Our Sudbury Show Travels

5 shows in 4 days really taxes you, but does allow you and your dog(s) to stay in the groove of the whole show scene. This was the Sudbury & District Kennel Club with the 5th year of the Purina Puppy Classic being held on the Saturday evening. To qualify for this special event, the dog must have won at least a Best Puppy In Group in the previous year.

It was, SO, nice to stay in a hotel .... and NOT a tent in the rain!!! Clean bedding, dry towels, TV all the comforts of home. The weather was warm, mostly around 20C, and sunny throughout the whole event. What a nice change from many of the summer shows this summer. What more could we have asked for?!

View of the main grooming area, Mike sitting watching Chinook on the table.

This was the 1st indoor show for our Chinook, and while some dogs will get a bit uptight with the louder noises, walking over the large Zamboni area grates, and just the general noises that go with equipment being set-up on cement, we were pleased that none of this phased her. We will also cringe, when unexpectedly the loud speaker will come on, and it just so happen on the Friday, right when I had Chinook on the table and the judge was preparing to go over her! She stood fast, we waited out the announcement, and carried on if nothing had happened.

The volunteers setting up for the Purina Puppy Classic with the gifts and ribbons on the tables.

On the table with the 1st of 3 judges to go over Chinook

Each Group is judged by 3 different judges, selected from licensed judges, permit judges and long-time breeders. The assignments remained a secret until judging time. Each judge scores each dog with those scores being added together to declare the placements. They had 2 rings going at the same time to move the evening along, and our Group 7 was one of the 1st groups to be judged. YEAH!!! How many times does our Group 7 end up being last in these types of events??!!

Our Group 7 entries, 3 shelties and 1 Bearded Collie; all the shelties are owner-handled!

Awards handed out in order from 4th to 1st, and then we prepare to do one last go around for the crowd. I was quite surprised to see the turnout of spectators for such a show held in a small town just outside of Sudbury.

Another 2nd place win for us; our BPIS Ch Shelamo Changing Winds won 2nd place 2 yrs ago.

After downloading the camera pics, I realized we really didn't take as many as I thought of the goings on at the show. Gotta be more prepared and on the ball next time. We used Sunday as a travel day, stopping in the early afternoon for some of the local french fries.

This was the view of the Ottawa River from behind the Chip Pit.

I was watching the landscape as we drove home and really didn't see much of the fall colours, but as we got closer to home there were more maple trees, and thus more colour. Right across the street from the Chip Pit was this maple starting to turn. It seems the fall colour is later this year, maybe as a result of our recent 'hot' weather?? Can you see that little yellow sign on the white fence??? I zoomed in from across the street and here's what it read.

Men @ Work & Play

Distinctive Gifts for Distinguished Men

As we continued on from the Chip Pit, the home-bound traffic was starting to build. Many sections of the highway were under construction, (economic infusion of work/money?) along with several bridges. This is the 1st of several that were on single lane traffic lights ... a waiting game ... it's hard to see but the line of cars behind us go almost to the hill you can see in the background! The traffic tie ups set us back a good hour, hour and a half.

We arrived home to a scrumptious pot roast dinner and double layer chocolate cake, all cooked by our 'Kennel Manager', Mary-Anne. Thanks MA ... certainly a nice treat after the drive; and to know our dogs are in good hands.