This weekend belonged to the ladies at the Buller Kennel Association All-Breeds shows on the West Coast where Ava won all three Best of Breeds, a Best of Group and a NZ Bred of Group, Nikita won 2 Best Neuter of Groups and an Open of Group and our break-out star, Star, in her very first show, took the Best Baby Puppy in Show!
So this weekend we ventured across the Southern Alps to Carters Beach for one of our favourite shows at the best kept secret on the NZ Dog Show circuit - the Buller Kennel Association shows. 2 Championship shows and an Open show, on grounds literally across the road from the Tasman Sea, these are among the smallest shows in NZ and such fun, because they are so friendly, have great prizes and a great atmosphere.
Despite being a small show, there were more Chihuahuas entered in the shows here than in the last big show in Christchurch, so for our breed, at least. it was pretty much "business as usual".
Show 1, under Judge Bruce Anderson, Ava took Best of Breed, Best NZ of Breed and Best Bitch, Ben took Reserve Best of Breed, Best Junior of Breed and Best Dog. Nikita took Best Neuter of Breed and went on to take Best Neuter of Group.
We were pretty pleased with that result, so we headed over to the Open Show ring where - with a sense of déjà vu, Ava took Best of Breed, Best NZ of Breed and Best Bitch, Ben took Reserve Best of Breed, Best Junior of Breed and Best Dog. Nikita took Open of Breed (neuters are allowed to compete in the regular classes in the Open shows)
Ava went on to win Best NZ Bred of Group and Nikita won the Best of Open of Group. Ben got knocked out of the Group lineup in both shows because one of the Group winners came from the Junior Class.
We went home very happy with our results, ready to rest and get little Star ready for her show debut the following day. Star (Kitaco Starglow) is the first of our most recent litters to hit the show ring. She couldn't enter the Saturday shows because she only turned 3 months old on Sunday, so it was literally the first day she was eligible to enter a show.
Show 3, under Judge Sue Chaytor, Ava took Best of Breed, Best NZ of Breed and Best Bitch, Ben took Reserve Best of Breed, Best Junior of Breed and Best Dog. Nikita took Best Neuter of Breed
Then we got to the Group judging and Ava took Best of Group (her 2nd in an All Breeds Show). If that wasn't spectacular enough, Ben then took the Reserve Best of Group (also his 2nd in an All Breeds show)!
Not to be outdone, Nikita went on to take Best Neuter of Group.
And then there was little Star... well, she trotted out for her first show like a real pro, stood fearlessly on the table for the judge and walked around the ring like this wasn't only the 3rd time she'd been on a lead.
Star won Best Baby Puppy of Breed and went on to win the Best Baby Puppy of Group, (which was a bit of a lark as she was the only Baby Puppy in the Toy Group) but then, under Best in Show judge, Giselle Jeannes, our fearless little pocket rocket took Best Baby Puppy in Show against a full all-breeds line up.
We are so thrilled with her and our whole team! We were chuffed to get the Best and Reserve of Breed in all 3 shows, ecstatic when Ava and Ben took the Best and Reserve of Group, and absolutely incandescent with happiness when our baby, in her very first show, took the Baby Puppy in Show (All Breeds)
Thanks so much to the Buller Committee, especially Butch and Bev, for some great shows, and even arranging such fabulous weather that it didn't rain all weekend.
