News

16th March 2014: Went to South Western Toy Dog Club today and decided to enter Solei, who I haven't shown since his BVIS at Chepstow. He loved showing off again, drove round the ring like a youngster and won AV Veteran and Reserve Best Veteran in Show!

8th March 2014: Crufts 2014 and just one day there this year, with only Ria (now they're Utility I didn't fancy juggling the two breeds on the same day in completely opposite halls). She came home with a 4th & a 2nd which I am slightly disappointed with as it's the first time she's ever placed outside the top 3 - but at least there were more than 4 in the class, and I suppose a card at Crufts is a card at Crufts!

22nd February 2014: Elton Best of Breed at Gloucester & District today, not too noteworthy in its self, but gave him his last point for his ShCM :) So he will now be known as Temelora Passing Fancy JW ShCM (subject to KC conf)

4th January 2014: Another Puppy Group 1 for Lottie at Taunton Open Show today. At barely 7 months old that will be her last show now, pretty impressive career for one so young!

8th December 2013: WOW! Chepstow Open Show today, just Lottie and Solei entered. Lottie Best Puppy in Breed and then Puppy Group 1! Solei won Toy Veteran and then BEST VETERAN IN SHOW! So, so proud of both of them.

1st December 2013: My latest temporary charge is Lottie, Sadie's half sister. I've had her for two months, and she was 6 months old on Thursday so attended her first show today! Too much of a baby for the breed judge, though I was very pleased with how she showed. Then later we went in a large Puppy Stakes and she came 2nd!

19th October 2013: Ria Best of Breed at South Western Gundog - our last gundog show :( - today, and then shortlisted to the last few and seriously considered for RBIS...happy days!

13th October 2013: Elton and I had our first go at a rally trial today. Our practice consisting of me having read the list of signs, decided there was nothing he didn't theoretically know and crossed my fingers that his obedience training would see us through! He didn't let me down, he was brilliant and gained his first qualifier comfortably with a score of 205.

24th August 2013: Brilliant day with Sadie at Blackwood Open Show. 1st in Junior, Best Puppy in Breed and then she topped the Puppy Group! A long day for us all, she was flagging a bit by Best Puppy in Show.

13th August 2013: Ria is on a roll at the moment. I've hardly shown her this year - she has been slow to mature - but is now really starting to come together. After her success at the Kooiker Club our next champ show was Paignton, where she won her class and Best Bitch. Followed by Bournemouth, where she won her class again! That's all for this year now - we shall see what next year brings!

22nd June 2013: Yeovil Limit Show today - an incredible day with just Sadie and Elton entered. Sadie winning AV Toy Minor Puppy and Elton winning AV Toy Open and then the Toy Group under Gary Quest, then going on to Reserve Best in Show under Alan Carter! It also happens to be my birthday, so couldn't have asked for a better present :-)

9th June 2013: Life is good! Two weeks ago we went to Exeter Obedience Show where Elton won the Special Pre-Beginner Obedience Stakes, so has qualified for the Semi-Finals again (I have mixed feelings cos he did so well last year, but am thrilled with him!) then last weekend Sadie and I went to Southern Counties Ch Show where she won Minor Puppy Bitch....and to round it off, yesterday was the Kooiker Club Show where Ria won 3 classes & Reserve Best Bitch!

26th April 2013: A quick practice for Sadie at a companion show last weekend where she was superb and took BPIS :) then the real thing today - WELKS, 6 months old on the day. It was rather unsatisfactory in that we had practised in the outside ring, but it started raining after Open Dog and we all had to run inside - in a noisy building she hadn't been in before, with a carpeted ring and a frazzled handler! Never the less she coped well - she was rather unsettled but not in a nervous way, it made her rather erratic on the move! She got a 3rd in Minor Puppy Bitch so has now qualfied for Crufts at her first attempt :) Ria did well too with a 2nd to the RBB.

10th March 2013: A very busy Crufts 2013! Thursday was YKC Obedience for Elton, who was completely overwhelmed and went to pieces. Friday was breed for Solei, who got a 5th in a nice Good Citizen Dog class, and YKC Toy Stakes for Elton - nothing there, but that was expected given a terrier judge with a Phalene. Saturday was the "big" day - breed for Ria and the Finals of the Special Pre-Beginner Obedience Stakes for Elton - and wow, what a day! Ria picked up two 2nds in breed to the Best Bitch & Reserve Best Bitch, Elton was an absolute star and came 3rd in the Finals after a run off for 2nd, surrounded by Collies in 1st, 2nd & 4th.

