Page 10 - News Letter

City of Birmingham - Frank Kane BOB & Group 3
South Wales - Nick Waters DCC & BOB
LKA - Pamela Jeans-Brown DCC & BOB
2013
Birmingham National - Maraget Wildman DCC & BOB
National Working & Pastoral - Terry Munro DCC & BOB
Leeds - Sue Pollock Yule DCC & BOB
OEMC - John Rischmiller DCC, BOB and Best in Show
WKC - Zena Thorn-Andrews DCC & BOB
2014
Blackpool - Vic Salt, DCC, BOB & Group 1
WKC - John Steele DCC & BOB

We were fortunate that in 2014 Sakura came to live with Graham and I
and our puppy Nesbo. I remember when Debbie and Owen brought
him to live with us, it was a lovely sunny day and there was a large
group of us eating outside. Owen, who had trained him to perfection,
placed him at the top of the garden in a ‘down stay’. I glanced at
Sakura and watched him commando crawl across the garden towards
the lasagne. Owen looked up and Sakura froze like a statue. Owen
looked a bit puzzled. As soon as Owen looked away Sakura began to
commando crawl across the lawn again. I know it was a bit naughty
but I loved him even more for that as it showed real character.

We decided to take Nesbo to the Blackpool Championship Show to see
if he could qualify for Crufts. We didn’t want to leave Sakura at home
so we entered him even although he had, technically, retired from the
show ring the year before. We were in the ring very early and as
Blackpool was our most local show we didn’t even take a picnic or
flask of coffee, as we were certain to be home for lunch. Vic Salt gave
Sakura a class win then the DCC and the BOB. He sailed through his
vet check and then we had a very long wait for the Group judging. Sue
Pollock-Yule was the Group Judge and when Graham handled Sakura
in the group ring they flew round. I had never seen a mastiff move so
fast. Sue awarded Sakura the Group 1. It was the first time in UK
history that a mastiff had taken a Group 1. It was a proud day when I
watched a mastiff, my mastiff, in the Best in Show ring. We have

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