The end of 2011 has proved a interesting time, the weather proved unreliable for training and working at the start and the end of the year. Ghost has once again proved herself in the showring and with significantly more MOYA points than last year I will be very interested to see how she scores.
LKA: Ghost and I took a trip to the the LKA, the last Championship show of 2011. Sadly temperaments were not as good as they might have been in the younger dog classes. However after what seemed like an age, helped along by cake from all directions(!), we finally made it to the upper Bitch classes. It was a tough day but Ghost was awarded 3rd in a large Limit Bitch class.
As the temperature dropped in Mid-December it has been really interesting to see the difference on the bike, the drop in temperature has raised Sasha’s trot speed by 2mph without her breaking into a run. I’m using Endomondo to track our runs and can see the speeds improving.
SHCGB Brandon rally: The first week of December was the SHCGB rally in Elvedon forest. Up very early on Saturday morning with Wayne still working weekends I was going up on my own. It was still warm and both Sasha and Ghost had problems, a tail down when running means they are really hot. So we took it easy and mooched round slowly with little bursts of speed every once in a while – but given how warm I was in no sleeves I didn’t want to push them. I also ran cani-cross with Tia, sadly my knee suffered after half a mile so we limped round, but it reminded me how much she loves it – I must take her out more often.
November has been a quiet month, waiting for the weather to cool down, which it has had trouble doing with high humidity levels. Although we have been training, these have been on the odd occasion and not really at any speed. I have reverted to using the Springer on the bike to improve their fitness – which is also helping with mine!
AMWA Kings Forest rally: With Wayne working I took myself off to the AMWA Kings forest rally for the weekend. The event pavilion once more came out and it was a great weekend! I did decide to disqualify myself so that I could run all three girls but it was still great fun – read more on the blog!
Barking Cainine Club Open show: Our ringcraft club held it’s open show in mid October, it was the first time this particular venue had held a show and it was fantastic. The Malamute entry was very good for an open show, 18 entries and everyone present.
Ghost was in an open class of 6 entries and in a lovely big ring she moved beautifully to win the class. She then went on to win Best of Breed, I was really pleased with her. After a long day she lost her sparkle for the group and wasn’t placed but it was fun moving around the big ring.
AMCUK Championship show: Our annual weekend up to Stoneleigh for the weekend and despite Tony trying his best to concentrate on eating flapjacks we did manage to get set-up in time on Friday afternoon.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny meaning we could use a the lovely big outside show rings. Ghost and Sasha were both shortlisted in their classes but neither of them were placed. But it was a lovely day out and we went out of dinner that evening with Sue and John.
Richmond: September begins with the Richmond show, a lovely show and thankfully dry this year. Although not a CC show this year we had a good entry. Ghost was placed third in Open class, a step up from her normal limit. I like this show as it’s got a great relaxed atmosphere, I just hope this doesn’t change next year with the introduction of CCs for us.
No big shows this month but a big weekend away – our annual trip down to Salisbury for the AMWA Social weekend. It was a great weekend away, relaxing, with time to chat, something that doesn’t happen at shows or rallies.
Ghost and I did slip away on Sunday morning to support Jane York in her judging appointment. Despite only half a coat she won the Open Dog/Bitch class and won Reserve Best of Breed and Best Opposite Sex – maybe better than BOB as we won two rosettes and got to go back and chill out for the rest of the day.
East of England & National Working: The remaining two championship shows in July Ghost attended without her coat! She was still placed in both Limit classes despite being at least half naked, good structure can get you a long way without a coat over the top!
The National Working show was not a fun day out. The forecast was not great so rain wasn’t surprising when we arrived, but the size of the inside ring was astonishing. I was third in line in the class already on the corner of the ring. The judging that day was not based on movement . . . . the dogs had no room to move, both inside and outside the rings, it being complete mayhem in the aisles.
So chaotic that I missed out on Sarah’s chocolate brownies – unforgiveable!
Windsor: The first week of July means Windsor Championship show, a lovely show in the shadow of Windsor Castle and as patriotic as they come with the National Anthem played to open the show. Ghost was barely hanging onto her coat that I nervously brushed her before going into the ring. However I needn’t have worried – she moved beautifully to be placed 2nd in the class with a great critique from Judge Richard Kinsey.
Ghost at Windsor 2011
Blackpool: Another show a long way north and many thanks to Mark for driving us all the way north. Ghost was in a bigger Limit Bitch class this time but was once again placed, this time in Reserve position, she is doing fantastically well this year.
