NEWS FROM AROUND S.A

Unfortunately there were no qualifiers for the KUSA National Carting Dog under judge Carol O'Leary, but the winners were Judith Woodward with GSD Whisper and Sue Redelinghuys with Xbreed Charlie

The Kennel Union of South Africa Championship Carting event was superb and the course was very interesting. Pictured here are Judge Lois Wilson and winners, Mini Senior Pat Thomson and 'Taz' Standard Senior, Mike S-Dumbris and Xbreed Kali, Mini Novice Gordon Steward And Boaz and Standard Novice Judith Woodward and Gruffy.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

1991 Golden Retriever, Kincora Flinders CBex - Mrs R J Buchanan

1993 Belgian Shepherd Vomhamel Tsoko - Mr M L Angell

1995 German Shepherd Dog Brix - Mrs. Nolene Pretorius.

1997 Belgian Shepherd Belherhof Volf - Mrs E Lee-Angell

1999 GSD Eden von der Soonwaldhohe - Miss H R Haussmann

2000 GSD Raka of Cabeau - Dr R Weber

2001 Griffon Mazarat Riki Tama of Leando - Thomsons.
2001 X breed Kali - Mr M Saward Dumbris
2002 X breed Kali - Mr M Saward Dumbris
2003 Golden Retriever OD - Mrs S. Healy
2004 X breed Kali - Mr M Saward Dumbris

Herewith the carting results for the Natal GSD Club Show held on 20/11/05

Judge Val Edwards

Senior Standard

1.Buster - Eleanor Gow 100%
2.Lace - Sheila Plowman 97.5%
3.Trixie - Francis Canot 91%
4.Shupa - Eleanor Gow 91%
5.Cassi - Mackie John 86%
6.Jessie - Emilie van Beek 81%

Senior Mini

1,Gemma - Lee Thomson 97%
2.Taz - Pat Thomson 96%
3.Cody - Carol Sammon 91%
4.Whiskey - Sheila Plowman 86.5%
5.Emma - Carol Sammon 79%

Novice Standard

1.Chip - Beverley Atkinson 95.5%
2.Maddison - Eleanor Gow 90%
3.Draco - Natasha Grodski 89%
4.Pearl - Margaret Osborne 88.5%
5.Cracker - Jack Lello 87.5%

GAUTENG

April 10 2005 - Judge: Kathy Clayton

The first pleasant surprise was an entry of 18 dogs and then the standard of carting.

There is certainly going to be some comments made about the number of QC's that I awarded. However, I believe that every dog that qualified, deserved it. Having thought very carefully about it, I came to the following conclusion: Lately, the courses have been designed to be tight, tricky and at times extremely difficult (I am not complaining, just making an observation.) There also seems to be a tendency to judge carting like a C Test. So, when confronted with that, the handler on entering the ring, immediately tenses up in anticipation of the problems. This tenseness goes through to the dog and the dog tenses up - mistakes occur and QC's lost.

Yesterday, I designed a course which was flowing, workable (practicable as in real life) with a few difficult areas. It was commented to me by one handler that on entering the ring, the handler immediately relaxed knowing that they would enjoy the course. The dog relaxed and worked superbly. I believe that this is what happened with everyone yesterday, the senior handlers relaxed and their dogs worked extremely well, thus all got QC's.

So, here are the results:

STANDARD SENIOR:

1st Audrey Lane's GSD X Bonnie QC

2nd Sharon Hartman's Border Collie Ascar QC

3rd Stephanie Bridge's White Shepherd Duzi QC (only her second time in Senior's, what an
excellent worker!)

4th Judith Woodward's GSD Whisper QC (final QC, dog is now a champion)

5th Liz Chamberlain's Bouvier Smudge QC (final QC, dog is now a champion)

6th Judith Woodward's GSD Gypsey, QC

STANDARD NOVICE:

1st Judith Woodward's GSD X Gruffy 96%

(only one dog)

MINI SENIOR:

1st Ingrid Linnekugel's Dachshund Jezebel QC

2nd Sue Redlinghuys' Jack Russel X Charlie QC

3rd Marie Stewart's Dachshund Jester

MINI NOVICE:

1st Audrey Lane's Shiba Inu Clyde 96%

2nd Ingrid Linnekugel's Dachshund X Hobo 95%

3rd Gordon Stewart's Wire Haired Dachshund Boaz 94%

My thanks to everyone who entered - I thoroughly enjoyed judging you all.

*********

FREE STATE

Mike S-Dumbris reports on the Bloemfontein Show. Saturday 6th August the OFS Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club had beautiful weather and as always Judge Yvonne Taentzer had laid out an interesting course with a silhouette cut out of a black cat with two marbles for it's sinister eyes. A number of dogs walked passed giving the cat a very prolonged stare but Staffie Takara decided a full on rugby charge would be enough to scare the cat away - well the cat got duly flattened and Takara then walked proudly to handler Eleanor Gow. Mini Seniors was won by Pat Thomson's Griffon Taz, Standard Seniors by Stephanie Bridge's White Swiss Shepherd Duzi, Mini Novice by new handler Tracey van Greunen and Shiba Fupi and Standard Novice by Lesley van Greunen and GSD Jessie.

Sunday 7th Bloemfontein Dog Training Club Show also had good weather but chilly at times, what else would you expect in winter in Bloemfontein! Judge Eleanor Gow had laid out a really challenging course with pumpkins, gem squash etc. as a load which almost proved to be more of a 'distraction' than the distraction which was a pink piggy which played music when it's foot was pressed. Some dogs sniffed, some even prodded it but one little Shiba ignored it and when it fell off it's box, apparently to attack her, she stood her ground and looked the other way. There were three way ties in both Mini Seniors and Standard Seniors with all dogs getting 95%. After the runoff, Lee Thomson's Gemma won the Mini Senior and Stephanie Bridge's White Swiss Shepherd Duzi won the Standard Senior, Mini Novice was won by Shiba Fupi handled by Tracey van Greunen and Standard Novice by Leslie van Greunen's GSD Jessie.

Monday the 8th August OFS Terrier Club was judged by Joan Machard who laid an interesting but open course, it also proved that handlers still made enough mistakes to sort out the placings, her distraction was a cockerel which had to be fed chicken seed while it crowed, there were some interested dogs but the chicken DID get to cross the road! Joan kept the pace of her show going quickly which meant it finished by lunchtime and travellers could get on the road early to start the long tiring trek home. Standard Senior was won by Labrador Buster handled by Eleanor Gow, Mini Seniors by Staffie Takara also handled by Eleanor. Mini Novice was won by Shiba Fupi handled by Tracey van Greunen and Standard Novice by Leslie van Greunen's GSD Jessie.

Carting is really a fun event and all the carters get on so well together cheering each other on and being helpful. Away shows are always so great as it is fabulous to sit in the gazebo chatting to handlers from other centres