At just 12 months of age, Winston is strutting his stuff and continues to show the promise we all saw when he was just a puppy. Winston went RWD at the GGGSC Specialty from the Bred by Exhibitor Class a week ago and then picked up RWD again the next day. Winston is by Am Can Ch SureShot Flying Colors TT x Ch Bluewin’s Wild Child. Breeder owners: Bob & Dianna Ellis, Norah Burrows & Bev Holoboff.  He’s a real looker and, yep, we’re pretty excited about him.

Winston

Winston on the move

Great job, Lynn!!

If I'm careful, I can balance on one foot!

No fair! That snowball caught me by surprise!

The eyes are the window to the world....

I had gone into the trial determined to keep my focus on the fun and to stop worrying about whether or not we got Q’s.  And it paid off with a weekend that just felt and looked happy.  The best part was that we’ve been struggling with contacts and weave entries at trials and those improved immensely.  Tatum had one of the prettiest Snooker runs I’ve ever had with one of the girls, exactly how I’d planned out the course and making it to the end of the course with a 49 pt score.  The next day she also had a really nice Advanced Gamble run as well.  Not to let down her end of the happy-bargain, Echo had a nice Q in Advanced Jumpers (which is quite surprising as she’s seldom fast enough for Advanced times) as well as getting the final Snooker she required for her Game Dog title (SGDC).

A very nice start to the year and a NADAC trial calls out to us for the next fun weekend together.

It’s hard to actually remember all the great times I’ve had with the dogs this year but here’s a shot at some of the highlights:

- the lovely Bentley completed his American championship title with one more major win at a specialty, making him officially, Am. Can. Ch. SureShot Flying Spur TT.  He also sired a very promising litter that we look forward with anticipation to their activities in the future.  Thanks forever to Dianna Ellis of Bluewin Gordons, his co-owner, for making all these events possible.

- Over a year ago, another lovely litter was produced by Mira (Can Ch. FCC Ch. SureShot Chosen One, CD, CGN) who I co-own with a very dear friend Keith O’Flaherty.  That litter produced Skye who, as just a youngster, has several group placements and puppy group wins this year as well as two new titles.  She’s now Ch. Vanoras SureShot Highland Skye, CGN.  Her brother Kole also picked up his CGN this year, making him Vanoras SureShot Coal Town Boy, CGN.

- There’s been a ton of new agility titles for the girls this year but I guess the history-making one was Echo’s Excellent Standard title in CKC making her the first Gordon to get that award.  The list of new accomplishments for each of them is extensive and is seen through all the new titles they got that are included in their official names:

- Echo, Ch. Sureshot Caisteal Sassenach, AGXS, AGIJS, ADC, S-NAC, S-NJC, O-NCC, S-TG-N, TG-O, S-WV-N, HP-N, TN-N, OAC, Nov Vers.

- Ticket, Ch. Drumdaroch Sure’s Hot, AgNS, AgNJS, S-NAC, S-NJC, O-OJC, O-NCC, S-TG-N, O-WV-N, S-TN-N, HP-N, O-TN-O, OAC, SGDC, Nov Vers

- Tatum, Ch. SureShot Paper Moon, AgNS, AgNJS, S-TN-N, O-TN-O, S, S-NAC, O-NCC, O-TG-N, S-NJC, HP-N, WV-N, OJC, Nov Vers

Each of them owns a special place in my heart with their unique personalities and ability to make me smile.

The start of the year saw the loss of my ‘heart-dog’, Erin (Ch. Rokeena Downunder Delite, AgN, AgNS, AgIJS, NCC, O-NJC-V, TG-N-V, OAC, VADC, VSGDC).  The loss of a dog that really was a once-in-a-lifetime, still weighs heavily at times but, this season, it seems so much better to celebrate the 10 years I shared and learned with her: the many activities we pursued together, and, yes, the Joy with which she embraced life and the Joy she gave to me as a result.

So, no matter your hobby or occupation of choice.  Whatever paths you take on your road.  Whatever interests capture your spirit….

MAY YOU ALWAYS FIND YOUR JOY

The PACE trial seems to be a fitting celebration to the end of the trial year though as it saw Denham make his agility debut with a very slow, but most of the time accommodating, saunter around the courses.  I learned that he knows the equipment and commands even if his tail wagging didn’t translate into a determination to finish the course as quickly as we’d hoped.  The girls, Ticket and Tatum, had several successful runs with Ticket finally getting her contacts quite successfully, resulting in enough Q’s in Regular for her Open title.  Just need her to do it on one Novice Chances run so she can pick up her Novice Triple Superior Award!

