At WELKS Peter Radley found his BD in Allan & Harlow’s Allmark Muffin Muncher and RBD in Turner’s Ch/Jsy/Am Ch Harmonyhills Funnysatincideman at Chakona. BB and BOB was Allan, Harlow & Gregory’s Allmark Tina Turner and RBB was Gorley & Timperon’s Windfalls Dior Me Dior Me Not at Impenzie. BP was Bland’s Abodandy Nika Yaba Daba Boo at Hilandes and Best Breeder was the Ozzypool crew bred by Colin & Glynis Dowson. Ozzypool Jacob Black owned by Glynis and Jean Turnball placed 4^th in the Puppy Stakes at his first show.

The National was a happy and riotous affair with the usual group partying after judging was completed. DCC & BOB under Lisa Burtenshaw was Armatan Take A Chance On Me with RDCC going to Simmons Versace Suave Des Chemins Cathares. BCC was Timperons Windfall Cause I’m Worth It with Triforce with RBCC going to Gatenby & Green’s Amoureuse D’Abbey Des Chemins Cathares. BP was Bland’s Abodandy Nika Yaba Daba Boo at Hilandes. YKC Handling Working/Pastoral was won by Nikki Reeve with Can Ch Touchstone Dreams Come True.

At NASA Open Show under Sue Bird BIS was Knott’s Zillamac Starfleet Annika. BPIS was Watt’s Lyveden Pheris Jaff.

Agility results from Gary Smith are that Gemthorne Final Fing won Grade 1-2 jumping at Woodside Show while his kennel mate G Thunderflash had a 12^th place in Grade 3. Diane Taylor informs me that Black Satin Topaz at Auziway won Grade 1 Jumping at Vynes Championship Agility Show out of 175 dogs. Well done to you both.

Sad news to finish with, Debbie Newell has lost her young aussie boy Triforce The Last Sky Pirate. Cole was lost after routine hip scoring and his loss has left Debbie and her family devastated as well as his breeders Ros and John Timperon. He was Top Puppy In Breed and ASCUK Top Puppy at Champ/Open Shows for 2009 and had a very bright future ahead of him. What a tragic loss of such a beautiful young dog. Our thoughts are with you all.

Friday 11th June

SKC was sunny and warm for once, and judge Angie Allan found her DCC & BOB in Jayne Holligan’s Applethorn Storm Force and RDCC in Wilson & Bridges Riverwinds Secret Operator. BCC was Gatenby & Green’s Armatan Moonchild and RBCC was their Amoureuse D’Abbey Des Chemins Cathares. BP was Turnball & Dowson’s Ozzypool Jacob Black at Jenkova. In the Junior Handling classes, the Reeve sisters kept the Aussie flag flying high with Nikki winning the JH 6-11 years and YKC Handling with Can. Ch Touchstone Dreams Come True and Samantha winning the 12-16 years group with her new charge Am.Ch Windfalls Katchmeifyoucan and palcing 2^nd in the YKC Handling. Not content with this young Nikki also won the YKC Grooming and qualified for the final at Crufts 2011.

At Bath the weather wasn’t quite so good. Helen Burke found her BD & BOB in Ch/Am/Jer Ch Harmonyhills Funnysatincideman at Chakona and RBD was Spavin & Raymond’s Allmark Ozzy Osbourne at Dialynne. BB was their Allmark Cookie Monster ar Dialynne and RBB was Turnball, Clegram & Dowson’s Ozzypool Eternal Flame. BP was Farrants Solarwind Midnight Star (ai) The Stakes classes were well represented with Timperon & Reeve’s Katchmeifyoucan placing 5^th in the Veteran Stakes. In the Special Beginners Stakes, Dennis’s Armatan Rhinestone Cowboy at Ausden also placed 5^th. In the YKC Stakes Samantha was 2^nd with Katchmeifyoucan and then 3^rd in Junior Handling with Nikki placing 2^nd in YKC with Dreams Come True and 3^rd in Junior Handling in their respective age groups.

In Agility, Diane Taylor tells me that Black Satin Topaz for Auziway has now won out of Grade 1 Agility and is up into Grade 2. Garry and Tracy Smith are doing well with their Aussies. Garry’s Gemthorne Thunderflash is usually pushing the top 5 placings and has multiple placings over the last few weeks. Garry hopes to get Eric into Grade 4 by the end of the Summer. Tracy has been running her rehome aussie Gemthorne Final Fling.in Grade 2 and has had top 10 placings in all runs. Tracy was happy to keep Mac in Grade 2 ready for bringing her mad merle Dizzy out in June. I am sure they will quickly tear the Agility rings up.

Molly Apperley tells me that Javison Silver Ash at Nanaimo has now achieved his ShCM. I know Molly has worked hard to get this, so well done to you and Sydney.

In Obedience, Paul Cousins and Moortime Forest Fern CDex UDex WDex TD Beg Ex placed 2^nd in Novice at Plymouth Open Obedience Show.

I had a sad e-mail this week from Lyn Dennis who writes ‘Lyn & Mike Dennis have sadly lost their lovely bitch Gibband Silver Skipper At Ausden to epilepsy.

