SUNDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER

Hectic couple of days. Nellie caught me out good and proper! She had her babies 4 days early without any signs of the birth being imminent. Luckily we were ready but it was still a bit of a surprise. We ended up with 2 boys and 2 girls, marked just how I like them and all doing well.

WEDNESDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER
Windsor Gundog today, one of my favourite shows, breed judge was Karl Payne (Cepen). Had a fab day again. Ollie won puppy and BP, Ziva won Novice and Frank won Open. A logistical nightmare ensued in the challenge. Luckily Bee Lancaster and Maggie Wilson came to the rescue handling Ollie and Ziva respectively (thank you very much). Much to my delight Frank ended up BOB and was shortlisted in BIS. Ollie went one better and ended up RBPIS - I was really chuffed with that, especially as it was under breed expert Colin Woodward. Congrats to Emma Bugler who pipped us and took BPIS with her lovely American Cocker puppy.

SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
With no springers classifed, I entered Frank in the the AVNSC Gundog at Eastbourne today, and Ollie was in the AV Puppy imagine my delight when Frank went Best AVNSC Gundog and Ollie won the AV puppy class and was declared best overall AV Puppy, This left us needing just 1 point to complete Frank's Sh CM - happy to report he did it in style by winning the Group. He then went on to qualify for the JW semis - what a fab day!! This will be the 5th dog we have shown at the JW's - I am really thrilled that Frankie has made it, he so deserves it - he always tries his very best for me and is such a delight to show.

THURSDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER
I have entered the Thame show countless times but this is the first time I have actually got there!! What a lovely show with so much to watch. After judging (Frank got BOB and Ollie went BPIB) I had time to watch the show jumping and the coloured horse classes. I was in my element!! Frank was transfixed by the Morris Dancers - wish I'd had a camera with me! Back to the serious business, this was a show not on the group system which is always a shame and it was running really late. Frank was shortlisted which was nice, Ollie had had just about enough and didn't show himself to advantage unfortunately. On to the JW Quali and there were 37 entered with 26 present. Frank made the first cut and was pulled out as the Reserve Dog. We have one last chance on Sunday - so fingers crossed.

WEDNESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER
Took Frank for his annual eye test and Ollie for his first test today. Ollie had the Gonio test as all mine do on their first test. Mr Mason said Ollie's gonio result was "as perfect as it could be" which was very good news. Both boys passed the regular test, had to whiz back home to get the boys ready for Thame tomorrow.

SUNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
Lovely short jouney of just an hour to Richmond champs show, not sure why I was up at 5am, but I guess better an hour early than a minute late! I didn't really have any pre-conceived ideas on what might happen at the show today under Patsy Hollings - so it is fair to say we were delighted with our day!! Ollie won a nice PD class - Frank was 2nd in Junior and Ziva thrilled us when she won the PB class as she hasn't really settled into her showing yet. So the two "Kizzy Kids" had to challenge each other for BP which caused much hilarity as they were sent round the ring together!!! Ollie ended up BP just a shame there was no puppy group at this show - at least it meant getting home at a really sensible time. We have a few open shows over the next couple of weeks and the big focus now is Nellie's litter due in just over a fortnight.

SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER
Some very sad news today. I received a phone call to tell me that Alice (Graftonbury Alice Springs to Dexbenella) died yesterday at just 9 years old. We showed her for a year or so and she had a lovely litter for us before she went to live with Charlie, Elissa, Cameron and Ella. They loved her and it was more than reciprocated. I visited her after the first week and she had made herself right at home. Thank you for the loving wonderful home you gave her and I am so sorry that you lost her at such a relatively young age.

SUNDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER
More exciting show news! Ollie competed at Birmingha City Champ Show today in a lovely class of puppies and not only won his class but also Best Puppy in Breed and later Puppy Group 4. We were so proud of our homebred baby! We also took Frank, Ziva & Kizzy who were also well placed in their respective classes.

SUNDAY 31ST AUGUST
Horley Show today, breed judge David Foulds who I think stewarded for us at Crufts, he is the Chief Steward at National Gundog apparently. Another smallish entry but better than we have had at many shows of late. Ollie was BP (and very naughty with it today for some reason, could have been becuase it was so windy). Frank won the open class and BOB. We had some visitors looking to choose between having a cocker and a springer puppy - Frank did his bit for the breed, laying on the charm with a trowel, if he were human he'd definitely be George Cluney - but maybe I am a bit biased!! We got nothing in either group (although Frank was shortlisted) which was a bit disappointing but that's showing isn't it.  It was one of those sociable shows which was just such fun, everyone was in great spirits and it seemd we didn;t stop laughing!!! Bring on more shows like that I say!!

