August - September 2011

Monday 19th September

Off we went to Darlington Championship Show yesterday. Another long drive up the road for the opinion of Colin Woodward this time. It was another super day for us and our dogs. Robin was placed second in Limit and Seamus won an outstanding Open Class and was awarded his 15th CC. We are just so proud of him.....

Lila and Holly were both third in their classes but the day was made truly exceptional when Rattan won both Limit Bitch and her third CC, making her a, still to be confirmed, Show Champion. Congratulations to Trudy and David for all their successes with Rattan and thank you for giving us our first Peasblossom Champion xxx

Seamus was awarded Best of Breed but it was a lovely moment to stand alongside Rattan in the challenge. A long wait then ensued for the Group judging as is the norm of course but much to my dismay there were continuous and torrential downpours while we waited! I managed to keep Seamus dry but after carrying him half way across the showground rather than let him walk in the mud, my body feels like it is a 100 years old at least today! The Group judge was Patsy Hollings and she awarded Seamus Gundog Group 2!! It has certainly been an amazing few weeks in Seamus' world and ours. Such an achievement for his breeders, Helene and David - hope you are as proud of your boy as we are... xxx

Our congratulations too for Jenny who won her first RCC with Meadowdale Alabama Slammer at Acregate and to all at Trimere for the Best Veteran In Show win for Sh Ch Trimere Tigra. It has been a spectacular few weeks for the springers that is for sure...

Thanks yet again for all the kind words, messages and emails. And a very special thank you to those who stay to the bitter end to cheer their support in the loudest possible way :o) It is so much appreciated xxx

Tuesday 6th September

It is not that easy to find words quite adequate enough to describe what a truly wonderful day Sunday was. Suffice to say it was a day that we will never forget. We had entered our two boys at Birmingham City Champ Show under judge, John Thirlwell. Kye was placed 4th in Limit Dog and Seamus won the Open Class. Really lovely when he was awarded the Dog CC, his 14th and Best of Breed. There were a number of super placings for some Seamus sons and daughters too which all contributed to making it such a special show. Alot of hanging around ensued waiting for the Gundog Group as is the norm of course, but worth every second when Seamus was awarded Group One!! The Group judge was Sandra Marshall. Still not quite sure what to say .... guess it hasn't quite sunk in yet ... but a special, special day. Seamus is simply our shining star!! Thank you to everyone for the calls, cards, GuestBook and Facebook messages - it means such a lot to us both!!

All the time this was going on, the 'heavenly' Hope (Peasblossom Heaven Sent) having hot footed it back from the Euro Dog Show in Holland, attended the CAC show in Włocławek, Poland under judge Renata Niklasiewicz where she won JCAC, BOB Junior, BOB, BIG III and a became a new Polish Junior Champion!!! Fantastic news to finish off the perfect day. Many, many congratuations and thanks to Kasia and Marcin for loving Hope and for making her look soooo beautiful!!! Some new photos have been added to Hope's own gallery.

I have also added four new photos to the Photo Gallery found in the main menu of Kitkat, Elliot, Charlie and Liam....

Saturday 3rd September

We have some wonderful news from the European Dog Show in Holland to share..... 'Hope' (P Heaven Sent) won Junior Bitch, European Junior Winner, BOB Junior, ResCAC and 2nd best bitch at not even eleven months! Fantastic Kasia and Marcin! We are so proud of sweet Hope. May be some photos from the day will follow soon....

Congratulations also to Helma and Rudo on Mattie's (P Caress) second place in the Champions Bitch class after producing a huge litter of puppies not so long ago! But a very special day for the Siegers Kennel winning both BOB and the Group - warmest congrats from us all! The judge incidentally, was Ron Menaker from the USA.

Some more show news from Denmark, that Kitkat (Peasblossom Eternity) attended the Spaniel Gold Cup Championship Show on the island of Funen. She won Intermediate Bitch and finished 4th Best Bitch overall. Well done Kitkat and Susann xx. The judge there was Andrew Brace. Kitkat has been taught to free stand - obviously the obedience training is paying dividends. Wonder if we could try this approach with Seamus???

Finally some puppy news ... Elin has been scanned today and is indeed expecting her first litter early in October. We will be in touch with all those who have expressed interest in a puppy from Elin and Seamus in the next few days.

