News from the Norwegian Retriever Club in Ringerike

Glenna was, once again, well received at a show in her home country of Norway. Today, at the Norwegian Retriever Club in Ringerike she received more than one special award.

In the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ring she was Best Junior (9-15 months of age), Best of Breed, and, she received her second Challenge Certificate with a rating of Excellent. She needs just one more Challenge Certificate to be a Norwegian Champion! 

Next, Glenna got to compete against the Best Juniors from the other breeds where the judge awarded her Best Junior in Show! 

And, finally, all of the Best of Breed winners competed for Best in Show. With Heidi Sageng on the other end of the leash, Glenna was awarded Best In Show 4. There were 170 retrievers entered in the show today and young Glenna ended the show in fourth place. All of Glenna's extended family and friends are so proud of her success. And, we are thrilled for Glenna's owners, Margunn Tvedten and Heidi Sageng. 

Arnac Bay Aquamanda Glenna of Weatherdeck (BISS GCH Chestnut Hills Windjammer JH WD X Arnac Bay Arapahoe WD) enjoying the spoils of her wins today. Breeders: Gina Downin & Chrissie Mayhew. 

Week of Wow!

Wow! What an exciting week for four 10 month-old Weatherdeck/Arnac pups in three countries. Our Gudgeon got things rolling over the weekend when she entered the show ring for the very first time in a series of three shows in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I expected her to be a wiggly puppy that would be easily distracted by all the sights and sounds of a large indoor show. She impressed me by being completely at ease and by carrying herself in a way that allowed the judges to see her in the best light. On Day 1 she was awarded Winners Bitch and began her journey toward her conformation championship. Wow! Winners Bitch at her first show! On Day 2 the hosting kennel club had a special competition for puppies under one year of age. Gudgeon was Best Puppy for her breed which meant that she got to compete in a puppy sporting group. She was not intimidated by the larger ring where she claimed 2nd place in the group. Wow! Holding her own with the best puppies of the other breeds in the sporting group! She finished up the weekend with another Winners Bitch award and the added honor of being selected as Best of Winners. The weekend far surpassed my expectations. This was supposed to be a learning experience for Gudgeon and an opportunity for us to learn to work as a team in the show ring. It's such an honor for her to so well received during her debut weekend.

Gudgeon. Practicing the fine art of standing still. (Photo by Karen Beste) 

Before we'd even packed up to head home, unexpected news started coming in from far away. On that same day, three of Gudgeon's littermates were also being recognized in both the UK and Norway! I didn't even know that they, too, were entered in shows on that day. Brother and sister, Buoy and Delta were battling it out for Best Puppy in the UK. Buoy was Best Dog Puppy and Delta was Best Bitch Puppy and in the end, the judge chose Delta to be Best Puppy overall! Then, in Norway, Glenna was awarded Best of Opposite Sex and her first Challenge Certificate with a rating of Excellent. Owner, Heidi Sageng, was on the other end of the lead. Wow, what a great day for all of these pups!

In Norway, Glenna and Handler/Co-owner, Heidi Sageng. (Photo by Co-owner Margunn Tvedten. )

And, if all that wasn't enough excitement for one week, today Buoy knocked it out of the ballpark in the UK when he went Reserve Best Puppy in Show, handled by our friend James Newton. Just, wow!

Chrissie Mayhew and I worked very hard to make this breeding happen and we couldn't have done it without the help of our good friends Sue Worrall, Polly Ruff, Richard Schauber, and the Wernecke family. And, Karen and Ron Anderson of Chestnut Hills Kennel (breeder/owner of the stud dog) have been equally supportive and invested in the whole project. Our little family is touched by a bit of pride this week. What great fun for all of us!

Glenna's First Show in Norway

Seven month-old, Glenna, just competed at her first weekend of shows held by the Norwegian Retriever Club. Glenna is Arnac Bay Aquamanda Glenna of Weatherdeck from our Fall 2015 litter.

On Saturday, at the club's Specialty, she was awarded Best of Breed and Best-in-Show 5. The judge's critique: "7 months, feminine, well-built, correct angulation front/rear, moves very well - BOB and BIS 5."

On Sunday, she was Best of Breed again and Best in Show 2!  And, the judge had this to say about Glenna: "7 months, well-balanced, self-confident, shows a lot of go, very good reach/drive on the move, correct pigmentation, correct set/carried ears, good length of neck, straight good bone quality, deep chest, flanks tucked up, correct angulation front/rear, tightly webbed harefeet, good coat quality, well presented, very promising. BOB and BIS 2."

We're super proud of Glenna and so pleased for owners Margunn Tvedten and Heidi Sageng. 

Heidi and Glenna in the ring at the Norwegian Retriever Club show.