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FEATURED SHOW: AUGUST 2011 - KUSA CLASSIC SHOW  WEEK-END!

Yes, folks, CITO HAS EVERY REASON TO BE HAPPY!

The KUSA National Classic week-end is held each year and normally in a different province in South Africa giving all show goers a fair chance to travel. This year saw the event held in Fichardt Park, Bloemfontein combined with the Bloemfontein, Northern Free State and Kimberly Kennel Clubs. As always it is a 'hectic' time packing and washing dogs early in the morning before the long 7 hour journey to Bloemfontein. We had great weather forecast and decided to leave on the Wednesday, a day earlier. We drove through most of the roadworks fairly quickly and stopped in Harrismith, Bethlehem and again shortly before Bloem, ensuring the dogs could stretch their legs and have a drink of water. As always, scenery is to be injoyed and driving along Bronwyn and I chatted and checked out the many interesting sights along the road - being flat land and flat land and more flat land! Anyone that has done the Free State roads will understand perfectly...... but there was one sight that caught our attention and I braked, jumped out the car and standing a few metres outside of a farm fence took an awesome photo of the most magnificent and biggest bull I have ever seen! He was grazing quietly until he saw me with the camera and looked up - needless to say I decided to put the camera away and run, diving into the car with Bronwyn having a good chuckle to herself!

Mr Bully Beef himself!

Old veteran Lux gets first pick of the beds!

Cito tracking and finding the articles!

We drove straight to the showgrounds and set up our 'gazebo' or rather what would be our home for the next few days in the late afternoon sun, already it was getting chilly in the shaded areas on the show grounds. We headed back for Reynecke Park, a nice little caravan and chalet park just outside of Bloemfontein. The dogs each grabbed a bed to sleep on - never mind us! - and watched as we unpacked. Lux eventually stealing Balou's little toy monkey. We were not short of food and had generally thought of everything for the week-end. Both dogs and humans came home rather 'swell'.

Both young boys Cito and Balou did very well to handle the pressures of a 4 day 'away' show which is without a doubt tiring not to mention the pressures of showing, so I was right real proud of them for sticking it out. To mention our adventures on every day would take too long, however, during our breaks we didn't just sit around doing nothing! Besides socializing with friends, Cito was put to nose work - it was difficult to lay a track where dogs had walked and cross tracks were evident, however, Cito found the corner as well as both articles! We did some heel work and obedience too, anyway the show results are of course the most important to here goes:

Northern Free State Kennel Club Ch Show:
Thu 25 Aug - Judge: Ms Marina Ostrovskaya (Russ)
BEST OF BREED
Ch Snoweyriver X-Lord Cougar
CC & Reserve Best of Breed
Ch Snoweyriver Arctic Diamond

Bloemfontein Kennel Club Ch Show:
Fri 26 Aug - Judge: Mr Carols Quinones (Col)
BEST OF BREED
Ch Snoweyriver X-Lord Cougar
CC & Reserve Best of Breed
Ch Snoweyriver Arctic Diamond

KUSA Championship Show:
Sat 27 Aug - Judge: Mr Max Winch (Aus)
CC & BEST OF BREED
Ch Snoweyriver Arctic Diamond
Reserve Best of Breed
Ch Snoweyriver X-Lord Cougar

KUSA National Event - Herding:
Sat 27 Aug - Judge: Mrs S Bloomfield (RSA)
BEST OF BREED
Ch Snoweyriver X-Lord Cougar

Kimberley Kennel Club Ch Show:
Sun 28 Aug - Judge: Mr Oleg Yanchev (Russ)
CC & BEST OF BREED
Ch Snoweyriver Arctic Diamond
Reserve Best of Breed
Ch Snoweyriver X-Lord Cougar

Balou takes his first Bests of Breed at Championship Shows!

To continue our adventures: Saturday always brings the show nerves to everyone and a great excitement too - everyone rushing around after the first show and trying to perfect their grooming for the start of the National event. There is always a combination of nervous laughs and grumpiness, but all in all everyone is in good spirits for the main event....

Cito and Balou showed together in the ring - each one a mirror image of their sires, dams and great forefathers - a testament to years of hard work and fine breeding....

I guess that's what makes the win so special.

Cito stood proudly and was awarded the title ... tha's my boy, our job was over!

Cito makes it OUR LUCKY 8TH YEAR!

After the National event pullouts on the Saturday afternoon, Bronwyn and Balou decided they needed a good night's rest while the "oldies" Cito and Lux drove back with me to the evening event where we shared some "sherry" in the local pub and enjoyed supporting our Herding group - all our Herding dogs were turned out beautifully and still showed to their best, making me proud to be a part of the Herding group. After which we drove back to our accommodation and had a great dinner of curry and rice, chit chatted and headed for bed - it was way past our bedtime!

By Sunday we were all tired and ready to go home, packing away the gazebo was the start - I flew into the ring and flew out of it! Just like everyone else - it's always the quickest show and a rush to get back on the road and head for home. We all said our good-byes and hit the long road home, eating take-aways in the car as we drove.

As I turned onto the N3 highway homeward bound, with friends in convoy - I realized just how incredibly far Cito, my pack and I had progressed this year. My old Maggies was back to her usual self, old girl Gjema was looking old but beautiful, Balou now co-owned and living with Bronwyn was growing into a fine adult, Lux had accomplished so much in the Veteran class, Cito had come streaks ahead in his training of IPO as well as breed with the "cherry on the top" being the 2011 KUSA National WSSD dog and I had learnt much along the way.

I smiled and looked up eager to get home to Maggie and Gjema - the road was thick with mist, but I knew that somewhere in the night sky were a couple of twinkling stars guiding us all home: Damask, Canto, Diva, Tete and my old "sword and shield" Brittney - how precious are my NIGHT STARS!.

THANK YOU CANTO
CITO'S JOB IS NOW DONE
HE FOLLOWS IN YOUR PAW PRINTS
AND HAS BEEN AN AMAZING SON!

Showring shopping at the Nationals

Showring entrance - Herding Group

powered by our dreams..........

.......... a lifetime of love!

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