By: Susan & Gemma Henshaw
As we are now at the end of May and with the Crufts Championships fading into a memory it seems like a good time to catch up on what’s been happening in the Ticket classes.
Starting off with the Midlands Border Collie Club show on the 19 April, the first day of a double weekend from this club plus the bonus of the Border Collie Club of Gt Britain show on the same ground on Friday 18 April. The shows were held at Cattows Farm, Heather, Leics, which was a new venue for this year. The ground was quite rutted in some places but thankfully the better areas were kept for the rings, the clubs had worked hard to ensure their shows would go on and I am sure we have all worked on much worse surfaces. One good thing was that the camping, parking and the rings were all on one level, within easy reach of each other and there was an added bonus of some lovely dog walks in the surrounding area. From the judges comments the hospitality was second to none and the competitors were well catered for.
Taking top honours in the Dog Ticket under judge Sandy Wadhams was Gill Winyard with her BC ‘Ob Ch Jonjosam Drunken Duncan’, their work described as ‘a stunning round with power, drive and accuracy’ also getting their season off to a good start was the team of Kathy Russell and ‘Ob Ch & WTCh Ruskath Othentic Image’ who won the Bitch Ticket judged today by Debbie Back.
The following day some of the handlers made the long journey north to the Knightswood DTC show, organised and run by Pamela Lochrie and a small team who, according to the judge’s reports, do an amazing job and make everyone feel welcome. Sharon Dunstan was in charge of the Dog Ticket today and her first place was awarded to Linda Rutherford and ‘Sixela Rumr Has-It’ this win making Rumr up to an Obedience Champion, the dog was described as ‘a pleasure to watch with exuberance in abundance’. Dave Banks Bitch Ticket honours went to Kathy Russell with ‘Ob Ch & WTCh Ruskath Othentic Image’ with Oddie being described as ‘the steam train hits top gear again’
Into May and the Burnbank DTC show on the 3rd, the weather held fine, the rings were of a good size and once again Scottish hospitality shone through. Sue Howell awarded top spot in the Dog Ticket to a delighted Paul Cook with his super GR ‘Dunburgh Fun Lovin Criminal’ their first ticket win. Dave Howell was judging the Bitch Ticket and his first place went to Philomena Barnes with ‘Ob Ch Bheinn Bewitched’.
The following day and a long journey south to St Andrews RFC ground for the Rugby DTC show, an extremely popular show, with good competitor catering, flat rings and bags of room to exercise or train the dogs. The weather held fine and sunny enabling many to sit out and watch the other teams competing, which always makes for a nice atmosphere around the ground. Winner of Debbie Back’s Dog Ticket was Gill Winyard with her lovely ‘Ob Ch Jonjosam Drunken Duncan’ and Bitch Ticket judge Roger Gunby awarded his first place to Anne Northfield and her WS ‘Iatka Star Performer’, who put in the best heelwork of the day, and this win made the dog up into an Obedience Champion.
Completing a busy long weekend, the teams headed to the Hinckley UTD FC ground for the Leicestershire GSD show on Monday 5 May, this show is described as being run ‘like a well oiled machine’ with good sized rings, plenty of parking and delicious lunches for the judging parties. Judging Dog Ticket today was Bill Ferguson and his top spot went to Geraldine Steadman and ‘Ob Ch Nobite Defence of the Realm’ with a round that was described by the judge as ‘a display of pure class’. Bitch Ticket judge Ann Munks first place went to Lisa Brannan and ‘Moakies Mystical Moment’ a first ticket win for this pair.
Saturday 10 May saw a trip across to the Wirral Alsatian TS Show, for the first day of a double weekend. Unfortunately a large tree came down across the entrance to the venue on the Sunday morning but the organisers took everything in their stride and it was soon cut up and moved to allow competitors onto the ground and thankfully no one was injured. Making her debut as a Ticket judge was Andrea Little and the winner of her Dog Ticket was Geraldine Steadman with ‘Ob Ch Nobite Defence of the Realm’ with a round described as ‘ simply outstanding’. Judge of the Bitch Ticket was Lou Jackson and her winner was Karen Davies with ‘Ob Ch Stillmore Celtic Banner’, the judge praising Karen’s handling as ‘neat and natural’.
So that’s the first few shows done and dusted and its nice to see that already we have a couple of new handlers through to Crufts 2015, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season goes.