We began by participating in the parade of Titleholders on Friday evening. And our real fun started on Saturday. In the morning Winter was entered in a Novice obedience run. It was so close to our ring time for Sr. Puppy Females. So a new friend, Nancy Chapman, helped get Breeze brushed out while I did Winter's work in obedience. Then I ran back and showed Breeze, and went from the conformation ring right back into the obedience ring to pick up his score. He qualified! One down towards the Nan Gordon!
Then it was lunchtime, and after that time to get Winter ready for Specials. We went in mid-afternoon. There were 41 specials entered--22 boys and 19 girls. It made for a ring full when we were all piped in. To deal with the numbers, the judge, Mrs. Marianne Holm-Hansen (Tallygold) of Denmark, broke us into groups of 5. She examined each group and made her cuts. She didn't keep very many dogs, but to my relief Winter made the cut in his group of five. Back we went with the other dogs who had "made the cut!" She moved us all around, and examined each dog carefully. She pulled out Ch. Cheek to Cheek Steve McQueen for BOB, and then Ch. Lazyriver Star in the Skye for BOS. Then the JAMs. Out came Ch. Top Look's Mystic River CD, and then my Winter, Ch. Amberwood Winter Wonderland JH WCI!! Then for girl JAMs she picked Ch. Lazyriver Sunrise Over Savannah, and Ch. De La Framboiserie Edelweiss.
After this we had the non-regular classes, and there the judge picked Winter as the Best Field Dog. More importantly, with his JAM Winter had achieved the second requirement for the Nan Gordon Trophy.
The next day was the GRCQ Regional judged by Jennifer Johnson of Bermuda. This time we didn't make the cut but we did win "Meilleur Chien Field" again.
On Monday we headed off to Ambertrail Kennels for the Working Tests. If we could pass the WCI test we would have the third and final element required for the Nan Gordon. There were three other dogs who had managed the conformation and obedience requirements: Ch. Top Looks Mystic River CD (JAM, Open qual, running WC); Ch. Meadowpond Grand Beaujolais CDX AGI AGIJ WC (Veteran placement, Open qual, running WCI) and Manistee Bodacious Maxinius (Bred By placement, Novice qual, running WCI).
After the land marks were done, only Winter had made it back to water. We waited all afternoon for the WC dogs to do their water first, and then finally Winter was first up for WCI water. We got to line, and when I called for the birds, Winter didn't turn his head to see the memory bird until the very last moment. All he got was the splash as it hit the water!! The. the go bird went, right in front of us. Out he went for the first bird. No problem. He came in and I lined him up for the memory bird and he went! Luckily the wind was in our favour and helped him out once he got to the area of the fall. He brought back his bird!! He had done it!! Winter had won the Nan Gordon Memorial Trophy!!!
2007 NAN GORDON MEMORIAL TROPHY WINNER
WINTER
BRAGS
FIELD