We had a year like any other, full of highs and lows. This year, in particular seemed full of very high highs and very low lows. We endured our first full winter without our beloved Tkaya, so of course, that was weird. He so loved winter -- he was a true malamute to the core. But we honoured him by making the most of a very very good winter season. Conditions on the trails were glorious and I remember a lot of sunshine. We sledded most every weekend and throughout the weekdays when time allowed. I was hopelessly devoted to my running routine and on many occasions, young WiiGii joined me to add comic relief to the monotony of some of those runs. WiiGii showed talent in the sledding department, too and was even able to adapt to single-lead duties, which is exceptional for a young dog's first season. Frannie also stepped up to the plate as a very savvy single-leader. Their Black Ice roots were coming through! The Vancouver Winter Olympics also made for a positive vibe and we wholeheartedly cheered on our Canadian contingent, who did not disappoint. Canadian pride was at an all-time high and Olympic fever, dogsledding and marathon training got us through a long but glorious winter!
Spring arrived and I was off to the races. Not many dog events on the schedule, but running races sure were. I completed a half-marathon, a 30-K marathon, a full-marathon and my first ultra (50k) marathon all by June. My brag for June was that in one year's time I had literally gone from getting off the couch to running 50K. The summer was a hot one, which we are not fans of. I had some races to compete in, but nothing was on tap for the dogs, which I did not regret, considering the heat and humidity at the time.
At the end of July, Bailey & Bob & Dolores Sturdivant's incredible boy, Tuk, blessed us with four puppies. Two boys and two girls. This brood proved to be a very important source of love and comfort for us in the coming weeks.
At the beginning of August, we experienced one of the biggest highs of our year, and show career. Maliik re-emerged on the show scene, just weeks away from his 12th birthday, to win Best of Breed over Specials,  Working Group 4 and Best Veteran In Show at the Barrie Kennel Club dog show. This was such a meaningful win to us with three brothers each winning their very own "Bests" at various stages of their lives. Tyler as a puppy, Tobe throughout his prime and Maliik as a veteran. It truly doesn't get any better than that.
Since the spring, we had been dealing with a terminal illness in the family. Edmund's father was sick. Mid-August 2010 was a turning point in our year, taking a perfectly awesome year to date and throwing it off tangent so badly it has been hard to get back on track in any area. One day, mid-August, Kali became acutely ill. After three very trying days of attempting to normalize her condition, she passed away in my arms. This was a loss so devastating to me, I am not over it yet and it will take a lot of time still. She died of complications from diabetes - a keto-acidosis crisis that lead to coma, shock, death. She was a stoic girl and didn't display signs of diabetes such as the textbooks describe. Hindsight being what it is, there were signs, but they weren't acute, not did they lead me to think diabetes, or illness for that matter. They were very subtle. Diabetes is commonly referred to as "the silent killer". Silent, I'll say. I hope I am not the only one who learned from this devastating ordeal. I am torn-apart by her loss and haven't been able to right myself since. Not four days after her death, Edmund's father passed away peacefully, in his bed at home with his family by his side. Terminal cancer claimed another. August wrapped up on a very low note.
So along came September, and we coasted through. I ran another marathon, just to prove to myself that I was still functioning on some level. I ran another in November, just because, that what runners do. I am so grateful to my inspirational running-mates - girls, you know who you are. Love to you all.
In October, November and December, the Spiritrun gang re-emerged on the show scene again. Cassie needed to finish her American championship, so she did with a 5-point specialty major at Munroe. Crystal played in the veterans ring and Elliott got serious in pursuit of his American championship. Up in Canada, Lucan put the finishing points on his championship, too. Colleen Belanger's Deuce and Madison continue to perform by raking in titles, points and credentials in such vast quantities that I can't even keep up.
I traveled out to Denver to watch the AMCA National Specialty and was so glad I did. I spent time with old friends, deepened existing friendships and made brilliant new ones. I spent time with Lichen, the sire of our fall litter (I am getting to that) and took a jog with Cruise, the soon to be sire of our spring litter.
In late fall, we said a heartfelt goodbye to our first Best In Show winner and Spiritrun flag-bearer, Tobe. As hard a goodbye as it was, Tobe lived a full & glorious life. He let me know, very clearly, his time had come. He was in my arms & I really couldn't have asked for a more peaceful and poetic closure to a life most definitely "lived". I thanked Tobe for bringing "greatness" into my life. Tobe made my life "grand" and gave me experiences in life most breeders could only hope for. A very good friend of mine, and fellow Working Group competitor, stated to me that Tobe and I were one of the most connected teams he had ever seen and the love we had for each other was tangible. It was a compliment I will forever hold dear, from a friend whose words mean a lot to me.
We are winding up the year both physically and emotionally drained, but with health, hope, and promises of bright futures on the horizon. At the end of November, Gabby, Tyler & Frannie's lovely daughter, gave birth to 9 healthy, bouncing baby malamutes, sired by the impressive Lichen out of California, and these little beings are filling our days with joy, puppy kisses and anticipation of bright futures ahead. We are undetermined who we will hold onto from this litter as the depth of quality is definitely there, but between the Tuk and Bailey puppies and these Lichen and Gabby babies, the future at Spiritrun looks very bright. We are blessed, and have some pretty amazing angels up above who are guiding us along -- provided we are keen enough to hear the messages.
From our kennel and home to yours, we at Spiritrun wish you all a very happy, prosperous and successful 2011 in all aspects of your lives!

