ICP Show Report 2012

SLIGO '12 BEST IN SHOW
The Best in Show judge at Sligo & District’s 15th Annual Championship was Paul Lawless, well known for his Revloch BSDs and Schipperkes. Paul’s choice for Best in Show fell to Gerry and Pauline Clarke’s Irish Wolfhound, Ch Roxanne of Shantamon; ‘Dusty’ having just turned 2 years of age, was following on from group victory at ILKA and is in the top 3 on the ICP/Connolly’s RED MILLS Leaderboard. RBIS under Paul was Ken Kennedy’s Irish Setter, Sh Ch, GB Sh Ch & Int Ch Glennara Coer De Lion, another dog having a great run at the moment, most recently the group winner at Bray to add to his successes across the water.
SLIGO '12 BEST IN SHOW
Paul Lawless’ choice for Best in Show fell to Gerry and Pauline Clarke’s Irish Wolfhound, Ch Roxanne of Shantamon.
SLIGO '12 BEST IN SHOW
Paul Lawless’ choice for Best in Show fell to Gerry and Pauline Clarke’s Irish Wolfhound, Ch Roxanne of Shantamon.
SLIGO '12 BEST BABY PUPPY IN SHOW
Paul Lawless also judged Best Baby Puppy in Show and his winning rosette went to Amanda Sammon’s Japanese Shiba Inu, Kyoshi Shalwyn, bred by Carole Farnell, while Reserve was Sue and Ralph Holmes homebred Siberian Husky, Suraliam This Is Me.
SLIGO '12 BEST BABY PUPPY IN SHOW
Paul Lawless also judged Best Baby Puppy in Show and his winning rosette went to Amanda Sammon’s Japanese Shiba Inu, Kyoshi Shalwyn.
SLIGO '12 CHAMPION STAKES
Topping the Champion Stakes and qualifying for the Champion of Champions Finals under Tony Rainey was Tim, Marion and Ian Finney’s Irish Wolfhound, Ch Cuknocklong Henry Higgins, making it a great day all round for this noble Irish breed at Sligo. Runner-up was Peter and Jacqui Embleton’s homebred Bernese Mountain Dog, Ch Bernemcourt Fascination.
SLIGO '12 CHAMPION STAKES
Topping the Champion Stakes under Tony Rainey was Tim, Marion and Ian Finney’s Irish Wolfhound, Ch Cuknocklong Henry Higgins.
SLIGO '12 PUPPY STAKES
Tony Rainey, who judged BIS here a few years back, was the Stakes judge this year and his Puppy Stakes winner, qualifying for the Combined Canine POTY finals next Easter, was Ashling Connolly’s Bichon Frise, Ashmair Sunshine All The Way, 6 months old ‘Mimi’ the latest in a line of Ashmair Bichons to qualify for this prestigious event. Runner-up was Karen Fitzgerald’s Great Dane, Nerakdane Angel of Harlam.
SLIGO '12 PUPPY STAKES
Tony Rainey's Puppy Stakes winner, qualifying for the Combined Canine POTY finals next Easter, was Ashling Connolly’s Bichon Frise, Ashmair Sunshine All The Way.
SLIGO '12 VETERAN STAKES
Tony Rainey’s winner of the Veteran Stakes at Sligo was Lynda Dunn’s Saluki, Ch, Aust, Rom & Rom Vet Ch Padtheway Notorious, a fitting win as he was the group winner at Sligo when he first came into Ireland; runner-up was Emma, Frank and Bette Archibald’s Golden Retriever, Sh Ch Gunhills Venus In Blue Jeans Over Abinvale, the recent Veteran Stakes winner at Deise, handled by Cathy Neill.
SLIGO '12 BRACE STAKES
Tony Rainey chose Lyndsay Belcher’s duo of Italian Spinoni, Sh Ch Netis Rock With You At Sosteli and Sh Ch & Int Sh Ch Sosteli Santana, for his Brace Stakes winners at Sligo.
SLIGO '12 GROUP 1
Evert Wieldraaljer from The Netherlands, was judge elect for Group 1 where his winner was Colm and Rose Hastings’ Old English Sheepdog, multi group & BIS winning Ch & Am Ch Lambluvs Lives The Dream, ‘Sue’ BIS winner at Banbridge earlier this year; in second place was Emilio Castillo’s Shetland Sheepdog, Multi Ch Navareem The Conqueror, taking a first group placing this year.
