Royals, Specialties and More!
Our shows have been a little spaced out over the last few months, so I had been saving up and then suddenly I realised I had heaps to write about. So here goes...
The Royal Launceston Show is our local agricultural show and Tasmania's second largest multi day show. A last minute change of judge saw us showing under Australian breed specialist Mrs Roslyn Seare (Theldaroy). Benni showed like a dream. He was short-listed for Best in Group and then took out Best Open in Group. It also marked exactly one year since Benni and I debuted together!
The beginning of November saw Benni and I travel to Victoria for the Finnish Lapphund Club of Victoria specialty championship show and the 'Sunbury Weekend' cluster of shows. Fleur's appalling timing of coming into season saw her sit the weekend out. Whilst not finishing on the podium at the specialty, Benni received a grading of excellent and a lovely critique from judge Saara Sampakoski (Finland): Excellent Type. Good masculine outlook. Strong head. Good chest. Enough bone. Moves well from side. At the remaining three shows (Working Dog Club of Victoria, Victoria Women's Dog Club and Sunbury Kennel Club) amid strong competition, Benni won his class each day and took Best Australian Bred of Breed.
Sunbury also provided us with a great opportunity and location to grab some nice photos of Benni and his litter brother Tortik (Aust.Ch. Armahani Heliodorr Halu (ai) JC). Thank you to photographer Helen Green of Doggone Cuttie Photography (and owner of Benni's daughter Lempo Independence Day - 'Indie') for these beautiful shots.
In anticipation of our Benni/Fleur litter in 2018, both have undergone their health testing. Benni once again received the all clear for his eyes. Fleur also received the all clear for her eyes and a hip score of 3/4 and elbows 0/0. This is fantastic news and means we are full steam ahead for our litter plans.
Yesterday we ventured to our first Tasmanian show in several weeks. The Ulverstone Kennel Club runs a series of three shows in one day, with two of them running concurrently. It certainly keeps us on our toes! At show B, Benni was once again awarded Runner-up Best in Working Dog Group (Group Second) and Best Australian Bred in Group. He was also Best Australian Bred in Group at Show C.
Well with only one show left for the year, I can safely announce that Benni will finish as
TASMANIA'S #4 WORKING DOG 2017*.
This is an amazing achievement for what is still considered a 'rare' breed in this country. During 2017 he has won multiple Group Firsts and Seconds, classes in show and far too many classes in group to count. In just over a year of showing, he continues to make history in this state.
*all systems
