KERRY BLUE TERRIERS AT MONTGOMERY

What a Day!! The last Montgomery County Kennel Club show at Temple University in Ambler was a day bathed in sunshine and comfort. Even the police allowed people to unload curbside this year.

Judge Ron Ramsay of England had an entry of 118 Kerry Blues. Bob & Martha Nazak's two year old bitch, Ch. Fralin's Cliodhna of Whimsea (Ch. Torum's Scarf Michael - Ch. Fralin's Bit of a Risk) was Best of Breed. "Nixxie", as she is known to friends and family, was bred by Frank and Linda Sousa and handled by Bill McFadden.

Best of Winners and Winner's Bitch was Glenvista's Luca Bella (Ch. Fralin's Glenmir's US Steel - Ch. Glenvista's Irish Lace) bred and owned by Rozanne & Brian Galligan & Mary Beecher. She was handled by Mary Beecher.

Best of Opposite Sex was Ch Aran Ferbane (Ch. Lescareiot Gorgeous George - Ch. Aran Enniskerry). He is owned by Dr. Natalia Samaj Glover, bred by G. Menotti and handled by Peter Atkinson.

Winners Dog was Melbee's Just Push Play (Ch. Torum's Scarf Michael - Ch Melbee's Pretty as a Picture). She is owned by A. Norman and K. Nordman & Melbee Kennels and was bred by Melbee Kennels & W. Koistinen.

Let's start at the beginning!

Thursday was the Philadelphia Kerry Blue Terrier Club Specialty and Sweepstakes at Hatboro.

Judge Omalou McBride, a long time Kerry Blue breeder had an entry of 34 sweepstakes entries. Best In Puppy Sweepstakes was Strategis Manannan Mac Lir (Ch. Kensbridge Karbon Kopy - Ch. Tontine's Rise N Shine) bred and owned by Edward Yingling, and handled by Adam Wilkerson.

Best of Opposite Sex in the Puppy Sweepstakes was Calix Fi Fy Fo Fum (Ch. Hilary's Finbar the Shadow - Calix Cold Cold World), Bred by Suzanne Tolleson and D. Beaulieu, owned by Suzanne Tolleson and handled by Diane Harrison.

Best in Veteran Sweepstakes was Ch. Erin's Carbury Kissmekate (Ch. Fralin's Master MacGraw - Ch. Erin's Rosamonda of Gemma) bred by Erin DiBello, and owner-handled by Priscilla Schwenk.

In the Regular Classes, judge Walter F. Goodman, with an entry of 87 made the following choices. His Best of Breed was Ch. Aran Ferbane. Best of Opposite Sex was Ardara Brighid of Kallehan (Ch Torum's Scarf Michael - Andover Ravishing Ruby) bred by C. Nicholls, owned by Nancy Han and handled by Taffe MacFadden.

Winner's Bitch and Best of Winners was KYM's Pretty Women (Bobby Dazler - Maggies Blue Girl) bred by T. Bell,owned by John Doran and Handled by George Wright.

Winner's Dog was Camshron's Master of the House (Camshron's Coln - Everglo's Bobby Sox), bred, owned and handled by Billie Kneale & Scott Kellogg.

That evening, at the United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club Board Meeting, two major issues in the standard were addressed, changed and approved.

According to President Donald Wilde "The Board did pass an updated version of the Standard. This version will now be sent to the AKC for review as to content and form. Then the proposed changes come back to the USKBTC for finalization, which includes input from the general membership.

The proposed changes have to do with color issues and dewclaws. Dewclaws on the hind legs are eliminated as a disqualification. As to color issues, the goals of the Board are to clarify what constitutes clearing and to protect puppies from disqualification for color under the age of 18 months. And, lastly, the proposed changes try to emphasize the importance of coat and color."

Friday brought the US Kerry Blue Terrier Club Supported Entry and Puppy Sweepstakes. Judge Gene Possidento had an entry of 38 entries. His Best in Sweepstakes was Symphonie's Be My Valentine (Ch. Goodspicy Hot Doubleuberry - Ch. Rollick's Riverdance) bred, owned and handled by France Godbout.

Best of Opposite Sex in Sweepstakes was Harmony Pursuing History (Ch. Bluemin's Footloose and Fancy Free - Ch. Harmony's Hugs and Kisses) bred by Kari Loken & Dana & Shane Flint and owned by L. Croley, C. Dwyer, K. Loken & D. Flint.

In the regular classes, judge Desmond Murphy had an entry of 93. His Best of Breed was Ch. Aran Ferbane Best of Opposite Sex was Ch Keribou's Pocket of Petals (Ch. Torum's Scarf Michael - Ch. Keribou's Viola Conspersa) bred, owned and handled by Siobhan and Ernest Conti.

Best of Winners and Winner's Bitch was Calix Till There was You (Ch. Torum's Tino Orsini - Ch Tontine's Fair Phoebe) bred by Suzanne Tolleson, owned by Linda Miller, Suzanne Tolleson and Diane Harrison, and handled by Diane Harrison.

Winner's Dog was Adelphian Hand of Fate (Ch. Glenvista's Angus Mc Og - Ch. Bluebeard's Magic of Fralin) bred by C. Zuganelis & A. Martinez and owned by John W. & Jennifer Tanguary & Charles J. Zuganelis.

At Devon on Saturday, Judge Margaret McIlwaine chose as Best of Breed, Ch Keribou's Pocket of Petals Best of Opposite Sex was Ch. Aran Ferbane. Best of Winners and Winner's Bitch was Calix Till There was You. Winner's Dog was Calix Grey Flannel Pants (Ch. Wedgewood's Felonious Intent - Ch. Calix Seraphim), bred (as was the Winner's Bitch) and owned by Suzanne Tolleson and handled by Diane Harrison.

Saturday afternoon the US Kerry Blue Terrier Club Futurity was held at Gwynedd Mercy Academy in Springhouse PA. The judges are three Kerry breeders from different areas. Mia Lundsten of Finland, Linda Sousa of Illinois and Lynn Duckett of South Carolina did the honors.

Best in Futurity and Best of Opposite Sex in Futurity were littermates bred by Charles Zuganelis and Anna Martinez. The Sire is Ch. Glenvista's Angus Mc Og - and the Dam is Ch. Bluebeard's Magic of Fralin. Best went of Adelphian Hand of Fate, and Best of Opposite Sex went to Adelphian Miss Firecracker, owned by Charles Zuganelis & Anastasia Martinez.

Next year should be very exciting with the second Morris & Essex Kennel Club Show taking the Thursday date. The judging panel will be released some time in December. Montgomery will be in its new, bigger and better location. That will be a real plus for the exhibitors and visitors alike.