We had two stars today, although the big accolades were certainly for Squiggle aka Veikko (Ch Armahani Diamond Dansut (AI) CCD RA JD HT ET JC FM) who today earned her Australian Neuter Championship to add to an already very lengthy name!

It hardly seems like yesterday that Squiggle entered the neuter ring for the first time, and she certainly has earned her title in very fine style indeed, with four Best Neuter in Show awards, one Runner Up Best Neuter in Show and several Best Neuter in Groups!

Way to go Shell and Squiggle!

This weekend was a big recovery weekend after the recent craziness!

But down in Tasmania, Bennigan (Ch Armahani Heliodorr Hulivili (AI)) was back out showing with Rachael again today.

And showing what a formidable team this duo are becoming in such a very short time together, he again earned Best in Group (and Australian Bred in Group) - his second in as many shows!  

​It is clear Benni adores his new mum, and I suspect the feeling may be mutual.

The Melbourne Cup weekend is our biggest show weekend of the year, with four very very big days, including our breed specialty on the Saturday. 

We usually have large entries, and it was so exciting to have over 70 entered in our specialty and entries between 30 and 40 the other days.

On Saturday we had our FLCV specialty show under specialist judge Ambjorn Lindqvist from Stenseitensen Kennel in Sweden. After fully expecting (and to be honest telling everyone I know!) that my dogs would likely do fairly poorly, I have to say the haul of ribbons and trophies at the end of the day felt a little on the crazy side.

Tortik (Ch Armahani Helidorr Halu (AI)) was our big star, going DCC and RUBISS. Followed by our complete dark horse Taija (Ch Armahani Crystal Cuovgat) who came out for her final retirement show, reminded me of just how much fun she always was to show, and ended up RBCC - you could have knocked me over with a feather! 

Our bigger class wins were:
Minor Puppy in Show - Uno  (Armahani Jade Jalokivi)
Opposite Intermediate in Show - Baby (Am Ch Ch Calaban's Dirty Dancing RN (Imp USA))
State Bred in Show - Taija (Ch Armahani Crystal Cuovgat)
Open in Show - Tortik (Ch Armahani Heliodorr Halu (AI))
Veteran in Show - Louis (Sup Ch C'est Louis Armstrong des Chevaloupsgreg CD RAE RM HSAs (Imp USA))
Neuter in Show - Koda (Armahani Fireopal Fitmat)
Reserve Neuter Bitch - Squiggle (Ch Armahani Diamond Dansut (AI) CCD RA JD HT ET JC FM)

On to property classes, judged by Robyn Price, where Tortik won Best Headed Dog, and Taija and Baby were 2nd and 3rd respectively in Best Gaited. Then our "A Team" of Lumi, Tortik, Koda and Taija won Best Breeders Team!!

By far my proudest moment, however, was winning Best Owner, Breeder, Handler with Tortik. It is always an incredible class to win, but this year was extra special, with the lovely perpetual trophy which was donated by Tonya Syme in Vanessa's memory. While circumstances meant my original plan of entering Benni in this class didn't quite work out, it was the next best thing to win with his brother, and a few tears were shed. 

While we were busy at the specialty, Loki Bear (Armahani Jade Jylha) was in Albury winning Minor in Group - his first class in group win, but I'm sure not his last.  Congratulations to Nicole!

Onto the rest of the weekend ....

Sunday (forever known as "lost gazebo day") in gale force winds, at the Working Dog Club specialty saw Tortik again go DCC and RUBOB under breed judge Dr L Hjorth (Norway) who had very very nice things to say about the Lappies in the ring. Baby was RBCC. Uno Minor of Breed. And Squiggle Neuter of Breed, following it up with Neuter of Show under GS judge Mr N Smith (Gibraltar).

Monday was the Vic Women's Dog Club all breeds show. Unable to handle at this show, and running around like a headless chook all day anyway, I have to thank Shell and Nik for handling Tortik, Baby and Koda for me. Shell successfully took Tortik to BOB, and Nik took Baby to RBCC. It was Squiggle's day again, going Neuter in Group under judge Mrs A Smith (Gibraltar) and then Neuter in Show under Dr L Hjorth.

And then today at the Sunbury Kennel Club all breed show - such a fantastic fun show. We were entered under Mr K Nielsen (Denmark) who also awarded Tortik BOB and Baby RBCC, with it being Koda's turn to go Neuter of Breed. 

An exhausting, but very special weekend!