Both girls totally smoked the Open Jumpers courses with the Q’s there giving Tatum her Open Jumpers title.  Tatum also upped her successes with contacts and even managed to hold one at the end of a really lovely Chances run.  They both seem to like the freedom of Jumpers and Chances so I need to bring that feeling into our other runs.

Another great thing that happened was weave entries!  Yay! both girls are wonderful weavers at class but we’ve been having a challenge getting them on the first approach all year long.  I think a missed entry only happened once all weekend so that was a super achievement for them.  Here’s Ticket showing off her confident weave entry:

In addition, there were no total “play-to-the-crowd-and-totally-ignore-mom” moments from Tatum.  I think she has so much potential but we don’t always pull things together as a team.

While we wait for the new year trials, here’s the goals related to training:

* translate Denham’s enthusiasm at class into a reliable attitude that can happen at trials.

* contacts that I don’t have to worry about for both Ticket and Tatum and continued success at weave entries.

* a healthy Echo that can return to trials along with the others.

* if quick table downs come together as well that will be a bonus that’ll make Q’s much more attainable as well.

One last reason to celebrate the fun of the PACE trial was Afton’s debut.  While she’s signed up for one more trial for 2010, she showed the potential we’ve all seen by blasting around the course with total enthusiasm, picking up her very first Q with a first place in Novice Jumpers.  Congratulations to her handler, Tad Drinkwater on a lovely starting trial.

Here’s a video of one of Afton’s runs:

Tatum, controlled her enthusiasm long enough to get her weaves and complete her Novice Weavers title.  That was the final requirement we’ve been waiting for to get her Novice Versatility Award so was cause for celebration.  And, she also managed the final Q’s for her Superior Novice Regular title to top that off.  Strangely (or not, since, really…who cares about the Q’s), her most exciting run of the weekend was an NQ in Chances where she missed a very simple discrimination right off the start line but went on to do the actual Chances portion flawlessly.  Tatum’s official (titled) name is now:  Ch. SureShot Paper Moon, AgNS, AgNJS, S-TN-N, O-TN-O, S-NAC, O-NCC, TG-N, S-NJC, HP-N, WV-N, Nov Vers.

Ticket also managed several Q’s which completed her Outstanding Open Jumpers and Outstanding Novice Weavers.  The most surprising celebration was for her Top Open Dog presentation.  Very cool!  Ticket is now: Ch. Drumdaroch Sure’sHot, AgNS, AgNJS, S-NAC, S-NJC, O-OJC, O-NCC, O-TG-N, O-WV-N, S-TN-N, HP-N, O-TN-O, SGDC, Nov Vers.

Echo picked up three Q’s in Open Regular at what appears to be her last trial for the year.  She’s showing some tenderness in her back so she’ll be on rest and rehab while we try to get a handle on that issue with, hopefully, a return to trials in the new year. This looks like the perfect opportunity to try out her roommate, Denham, to see how he takes to this sport when he’s not running at our practice barn. Could be really interesting as he’s got quite a different approach to things than his female friends!  It’s also possible he may be put to shame by Afton who also plans to make her debut that weekend.

Meanwhile, in another reminder that fall has come and gone, I got this lovely picture of Buck from his family, the Burkes, who put Buck’s talents to good use this season.  Buck is one of the offspring of our Erin’s litter and sibling to Mira, Clay, Logan, Clark and Afton.

Buck's got the nose!

Winston

Awwwww... I love that expression.

And then there’s his darling sister, Winnie:

Winnie

Dianna also got this picture from the owner of their brother, Solar, who is also looking mighty nice:

Solar

The first title to be completed was an American Championship for Bentley, who now boasts the fine title of Can Am Ch SureShot Flying Spur, TT.  And he finished the title in style by going Winners Dog/Best of Winners for a four point major at the Golden Gate Gordon Setter Specialty in Santa Rosa.  This wasn’t his first major either, since his arrival in California a year ago, he’s only been in a few shows but made them count each round and finished with four major wins.  Bentley is co-owned with Dianna Ellis (Bluewin Gordons) and was shown by Dianna’s daughter Norah Burrows.  This picture was taken from ringside just before his win:

Can Am Ch SureShot Flying Spur TT

Although good news was already coming in from Mira, Sunday wrapped up her new title on the weekend.  Keith O’Flaherty and Mira have been no strangers to good news posts on this blog but this one was pretty impressive.  First time in the obedience ring, they wrapped up Mira’s Companion Dog title in two days.  I’m particularly awed by this since obedience has never been my thing (or my dogs, since they have to go into the ring with me).  Mira’s titles now add to her ‘official’ name of:  Can Ch FCC Ch SureShot Chosen One, CD, CGN.  I wonder about this picture…do you think Mira is wondering how many points they’re going to lose if Keith doesn’t remember to put the leash in his hands?

