Stavonga News

15/10/2011

So what happened to 2010!! Well another fast moving year with lots of adventures in my motorhome at dog shows ..... where to begin! Well in the February 2010 I atteneded another NEC exhibition for MH and decided .. that I would change my MH - as much as I liked the social U shape - reality of making beds up everynight and putting them away again in the morning plus no big boot to store 'stuff' in was becoming a problem as I do like to keep things looking nice and serviceable - so I ordered a new one that met my more practicle needs having spent 12 months nearly with my Bessacarr E520 - so a new Autotrail Mohawk was ordered, with the few obligatory extras, 3 litre auto engine and stabilisers, heaters in both water tanks - just in case I take her out in below freezing conditions and those all essential reverse parking sensors - which I cannot live without!

Delivery was scheduled for June. Meanwhile there were lots of other shows to go to! So Bessy and I were off to Scotland for a week then off to East of England all prior to the new 'model' coming on board. Two days before I was due to pick up my new motorhome, on the news I heard of a great fire at Cranham's with the M25 being closed - not my new MH?! Thankfully not, phew! - although they lost over 30 MH's and caravans's during that fire - my MH was still on the production line - for once I was grateful for delays! I eventually took receipt of her just prior to the Blenheim Palace Cavalier Xtravaganza! It was a wonderful time meeting up with old friends from overseas and lots of new friends made - we had a ball! For the rest of the year we took MH2 over to the Isle of Wight and around the south coast to visit some favourite haunts then wrapped her up in November for a well earned rest until February 2011 - more about that later....

Summer time .....

Well it has been quite some time since my last report - must make a note to keep up to date  so much to tell you!  A lot of my time well ours (Malcolm and I) has been spent with the Grandchildren during the summer holidays they came to stay and away off to Tenerife for a few weeks - which went well, then the rest of the summer holidays at home with us.   But not before a number of my girls decided to come into season, one after the other - oh joy!  Having not had a litter for well over 18 months I concluded it was time, following all my heart, MRI  and eye clearances.  Hopefully a nice girl will present herself for 2010 showing in puppy?  But recognising that there are a lot of shows that I need to stay overnight to attend and I am looking for a more leisurely pace of life I also embarked on looking at MH (Motorhomes!!).  For the uninitiated, this is a whole other world!  I spent months pooring over the computer, viewing and test driving MH's, with the result of my purchasing a Bessacarr early August!  It has all the mod cons (08 model) and sufficient room for me and one other, U shaped lounge (for relaxing in), with separte loo and bathroom - what more could a girl want??!  Our first trip out was to Top Barn Farm on 20th August - with all the dogs, full awning, special windbreakers and dog runs and Malcolm to help pull it all together!  He even stayed overnight  (only one night) - that was a result!  Then returned home with some of the team, leaving me with the show girls for the weekend.  (He would much rather be in a nice hotel somewhere - how boring!)  On the Friday when others trotted off to Builth Wells for the show I stayed and got familiar with my MH and a new life style - it is sooooo relaxing!  Also I had to prepare for my friend Brian who was staying the night on his way up north, etc.,  and the BBQ we were having that evening with friends.  The whole weekend went extremely well (apart from a slight hiccup with the full awning that I had ordered being delivered incomplete - that is a whole other story - with the help of other intrepid campers et al we soon had that issue resolved.  On the Sunday the day of the CKCS Open Show it was great being able to wake up in situ, have a leisurely breakfast, chill out with the dogs prior to exhibiting, and at the end of the show, no mad dash off home - we were able to relax and review the days activities with friends over a tasty meal.  (I was so laid back I was horizontal!!)  So all in all a good experience - mostly - I did have a little mishap on the way home - it had just started to rain I switched on the wipers and a few minutes later the passenger wiper took off!!  Luckily it was a Monday and I was just skirting Leamington Spa not far from a Fiat dealer who had a replacement - but we wouldn't want the episode to be boring would we?!   Richmond Ch. Show saw me again take the MH this time I have a different awning - worked a peach, my friend Brian came with me to make sure I had no hiccups with this trip and the showing wasn't bad either - Ricksbury Royal Promise for Stavonga - Katie, got the RCC.  But alas we did have a minor hiccup with the MH I lost the leisure battery power!  (Still not sure how that happened) and at the time it was a near disaster as my loo's pump is electric and the shower, water heater, or water flow through the taps won't work without the pump working  - you guessed it the leisure battery.  But true to form David Moger and Sandra were on hand to check out fuses, and help us through a mini crisis (it's enough to make a girl turn to drink!!??!)  This is all resolved now and the special win obliterated a lot of the pain - however we were sure glad to get back home and have a hot shower!!  I bet our friends were too.....

Meanwhile I am staying at home with puppies from Serena and Phoebe, with maybe a hopeful for 2010?  But I must say at this time I am still keen on my MH and can't wait to get to use it again now I am a bit more knowledgable - so that come next year I will have ironed out all the teething problems and be truly able to enjoy the full experience with fellow like minded dog enthusiasts and better appreciate the often striking locations we can travel to with no worry about whether or not the hotel will take dogs! 

When Irish Eyes are smiling ....

             On the Friday 1st May, I with four dogs set out at lunchtime for Liverpool, to begin the long trek to the N.I. CKCS Show.  At around 5.30 p.m. I met up with friends Lynn Crane and Sue Smith with their 4 canine show dogs and together we piled into my car - using every spare inch!  By 8.30p.m. we had met up with like minded souls and were happily boarding the Ferry overnight to Belfast.  Chatting, eating and later sleeping we crossed the Irish Sea, arriving in Belfast at around 6.30 a.m. and disembarked with our dogs.

