In one of the largest fields we've had for a while in the South Island in both the Long and the Smooth Coats, Good Friday was the start of the North Canterbury Kennel Association Easter Extravaganza.
In Show 1, under Australian Judge, David Tidswell, Narci (Gr CH, Gr Jnr CH, NZ CH Mystic Legion Narcissus (Imp Greece)) took Best of Breed, the Best Dog CC and Open of Breed, #DontTouchMeTara (Kitaco's Divine Miss T at Eldivino) took Best Junior and the Reserve Best Bitch CC while her big sister, Kyrie (NZ CH Kitaco's Valkyrie Warrior), took the Best Bitch CC, NZ Bred of Breed and the Reserve Best of Breed,
Not to be outdone by their more hirsute teammates, our Smooth Coats then took to the ring and repeated the double act they seem to have going of late. Yet again, Spenny (NZ CH El-Toro Rey Spencer at Kitaco) took Best of Breed, Intermediate of Breed and the Dog CC while Delilah (NZ CH Maraschino Princess Ala) took Reserve Best of Breed, the Best Bitch CC and Best NZ Bred of Breed.
Then it was time for our new Pomeranian, Tabitha (Tribble Witch with a Bee) - AKA Liddle Bit - to make her show debut. Weighing in a barely a kilo, and no great fan of walking on a lead, Liddle Bit did very well to win Best Baby Puppy of Breed, Best Bitch and then went on to take Best of Breed! What a little star.
Day 2 of the Extravaganza and this time in Benefit Show under Australian judge, Joseph Daidone, in the Long Coats, Tara took the Best Bitch CC and Junior of Breed, Narci took Open of Breed and Kyrie rounded out the winning streak with NZ Bred of Breed.
Delilah really upped her game in the Smooth Coats and took not only the Best Bitch CC and the Best NZ Bred of Breed, but beat out Spenny who had to settle for the Reserve Best of Breed, the Best Dog CC and Intermediate Breed.
Liddle Bit repeated her success from Friday in the Poms, taking Best Baby Puppy of Breed, Best Bitch and then went on to take Best of Breed again!
Show 3, under Australian judge Robyn Brown, Kyrie took the Best Bitch CC and Reserve of Breed, Narci took Open of Breed and Tara took Junior of Breed.
Delilah showed her little heart out in the Smooth Coats and again took the Best Bitch CC and the Best NZ Bred of Breed, beating Spenny for the second time, leaving him to battle it out for the Reserve Best of Breed, the Best Dog CC and Intermediate Breed, which he took easily.
Lastly, Liddle Bit won every heart in the show as she bounced around the ring (a liddle bit!) and not only took Best Baby Puppy of Breed, Best Bitch and Best of Breed again, but the judge stopped the show after the Baby Puppy of Group judging to ask for a cuddle, and assured us "next time" it would be Liddle Bit's turn to win the Group. So delighted, as we were also accosted by about 5 other judges over the weekend, who sought us out to tell us how much they liked our new Pom. Can't wait to see how she goes in the future
Great show put on by the NCKA committee. We had a lot of laughs, (trust me, there was much to laugh at) many cuddles and Tabitha made a new friend, Sonti the St Bernard.
