out and about
Adventures With Rollingview's Cape Crusader
Continues...
Reporting in from recent Conformation Show Rings around the area we welcome Rollingview's
Cape Crusader and his handler extraordinaire, Douglas Bender.
Introduction:
Hunter: a.k.a. Hunter-man, Hey-cutie & Huntaire
Official Handle: Rollingview's Cape Crusader
Sire: Auriga's Gone with Jon (Robbi)
Dam: Rollingview's Babbling Brook (Smudge)
Breed: Old English Sheepdog (OES)
Date of Birth: May 19th, 1999
From Canadian National OES Specialty in Brockville, Ontario
Weekend of August 18th, and 19th, 2001.
(Doug and Hunter's - 9th or 10th - lost count - Show)
A Fairytale Weekend
This past weekend was the Canadian National OES Specialty in Brockville, Ontario. To my
delight, there was an "altered" class available. This class is open to any OES
who have been "altered" (spayed, neutered, boob job etc.) and are judged for
conformation. There are usually a few entries. I thought it would be a gas to enter our
adorable "Mayhem" Molly. Afterall, we keep her in coat, so why not go out and
have her strut her stuff. We have been going through our show training exercises with
Molly and Hunter. Getting her to stack and stay still while someone goes over has been
going well. The down and backs, and trot around the rings were also quite good. When she
moves, she is up and moving like she is on a mission.
Hunter on the other hand has been doing pretty well down in the States as an Open Dog but
really hasn't done much as a Special in Canada. His problem has been his movement (or lack
there of). It's not that he doesn't move nicely but his attitude in the ring suggests he's
not happy to be there. For the past few months we've been training to have fun in the
ring. Last weekend in Ballston Spa, he moved really well and there was a definite sparkle
in his step.
My expectations for the Canadian Specialty were quite low for Hunter. He was going to be
up against some big Specials with a lot more show experience. One of the Specials was his
brother, Ben from a previous litter. Ben is 3 1/2 years old and gorgeous.....great big
head, nice and boxy. I was much more focused on Molly. I spent most of last week on her
coat, stripping the neck and shoulders, trimming the feet and so on. I washed Hunters legs
but didn't bother with the head and shoulders, since he was still pretty clean from the
previous weekend.
We got to the show site on Friday evening and met with Sally and Barbara. Molly and I went
through our show routine a few times just for good luck. Saturday morning I got Hunter all
groomed up and out to the show ring. There were three competitions that weekend, a regular
show on both Saturday & Sunday, plus the Specialty on Saturday. First up was the
regular show. The specials were called in, Ben was first in line, Hunter was next,
followed by the rest of the entries. After the usual, down & backs etc., we lined up,
then the judge pointed to Hunter and I and directed us to move ahead. Honestly, I thought
we were being excused :):) To my delight, Hunter took the breed. I just stood there with
my mouth hanging open. Fluke or lucky ??? Hunter was up and moving well.....he earned it.
Now, it was time to go into the group competition. We went in and did our thing.......and
the winner isssssss.........Hunter.....Group 1st. "Please don't wake me......this is
such a cool dream !!!!". After an hour of down time, we went out for Best in Show. I
watched the professional handlers work their dogs, trying to pick up some tips.
Unfortunately, we came up short on that one.......but I got several compliments that I
looked like I knew what I was doing.
10 minutes later, the Specialty started. It was nice to see all these great looking
sheepdogs all together. I met Wendy & Martin Doherty. Hunter is a grandson of their
Neat Pete who recently passed away. They were quite interested in Hunter as Barbara has
been keeping them posted on his accomplishments. I also had the pleasure of meeting Janet
White from the list. She dropped by to say hello and to watch the show.
By this time, I figured Hunter must have been getting fed up with all the grooming and
standing around. But he is such an applause hog.....he just loves to hear people cheer. Of
course, he thinks they're all cheering for him. He just eats it up and gets all pumped,
stamps his feet and barks. We did our thing in the ring.....the judge took her time going
over the dogs. She gave us the nod and put Hunter at the front of the line. We did a last
lap, then setup......she then adjusted the order and gave the Breed to Adele and Jim
MacAskill's Ch Glencroft Good Golly Ms Molly, with Hunter taking Best Opposite and Martin
Doherty's fella taking Best of Winners.
Next up was the altered class. Carol and a friend of ours were giving her a final fluff
& pat while the breed was being judged. Molly was pumped.....a bit too pumped for a
conformation ring. She stacked nicely and stood still while the judge went over her. The
down and back was very......eh, er,,energetic !!! Molly ended up taking, Winners
Bitch(altered), Best of Winners(altered), then Best of Breed (altered).
Sunday was just the regular show. After our success on Saturday under two different
judges, I'd no idea what to expect. Hunter took the breed again, then went on to take a
Group 2nd.
All in all, it was a pretty good weekend for the ShaggyLane gang. My kids brought home 8
rosettes, several really nice prizes, pictures and great memories.
Doug, Carol & the kids
Rollingview Biloxi Blues "Molly"
Can CH Rollingview Cape Crusader "Hunter"
Adventures with Rollingview's Cape Crusader in the Conformation Show Ring
continues on the next page.
(Copyright,
OES-L Mailing List, 2001. Tuesday, August 21, 2001 edition. Used with permission from
Douglas Bender.)
Keep an eye open for different topics of interest such as: profiles on
people and their dogs, to name but a few interesting topics...Also, have a look at what Rita Susanto and "Justin" have been up to these
days.
Why not be part of "out and about" and send in your canine
companion's accomplishments to us. To do so, please send us a brief description of how you
both did in the event(s) along with the location(s) you and your canine were both in to:
NK Concepts - Dog Supply Training Specialist.
|
Adventures with
Rollingview's Cape Crusader 
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