6th February 2013: A quiet couple of months on the show front, however we are very excited to welcome "Sadie" to stay with us :) Owned by Sue Morrell & Thesbina Teague (Temelora) and bred by Caroline Odd (Trenarwyn), Sadie is out of Temelora Lucky Lady "Sarah" and by Temelora Speciality "Darwin", so an incredibly special litter for me (see "Past Dogs") and I am so excited and honoured to have her :)

12th November 2012: Absolutely amazing day at Discover Dogs yesterday. We attended the Special Pre-Beginner Obedience Stakes semi-finals with no expectations - Elton's confidence has taken quite a battering this year with three dog incidents, and I wasn't at all sure how he would cope. Far from shutting down, he surpassed all my expectations and apart from a very dodgy start (when we both entered the ring and went "arrgh!") he was amazing and came 2nd!! He has now qualified for the finals at Crufts. It's going to be a busy Crufts!

17th October 2012: Ria takes her first Best Bitch at Gundog Society of Wales Championship Show!

6th August 2012: Proud, proud, proud :-D At Winchester last month Elton managed 2nd in the Special Pre-Beginner Stakes, beaten by a Border Collie so qualified for the semi-finals at Discover Dogs in November. Our next obedience show was Hatchford Brook, which was yesterday, and he went one better and WON the Special Pre-Beginner Stakes! He also won YKC Elementary, qualifying for the finals at Crufts.

18th June 2012: Interesting few months. Ria has only been out 4 times since Crufts - RBAVNSC at the all breed open, BOB at both group open shows and won her class at WELKS! - then came into season (at last) and missed her first agility show, Southern Counties and the club show :-( She's just finished, so hope we can both remember what to do at her first show back at the end of June - she hasn't shown since April! Obedience season has started, both boys have had placings and Elton has nearly qualified for the Special Pre-Beginner Stakes twice (from two attempts) - just needs one place higher! I'm not entering Ria this year, she's still just a baby and is very slow to mature.

31st March 2012: UK Toy - wow, what can I say! In the obedience Solei had a 2nd in Beginners, which was all he was entered for this year. Elton won Beginners and had 5th in Novice. In the breed class Elton had a 4th from 20, and then went and WON the YKC Stakes! Beyond thrilled with him. I love this little dog so much, & he is every inch multi-purpose :-)

12th March 2012: Crufts time again :-) Thrilled with Elton getting 3rd in a very strong Limit Dog class, and Ria also picked up a 3rd in Special Junior Bitch. Ria also did the YKC obedience, and I was quite pleased - although it was a bit of a disaster (especially the break on return in the down stay) overall she coped well, considering the atmosphere at Crufts.

12th February 2012: A fabulous day at the Joint Papillon Clubs Ch Show today as Elton was awarded 3rd in Limit Dog, 1st Open Phalene Dog, Best Phalene Dog and BEST PHALENE IN SHOW by judge Peter Taylor!

27th November 2011: Oops - long time no update! Ria has had a nice run. Best Puppy in Breed at Richmond and SWKA Champ Shows, and at open shows she has had 6x Best Puppy AVNSC, 2x Best AVNSC, 1x Reserve Best AVNSC, 2x BPIB, 1x BOB and had Puppy Group 2 today! Elton has had two Best of Breeds and is now having some time out for the rest of the year. Solei is Solei! He had an outing to South Wales Pap Champ Show last month and had the time of his life, he showed appallingly cos he was just so excited to be there! Never thought I'd see him like that :-) Still managed a 3rd in Veteran Dog.

17th August 2011: A nice couple of wins for Elton (who was more or less behaving - think we might finally be seeing the light at the end of this horrendous adolescent period which has so far lasted 9 months!) who was Best of Breed and also won the Open Dog Stakes (under a different judge) at Langstone, and then Best of Breed and Group 4 at Gillingham & Shaftesbury today!

