Most of the Spiritrun gang recently returned home from the Alaskan Malamute Club of America Regional & National Specialty week in Ypsilanti, MI. What a time was had by all. Huge thanks to Kathy Mudryk, great friend and dog-family, who house, dog and cat-sitted the remainder of our pack for us. That took the heartache and worry out of the trip knowing they were in good hands. We spoiled ourselves and rented a Damon Outlaw toy-hauler which fit our ten malamute entries and all our gear quite comfortably. That rig is definitely on my vision board to acquire in the next couple of years. Goal is to drive our very own Outlaw to the Nationals in California in 2014.  We had a large entry of ten malamutes ranging in age from 11 months to 13 years. Most everyone placed in the ribbons in their classes and/or made the cuts. Edmund and Colleen Belanger became fast studies of the finer points of grooming and being stellar ringside assistants. Collen Stone bonded beautifully with Bea and handled her better and better each day...or should I say she behaved better and better for him each day. His handling skills are cream-of-the-crop, but her attitude is, well, her attitude. And I am forever indebted to good, scratch that, great friends Karyn Colman and Nancy Zinkhan for putting on the brave face and taking Silly-Dilly (Dylan) into the ring for his first foray into dog shows. Alisa Syar, Mike Stone, Pam Kovac and Bob Sturdivant, our amazing extended dog-family, were also on hand to walk, cuddle, hold things, spray things, brush things and basically do whatever was asked of them and for that, guys and gals, I am so thankful. xo Here is how the week went down:: Regional Puppy & Veteran Sweeps (Ron Pohl judge)
AMCA Regional Specialty (Robin Hug judge)
Nationals Puppy & Veterans Sweeps (Robin Haggard judge)
AMCA National Specialty (Nancy Russell judge)
Regional Specialty Performance results for Deuce, Can Ch Spiritrun's Uppin Th'Ante (titles galore)
Regional Specialty Performance results for Madison, Can Ch Spiritrun's Utter Maddness (titles galore)
What a week!!! Boxes of ribbons and prizes for all. Cassie, our Specials bitch, BIS Am/Can Ch Spiritrun's Singular Sensation, made the cut in both specialties as did Crystal as a 13 year old veteran. We were very proud of these girls. And Gabby showed beautifully yet did not place as we are still spoiling her for putting in so much effort with her nine Lichen puppies, therefore she was not back into "show condition" quite yet. We were also incredibly proud of Deuce and Madison for being presented with their SERVICEABLE ALASKAN MALAMUTE AWARDS at the banquet. Many thanks to Colleen & Dave Belanger for being a "dream come true" home for our dogs and for accomplishing so much with them! They are the 2nd and 3rd Alaskan Malamutes to earn these awards! Thank-you to the photographers who took the photos in our slideshow below, who were generous enough to share with us and allow us to share with you. Kat Copley-Holland, Jennifer Next year:: Chattanooga TN and we are super-excited for that trip already!!! Add Comment Second Generation Best In Show! 09/28/2011
 Cassie, BPIS BIS A/C CH Spiritrun's Singular Sensation, has had a great couple of weekends this September since emerging back on the scene after her summer off. At the Sudbury Shows she won two Group 1sts, under judges Mike Jackman and Anna Hewson, a Group 2nd under judge Fred Gordon and a Group 3rd under judge Richard Lake. The nest weekend out we were at the Burlington Kennel Club shows and she won a Group 2nd under Donna Conod, a Group 1st under Cheryl Myers-Egerton and another Group 1st under Jacqueline Rusby. She then went on to win....BEST IN SHOW...September 25, 2011...under judge Cheryl Myers-Egerton. We cannot express how thrilled we are that this singleton puppy has blossomed into everything a breeder could dream of. She is certainly following in her father's footsteps (the multi BIS BISS A/C GCH Spiritrun Marlaynes Tobe Tyler). GIRL POWER!!!! (photos to come) Hamilton Kennel Club Dog Show 06/30/2011
    We had a successful weekend in Hamilton with everyone on our string doing something! Thai, the golden, finished his Canadian Championship and picked up 2 BOB's; Bailey, the malamute, finished hers by winning a BOB; Marky Mark, the malamute, picked up points towards his by winning 2 BOB's, but it was Jazz, the golden, who had the banner weekend winning 3 BOB's and a Sporting Group 3rd. Way to go Jazzy! GLAMC Specialties, Corunna MI May 20-22/11 05/23/2011
