The Corona Virus hit the country in March 2020 with Crufts being the last show to be held that year and the crisis continued on into 2021.
By May 2021 things eased off somewhat enabling certain outdoor events to take place including dog shows.
The East Anglia club set the ball rolling in May 2021 (14 months after Crufts in 2020) with an Open show on a football field. The BIS there was Karon & Wayne Jackson’s Jackabyte Javikah.
Best Puppy at this show was Linda Hall’s Geordiestaff Nee Botha and she went on to go Best Bitch, Linda looks tickled pink with this terrific result, and so she should. Neither of these two dogs had been shown before before as was the case for all the dogs born after September 2019.
The East Anglia show was followed a few weeks later by another Open Show run by the North East Club. This was at their usual venue but outside on the adjacent sports field. Again Corona measures were in place and exhibitors were encouraged to utilise gazebos, tents, etc.
The Best dog award went to Laureen & Eddie Williams Jodels Impact, left.
The Best Puppy was, once again, Geordiestaff Nee Botha, so not a bad start to the new showing season for Linda.
Others NW members getting first places at this show were Karen Waltham’s Dringshaw Athos, Best Puppy Dog; Norton’s Taraiel Stormzy of Tikkurilan (Yearling Dog); Emma Miller’s Skyland Enchanted (Limit Dog); Stanways’ Waystaff Honeymoon (Post Grad Bitch) and Wilson’s Ch Bullhawk Jessie Jay at Northstaff (Veteran Bitch).
The Show Season really got going with the first Champ show – the SCCA – The judge at this show was NW member Wayne Jackson – first time judging at this level.
It didn’t take long for some semblance of normality to creep in as social distancing went out of the window – see the ringside photo above.
The DCC & BOB went to Debbie Desmond’s Ch Elitebulls Challenger (below winning the Open dog class) – this being the third time in a row that this dog has won BOB at this show.
Third in this class was Ch Tillcarr Fire Coanda but his sister Ch Tillcarr Baptism Of Fire went one further by winning the RCC – right, handled here by Martin Johnson, one half of the Tillcarr Double act, the other half being Karen Johnson, seen handling in the photo below.
TILLCARR KISSED BY FIRE
And half sister Tillcarr Kissed By Fire (left) launched her very successful Junior career by winning the Best Junior award – not many Societies schedule this award – this one does.
Other 1st placings for members – both Yearling classes, Dog and Bitch went to litter mates Taraiel Stormzy of Tikkurilan and Taraiel Dua Lipa bred by Julie Bibby & Stacey Hirst; Penny Funnell’s Powerpack Alura Finvarra won Post Grad Bitch.
Limit Bitch was won by Karen Jones’ Chiswelstaff Black Velvet at Kamaristaff (right) – a sign of things to come for this girl and her Mum.
Attendance at this show was a great start for resumption of shows – everybody looking happy to be there renewing friendships after being locked up for so long.
Next the East Anglia shows – starting with East Of England
Another double day for the Tillcarrs – not quite the top awards but both RCC’s will do very nicely with Ch Tillcarr Fire Coanda and Tillcarr Kiss Of Fire, the latter from Junior.
Other first placings at the East Of England – another double this time for the Jackabyte kennel with Jackabyte Javikah and Jackabyte Bocouture winning both Limit classes; Dringshaw Athos (Puppy Dog); Taraiel Stormzy of Tikkurilan (Yearling Dog); and Powerpack Alura Finvarra winning Post Grad bitch for the second show running.
Best veteran was won by Steve & Kelly Wilson’s Ch Bullhawk Jessie Jay at Northstaff following the same award at East of England.
Down the A1 to Huntingdon Race Course for the first of two East Anglian Club shows on two consecutive days and a big, big win for Tec & Elaine Norton’s Taraiel Stormzy of Tikkurilan – the Dog CC, judge Jack Coats.
Some familiar figures at this Club show and together with the gazebos and stalls all contributing to creating some level of normality – it helped to have near perfect weather, not too hot, not too cold and not raining. Note the gazebos in the rings – 5 in total.
This was the first Breed Club championship show and this photo demonstrates the relaxed atmosphere prevalent at this show, continuing into the rest of the summer. More gazebos here giving an idea of the show scene during the early Covid times – from this shot it looks like everyone went to the same shop.