SATURDAY 29TH AUGUST
Still totally unsure whether Nellie is in whelp, headed off to Ashford to Liz Ford for scanning. The second she put the scanner head on her tummy I could see the little kidney shaped blobs showing she bas babies in there!! Hoorah - now I can start to get excited. Not sure how many there are as we felt sure her sizeable ribs are concealing a few and keeping it a secret!

THURSDAY 20TH AUGUST
Haven't been to Hampshire Gundog for years, was totally unaware that they had moved venue to one so easy to get to and well within our usual open show catchment area.
We had a breed judge today, Michael Guest, so I was very happy to take the day off work to support both him and the show with an entry. It was a funny classification, Special Year, PG and Open - so Ollie was entered in SY with a bunch of older dogs, so I was pretty surprised and very pleased when he won the class and also BP. Frank won open and BOB so all round a success story so far.... Frank was shortlisted in BIS, he tried his best for me - he is such a good boy so that was pleasing. Ollie didn't try quite so hard - he was a bit cheeky and naughty but luckily that luckily didn't put the judge off who gave him Res Best Puppy in Show. Judge was Sue Parr (nee Bennett).

MONDAY 10TH AUGUST
Last full day on the campsite today, had a lovely walk in the morning with Steve's workers and then had a stroll around the show. Later went back to watch BIS.

SUNDAY 9TH AUGUST
Spoilt rotten today by Mum and Jeff who gave us and Sue & Derek (Hales) a super Sunday Lunch. My mum is a super cook but today she excelled herself!!

SATURDAY 8TH AUGUST
So lucky with the weather for today's show (Bournemouth Champ Show), if anything it was maybe a bit too warm. We started the day well winning Minor Puppy Dog with Oliver beating some lovely dogs - we were delighted with that. The dog he beat into second won PD so we knew he would be Best Puppy Dog. Frankie's turn next and he won Junior, again with some lovely dogs in the class. Mum & Jeff had come to watch - it seemed they were bringing us luck. I had also entered Frank in PGD but had completely forgotten - if it hadn't been for the Ternent's (who spotted I was absent) I'd have missed the class and been disqualified from going into the line up (so thank you George and Angela) and Frankie came a respectable 3rd up against much older dogs.
Next it was onto the bitches, Ziva won MPB, Kerys well out of her age group was a delightful 3rd in PB qualifying for Crufts first time at a champ show and Nellie was 3rd in PGB. Ziva was spooked by something in the Puppy Bitch challenge which was a shame, so Ollie faced Mompesson Paper 'n' Lace in the competition for BP. We are absolutely delighted to report that he won it!! Icing on the cake was the lovely Eric (Sh Ch Trimere Talking Point of Allenie) winning BOB - thought he looked stunning today. Ollie tried his little best in the Puppy Group under Freda Marshall but we were unsuccessful. I had a migraine coming by then (all the heat, sun & nothing to eat or drink!) and didn't show him to my best - sorry Ollie I let you down.

FRIDAY 7TH AUGUST
With the water rising we had to move the elders (Dottie and Chester) inside the caravan - luckily I had some carpet pieces in the car which helped save the carpet! Several people popped their head in to make sure we were coping and to admire the water feature!!! By today we had started to see the funny side. It was only a couple of dozen vans that were affected with flooding and we made a mental note to camp elsewhere next time.  After a lovely day of mulitple dog walks I set to and spruced up the dogs ready for tomorrow's show.

THURSDAY 6TH AUGUST
As Mum & Jeff live so local to the showground we decided to meet in a pub for lunch. Had a lovely time in one of their favourite lunchtime places the Cat and Fiddle just outside Highcliffe. We arrived in sunshine but the heavens opened during lunch but had stopped by the time we left. We were not prepared for what greeted us when we returned to our caravan we had only left the dogs for a couple of hours. Over half the awning and "garden" were under several inches of water. Poor Frank and Oliver were huddled in one corner of their cage trying (and failing) to keep their feet dry!! After the initial panic subsided it was action stations!! thank you to everyone (Corbetts and Hales in particular) who came to our aid and offered support. The loss of over half the ground space meant several of the dogs were cooped up in the car for the rest of the holiday which was a shame, as up until then they had been taking it in turns to mooch round the garden and awning - but they all coped really well and adjusted to the new arrangements.

WEDNESDAY 5TH AUGUST
Today marked a real landmark - we took the caravan down to Bournemouth Champ Show. this is the first time we have been able to get away in 3 years!!

FRIDAY 31ST JULY
Supposed to be my day off today, but with leaving early Tues and Thurs to go to Peterborough, and with next week off - I had too much work to do so had to go in. It was supposed to be for a couple of hours but I ened up staying all day. I got home and did a bit of snipping on the dogs to get them ready but ran out of energy for bathing them all. With the change of judge who I thought would probably go for smaller and darker than I have in my kennel (poss Ziva excepted) I decided to give it a miss tomorrow at National Gundog.

