13 September 2006

Back from Austria or The return of the heroes ;o)

Yes, it is confirmed, the team of British hovawarts from Pines who had made the trip to the International Hovawart Federation show in Austria did win the breeder class, thus proving that our British hovies aren’t that bad! All the hovawarts also made the “excellent” grade in the classes where they had been entered individually. Congratulations to Elaine, John, Maggie and Lloyd and of course to the dogs Pines Saxophone (DJ), Pines Mercedes, Pines Penny Whistle, Kynyaz Tiy of Pines (Orchid), without forgetting the lovely oldie Pines Charleston

You can find the detailed results of the day together with plenty of pictures on the Austrian club website: www.hovawart-verein.at

If you speak as much German as I do, it could take you a while to find your way on the site, so here is the path to the results: Ausstellung > Ergebnisse > KLUBSIEGERSCHAU AMSTETTEN 20. August. And you can see our winners on the following link: bilder.hovawart-verein.at/ausstellungen/2006_08_klubsiegerschau/ring1/slides/eDSCF0163.jpg

Don’t they look smart?

Hovawart puppies

I’ve spoken with Ann Stewarts up in Scotland who is keeping Seudan, one of the 2 puppies from the litter she had from Solace (Pines Riley) with Micona Chieftan. The other pup, Duke, has now gone to Ireland to his new home where he’s going to be living with his dad. One to bother mum and one to bother dad: Perfect!

We may have more puppies before the end of the year as Elaine and John at Pines have taken their Whistle to a working hovawart in Austria called Cooper ex Canis Lupus. This lovely boy has the IPO2 qualification and finished second in the working class at the IHF show. This should be a very interesting litter. It is obviously far too early to know whether Whistle is in whelp, but we’ll keep you posted.

We have also planned to take our Venka (Pines Piccolo avec Spicemill) to German Champion Jambo von Wittlerdamm. But Venka does not seem in a hurry to come in season. That’s breeding for you. Let’s see the good side of it, maybe it will give us enough time to get her Search & Rescue qualification before she has her puppies.

Richmond championship show

We had breed class for the first time at Richmond this year. Unfortunately, it clashed with the Dutch Hovawart Club Show so the entry was not as good as one could have hoped with 13 dogs entered. It was a lovely day though with several visitors who had come especially to see the hovawarts and asked a lot of questions about the breed. Loseley Park is a nice location and our judge Mrs D Kenis-Pordham was very friendly. Her best of breed Kynyaf Tiy Of Pines CDex “Orchid” then got noticed in the group judging as she got pulled out by judge Mrs Karina Le Mare. Her owner Elaine Betts was thrilled.

Reserve best bitch went to Pines Limerick. For the boys, Minches Jet was the winner. I remember when he was just a bouncy pup on the rings. He and his owner have come a long way and it presents better at each show. Reserve best dog was Pines Saxophone “DJ” and best puppy went to Tyehelva Super Summer.

The next chance to see hovawarts being shown will be on the second day of Darlington championship show, which will be held near Ripon at the end of this week. The 12 hovawarts who have been entered will be judged by Mrs Valerie Foss.