After years of dreaming about it, this year it finally came true! I was going to Crufts and I was going to show one of my own dogs! I’d been hoping that Tíbrá would qualify from the day I brought her home, and immediately started the vaccination program, as travelling to England requires the bloodsample is taken at least 6 months before entering the country. Luckily, her antibody levels were high enough, which also was necessary due to qualifying her, as the only qualification show after her turning 9 months was in Finland. As most of you know, she sure qualified in Finland, not only once, but she won all the four possible qualification tickets that weekend!
With all the clarifications ready, she was entered in Yearling class. Her sister Summer was entered in Junior, and by entering them in separate classes, they would be able to win one class each..if only the judge decided to agree of course.
The morning of the herding group day I was offered to show another aussie as well, none other than Ch Thornapple Cuba Blue “Cuba”. Of course, I accetped once we had checked that he and I connected well enough.
Cuba and Diablo before being placed in Open dog
Cuba did quite well, he actually ended up 2nd in Open! He beat a lot of gorgeous dogs on his way there. After that we settled with him being finished for the day and started grooming the bitches, and we were quite stressed when they called Cuba back in the ring! As the Open dog won Best Dog/CC, the one 2nd in Open needed to go back in and compete for the res.CC together with all the other class winners. And wow, he did it! He won reserve Best Dog and res. CC!
Left to right: Ch Bayshore Triple Ex with Triforce, Ch Thornapple Cuba Blue, Allmark Lenny Henry.
After that it was finally the bitches turn. The first one out was Tíbrá’s gorgeous sister Summer, in Junior class. And she won her class” Well done, Bitta and Summer 😀
Leading Angel’s Pure Thornapple
Next class was Tíbrá’s class, and it seems the jugde liked her type as well. And he did! Tíbrá won the Yearling class, which is open from bitches up to 24 months old, and she was only 13 months herself!
FinJW-09 FinW-09 NordJW-09 NordW-09 Leading Angel’s Cherish Thornapple – winner of Yearling bitch
In the next class, Midlimit bitch, Naja Baaring (owner of Tíbrá’s brother Travis) was placed 2nd with her lovely red tri Pippi (Rosemere Twinklefly).
After that it was auntie Jada’s turn in Open bitch. She has acutally been BOB at Crufts earlier! And Jada did not dissapoint, she won the Open class! In the competition for Bitch CC we all went back in. That was a huge experience, to compete among the final best at Crufts! And who won? Jada did! So well done by her and Bitta 😀 The res.CC winner was the 2nd in Open even here, so neither Tíbr nor Summer were placed, but that wasn’t excactly expected of such young girls as they are. They are both qualified for next year after winning their classes, so I’m sure they’ll be back next year! Jada was beaten by the dog in competition for BOB, but BOS is still an honourable result to bring back home 🙂
I stayed for some shopping and even watching the groups with the danes, and the next day we started our journey back home to Norway – with both Chase and Rebus coming along with us! Rebus was supposed to stay in Scotland, but came back after all. I was so happy when I heard, and still can’t believe it!
I took loads of other photos along the road and on some of our detours on the way back, but they’ll have to come in a separate blog.
One thing’s for sure – Crufts was a huge experience, and I’m sure going back!
Eagermind 