THURSDAY 30TH JULY
Went back for seconds today, really hopeful of some lovely babies - Eric has a super temparement and to me really is the male version of my Kizzy (his older sister). Lasagne for supper tonight - yummee! Journey home was a nightmare - I was was so tired by the time I got to the M25 junction and could have cried when I realised they had closed it off in the direction I needed to go. I had to go miles out of my way heading north before I could turn round and get back onto the M25 in the right direction. I got home past midnight (very late for me), Steve had done the dogs so once Nellie was settled it was straight to bed.

TUESDAY 28TH JULY
Took Nellie to see the beautiful Sh Ch Trimere Taling Point of Allenie this evening. I was a bit worried how she would be as she is a very sensitive bitch who is always happier given time to acclimatise to anything new. But Eric is a lovely gentle stud dog, not one of these "wham bam thank you ma'm" types which gave her just enough time to get used to the idea and we got a really good mating. Richard and Anthony met us half way at the Allenie kennel in Peterborough at Ant's mum & dad Jean and Geoff Allen lovely place in Fengate. It was so kind of them as it helped me enormously - the distance to Yorkshire would have been so difficult with work the next morning. And they kindly cooked me supper too - shepherds pie - one of my all time favourites.

SATURDAY 25TH JULY
Went to the Kingston show today, another disappointing entry probably due to the fact it was the same day as Leeds Champ Show. Julie Revell was our judge today. It was lovely weather warm and sunny with a lovely breeze to keep the dogs cool. We had Frank, Ollie and Ziva in Junior. Linda Thorogood (Harrifield Clumbers) ably handled Ollie and Steve arrived with minutes to spare to handle Ziva which let Jenny Warbrick off the hook!! Franks was 1st, Ollie 2nd and BP and Ziva 3rd. Frankie took BOB and Ollie was not only BP but RBOB as well which was very pleasing. We had also entered the varieties and were delighted when Kerys won the AVMPB class against some lovely competition Ziva did the AVPB class and took 2nd in amongst some much older more mature puppies. Later in the day Frank made the cut in a very strong group under Ray Strudwick and Ollie (who I handled appallingly - goodness knows why) managed PG4. It was lovelly to show Frank without the pressure of "will he get a JW point". I have promised myself not to get on that treadmill again - but you can bet if the babies get a few points it will be "here we go again" !!!

SATURDAY 18TH JULY
Bit of a disastrous start to the day with me miscalculating the journey time by 20 minutes and Steve running 20 minutes late meant we were 40 minutes late leaving for the show, and as anyone who knows me will testify, I do like to be EARLY!! We also missed the venue and had to turn round a couple of times so you can imagine the arrival at the show was a little fraught.

However, the day certainy improved and we got off to a great start with Ollie winning his MPD class, we were also pleased to get some nice comments about him. I had been rather overzealous with Frankie entering him in 5 classes in an attempt to gain JW points. I am happy to report that he won four classes and gained 3 points (which he would not have achieved without the sporting Maggie Wilson - thank you) which gave him his Junior Warrant. Thanks to everyone for their congrats and I was a bit overcome when Frank got a bit of a cheer when he won he last point needed. He went on to be Best Dog and Res Best in Show. I withdrew him from the Stakes class as I felt I had been greedy enough!! Ziva was then straight in for MPB and we were delighted that she won the class. Kerys went into PB with the "big girls" and I was pleased with her 3rd. so all in all a very very satisfactory day.

SATURDAY 11TH JULY
Early start (up at 3.30) for the East of England championship Show. Really pleased with the results today - both babies qualifying for Crufts first time out and Frankie gained another 3 points towards his JW. Nellie showed her socks off too - didn;t expect her to be the judges cup of tea so quite pleased to get placed with her. Highlight of the day was Frankie's sister Stella gaining her JW - well done Maureen and Paul (Braego). My babies enjoyed their first championship show, although Oliver wasn't terribly impressed with the noisy benches, I am sure he will get used to it. He'll also have to get used to other things he hasn't seen or heard before.........all of mine (and a lot of others) were somewhat put off by some noisy fffff flip flops, that's all I will say on the matter!!!!

THURSDAY 2ND JULY
Windsor Champ show today with no tickets. On the hunt for JW points as ever! Frankie was 3rd out of 4 in junior and stood alone in PG. Nellie won the PG class and ended up Res Best Bitch behind Sarah Corbett's lovely Sh Ch Trimere Tigra. It is a lovely show, haven't been for some years - so much effort had gone in to having things just right for us the exhibitors. Loads of water points. In and out clearspon tented rings - which are fantastic for either really hot or wet weather. Great variety of trade stands too - I left with a promise to myself that it will be a regular show for me in the future.