‘Izzy’ was a wonderful ambassador for our breed as she was at Discover Dogs every year both at Crufts & Earls Court since she was six months old. Her death at under five years of age is very hard to take. She was a gentle & beautiful girl who won at Championship Shows from the age of six months until the start of epilepsy at 3 years of age but best known for her gentle ways with children especially on school visits. Be grateful for the good times you share with your dogs you never know what is round the corner’.

Only two weeks previously I had received a photo from Lyn of Izzy at her vets Blue Cross tea party. Izzy was sat in the middle of all the other client’s dogs enjoying cake, looking relaxed and enjoying herself. I know one of Lyn’s other Aussies Luka is finding it difficult not having his best friend around him. Epilepsy is a dreadful disease and we can only hope that the marker for it is found sooner rather than later. Our thoughts are with you Lyn and Mike.

Friday 2nd July

At Southern Counties Joyce Collis found her BD & BOB in Turner’s Ch/Jsy/Am.Ch Harmonyhills Satin Funnycideman at Chakona and RBD was Gibbons Gibbands Red Admiral. BB was Allan, Harlow & Gregory’s Ch Allmark Careless Whisper JW and RBB was Gibbons Trijem Apple of my Eye at Gibbands. BP was Holt’s Jacanshe Solid Chocolate.  The Pastoral Junior Stakes heat under Patsy Hollings was won by Allan, Harlow & Gregory’s A Lenny Henry.  Three Counties was next where Adrienne Beynon found her BD in Allan & Harlow’s Bordertime Defying Gravity at Allmark and RBD was Spavin & Raymond’s A Ozzy Osbourne at Dialynne. BB & BOB was Allan’s Ch A Careless Whisper JW and RBB was Spavin & Raymond’s A Cookie Monster at Dialynne. BP was Farrants Solarwind Midnight Star. 3^rd in the Veteran Stakes was Gibbons G Red Admiral and 2^nd in the Special Beginners Stakes was Farrants Trijem Yuletide Sapphire. At Border Union DCC & BOB was Timperons Am.Ch Bayshore Triple Ex with Triforce and RDCC was Fletcher & Dowson’s Ozzypool Spirit Dancer JW ShCM. BCC went to Timperons Windfalls Cause I’m Worth It  with Triforce with RBCC going to McNee’s Armatan Commotion. BP was Gatenby & Green’s Armatan Fire Blade. Colin & Glynis Dowson won the Breeder Class and then went on to win the Pastoral Breeder Group which qualifies them for the final again at Crufts 2011.

In Agility Gary Smith and Gemthorne Thunderflash were 3^rd in Grade 3-5 Large Jumping at Wilton and 10^th in Large Junping Grade 1-7. Triforce the Stormrunner owned and ran by Gary’s wife Tracy managed a clear round and a 2^nd place in Grade 2 Agility and a clear round and a 3^rd place in Grade 2 Jumping. This was Dizzy’s first time ever competing and she is definitely one to watch for the future. Grade 3 here she comes !

In Obedience Paul Cosuins and Moortime Forest Fern CDex UDex WDex TD Beg Ex have been doing really well gaining 2^nd places in Novice Bitch at Cwmbran Championship Obedience Show, GSD of Devon Obedience Show,  Exeter Open Obedience Show and Petersfield Championship Show.   Fern also managed a 5^th place also on day 2 at Exeter and now has gained her Novice Excellent Qualification subject to KC approval.

Emma Alder’s  Jacanshe Harvest Time took BOB under Sarah Green at Taunton Premier Open Show and then won the Pastoral Group and Best In Show under Clare Coxall. Lorraine Rohland took Moortime Moonbeam to a local Companion Show at just 6 months old and was delighted to win BPIS.

I recieved an e-mail from the Brian McLaughlin at the AHT who are soon hoping to undertake a follow-up investigation into hereditary cataracts (HC) in the Australian Shepherd.  Previously their research team discovered the HC causal HSF4 mutation in this breed, which accounts for the majority of clinically observed cases. However, there seems to be a clinically similar minority form of HC within the breed which isn't caused by the HSF4 mutation. This study will aim to verify the possibility of another HC causal mutation in Australian Shepherds, and also attempt to ascertain this mutation. They require samples from: Clinically affected cataract cases that have been tested clear for the HSF4 mutation and older dogs that have been given a clear eye exam over 8 years of age; these will act as ‘controls’. Accompanying copies of eye exams for both affected and control samples are necessary to make them useful towards their research. If you own a dog that qualifies for either category above and wish to contribute a sample, then please e-mail canine.genetics@aht.org.uk and please include a postal address and how many kits are required with your e-mail.

I recently commented as to how nice it was to see a happy, relaxed atmosphere around the breed ring at Shows, but then at a recent show unsportsman like behaviour reared its ugly head again. An unwarranted comment was made by an exhibitor in the ring. It is unnecessary, not only within earshot of the Judge but to other exhibitors and people listening around the ring. It is not clever and surely there is no place for it. Showing is supposed to be fun and a hobby,  and win or lose you always take the best dog home.

Keep the news coming in,

Julie Blackburn

Telephone:- 0161 718 9285 (answer phone)

E-mail:- j.blackburn04@ntlworld.com