ICP Show Report 2013

PORTADOWN '13 BEST IN SHOW
Taking centre stage in the Best in Show ring was Noel Beggs, well known for his and wife June’s Everready Rottweilers, and fresh from their success at the Pup of the Year Final. From the ten group winners, Noel selected Billy & Josh Henderson and Ciaran and wife, Ann-Marie’s Dobermann Pinscher, the very successful Ch & GB Ch Tuwos Hrana for Best in Show. Unbelievably, this was ‘Maebh’s’ first such success, following the lead set by her dam, Ch & GB Aritur Hipnotique, ‘Zena’ who was BIS at Portadown in 2009 and is the Bitch breed record holder in the UK. ‘Maebh’ was the group winner last year at Hibernian and IKC National as well as her many successes in her forays across the water. Reserve BIS was Carolyn and Peter Wheatland’s 5 year old import, Smooth Haired Kaninchen, Multi Ch Sunlux Heartbreaker At Pinedax.
PORTADOWN '13 BEST IN SHOW
Best In show under Noel Beggs was Billy & Josh Henderson and Ciaran and wife, Ann-Marie’s Dobermann Pinscher, Ch & GB Ch Tuwos Hrana
PORTADOWN '13 BIS Judge Presentation
Portadown Chairman, Alan Matthews, presented BIS judge, Noel Beggs, with a gift as a memento of his appointment
PORTADOWN '13 BEST BABY PUPPY IN SHOW
Noel Beggs’ Best Baby Puppy in Show at Portadown was Carrigan’s Pomeranian, Carripom Louisiana, over from Scotland for the show, with David and Kathy McLoughlin’s Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Tristan Tobias Kni-York, RBBPIS.
PORTADOWN '13 CHAMPION STAKES
Topping the Champion Stakes under Heather Salmon-Wilson was Sean & Sally Burns and Mary & Val Coghlan’s Toy Poodle, Ch Valentine Something Special, ‘Beryl’ the group winner last year at ILKA, along with several group placings; runner-up was Austin and Ann Long Doyle’s St Bernard, Ch Il Divo Roly By Longsdyle, top of Group 2 last year on the ICP/Connolly’s Red Mills Leaderboard.
PORTADOWN '13 CHAMPION STAKES
Topping the Champion Stakes under Heather Salmon-Wilson was Sean & Sally Burns and Mary & Val Coghlan’s Toy Poodle, ‘Beryl’, Ch Valentine Something Special.
PORTADOWN '13 PUPPY STAKES
Heather Salmon-Wilson was the Stakes judge at Portadown and her Puppy Stakes winner, qualifying for the POTY Finals next year was Lucinda Thompson’s Whippet bitch, homebred Barnesmore Raise Your Glass, with second place going to Ellen O’Neill’s American Akita, Geilsaven Lovable Rogue.
PORTADOWN '13 VETERAN STAKES
It was the BSD Tervueren, Ann & Eamon White’s Ch Revloch Ready Teddy Go To Whitandon who triumphed in the Veteran Stakes under Heather Salmon-Wilson, coming home in front of Cathy Loughlin’s Irish Setter, Sh Ch Thendara Versace Among Rohanmor, handled by Katie Kelly.
PORTADOWN '13 BRACE STAKES
Christine Bastable’s team of Smooth Haired Kaninchen Dachshunds, Ch Melriding Marsellaise Luvs Chrishane and Ch Chrishane Luvs Lottie The Hottie were the choice of Heather Salmon-Wilson to top the Brace Stakes at Portadown.
PORTADOWN '13 GROUP 1
Judging Group 1 at Portadown was Willie Dobbin, having a day off from his Newfoundland duties, and his winner was Colm and Rose Hastings’ Old English Sheepdog, Lambluvs Sultry Secret.. Runner-up was Paul, Jean and Kelly Lawless’ Schipperke, Ch & GB Ch Monterez Jingle Belle For Hantraved, the runner-up earlier this year in the Top Irish Showdog competition.
PORTADOWN '13 GROUP 2
Willie Dobbin also judged Group 2, sending through the eventual BIS winner, Billy & Josh Henderson and Ciaran and Ann Marie Donnelly’s Dobermann, Ch & GB Ch Tuwos Hrana; group runner-up was Sharon Thornton’s 14 months old Boxer bitch, Duxsara’s Star Struck, handled on the day by Paul Keenan to a first group placement.
