack of food for the top honours, I do think that is a shame when you consider how expensive showing is these days, and I am told all it takes is a phone call to get sponsored with food.