Monday 29th August

An even longer drive to Ingleston, Edinburgh and SKC this week! Judge was Trudy Short. Both Seamus and Holly managed seconds in their classes this time but the day belonged to Robin, (P Escape to Beresford) winning Yearling Dog and the Dog CC, his second!! Great news .... only one more to go!! xx

Wednesday 24th August

Welsh Kennel Club Champ Show and the long drive to Builth Wells this past weekend! The judge was Graham Osborne (Beaters). This time it was the turn of Kye and Lila to go. Kye was up with the big boys for the first time and was placed fourth in Limit Dog. Robin was 3rd in the same class. Lila was second again to Rattan in Limit Bitch who is very much on form now after her babies. So thrilled when she was awarded the Bitch CC, her second! We are trying not to hope too much that there might be a third some point in the future!! :o) Well done Trudy and David for a great result yet again xxx

There were some class wins for a number of Seamus kids too, not forgetting a really great win in the Special Beginners Stakes for 'Brodie', Peasblossom Geisha at Meonstoke under judge, Jeff Horswell. Well done from us both x

And finally, miles away from the Welsh countryside, at Kent County in Maidstone, another Seamus son in the guise of 'Mac', Dexbenella It's About Time was Best AVNSC and went on to finish BEST IN SHOW!! Congratulations on an excellent job!

Thursday 18th August

A week of very mixed emotions for us has passed. The sadness of the funeral of a close family member and the jubilation of Seamus' wonderful day at Bournemouth Championship. The ups and downs of life - so strange sometimes.....!

We had entered two dogs at Bournemouth under judge, Wendy Walker - Seamus and Lila. We were completely stunned but totally thrilled when Seamus won Open Dog and was awarded the DCC! This was his thirteenth! Lila was placed second in Limit Bitch. Another super day for the Peasblossoms all round though as Rattan (P Butterfly at Beresford) not only won the Limit Class but also the RBCC! Congrats to Trudy and David xxx Robin was 4th in Limit Dog and a number of Seamus sons and daughters were also placed highly on the day. Congratulations from us both to Helen Cokell and Ola on winning the Bitch CC - her first but hope it is the first of absolutely loads!

Seamus was finally awarded BOB which of course meant representing the breed in the Group ring. Now forgive us our negativity, but we don't really feel 'at home' at this level. We have been fortunate to go through to the group a few times in the past without success and believe it is the really a showcase for the elite breeders and their very deserving dogs. However, this day proved us wrong, as Seamus was awarded Group 2 under judge, Valerie Foss. A wonderful experience and a fantastic day for our beautiful boy!!! Needless to say, we are still smiling..... :o)

Some other news from Poland that Ninja (Barecho Not Bad At All) has been awarded her Polish Champion title after winning Open Bitch and the CACIB at Sopocie. At the same show, 'Hope', Peasblossom Heaven Sent at Lordsett was BOB Junior under judge, Kornelija Butrimova from Russia. Some new photos of both Hope and Ninja have been added to their respective galleries.

Monday 8th August

An amazing week for Seamus babes! News reached us that 'Kyle', GaolachCara Somhlth had received confirmation of his Show Certificate of Merit, the third from his litter to achieve this award. 'Eddie, Seaspring Shipwrecked was also confirmed by the Kennel Club as a Junior Warrant winner! News from Norway too that 'Aya', Desperado Aya won her first CC and BOB under judge, Vilmos Kardos from Hungary. Warmest congratulations to you all ......

At National Gundog on Saturday, 'Eddie' won Junior dog and 'Kyle' won Graduate Dog. His brother, 'Toash' was placed second in Post Grad Dog. The first four places in Junior Bitch were won by Seamus daughters, Graduate Bitch was headed by another two daughters with second to 'Brodie', Peasblossom Geisha at Meonstoke. Post Graduate Bitch was won by Kyle's sister, 'Kaila', (GaolachCara Cliodna JW) who went on to win the Bitch CC - her first!! RCC went to the Graduate winner, 'Ola', Hunterheck Winter Sunset, another first for her and making the seventh stud book number holder sired by our boy. A lovely and proud day :o) A huge Limit Bitch class was headed by Rattan (P Butterfly at Beresford) with second going to our Lila! Nearly forgot that Seamus was placed third in Open Dog ???????? But at least his progeny seemed to be highly thought of and the best dog definitely came home with us that day which is how it should be of course ........