First in the Puppy Dog class was Karen Waltham’s Dringshaw Athos (left) and Chissy & John Howard’s Matrixstaffs Black Beauty (right) won Limit bitch
Best Veteran was Bev Harrison & Jane Roper’s Ch Trawden Ice And Spice, handled here by Alan George – judge Liz Stanway.
Day 2 of the East Anglian extravaganza – no big wins to report except for the Dog CC winner was Waystaff Moon Shine, bred by the Stanways but owned by Emma Makin and Aide Porter (not NW members) . So a nice surprise for them.
There was however a handful of firsts won by members – on the left Chrissy Howard with Matrixstaffs Kilgharrah – this dog is out of a repeat mating that produced Matrixstaffs Black Beauty, second in the Limit Bitch class, behind the winner Jackabyte Bocouture, right.
Dave & Vicki Butler’s Joemikeste Fair And Square was placed first in the Junior bitch class – this youngster is out of their Champion bitch Ch Joemikeste Play The Game. Ch Bullhawk Jessie Jay at Northstaff won Best Veteran at this show, no photo to hand but there is a pic of the second placed bitch – right.
The photo above was taken at 05.15 am on the day of the show – the show had been more or less laid out the previous evening but there was some last minute tasks to carry out – it’s always handy when you are actually on site at this unearthly hour. At this time of day it was pretty cool, but as the day wore on to say that the heat was stifling is an under statement. Despite the heat there were no casualties.
Another NW member (s) did very well winning BIS with Hamason Finnbar Firecraker – they were owners David Robinson & Jaki Marsh and breeders, the entire Robinson-Cox family.
First places for NW members were hard to find but there was a few – Tillcarr Kissed By Fire continued her winning streak in the Junior bitch class – right.
And Chiswelstaff Black Velvet at Kamaristaff won another limit bitch class announcing here that this bitch is here for the long haul.
The Wilson’s dog, Ch Northstaff Notorious (out of Jessie Jay) came 1st in the Open dog class, so not a bad day for them.
The Club also run an Open show on the same day with Vicki Butler judging and not a bad entry of 100+.
BIS was Manark Made To Measure, owned by Frank & Imogen Gough, photo below.
The Best Veteran was Ch Bullhawk Jessie Jay at Northstaff (left) – this was the fourth time this bitch won this award in the year so far, out of a possible five shows – dedication to the cause by owners Steve and Kelly Wilson.
Best veteran was another win for CH BULLHAWK JESSIE JAY AT NORTHSTAFF completing a very satisfactory day for the Wilsons.
Next – over the hills to Leeds where we had alrounder Shane Watson and another hot day. The Tillcarrs had already won a couple RCC’s here and there before but at this show they excelled once more by taking both the CC’s with their two Champion brother and sister combo – Ch Tillcarr Fire Coanda (who went BOB) and Ch Tillcarr Baptism Of Fire. This is the third time that these two have won both CC’s at the same show, the other two in 2019.
The Western held two shows on the same day. First up, judge Peter Hopgood handed the Bitch CC to Karen Jones’ Chiswelstaff Black Velvet at Kamaristaff, her first ever CC win (for both owner and bitch).
A second win for Matrixstaffs Kilgharrah in Minor Puppy Dog.
Whilst these two shows were going on yours truly was languishing at Bournemouth, hence the paucity of photos at these Western shows.
Under Martin Grimwood at this first show Karen Waltham’s Dringshaw Athos won the Junior class but later at the following show judge Craig Scanlan awarded this dog the CC with Best Puppy to go with it and finally BIS!!!
Waystaff Crackerjack won the Post Grad class at this second show and in the Bitches under Nicky Wiggins there were first places for Geordiestaff Nee Botha (Puppy), Joemikeste Fair and Square (Junior) and Waystaff What’s The Crack (Graduate)
There is one photo though and this is of the Best Veteran at the first show – Ch Trawden Ice And Spice, pictured here with handler and co-owner Jane Roper. I suspect the other owner, Bev Harrison is responsible for this photo.
Moving on to Bournemouth with all rounder Frank Kane judging and we start at the end of the show with the Bitch Challenge.
Wayne & Karon Jackson’s Jackabyte Bocouture took the Limit class and Karen & Martin Johnson’s Tillcarr Kissed By Fire won the Junior class – in fact this girl was on fire for the entire summer taking 13 Firsts in Junior.
The Bitch CC was awarded to Julie Bibby and Stacey Hirst’s Taraiel Dua Lipa, her first CC (right).