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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!

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!!!

...dark seal malamutes are born at Spiritrun kennel.

On Sunday Nov 21, 2010, under the light of the full blue moon of November, Spiritrun welcomed nine new puppies into the world. Lichen and Gabby are the proud parents. Breakdown is 5 females, 4 males and 5 seals! Pretty cool. All weighed in between 14.5oz and 1lb 4.5oz and all are doing well into their second day! Momma Gabby is being spectacular! For details and pedigree, see Current Litter page.

Over the weekend Uncle Deuce, AGII RO1 UKC/CKC Ch Spiritrun's Uppin The Ante CGC TDI RE C-RN WPD UKC-CD in UKC obedience under the expert guidance of owner-trainer-handler Colleen Belanger.
He earned very respectable scores of 192 and 185. The next day he not only earned a "security leg" but earned "high scoring northern breed" and "high scoring UKC champion". That is so awesome and we are so proud of Colleen and Deuce!!!

Click to watch a VIDEO of his great performance!

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!!!

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.

The Spiritrun gang has just returned from another successful weekend at the Palisades and Ramapo shows in August, NJ. The AMCA NY/NJ Area members hosted a Regional Specialty on Saturday and our new "special" Cassie, Am/Can Ch Spiritrun's Singular Sensation, went Best of Opposite Sex under breeder-judge Illona Chu. Our 12+ veteran bitch, Crystal, Am/Can Ch Spiritrun's Arctic Crystal, ROM CAM, showed very well in the BOB line-up with Regina Caldwell handling her for me.
On Sunday, at the supported entry, Elliot showed very well and won Best of Winners. Thanks again to Regina for helping me handle multiple dogs and showing Elliott in the BOB ring for me as I has handling the rip-snorter, Cassie who earned a Champion Select award that day.
News from Colleen and Deuce from the weekend: "He did it....his first leg towards his Canadian CD and a prize for high scoring spitz dog! He got a new stuffed pheasant and his prize was dog cookies and malamute cards and a flat fox!"
That is an awesome load of loot for Loose deuce and I know he is happy about that! Especially the Flat Fox!

(Photo above taken by Jen Effler of the BBE Bitch line-up at Monroe 10/02/10)Ta Da! We have a *new* AKC Champion to announce. Cassie is now BPIS American and Canadian Champion Spiritrun's Singular Sensation! She came into this weekend of shows off a very long hiatus from the ring-scene and needing one point and one major. What a way to do it with a 5-point major, going Best of Winners from the Bred-by class under esteemed judge Michelle Billings!
That same day, our little Miss Madison, owned by Colleen and Dave Belanger and myself, won her very large Open bitch class, handled by Colleen and went on to win Reserve Winners Bitch to the 5-point major! This girl is maturing so nicely and what a set of legs she has under her!
Also that day, Uncle Deuce won a 2nd place in his large Open dog class.
Other successes over the weekend included Cassie's Bred-by class win on Friday, 12 year-old Veteran Crystal's class win in the sweeps competition at the GLAMC Specialty and never a dull moment Deuce's NQ from the obedience ring for having "too much fun" once again. Sigh. And Sunny, Spiritrun's Good Day Sunshine, pulled 1,776lbs in weight pull. Her all time high pull!
It was so much fun seeing everyone again and seeing such a wonderful turn-out of malamutes. The Great Lakes club put on a wonderful weekend of events and were incredibly hospitable. Thank-you all!