I hope everyone is keeping warm, during this cold snap. I see plenty of photos of Havanese enjoying the snow in the UK. Thankfully it hasn’t made its way over the Irish Sea, so far! I am a cold creature at the best of times, and love nothing more than being warm and cosy, so this weather certainly does not become me! So for the next while, I shall have to immerse myself in a good book and dream of summer.
Last week saw the first show with CC’s on offer for Havanese in the UK, Manchester. And of course it wouldn’t be Manchester without some snow! Thankfully it held off until later on in the day. Our judge was the very pleasant and extremely efficient Mr Dan Ericsson from Sweden. Mr Ericsson had the pleasure of judging our lovely breed in 2015, where he awarded the first set of CC’s in Havanese at Crufts 2015. Havanese were second in the ring after 59 West Highland White Terriers. Mr Ericsson was very decisive and efficient in his judging, so we were not waiting too long to get into the ring. IT was absolutely delightful to see such a big entry of puppies! I didn’t get a chance to watch many of the classes, as I was looking after my own gang, but did notice lots of happy and confident puppies with lovely waggy tails. The atmosphere around the benches was fantastic, everyone chatting and friendly towards one another. It was great to catch up with everyone and there was a great sense of comradery. It was also nice to meet some folk who were newer to the breed, I hope they feel as welcome as I did when I first started travelling to the UK to show our Havanese.
We had a good number of Havanese entered – 54 Havanese, making an entry of 56. Mr Ericsson awarded the Dog CC and Best of Breed to Mrs J Harper-Dediu’s Skystar’s Sonny. Reserve Dog CC was awarded to Miss H McCallum-Sealy’s homebred Pandaprint Believe in Magic JW. The Bitch CC was awarded to Dr A Akkad & Mrs O Carty’s Ir Ch Reine o’Castamere by Labayamesa Ir Jr Ch and Reserve Bitch CC was awarded to Mrs L Miles Adorele A Perfect World. Best Veteran in Breed was awarded to Miss S Moore’s Newtownwood Two Ta Tango Sh CM and Best Puppy in Breed was awarded to Mrs O Carty-Parge and Mr D Parge’s Flordecuba Amarillo Star. It was a momentous day for the breed, as two new champions were crowned, both the Dog CC Winner and Bitch CC winner received their third tickets and subject to KC ratification will be the eighth and ninth GB Champions crowned in our breed! There were great cheers and celebrations when the new champions were crowned and I would personally like to thank each and everyone one of our wonderful community for their congratulations on Cassie’s title. I will say it again, we truly have wonderful exhibitors in our little breed and the atmosphere around our ring seems to be getting even more pleasant with every trip I make across the water. This is most encouraging and welcoming for newer exhibitors in our breed!
Manchester is the last championship show now, both in Ireland and the UK, until the big one – Crufts 2019! Online entries have now closed, so hopefully everyone has gotten their entries in. This weekend proves to be a busy one in Ireland, with two events this weekend. On Saturday, the Navan Dog Show will hold its annual Best of the Best Supermatch. Representing the Havanese will be Ir Ch Bailemos Poker Face Jr Ch CW 18 and Multi Ch Sup Ch Gr Ch CIB Amazing Dance Shisuka Multi Jr Ch. All proceeds from the event will go to Pieta House Charity – a centre for the prevention of suicide or self-harm – a very worthy cause indeed! On Sunday, the Dublin Cocker Society will hold its annual Open Show. Judge for Havanese is Mrs S Murphy. Good luck to all showing over the weekend!
If you have any news, results or information that you would like included in the breed notes, please feel free to drop me a line. You can contact me either by email (cartyolivia@gmail.com) or on Facebook through Facebook Messenger. Olivia Carty-Parge
Manchester Championship Show
Dog CC Skystar’s Sonny
Bitch CC Ir Ch Reine O’castamere by Labayamesa
Both crowned at Manchester Ch Show