SLIGO '12 GROUP 2
Evert Wieldraaljer also judged Group 2, finding his winner in McKeown’s Bulldog, Infallabulls Noble Knight, a first group success for this 12 months old youngster while in second place was Roberta and Alex Curran’s Great Dane, Norwegian import Ch Highesteem Perfect Guy V Xandero, who also took the same award at Swords.
SLIGO '12 GROUP 3
Judging the Terriers of Group 3 for the first time was Michael Leonard and it was a first group win for Connaughton’s Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Zack Chazrock, while Ross Delmar’s Smooth Haired Fox Terrier, Ch Shillelagh Smooth Operator, was 2nd, ‘Balloo’ the group winner at IKC and Combined earlier this year.
SLIGO '12 GROUP 4
Swedish judge, Cindy Petterson’s winner of the Dachshund Group 4 was Martin McDonnell’s L/H Miniature, Smartdac Black N Bewitched, who then went on to BIS 4; while in second place was Liz and Nigel Bate’s Mini Smooth, Little Flier For Batendach, a first group placing.
SLIGO '12 GROUP 5
Jean Lawless judged Group 5 and her winner was Jimmy Duggan’s Siberian Husky, Ch Bedarra Cold Paws Warm Heart For Leorient, handled as usual by wife Anita; this was ‘Flint’s’ 6th group win so far this year and he was BIS at Munster Canine. Another Norwegian import, Brian and Maureen Carroll’s Keeshond, Ch Arctic Kees Best Kept Secret, group winner at South Tipperary and Swords was in second place.
SLIGO '12 GROUP 6
The fascinating tussle at the top of the Group 6 ICP/Connolly’s RED MILLS Leaderboard continued at Sligo, this time the Basset Hound, Barry O’Neill and Sandra Stack’s Ch & GB Ch Knockogue Arthurs Legacy, coming out on top over ‘Tyler’, Eamon Murray’s Beagle, Ch Heathergrove Persian Warrior, ‘Arthur’ going on to BIS 3.
SLIGO '12 GROUP 7
Topping Group 7 under John Walsh was Ken Kennedy’s Irish Setter, Sh Ch, Gb Sh Ch & Int Ch Glennara Coer De Lion, en route to Reserve BIS, while in second place came Catherine Kelly’s German Short Haired Pointer, Sh Ch Kavacane Toff Class At Risley, handled to a first group placing this year by Seamus Gettings.
SLIGO '12 GROUP 8
Cathy Delmar judged Group 8 and here her winner was Colm Beattie, wife Rita and breeder Mike Bottomley’s American Cocker Spaniel, Sh Ch Boduf Divine, ‘Diva’ made up last week at ILKA and winning back to back groups, with in second place Joe Caulfield and Joanne Furlong’s Irish Water Spaniel, Sh Ch & Int Sh Ch Fynder On Shifting Ground, adding more points to his impressive total at the top of the ICP/Connolly’s RED MILLS Leaderboard.
SLIGO '12 GROUP 9
James Newman was on the other side of the ring at Sligo, and judged Group 9 where his winner was Moira Grant-Cook’s Swedish imported Pug, Ch Beamztar Carlotta Ferrari, handled by husband Ronnie to a first group placing this year with in second spot. Ashling Connolly’s Bichon Frise, Ch Ashmair Double Act, the POTY winner back at Easter.
SLIGO '12 GROUP 10
Sean Knight judged Group 10 and was delighted to see his winner, Gerry and Pauline Clarke’s Irish Wolfhound, Ch Roxanne of Shantamon, go on to Best in Show later in the day, with in second place, Lynda Cuthbert-Matthews and husband Colin’s Borzoi, Ch Donskoi Asmodey, group and Champion Stakes winner at Cork this year.
SLIGO '12 AROUND THE SHOW
Brenda Doyle with her Sevenoaks Shelties, and Amanda Sammon, owner of the BBPIS, take the chance to catch some group judging outdoors without getting a soaking - no rain for a change…
SLIGO '12 AROUND THE SHOW
Howard Tonks is rarely seen at a show these days without his trusty video camera as he records groups and Best in Show action for posterity and for his facebook page, which is eagerly awaited after each weekend. He is seen here with wife, Sally, who is also pretty handy with her camera, often catching some of the judging from a different angle. Congratulations to them on their recent 50th Wedding Anniversary…well done Sally, that’s definitely a ‘Gold’ medal!!!