Litter mates to Dua Lipa also won their respective classes Taraiel Stormzy of Tikkurilan – Yearling Dog and Taraiel Ray Of Light at Wellstaffs – Graduate bitch – so not a bad day for the Taraiels. Here they are.
The dog RCC went to the Johnson’s Ch Tillcarr Fire Coanda.
Back to the promised land (Lancashire, if there is any doubt) – and another triple show arrangement – all at the Blackpool show ground – Morecambe Bay on it’s own on day one and the following day we had the Merseyside show paired with Blackpool itself.
The first day we enjoyed some more typical NW weather – rain – so we were all packed into the wet weather tents and when I say packed in I really mean it – see below.
No big winners for the North West here but more than a few First and Second places to give everyone some encouragement. Judges – Bob Blackley (Dogs) & Helen Reaney (Bitches)
Starting with the Open Dog class the first two places were occupied by Ch Tillcarr Fire Coanda and Ch Elitebulls Challenger. Karen had to be more than happy with this as the DRCC went down the line to Junior and one of the next generation of this kennel – Tillcarr Forged In Fire.
Kate Burrow’s Rossobull Iggle Piggle took a very creditable second place in a very strong Yearling Dog class and then moved up a place in the Novice class – although Kate doesn’t look too pleased on this shot.
The Puppy dog class was won by Pendlestaff Spitfire, owner/breeders Paul Sutcliffe and Claire Crossman and he went on to win Best Puppy dog. A good start going into the weekend.
In second place was the CC winning dog Dringshaw Athos, actually entered in the Puppy class here – and also Graduate, which he won.
I realise that this next dog – Taraiel Stormzy of Tikkurilan – was only in second place in his class (Limit) – but at least it was behind the ultimate DCC & BIS winner (Catstaff Used To).
That’s the Dogs over with – the Bitches fared somewhat better starting with the puppies.
The Minor Puppy class was won by Derek Shaw’s Matrixstaffs Morgana. This puppy is out of a repeat mating by the Howards and the second bitch puppy that Derek has acquired from them, the first was from the original mating.
The Puppy bitch class was won by Linda Hall’s home bred Geordiestaff Nee Botha. This bitch is out of Linda’s Spanish import Legendstaff Sweet Lady cum Geordiestaff and is by Geordiestaff Dynamo Dexter who happens to be the great grandsire to Legendstaff Sweet Lady.
In the challenge she was awarded Best Puppy bitch and later on Best Puppy in show – well done Linda and some canny breeding.
Junior bitch was once again won by Tillcarr Kissed By Fire – no photo here, but she won the following day so we’ll see her there. I managed to take the winners of Novice and Graduate – the Novice class winner was Joemikeste Let Her Rip for Hatson, owned by Michaela Riley – bred by Dave & Vicki Butler out of their champion bitch Ch Joemikeste Play The Game mated to Michaela’s young dog Hatson Come On Thunder. (this bitch won the Maiden class at the Merseyside show as well).
Graduate was won by Emma Miller’s Skyland Ratatouille, out of their bitch Skyland Unique.
A couple of very worthy second places – in Post Graduate we saw Bev Harrison & Jane Roper’s Ruby Ice Trawden Fransimo Bohemia – this bitch hails from the Czech Republic and breeder Simona Lahodova and is by Trawden Ice Cool. Whilst in the Open Bitch class Michaela Riley’s name comes up again, this time with her Molru Shine Ya Light.
Finally we had the Veteran Bitch class – all NW members bar one, including Ch Trawden Ice And Spice (2nd) and Ch Bullhawk Jessie Jay at Northstaff (3rd)
But in first place was Taraiel Lorde – the dam of what turned out to be the litter containing three CC winners (including one Champion) and her previous litter produced another Champion. I think this was the only show she was exhibited at in 2021.
Breeder/owners Julie Bibby and Stacey Hirst
Next day, the rain had finally relented and we kicked off outside with Mersyside and Blackpool in adjacent rings. The former had two rookie judges – Paul Boland doing the Dogs and Derek Moore (from Northern Ireland) the bitches. The judge for Blackpool was Lee Rhodes attracting an entry like the olden days – a lot.
Starting off with the Merseyside show we saw some serious action in the later classes; in particular both Open classes – in dogs Ch Elitebulls Challenger took first place, as did Ch Jackabyte Miss Moneypenny but that was it for both these NW members Champions.
