Dog News May 2008

ABC TURNS 65—NO PLANS TO RETIRE!
THE 65TH ANNUAL AMERICAN BOXER CLUB SPECIALTY
by Stephanie Abraham

It was a kinder and gentler ABC this year—breeders/exhibitors seemed to mellow out and take the time to appreciate the opportunity to attend “the greatest Boxer show on earth.” Once again, we found ourselves fortunate to be at the Drawbridge Inn in KY during the week after the Derby, with our events taking place from May 3 thru May 9. Although many feared the entry would suffer from the increased cost of fuel and air fares, those fears proved unfounded. With 965 dogs entered at the Specialty and Trials, with a total entry of 1443, it was a dazzling commitment from the fancy.

Mr. Richard Mullen from TN and Mrs. Sharon D. Hodgens-Wood from WI judged 138 Obedience entries and 96 in Rally over the first two days (two trials). HIT on Saturday, and highest scoring Champion of record with a score of 199 from Novice B, was Ch Regal’s Hereee’s Johnny CD, RN, owned by Peggy McConnell & Korinne Vanderpool and bred by Korinne and Evan Vanderpool. High Combined was Sunchase’s Bleached Blonde CDX AX OAJ RN, owned and bred by Tracy Hendrickson. The Sunday trial saw HIT and Highest Scoring Champion of record honors (with a score of 198 from Open B) go to OTCH CH Sunchase's Texas Margarita, UDX2, almost 8 years young, owned by Peggy McConnell and bred by Tracy Hendrickson. This was “Rita’s” last show, as she earned her OTCH title this Spring—to become the first ever CH/OTCH Boxer in breed history! High Combined was: Josephine Von Bachbett, VCD2, CDX, TD, RA, AX, AXJ; owner: Renee Basye; breeder: Cathy Hubert-Markos.

Agility Trials were held on Monday (all breed trial) and Tuesday (Boxers only). At the Tuesday event, High in Standard was Josephine von Bachbett VCD2 RA AX AXJ, winner of the High Combined award on Sunday. High in Jumpers With Weaves and High in Trial was CH Kelly's Cruise On Up Shalsade CD RE MX MXJ XF. Owner(s): Susan Kelly & Shirley Laussade. Breeder: Kim Hatfield. There were 105 entries and 31 qualifying runs judged by Mrs. Carla Bourdrot from TN.

On Monday evening, the always exciting and this year very beautiful Top Twenty event took place in the grand ballroom. Flowers were in abundance, with bistro seating, and exhibitors and spectators alike dressed in glitter and glam. This year Cheryl Robbins and Margery Ross, the Production team under the guidance of Loretta Parolisi, succeeded in bringing a new and welcome aura of beautifully orchestrated excitement to this event. Judges’ identities were held a closely guarded secret until they stepped into the ring. This year they were 3 individuals very closely involved with Boxers for years: Breeder Judge—Wendy Morawski; Multi-Breed Judge:_Tom Squicciarini; Handler Judge—Crista Cook. After a spectacular parade of past winners, each competing dog entered the arena to the strains of a song that had been chosen by his owners, adding a lovely dimension to the evening as the judges examined each dog under the spotlights. To the notes of “When You Wish Upon a Star,” Virginia Shames piloted the 2006 Futurity winner and 2007 BOB winner, Ch Arriba Talisman Satisfaction, to yet another grand title. After the complex system of arithmetical scoring was added up, “Sedona” stood alone as the 2008 Top Twenty winner. Tears and joy all round, and a great applause from the gallery.

It was a wonder Ginny had time to change into her finery for the Top Twenty, as she had just completed the first day of her judging at the 63rd annual Futurity—the breeder showcase for Boxers in the USA. Unless you have witnessed it, no one can quite imagine classes of 20 and over, but this is always the case at ABC. With a total Futurity entry of 242, Ginny found her Best Puppy on Monday—Keilann’s Twisted Kiss @ Celebrity, an upstanding boy from the 9-12 Brindle class. Bred by Sandra Gaynor and owned by William J. Miceli and Sandra Gaynor. The large gallery watching Tuesday’s Futurity judging saw the Best Junior selected—a 12-15 “classic” Brindle dog from Illinois, Can-Cia’s Hard Act to Follow, bred and handled by Sherry Canciamille, and owned by Sherry Canciamille, Joanne Kaiser, and Katharina Gatz. After the applause died down, the Best Puppy from Monday stepped into the ring to compete with his older rival for Grand Prize Futurity honors. Taking home all the trophies and no small amount of $$ to Massachusetts was the puppy, Keilann’s Twisted Kiss @ Celebrity. Handled by Tuni Claflin. 242 youngsters judged, and it was only Tuesday!