Everyone had travelled well and the crossing was a peach!  Off we drove to the show venue only 20 minutes away.  Once at the venue we fed and walked our dogs, then the show opened and we set ourselves up for the day - all hoping to take home a card or two!  The show was as sunny as the weather and contrary to weather warnings we had a super time and Stavonga Speculate Loncor - won her Puppy Class and later went Best Puppy Bitch in Show!!  Deeriem Carrismatic for Stavonga took second in Junior.  The winner of Junior later took BRCC!  Stavonga Phoebe took 3rd in Limit with Ricksbury Royal Promise for Stavonga taking 4th behind an array of worthy Champions!  After the show and a lengthy walk with the dogs, we again packed up the car, hoping we could get everything in - and then went off to meet with other show folk before later boarding the Ferry for another overnight crossing before disembarking at 7.00 a.m. on Sunday morning - I arrived home tired but happy, at around 1.30 p.m.

2009!

Well what a start!  At the ECCKCSS Open Show, on January 4th,  Katie (Ricksbury Royal Promise for Stavonga JW) went B.I.S. under breed specialist Janet Waller - Katie was handled by my good friend Cesar Cortes. 

At the CKCS Club Show on 28th February under breed Specialist Mary Rees, she won Open Bitch beating several Champions! 

Meanwhile a new hopeful for 2009 Deeriem Carismatic for Stavonga went Best Puppy in breed  at Sheffield & District Kennel Assoc., Open Show on 1st March, followed by 2nd in Puppy at U.K. Toy Ch. Show on 28th March in a huge class of 26 entries.  Then ... at the Southern Cavalier KCSC Show on 4th April - she went Best Puppy in Show!!  Wow!  I was streaming with a cold and chesty cough but she carried me through!

2008 - What a YEAR!

We have continued to have a super year with many highlights from Katie (Ricksbury Royal Promise for Stavonga), Phoebe (Stavonga Phoebe) and Serena (Stavonga Serena).  Sadly my earlier 'Blogs' have been lost to Cyber space!!  However hopefully my new system will keep all our friends up to date!! 

On a personal note I have traveled to Sweden, France, USA and Australia for judging assignments this year and had a wonderful time meeting lots of knew people and seeing some fabulous dogs along the way.  Plus a book edited by 'yours truly' entitled Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, published by The Pet Book Publishing Co. Ltd., was launched!!  This has been in the making for nearly 2 years and we are delighted with the finished product.  This is available from good pet stores, Breed Clubs and I believe from mid January 2009 from Amazon.  A great Christmas present only £14.99.  If you want a copy and have difficulty getting one - let me know!

Next year is pretty much a 'stop at home' year.  I only had one litter this year with just two puppies so, not a lot of activity there with regards to finding new stock for the show ring.  I did however manage to attend around 22 of the Championship Shows in the U.K. and exhibited at most with one or two dogs - coats and seasons allowing.

Katie (Ricksbury Royal Promise for Stavonga) did extremely well at 17 of the shows throughout the year culminating in a RCC under All rounder Mrs Jill Peak in Belfast.

Not to be outdone Serena (Stavonga Serena), swept back into the ring in March with a 2nd place at the Club Championship Show in Open Breeders class, under breed specialist Shealagh Waters and was rarely out of the cards when being shown this year with a real highlight at Windsor winning Open Bitch under breed specialist Victoria Horan.

Whilst Phoebe (Stavonga Phoebe) left it to the last minute to enter the show scene this year and made her come back in early October at the only show she attended in 2008, winning Post Graduate Bitch under breed specialist Wesley Schiffman (USA).  Phoebe had retired over a year ago for a litter - regretfully all boys - nothing for us to keep - as we do not keep boys due to my dogs living in the house with me and my wanting harmony! - but a lovely litter none the less - during this time she allowed her ears to be chewed by one of her pals and it has taken nearly a year to sort this all out!!

On the health scene, we continue to do our best and have all our stock heart, eye and MRI checked.  Hearts and eye's are done annually with MRI's once the girls reach 2.5 yrs.  (although this is by no means conclusive, or give any indication as to what genes with be passed on to their offspring - it is a starting point and the best we can do at this time). 

As a breed we have been much maligned in the press in 2008 by either ignorance or malice and whilst we know we have issues which we have been working on (and continue diligently to work on) for in excess of 15+ years (i.e. hearts and eyes) making significant progress, in pushing back the median age in Cavaliers from 9.5 to 11.7 years - greater than the average age of all breeds re the KC 2006 survey.  This has not been recognised, nor the fact that we have as a breed raised well in excess of £200,000 over recent years, which has/is being ploughed into research and support in health testing etc.,  But we at Stavonga will conscientiously continue to do our best and follow the best practice that is laid down by various accredited authorities in our stewardship of the breed.  A lot of hope and hard work is being invested in a system being pioneered at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket for dogs an EBV scheme.  More on this later!

Another high note for Stavonga stock is that Stavonga Emma at Quail Run became a dual Champion - AKC and Canadian!

Hot of the press:  Stavonga Dom Perignon at Quail Run has become a Canadian Champion - on 14th October - Whoopee!!

So, whilst not quite at the end of the year we are ending on a personal high.  We wish all friends and fellow Cavalier enthusiasts a safe, healthy, happy Christmas - with a happy, healthy, safe and successful 2009!  Happy New Year!