And, while it wasn’t a new title, I just had to add this final picture of the lovely Skye, Mira’s daughter, Ch Vanora SureShot Highland Skye.  It just has some really fantastic glimpses of her pretty head and amazing gait.  I expect to see many more boasts about her as she matures.

The most recent and hugely exciting was the completion of her Canadian Championship for Skye, Ch. Vanora SureShot Highland Skye (BIS BISS Am Ch Firethorn Sandpiper Easy on the Eyes x Can Ch FCC Ch SureShot Chosen One CGN).  Showing in an area with only a few points ever available, it was really exciting that she was able to add to her point count with three exciting group placements (a Group I, a Group II and a Group IV).  All this at the ripe old age of 13 months.  I am fortunate to be a co-owner and co-breeder of Skye along with the guy who shepherded her to these wins by his expert handling, Keith O’Flaherty, Vanora Gordon Setters.

Skye is a granddaughter of Erin who had also taken the showring by storm as a youngster so it was gratifying to see this success being repeated and taken even further.   In between the two of them is Mira, Can Ch FCC Ch SureShot Chosen One CGN, who has been no slouch herself in the showring.  Here’s a picture of Skye’s finishing photo which was also a Group II win.

Skye's a New Champion!

Congratulations to Skye and also to her very deserving handler/owner, Keith O’Flaherty who has steadfastly tried to make all the right decisions in his foray into Gordon breeding and showing and has now been so deservedly rewarded with success.

Then we were able to enjoy the fun of watching another “grandchild”, SureShot Georgia on My Mind, pick up a couple of points at a recent show, handled by her owner, Kathleen Gazey.  Here’s a great shot taken outside the ring which really sums up one of my primary desires … to see great, ground-covering movement.  Lovely.

Georgia On The Move...

Another “connection” that ended up with a huge win was that of Edward, BIS Am.Can.Ch. Sassenach King of the Castle (Ch Sandpiper’s Castles by the Sea x Ch. Sassenach Ringwraith SureShot), another of Swagger’s grandchildren, who recently was owner/breeder handled to Best of Breed at the Gordon Setter National in the US.  This is only the second time that a Gordon has won both the US and the Canadian National Specialty.  My connection to this isn’t just through Swagger as I was also co-breeder of that litter and now shepherd his sister, Echo, Ch SureShot Caisteal Sassenach, through her agility paces.  Many, many congratulations to both Edward and to Judith Brown who was smiling on the other end of his leash for that win.

At that same National, another Swagger grandchild, Can. Ch. Sassenach Caisteal a Tor was shown by her owner Bobby Tucker to a 3rd in the large open bitch class and to a first place in the Brood Bitch class.  And a daughter of Swagger’s, AmCh Moonsetter Balwyn SureShot made the final cut, handled by her owner and junior handler Livi Moon.

I was also happy to receive new pictures of another Swagger grandson, Doc, whose owner Margaret Legg was proud to announce his brand spankin’ new title, a NADAC NAJ title which, just being an agility title, makes me all warm and fuzzy

The past weeks have also been one of enjoyed “connections” as I was able to watch from a distance as a co-bred litter was whelped and photographed in California.  The litter sired by Ch. SureShot Flying Spur TT (another Swagger grandchild) out of Bluewin’s Wild Child, has shown promise from their first days and continue to exhibit that promise as they grow.  All along, the plan had been to keep a girl and that’s still the plan but there’s a lovely show boy that’s still looking for a show/performance home that we can’t keep our eyes off.

Now, I’m not naive enough to think that one import was the only reason any of this happened.  Other people and other dogs have had a major influence in what transpired.  However, it is certainly gratifying to see the connections that have developed and resulted in so much good news for so many people.  And the things listed are simply what has happened in the past few weeks.  When one really looks at the connections that happen over time, it’s quite mind-boggling.