Ghost in Limit class at Blackpool Championship show 2011. Photo with thanks to Jo Sugden
Border Union: The first of our two shows in June and a new one for us, Border Union is a long way up! But it’s beautiful and a lovely showground layout. Sultan and Francine won the Puppy Dog class and then went on to win Best Puppy – out of coat! Hades was placed a respectable 2nd in Open Dog.
Ghost was moved really well in the lovely big rings to once again be placed a good third place in the Limit Bitch class.
Scotland: Once again we made our annual trip north to the Scottish show in Edinburgh. Sasha and Tia for reasons known only to them have started to lose their coats again so it was once again Ghost flying the flag. She made the cut to the final seven in a tough Limit class, but was not placed. It was however another lovely weekend away with friends.
AMCUK Speciality show: Mid-May and the AMCUK show comes round again. With two judges this year there were 85 bitches entered, a pretty big entry considering other shows were on the same weekend.
Ghost wins Limit Bitch class and Reserve Best Bitch at the AMCUK National Speciality show 2011. Photo with thanks to Sammy Lawrence
Once again Ghost strutted her stuff in a big Limit class and to our delight won the class against some tough competition. She went on to be awarded Reserve Best Bitch. A massive coup at a National Malamute show!
The National Championship show: Another week and another big show. The entry was bigger than last week and the weather hotter. Sasha particularly suffered in the heat and didn’t perform as we know she can.
Ghost had another great day, she moved round the big ring beautifully to be placed 2nd in a big Limit class.
Congratulations to her half-brother, Sultan, who won the Minor Puppy Dog class – handled by Francine.
WELKS Championship show: The first big show of the year after Crufts, and nicely on a Royal Wedding Bank Holiday so I didn’t have to take the day off!
Ghost was again up in Limit class with a good entry of 12 this time. She was on good form and despite the wonky ring surface (!) moved beautifully to win the class.
Ghost wins Limit class at WELKS Championship show 2011. Photo with thanks to Joan Sheehan
MOYA Awards 2010: The Malamute of the Year awards were announced in April and Ghost surpassed our expectations once again. She was ranked 10th in the 2010 Top Bitch listing for the UK.
Crufts: March arrived and with it our annual trip to the NEC for Crufts. This year the coats were, how can I put this politely, not living up to my expectations. All three girls were about a month behind last year and none of them really had enough to do themselves justice. However as none of them have any problems sleeping in the benches, and they love the attention from the crowds we decided to take them all for a day out.
Being second in the ring means getting there early and then alot of hanging about. An early lovely surprise from Kat was the Ranelow Trophy, this is awarded to the winner of Best Opposite Sex at LKA, which last year was Ghost. Lets hope this is the start of a silverware trend. Needless to say when she has her coat back there will be pictures!
The judge this year was Stuart Mallard and he gave the dog CC to Enzo, owned by Sue Ellis. Massive Congratulations to Sue and Enzo as this was the ideal place for him to win his third and therefore become the next Chayo champion.
Time to get nervous with the girl classes. Ghost was in first in the Limit class, still half naked but gorgeous as ever.
Ghost in Limit class at Crufts 2011. Photo with thanks to Kate Copely-Holland
Ghost at Crufts 2011. Photo with thanks to Marina Page
She may have been far younger than most of the ladies in the class but she moved beautifully, despite not standing still for love nor money, to be placed 2nd at only 26 months old. Very pleased!
With even less coat, Sasha and Tia were both entered in the Open class, with Tracey helping they both moved really well but unsurprisingly weren’t placed.
Congratulations to Sue Ellis who took Best of Breed with Enzo and then was shortlisted in the Working Group.
Grimsthorpe: After such a fun weekend at this event last year we headed to Grimsthorpe for the SHCGB rally but this time aiming to run all three girlies together for the first time.
Thankfully it was a beautiful weekend – if a little muddy! Clear and cold with only a few spots of rain. Entered in the E class this is mostly 3-dog siberian husky teams, with a few 3-dog mally teams tagged on the end. Our aim was not for a placing but more to get round all together and come in smiling. And that they did! Not hugely fast but they kept going and didn’t stop even for a paddle in the river.
Sunday – and Tia was relieved as we just ran Sasha and Ghost. While she’d kept up all the way round we may have to accept that she’s not really a racer! The weekend was futher enhanced on Saturday by the arrival of Nicky, Ena, Evie and Harry who all came to watch this silliness that we do. Harry went away convinced that he needed a malamute and to be racing very soon!
Aviemore: Once again we made the trip north to race in the SHCGB annual showcase event in Aviemore, Scotland. We went up a little earlier this year and had a fantastic time.
The weather was beautiful, the company great fun and the girls ran really well completing the course in their best ever time.
Ghost in Aviemore 2011