2nd August 2011: Wow - what a week! Ria was six months old last Tuesday. On Wednesday she attended her first open show, won her class and BPAVNSC under Andrew Brace. On Saturday she did her first obedience show, was 6th in the ABC class and qualified for the finals next year - I'd only put her in it for the experience as there were no stays and you could reward between exercises, thought it would be a great first show experience! Apparently she had other ideas - then on Sunday she won the YKC Starters obedience and thus qualified for that at Crufts, finally today she had Best Puppy in Breed (& qualified for Crufts) at Paignton Ch Show :-) All by 6 months 7 days!

19th July 2011: Ria is Best Puppy in Show at Ruishton Companion Show today - not bad for *cough* just off 6 months!

27th May 2011: Elton is 3rd in his first ever Limit Dog class at Bath Championship Show!

14th May 2011: Elton is two years old today - where does the time go?! I can't believe he's that old, yet I can't believe he's only that old - it feels like I've been showing him forever (I suppose because we've achieved so much), yet how can it be two years since that little puppy shot across the whelping box. His birthday was spent at South of England Papillon Club's open show, where he won his last Yearling Dog class and also Phalene Dog and Best Phalene Dog :-) So a lovely end to his Yearlinghood!

18th April 2011: The Papillon (Butterfly Dog) Club's Championship Show was yesterday. I floated home, as Elton won Post Graduate Dog and we had the results of the annual awards - Solei is Top Obedience Papillon 2010!

26th March 2011: A successful day at UK Toy champ show with obedience today! Solei (just in the obedience) was superb, picking up a 3rd in Beginners and a 1st in Pre-Beginners! Elton (doing both) had a 4th in his first Post Graduate Dog class, and was lying 2nd behind Solei in Pre-Beginners until he broke his down stay...ho hum! Still, that was his first time in the obedience ring so not a bad debut.

13th March 2011: The first championship show of the year for Elton and me yesterday, as well as Elton's first Crufts! He has shown better, but improved as the class went on, didn't disgrace himself and ended up in the cards - 4th in Graduate Dog, 21 entered!

14th November 2010: Elton celebrated his eighteen-month-old birthday today at Minehead & District CS Open Show - winning Best of Breed and Group 2!

26th September 2010: Well....what can I say....I didn't see this one coming! Today we attended Okehampton & District CS Open Show. Elton was in both Graduate & Open, in search of those last 2 points! He won Graduate....and then he won Open!! So gaining his JW subject to KC confirmation. However, not content with that he was then Best of Breed, won a very strong toy group....and then went RESERVE BEST IN SHOW!! Talk about doing things in style. I'm so very, very proud of him.

11th September 2010: Elton has been doing so very well, he's getting better and better as he matures. He's won five championship show classes in just over a month, including both Junior Dog and Yearling Dog at Richmond yesterday! He now has 23 points towards his Junior Warrant, so fingers crossed those last two points come along soon!

4th August 2010: Elton has been an absolute superstar over the last few days! On Sunday we attended the South of England Papillon Club Championship Show, where he was BEST PHALENE IN SHOW! Today we went to Paignton where Elton was entered in both Junior Dog and Yearling Dog and won them both! He absolutely showed his little socks off, so proud of him. Fingers crossed he's on a roll now, long may it continue!

25th July 2010: Obedience this weekend, where yesterday Solei forgot himself (it wasn't scary!) and worked the way I know he can work, to come 2nd in Pre-Beginners! Today he was back to his usual frame of mind...sigh!

18th July 2010: Off to Coventry with Darwin & Elton for the first Joint Papillon Club Championship Show. Darwin attending his first champ show for almost a year, and not disgracing himself gaining a 5th in Post Graduate Dog! Elton was an absolute star as usual, and despite only turing 14 months last week I'd opted for Yearling (12-24mths) rather than Junior (6-18mths). He was 2nd in Yearling, 1st in Graduate and Best Phalene Dog!

3rd July 2010: An amazing day today, as I went to a companion show and Elton won his AV Non-Sporting class, and then went BEST IN SHOW!! A fantastic win, especially for a Phalene of just 13 months.

11th June 2010: Elton 3rd in the Junior Stakes at Three Counties Champ Show!

30th May 2010: Solei made his open obedience show debut this weekend and did so well, coming 7th, 12th and 13th in classes of nearly 50! Also gaining his first Certificate of Merit in both Pre-Beginners and Beginners. Elton was 4th at Bath on Friday, and also 5th in the Junior Stakes!