Mrs. Janet Sinclair from Washington state began judging Dogs as soon as the Futurity entrants exited the ring. Starting with a class of 29, she completed her judging of the Puppy classes and then moved on to Wednesday to finish her Bitch assignment—adjudicating 246 Dogs total, including 32 Veterans. The Winners class was a sight to behold—all those brilliant class winners in the big ring at once. Winners Dog this year was from the Am Bred Fawn class, Katandy’s Fast Forward, bred and owned by Lee Morris from MD. Handled by Diego Garcia. Reserve to the appealing 6-9 Brindle baby, Rikar’s Crime of the Century, bred and owned by Karen Deschambault from Alberta, Canada. Best Veteran this year, a former Top Twenty winner, was 8 ½ year old fawn Ch Brookwood’s Dream Dancer, handled as always by Mel Holloman.

In the meantime, we were all VERY busy. Judges’ Education and Breeder seminars were given on Tuesday afternoon, and on Tuesday evening, the American Boxer Charitable Foundation held its annual dinner and auction. The American Boxer Club is proud to be the largest single breed contributor to the AKC’s Canine Health Foundation, researching to find vital information and/or markers for disease in our beloved Boxers. This year, we were thrilled to find that in a very short time (under 2 years), researchers funded by the ABCF had found a DNA marker for Degenerative Myelopathy—so that our dogs can be tested and found to be disease free or carriers. Rufus Burleson was our auctioneer, always up to the task and gently squeezing the last nickels out of a willing audience—this year we spent over $25,000 on the night on behalf of ABCF. On Tuesday, Dr. Kate Meurs performed 135 Echocardiograms on our Boxers—demonstrating the fancy’s willingness to test for SAS and other problems in breeding age animals. On Wednesday night the exciting DM announcement was made during a roundtable Boxer Health extravaganza, where researchers reported on current projects involving diseases affecting the Boxer. And did I forget to mention the every-5-year Parade of Champions and Titleholders that was videotaped for posterity throughout the beginning of the week? 246 Boxer celebs strutted their stuff for the videographer—entries ranging in age from a lone bitch born in 1994 to the youngsters from the class of 2005. ABC is never dull!

Rufus Burleson from TX stepped into the ring on Wednesday afternoon to begin judging an amazing total of 298 bitches. The 12-18 Fawn bitch class alone had a staggering 33 entrants. When all the dust had cleared on Thursday afternoon, Diego Garcia made it a clean sweep of the biggest awards in the Classes as he piloted the Open Fawn, Jamieson’s Tequila, proudly bred and owned by Arturo Jamieson from Mexico, to the coveted 5 points. Mr. Jamieson faithfully attends ABC almost every year, and this one was undoubtedly his most exciting sojourn! RWB to a fawn darling from the 12-18 class, Hi_Tech’s Southern Belle, owned by Jerri Poller, Tina Truesdale, and Gail Alix, bred by Gail & Tim Alix and William and Zoila Truesdale, and shown by Kim Calvacca. Best Veteran Bitch this year, from a total of 32, was 6 ½ year old Ch Dreamweaver’s Future Perfect. Bred by Pam Rohr and Michael Shepherd, and owned by Pamela Rohr and Lori McClain. Stud Dog and Brood Bitch classes, always so entertaining and informative for the gallery, were judged immediately after RWB. The spectacle of each worthy entrant accompanied by two of his or her get in the big ring always brings the house down, especially as they all stand proudly together before each threesome is judged. This year, of 24 Stud Dogs and on the day before his 7th birthday, Ch Raklyn’s Stealing the Show, bred and owned by Debbie and Erin Struff, took home the top honors. He was only keeping it in the family, as his sire, Ch Hi-Tech Johnny J of Boxerton LOM, and his sire before him, Ch Hi-Tech Arbitrage SOM, had won the Stud Dog award in multiple prior years—AND, his dam, Ch Raklyn’s Celebration, won the Brood Bitch class at ABC 2003 with “Stealer” in the ring as one of her get! Best Brood Bitch this year, of 18 competitors, was Ch Wil-Mor’s Second Hand Rose Kan-to, owned by J. Wilkinson, K. Frohock, D. Hilton and R. Morton, and bred by Jane Wilkinson and Debbie Hilton. “Rosie,” is no stranger to the limelight at ABC, having been RWB in 2004 and an Award of Excellence winner in 2005.