Moving onto Veteran and two more Champion winners – Ch Molru Nothing Else Matters and Ch Trawden Ice And Spice, the latter taking the Best Veteran award despite trying to escape from the ring as the Dog judge was approaching and handler/co-owner Jane Roper maintaining her dignity in the process.
Not a great deal more to report except a now customary win in Junior bitch for Tillcarr Kissed By Fire, following, to some extent, in her dam’s (Ch Tillcarr Baptism Of Fire) footsteps but not quite – the latter was awarded 5 CC’s in Junior a difficult task to emulate, I’m sure. time will tell.
Meanwhile in the Blackpool ring another win in Minor Puppy dog for Matrixstaffs Kilgharrah (I’ve finally managed to spell this name without looking) and he later got a second place in this class at the Merseyside event.
The next class – Puppy – was another triumph for Pendlestaff Spitfire – the second win in two days for Claire and Paul – this dog also won Best Puppy dog again but was once more pipped at the post for Best Puppy by the bitch.
For the next NW win we move onto Limit Dog – a good class to win and it was Taraiel Stormzy of Tikkurilan in pole, reversing the placings from the previous day at Morecambe Bay with Catstaff’s Used To in second.
The Open Dog class was won (for the second time on the day) by Ch Elitebulls Challenger and now he faced one of his progeny – Stormzy – not to mention all the other class winners.
The Dog CC went to the Limit class winner – Taraiel Stormzy of Tikkurilan, his second such award.
Not a lot to comment on for the bitch judging until Yearling and in second place for the second time in the day we had Julie Bibby and Stacey Hirst’s Taraiel Dua Lipa, fresh from winning the CC the previous weekend.
This bitch is a litter mate to Stormzy.
So that concludes the rather busy Blackpool weekend with three shows – the next destination for the class of 2021 – Wetherby for the Driffield show.
Having secured a third place in Limit Bitch earlier in the day at the Merseyside show, this bitch – Jackabyte Bocouture – took first place in the same class at Blackpool and that was followed a week later by winning the RCC at Driffield.
The veteran class saw Ch Bullhawk Jessie Jay at Northstaff win, reversing the order from the morning’s judging with Ch Trawden Ice And Spice in second
This show was judged by Maureen Ward and another hot day. The stand out award for North Westers was the bitch CC going to Chrissy & John Howard’s Matrixstaffs Black Beauty – remember this bitch is out of the Howard’s first ever litter bred by them.
Earlier a dog out of their second litter (repeat) – Matrixstaffs Kilgharrah came 1st in the Puppy class. This was one of those days for the Howards that we all occasionally (and hopefully) experience every now and then.
By the time the photo below was taken Chrissy had come back down to earth.
Both the bitch CC and RCC winners came from the Limit class – the Open class was won by Karen Jones’ Chiswelstaff Black Velvet at Kamaristaff.
Other NW members dogs doing Ok were Ch Tillcarr Fire Coanda and the Stanway’s Mosstrooper Kentucky Moon – first and second in the Open Dog class.
Taraiel Stormzy of Tikkurilan also found himself in second place in the Limit class, behind the eventual CC winner – Ch Catstaff’s Used To.
A short drive up the A1 for the first of two North East Champ show in 2021 – I’m sorry due to a bit of misfortune – Stormzy tripped me up in the car park on arrival resulting in a nasty blow to the back of the neck (mine) – I didn’t take any photos.
Not that there were many wins for North Westers so here are a few, photos taken by Neil Rutherford, resident NE photographer.
The Murphy’s, over from Dublin, had entered their litter brother/sister duo – the dog Brockmar Crack On and Brockmar Rewrite The Stars at this show and they both took 1st place in their respective Post Graduate classes.
To start the day off Matrixstaffs Kilgharrah won the Minor Puppy Dog class despite not wanting to walk on the hall flooring – this was the first show to be held inside at a leisure centre and dogs new to the game had not experienced this surface, being used to grass.
The dog doesn’t look at all happy in this shot.
Whilst in Graduate Bitch and another win for Emma Miller’s Skyland Ratatouille. She must have done a fair amount of winning I can actually spell ratatouille
Junior Bitch was won by Tillcarr Kissed By Fire and in second place was Dusklight Cassiopeia, owned and bred by Anna Boulton, below.
In the Open Dog class and in 2nd place was Trawden Ice Cool, bred by Bev Harrison and Jane Roper , followed by Paul & Liz Stanway’s Mosstrooper Kentucky Moon in 3rd.
North West Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club 