22nd May 2010: Darwin RBIS at a companion show today!

16th May 2010: Another super day today. At the South of England Papillon Club Elton - just 1 day out of puppy - got two 1sts and a 2nd, as well as Best Phalene Dog & RBPhIS:-D and I handled Jason to 2nd in Open Dog and Reserve Best Dog, and Tosca to 1st in Limit Bitch, Best Bitch, RBIS and Best Phalene in Show!

14th May 2010: On the 3rd Elton was BPIB & Puppy Group 1 under Joe Magri at West Country Dog Club! We then went to Birmingham National where Elton was 2nd in Puppy Dog and 1st in Novice Dog. What an end to his puppy career, as today he celebrates his 1st birthday!

26th April 2010: Some more good results for Elton - Puppy Group 3 at the beginning of April, followed by winning Novice Dog at the Pap Club Champ Show, followed by a 3rd in Puppy Dog at WELKS! So that's him qualified for Crufts now :) I also entered Solei in his first obedience classes of the year yesterday and in the higher class he disgraced himself by running off instead of retrieving(!), but he put in a super performance in his first class to come 1st! We are also delighted to announce Solei finished 2009 as the 3rd Top Obedience Papillon (Papillon "Butterfly Dog" Club annual awards)

22nd March 2010: Elton was back in the ring this weekend, for the first time in a month. He behaved pretty badly, I think he was so excited to be back in the ring again! Even though he's now been showing for four months he still isn't getting the idea of settling down! Shows where he moves properly are as rare as gold dust :P and he's now going through a silly table stage to add to the fun. Hopefully before he comes out of puppy he might have the idea of trotting nicely rather than moving round the ring like a rabbit! Anyway, on Saturday he was Puppy Group 4 under a judge from Malta, and also 2nd in the Novice Stakes under Jeff Luscott (behind a 2½ y/o fully coated Shih Tzu!) and on Sunday he was even more abominably behaved(!) and was 2nd in both his breed classes and then won AV Puppy. We'll keep persisting - I don't think he's going to be a quick maturer!

15th March 2010: I'd entered Solei for Crufts for "a bit of fun" (having not entered him in anything for 5 months) and was absolutely flabbergasted for him to be placed 4th in a very strong Limit Dog class :) That's his 2nd time in Limit Dog at Crufts and his 2nd placing! He wasn't on his best behaviour, having picked up the scent of a bitch - but it all added to the fun! Though I did tell him the quivering lip on the table was unnecessary....

17th January 2010: Elton and I have had a very exciting time! He hasn't yet been showing two months, but has already achieved so much. In December he was BP, RBOB and PG3 at Bristol under Tony Allcock MBE, and also won the Puppy Stakes! So far this year we've done two shows - his first he won AV Toy Minor Puppy & then mucked about in the puppy group! Yesterday we attended our second and he was a little star! He won Papillon Junior, Best Puppy in Breed and then Best of Breed!! From a very nice entry of 14 Paps. Over the moon with him, thank you to Angela Aylett (Angcherish) for thinking so highly of my pup! He then went on to Puppy Group 4 under Marion Spavin :-)

22nd November 2009: Oh...my...gosh! Well I'd better start this off with the exciting news that the week before last Sue and Thesbina decided that I can have Elton :-) which brings us neatly on to our even bigger annoucement! He made his debut yesterday at Plymouth & District Kennel Association. He was in AV Toy Puppy (15 entered) which he won....and then went on to top the puppy group!! At his very first show aged 6 months and 1 week :-) Enormous thanks to judge Mary Larrasey (Warleggen) He was very much a baby and moving was...interesting! But he enjoyed himself which is all that matters at this age.

8th November 2009: Darwin and I attended Minehead & District's Open Show today. He was 2nd in Graduate (behind the BOB/G3 winner) and then topped the day off nicely by winning the Junior Stakes under Mr Bill Browne-Cole! He's now going to have a couple of months away from the show ring so we can concentrate on Solei's puppies, who are 6 months old next weekend. I shall miss showing him! Oh yes, and Elton (one of aforementioned litter who I hope may join us permanently) made his debut last week, attending our ringcraft's match...and he won Best Puppy Under 6 Months :-)

11th October 2009: At the South of Wales Papillon Club today, Solei came out for his first "proper" outing since the SoE Pap Club in August (wasn't going to enter him but was told to by one of his breeders!) and was Best Phalene Dog :) So it was worthwhile! Nice note to end on - he won't be showing again now until July 2011, except possibly Crufts. Darwin was 3rd in Junior Dog so has now qualified for Crufts 2010!