 The Spiritrun gang had a great weekend in Corunna, MI. On Friday at the back-to-back GLAMC (Great Lakes Alaskan Malamute Club) Specialties, 'Elliott' won RWD in the first show and then won WD, BOW in the second show (both 5-point majors) to finish his American Championship from the Bred-by class. Later that day he earned his CGC, with no preparation. His 'stay' was weak, but his recall was the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life. I might have to get a video of him doing his recall, Elliott-style, one of these days. 'Elliott' is now American/Canadian Champion Spiritrun's Grandstand Man, CGC. The next day 'Deuce' and 'Lucan' placed first and second respectively in the Open dog class, both owner-handled, and 'Deuce' went on to win the 4-point major going WD/BOW with Colleen Ann Belanger handling. 'Lucan' earned various placements in Open class all weekend with Annika Card piloting him. 'Elliott', in his debut as a special, made the cut in breed, both times out and showed very well. A huge THANK-YOU to Janette Slusher and the Great Lakes Alaskan Malamute Club for their wonderful weekend and hospitality. We loved the venue and the prizes were amazing. Spiritrun votes for this venue for future GLAMC Specialties! We also would like to extend a 'Bon Voyage' to Darren, Annika and Lucan as they embark on their year-long journey to New Zealand! Have a great time, guys, and post a lot of updates and photos on Fb!  Recent Show Results and News... 04/13/2011
 Man oh man, have I slacked in the blog update department lately. I feel like I am pretty scattered and juggling a few to many balls. I have been traveling to shows with Cassie, Elliott, Beatrice and occasionally even Crystal, quite a bit this spring. In fact, you won't find me at home on weekends and I am very blessed to have my very own Edmund to keep it all running smoothly in my absence. Here are some highlights of our recent shows: Purina National - Am/Can Ch Spiritrun's Singular Sensation, Cassie, wins Best of Breed all three days over a very competitive entry and goes on to win a Working Group 2 on Saturday night at the Purina National under judge A. Zee and a Working Group 1st on Sunday under judge C. Myers-Egerton. This is a very prestigious show in Canada with an international panel and large, competitive entry, so suffice it to say, it was a thrilling weekend! And miss Beatrice made her show debut at this big overwhelming show and managed to attain her first points. Yay Bea! American Shows - Ch Spiritrun's Grandstand Man, Elliott, and Cassie have been in the US regularly, too as Elliott is working on completing his AKC Championship. He picked up points in December in Cleveland, a reserve to a major in Connecticut River and then collected both of his majors at Syracuse, leaving him with now only one point needed to complete, we think :-/ Crystal, at 12.5 years old, came with us to Connecticut River Working Dog to compete in Veteran's Sweeps. She came 2nd in her class on the first day and won her class the next. She had a ball! Just this past weekend we ventured through Algonquin Park to find ourselves in Petawawa for the Champlain shows. Cassie earned a Working Group 4th under judge D. Windsor and Bea worked on her ring skills. We were the only mal entry. Six month old Golden retriever, Thai, was handled by me and won the Puppy Sporting Group on Friday in show #2 and his first points by going WD/BOW/BP on Saturday. Yay Thai! Sipping my coffee now before bathing the crew for our annual trek to Harrisburg, PA for the Specialties there. Crystal, Elliott, Cassie and Bea are all entered. All I know is I need a bigger van...  Here is our beautiful Cassie at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 2011!!!! Cleveland Cluster 2010 12/22/2010
We had a great time at the Cleveland Cluster this past weekend. I showed Elliott, Can CH Spiritrun's Grandstand Man to two BOW wins and two RWD wins, and a BBBE in Breed win. He showed wonderfully. Uncle Deuce, in his nakedness, managed some conformation placements but the BIG DEAL for his was earning his first AKC CD leg with a high score of 180! So awesome for Deuce and owner-handler Colleen!!! Our travel buddy Laura Heft earned a BOS and a couple of Select Bitch awards on her beautiful girl, Tassi, too! Here are some video clips from YouTube. Visit our YouTube site for more! Lucan is a New Champion 12/14/2010