PORTADOWN '13 GROUP 3
Heading up Group 3 under Australian judge, Kerry Lee, was Harold and Helena Quigg’s Kerry Blue Terrier, Torums Calico Jack At Irisblu, ‘Jack’ on the threshold of gaining his GB title a few weeks later; in second spot was Harry O’Donoghue’s Wire Fox Terrier, Ch Blackdale Julie, yet another of the Blackdale kennel’s top winners, with a number of group placings towards the end of last year, RBIS at the All Terrier, and group 3 at Celtic Winners this year.
PORTADOWN '13 GROUP 4
It was the RBIS winner, Carolyn and Peter Wheatland’s Smooth Haired Kaninchen Dachshund, Multi Ch Sunlux Angel Heartbreaker At Pinedax, who was Italian judge, Francesco Cochetti’s choice to top Group 4.
PORTADOWN '13 GROUP5
Kevin and Sinead O’Neill’s Akita Inu Ch Noshiro Limited Edition, was the winner of Group 5 under Rita Kadike Skadina from Latvia, ‘Kuma’s’ first group success; in second place was Kate Harbinson’s Pharaoh Hound, Ch & Int Ch Enigma Quite A Showgirl With Actolia, repeating her G2 at Fermoy and Bangor last year.
PORTADOWN '13 GROUP 6
Group 6 saw the emergence of the eventual BIS 4 winner, Barry O’Neill and Sandra Stack’s Basset Hound, Ch & GB Ch Knockogue Arthurs Legacy, group winner at Combined Canine, and on a roll again after such a great year in 2012; runner-up under judge Rita Kadike Skadina was Lydia and Rebecca Cooper’s Rhodesian Ridgeback, Druimderg Fire And Ice, today gaining her Irish title.
PORTADOWN '13 GROUP 7
Paul Scanlon, well known for his Whitecliff Miniature Schnauzers, but in earlier years very much an a gundog aficionado, judged Group 7 where his victor was Ken Kennedy’s Irish Setter, Sh Ch & GB Sh Ch Glenarra Coer De Lion, a big winner both at home and across the water as his dual titles testify; Paul’s second place rosette was awarded to another top winner on both sides of the Irish Sea, Aidan McKiernan’s English Setter, Sh Ch Richecca Reach For The Skye, the IKC Celtic Winners and Combined group winner, soon to have his 3rd CC.
PORTADOWN '13 GROUP 8
Kerry Lee also judged Group 8 where his winner was Joe Caulfield and Joanne Furlong’s Irish Water Spaniel, Sh Ch & GB Sh Ch Fynder On Shifting Ground, top winner in this group, having finished top of the ICP/Connolly’s Red Mills Leaderboard Group 8 last year; in second place was Linda Harvey Major and Sue Merrill’s Labrador Retriever, Gostwyck I Spy Linjor, a first group placing for this 3 year old bitch.
PORTADOWN '13 GROUP 9
Rita Kadike Skadina was back centre ring again, this time for Group 9 where Henry Stanley and Gordon Gault’s Pekingese, Ch Moonwhispers Intrigue Fate, took top honours, after two G4 finishes at both IKC Celtic Winners and Combined in the previous weeks; keeping it very much in the family was Henry’s nephew Eamon Keenan when he handled the Lhasa Apso, Heneva Raising The Bets, into second place, a precursor to other successes later in the calendar.
PORTADOWN '13 GROUP 10
Assessing Group 10 was Francesco Cochetti, his winner emerging as Albert Ritchie’s Whippet, Demerlay Armabay Billie Jean, ‘Gina’ was attending her first IKC show after winning Post Graduate at Crufts and then going BIS at the NI Gundog Field and Show Society Open show, she also has a RCC from the National Whippet club show; runner-up was Marion, Tim and Ian Finney’s Irish Wolfhound, Gulliagh Aramis, group winner last year at Bray.
PORTADOWN '13 PORTADOWN JUNIOR HANDLING
Best Overall in the three Junior Handling Classes under Heather Salmon Wilson, was Danielle Ritchie Smyth, handling her Grandfather’s Whippet, which, coincidentally, also won the group on the day.