19th September 2009: Solei is really starting to get the hang of this obedience lark now! We made our debut in Triers the weekend before last coming a very respectable 6th and also 3rd in Starters. I was ecstatic as it was the first time we've ever done heel free in competition and I was sure he would bugger off! Today we did Starters and Triers again and he was 2nd in both! Not to be outdone, in the companion show Darwin won Open and Reserve Best in Show!! Fantastic day and very enjoyable.

31st August 2009: Five days out of puppy and Darwin wins a good Graduate class at Newton Abbot Open Show :) Following it up the next day by attending a companion show and winning Best in Show!! What a start to his adult career.

24th August 2009: Darwin celebrates his 1st birthday today...my boy isn't a puppy anymore! He ends his puppy career with multiple class wins, two Best Puppy in Show and one Reserve Best in Show at companion shows, only being unplaced once, and from a grand total of 7 all breed open shows he has 6 Best Puppy in Breeds, 2 Best of Breeds, one Group 4, two Puppy Group 4, one Puppy Group 3, one Puppy Group 2 and one Puppy Group 1!! Let's hope for continued success now he's up with the big boys!

20th August 2009: Went to Chepstow with Darwin & Storm on the 8th, repeat of North Devon in the breed (both boys 1st, Darwin BOB/BP, Storm RBOB) and then Darwin Puppy Group 2 :-) Went to two companion shows last weekend. Saturday Darwin was BPIS! Sunday he won AV Non-Sporting Puppy but was beaten by the Sporting Pup for BPIS. Yesterday we went to Gillingham & Shaftesbury and Darwin was BPIB and PG4!

6th August 2009: I said there was no stopping Darwin? Yesterday I went to North Devon Open Show (in the mud, again...) with Storm & Darwin. Both boys won their classes, Darwin actually *beating* Storm for BOB! So was obviously Best Puppy in Breed too. Storm was RBOB. Then Darwin was 4th in a good Toy Group and won the Toy Puppy Group!! Absolutely over the moon, floated home.

2nd August 2009: There's no stopping Darwin at the moment! 12th July he was BPIB again, then again on the 29th July this time following it up with Puppy Group 4. Today saw us at the SoE Pap Club Champ Show where I put him into Junior (at 11 months) where he came 5th in a good size strong class beating some dogs that have done a lot of winning :-D and then was 3rd in Novice Dog. I'd entered Solei as a one off outing and he was 2nd in Phalene Dog. I also showed a friends little girl who was attending her very first show and was 4th in a large Puppy Bitch class and then Topsy who won Phalene Bitch.

1st July 2009: Solei made his obedience debut the weekend before last, amazing me by getting a 4th! (and proving how versatile he is by also getting a 2nd in Non-Sporting (behind the BIS winner) and winning the fastest recall....that's my boy!) He followed it up the weekend just gone by being in the run off for 1st and 2nd and ending up with 2nd after an encounter with a low-flying Aussie (long but funny story!). Not bad for your first two shows! At the same show Darwin won Non-Sporting again (he's now done 2 Non-Sporting classes with 2 wins!) but unfortunately went to pieces in the challenge and wouldn't put his tail up.

15th June 2009: Two companion shows this weekend! On Saturday Jeanie showed her socks off and got 2nd in Junior behind a lovely Schnauzer who ended up BIS & BPIS, whilst Darwin didn't show so well but managed a 5th! Solei wasn't on top form either, got a 4th. Jeanie then ended up Novelty Best Puppy in Show! On Sunday there was no Junior class so I put Jeanie in Puppy & Darwin in Non Sporting. This time it was Jeanie's turn to not show well (too hot for her) but she got a 3rd, Darwin absolutely floored me by WINNING his non-sporting class of 18 dogs and then going on to Reserve Best in Show!! Not bad for 9 months old :-)

2nd June 2009: We're having a nice run at the moment! Jeanie and Darwin were entered at the Bath & West on Thursday (Bath was Solei's last show for a while, he'll be doing a few companion shows this summer but is having a long break from open & champ shows). Jeanie was 2nd in Puppy, Darwin was Best Puppy in Breed and Puppy Group 3!