 Congratulations to Annika and Darren for being the proud owners of new Canadian Champion Spiritrun's Hunt for Lucanus, CGN. Lucan finished his championship at the Brandtford show in Dec 2010 under judge Heather Langford. Now Lucan needs some time off to enjoy winter pursuits and to mature a bit. And we just received confirmation that Cassie, Am/Can CH Spiritrun's Singular Sensation will be the first Spiritrun bitch to grace the floors of Madison Square Garden this February at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. We are so excited!!! At the Credit Valley Shows, my Standard Wirehair Dachshund client Victory's Mr Magoo, won a Puppy Group under judge Wendy Paquette! He also earned another two points towards his championship!!!  Trillium Dog Fanciers - All breed Oct 29-31 11/03/2010
We had a great time as we do when everyone on our "team" comes home successful! Lucan, Spiritrun's Hunt for Lucanus, was BOB Friday and Saturday for another 3 points and Gambit's daughter Sunii, Howlingpines Has Come to Shine, was BOB on Sunday for another 2 points. Mr Magoo, Pam Meyer's SWD Dachshund whom I had the pleasure to handle for the first time, experienced his first show weekend at 8 months of age, and it was a busy one. In addition to the all-breed regular classes each day, he had a specialty each day, capping it off with the DCC National Specialty and sweeps on Sunday. We had tough competition! The #1 SWD was up from the US to work on his Canadian Championship. He took all the dog points Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the points we available again and Magoo just had to get past his very nice brother in his class. He did, when it counted and he earned his first point at the regular show on Sunday morning. That afternoon, our friend and "team-mate" Jenn Oliver, took the dog points with my first SWD love, Victor, who went WD at the National to finish. Nice!!! Mr Magoo, went RWD which wraps up an awesome weekend and a wonderful start to his show career! It is fun to learn another breed!!! AMCA Natoinal Specialty 2010, Denver CO. 10/28/2010
For once in my life, I went without dogs. That was hard, but worthwhile nonetheless, and I do recommend it. There is always so much to take in during a National Specialty week and you certainly cannot discount the importance of networking and looking beyond your own dogs. I got to spend time with papa-to-be, Lichen, which is important to me. I like to know the personality traits of both sire and dam so that I can recognize them in the offspring. I also got to take Cruise for a run along with Kate Salvadore. Running at high altitude, I felt it. Kate, a mere two weeks away from her Ironman, didn't quite feel it like I did. Cruise and I relished any opportunity to stop and catch our breath. His tongue was hanging low, but it was warm for him and he just wanted to mark all of Denver to call it his own. He came back to my room, but when he found the full-length mirror, any opportunity for bonding went out the window. He was rather smitten with his image. Why wouldn't he be. And I got a moment of cuddles on the bed with Cindy, BIS BISS Ch Atanik SilverIce Hot Pants, where I gave her a belly rub and that will be a memory I will forever hold in my heart. RIP Cindy xo. The Top 20 emcee assignment went off as usual -- the same scope of glitches that we usually experience. Microphone technical malfunctions and handler pattern-execution fouls. Nothing major. We don't have teleprompters or dress-rehearsals, so considering that, I think we manage to pull it off quite well. Congratulations to all the participants and to the winners, Ricky and his team! It is always great to see everyone, especially the at-large members, who bring a new set of eyes, ideas and enthusiasm to the plate. Congratulations to all the winners of the week! A special shout out to the big Canadian successes Kathleen and T'ing with their National Specialty BOS and Gaylene, Leslie and Cruz'er with their National Specialty WD win. Oh Canada! The AMCA National Specialty is not just another dog show, nor is it just another place to showcase your dogs. It is a place where the students of the breed get together to learn and share their experiences, their knowledge and their passion. If you are a true fancier of the Alaskan Malamute, this is where you need to be year-after-year. Next year...Michigan...don't miss it. | AuthorSpiritrun Malamutes ~ breeders of quality Alaskan Malamutes since 1998  ArchivesNovember 2011 CategoriesAll |
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