Yesterday was Independence Day in the US, and we are sure all our American friends celebrated in style. The committee of the ILKA were also celebrating the excellent entry of over 1100 dogs they had received for their Championship Show held in the National Show centre, Cloghran, Co Dublin.
The ILKA committee had invited a good mix of both overseas judges and well known Irish judges. The good-sized rings were well laid out and the centre piece was a beautifully decorated Best in Show ring. There was ample space for tenting, which was quickly filled up. Now it’s nearly obligatory for Irish dog show exhibitors to have their tent for grooming etc. Unfortunately, the weather proved the forecasters right and was very mixed, starting dry but chilly, then getting warm but with heavy showers of rain and gusty winds, the changing weather proved too much for some exhibitors and they requested the respective breeds to move indoors for judging,
It was very nice to see a new face judging BIS with a wealth of dog showing experience of both exhibiting and judging behind her. This was Mrs Morag Connolly. Very well know for her Huntly Weimaraners and Border Terriers, and more recently in the lime-light with her and husbands David and co-owner Mrs Gregory’s Multi BIS/Titled winning Border Collie ShCh/ShGBCh Tonkory Move Over to Huntly.
So into the spacious BIS ring came 10 excellent representatives of their respective Groups. So after careful consideration, Mrs Connolly decided the 2010 BIS winner of the ILKA would be the Group 9 winner the wonderfully groomed and presented Bichon Frise Ch/GBCh Ashmair The Butler Did It, proudly owned by Ashling Connolly . Res BIS and the winner of Group 5 the Chow Chow Snowlegend Torvill at Mingfield, owner by Kieran Behan, but handled as usual by Dad Philip . In 3rd place Mrs Connolly called in the Multi BIS winning American Cocker Spaniel Sh Ch/AmCh/GBCh /IntCh San Jo’s Born To Party, owner by Monica & Margaret Boardman, the Group 8 winner. And 4th place to bitch who topped Group 1, the Welsh Corgi Pembroke, Ch Craigcor Viva La Diva owned by Alan Matthews.
So many congratulations to Ashling and the whole Connolly family, Ashling may do the grooming and ring presentation of her magnificent Bichons, but she has wonderful back ground help from her family, so they had all lots to cheers for on the way back to Tallaght last evening. And many congrats to all yesterday’s top winning dogs, and to the committee of the ILKA for an excellent show.
IRISH LADIES KENNEL ASSOCIATION
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