25th May 2009: On the 22nd I took Tyler, Solei, Jason, Tosca and Sarah to Bath Champ Show. Solei decided he wasn't going to keep his tail up but the other four went very well and Tyler was 3rd in Puppy Dog, Jason 2nd in Open Dog, Tosca won Post Grad Bitch and Sarah was 4th in Limit Bitch :) Then yesterday I took Jeanie, Darwin & Solei to a companion show. Jeanie wasn't entered in the pedigree classes but both Solei and Darwin distinguished themselves by winning their classes and Darwin was Best Puppy! Solei & our Labrador, Vale, won the Irish Brace and Jeanie & Darwin were 4th in the regular Brace.

17th May 2009: What a week! On Thursday Solei became the proud father of five beautiful babies and then yesterday I took Solei, Darwin, Jeanie, Jason, Sarah and Topsy to the South of England Papillon Club. All six dogs were placed in all their classes and Jason was Reserve Best Dog and then Reserve Best in Show!! Someone can peel me off the ceiling later!

6th March 2009: I've only been showing Solei lightly over the last six months so not a great deal has been happening. However, yesterday he went to Crufts and placed 3rd in a large Limit Dog class beating CC and RCC winners along the way and gaining his Stud Book Number!! My sincere thanks to Jean Banfield, who was judging. I'm absolutely over the moon - to gain his SBN has always been my ultimate goal for him and to do it at Crufts...well!

30th September 2008: Well this is definitely newsworthy. On Saturday I showed Jason & Sarah and they both won their classes, Jason beating Sarah for BOB and then going on to Group 2! That's only my second BOB since I've been showing, and my first group placement.

14th September 2008: Been a fairly quiet few months with all that is newsworthy! I no longer have Sarah as I had her because she wouldn't show, to see if I could bring her round - and we decided that had been acheived in style, so "my work here is done"! I really miss her, though I have two new puppies casusing havoc...Solei has been placing in Limit at the Champ Shows and rounded off his last champ show of the year with 3rd in a large Limit Dog class at City of Birmingham! I also showed a friends bitch at Windsor and qualified her for Crufts, it'll be their first time ever going to Crufts so that was great. Though the highlight of recent months was undoubtably getting to show Sarah again at Bournemouth and winning Junior Bitch!

6th April 2008: Well, the pair of them absolutely surpassed themselves at the South Wales Papillon Club today. Solei won Phalene Dog, then went on to Reserve Best Dog in Show and Sarah won Junior Bitch, Best Bitch and Reserve Best in Show!! What a day!

29th March 2008: Great day at Bridgwater & District open show today! I took Solei, Storm, Tarna and Topsy up on my own whilst the others went to UK Toy. Solei won Graduate and Storm won Open and BOB. There were only 2 breed classes so the puppies were just in AV Toy. Tarna got a 2nd in Puppy and Topsy a 3rd in Graduate, and Best AV Toy Puppy!

19th January 2008: Well apparently Boston just wasn't good enough! Exactly two weeks after Solei qualified for Crufts 2008 he went to Manchester....and promptly qualified for Crufts 2009! He got 2nd in a big Post Grad class of 18 under judge Jane Lilley which I'm absolutely over the moon with.

4th January 2008: Solei went to Boston today in a last attempt to qualify him for Crufts, he ended up with a 3rd in a Post Grad class of 11 under Carolyne Allward-Chebsey so is now qualified for Crufts 2008!

19th November 2007: Solei went to Midland Counties on the 28th October and came 5th in a large Post Grad class of 16 under judge Jenny Scovell! We then attended the Papillon (Butterfly Dog) Club's open show yesterday where Solei came 3rd out of 12 in Graduate, then went on to win Phalene Dog under Tony Allcock! Sarah is really coming on, tail still isn't completely there yet but it was much improved and she got a 3rd out of 9 in Puppy Bitch :)

9th August 2007: Last Sunday we went to a companion show and Solei won his AV Non-Sporting class! Then I took him in for Most Handsome Dog and he got 2nd! The conditions were really against a little dog too (the grass hadn't been cut for weeks and was VERY long) so he did brilliantly.