On Wednesday evening the Annual General Meeting was held, debating the geographical location of the show and various options to move, rotate, or stay put. Did I say that ABC is never dull? One of the ballrooms was set aside on Thursday for the gala Awards Dinner, diners eating at round tables beautifully decorated with dramatic orange tulips and other flowers, some of which were rumored to have been recycled from Derby Day festivities in Louisville! Many thanks to ABC member and caterer, Phillip Koenig, for all his successful efforts.

On Friday morning, David Abraham from CT passed judgment on the Junior Showmanship entries. This year, repeating her award from 2004, Best Junior Showman honors from the Open Senior class went to Paige Day from Massachusetts. Immediately following, Mrs. Sinclair began the arduous task of judging 123 worthy Specials. Sorting and cutting by color and gender, aided by the stewards who did a remarkable job of keeping everything running smoothly, Mrs. Sinclair ended up with about 20 still standing proudly in the arena. Top honors this year went to last years WB, the beautiful moving brindle bred in Japan, Ch Dramatic Story of Sherry Shoot JP. Handled by Kim Calvacca, owned by Dr. & Mrs. William Truesdale, and S. Teragaki & M. Hanabusa, and bred by Shinoyo Teragaki Hokkaito. Best of Opposite Sex, handled by Gary Steele, was a 2007 Award of Excellence winner, Ch Suncrest’s I’m the Man, owned by Mario Quiroz & Olive Lee Waters & D McCarroll & M Fagan and bred by Olive Lee Waters.

Awards of Excellence are always highly prized. This year’s winners were, in no particular order:

Ch Ein-Von’s Just a Rumor. Owner: Jeffrey & Nan Eisley-Bennett & C Desmond & Z & V Pierson. Bred by Z. Pierson & L Branam. Just turning 4 years of age, this was her 3rd coveted Award of Excellence. Presented by Kimberlie Steele-Gamero. Ch Capri’s Magic Maker of Sassy. Owned by Barbara Bachman and bred by Sydney Brown & Kristine Anderson. Repeating this AOE from 2007, the year after he won WD and BW at ABC. Presented by Esteban Farias. Ch Wilmor’s Second Hand Rose Kan-to, repeating her honor from 2005. This year’s Brood Bitch winner. Handled by Marianne “Tuni” Claflin. Ch Port O’Calls Tide of Carillon. Owned by Steve and Tina Bostic and bred by C. Suarez. Handled by Rick Justice. Ch Brookwood’s Dream Dancer, the Best Veteran at the show and former Top Twenty winner. Handled by Mel Holloman.

Special appreciation this year must go to ABC’s ultra organized President, Larry Hughes, and our new Show Chairman, Salli Moore-Kottas---who managed to keep herself sane while doing 1000 things at once with grace and style. Many thanks for the memories—and the flowers, innovative bleacher & table seating, and unique decorations that helped to transform the ring into a fitting backdrop for all those beautiful Boxers.

Well, folks—that wraps up another ABC extravaganza. We will always remember all those hopefuls, all the winners, all the friendships renewed or begun in the halls of the Drawbridge Inn 2008. With the last winner chosen, we all scatter to the four winds of the USA and far beyond, as this is truly an international event as well as a domestic one. Congratulations to all those who attended, win or lose, because we are all enriched at the scene—and never so much as by the affection we earn from the Boxers who love us.

Candid Photos:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38