Page 145 - K9News_Issue16_May2021

introduced me to an interest in
the world of KC was Manchester
registered shows Terriers, a classy
in the early looking dog,
1980’s. We never built on clean
won a thing, lines, muscular
but enjoyed physique and
attending the shiny jacket. I
local open watched with
shows, breed interest from
shows etc. the sidelines at
Meeting lots of Championship
famous terrier shows, getting
charachters my eye in for
along the way in the ‘correct’
varying breeds. type. I made
I was fortunate an enquiry and
enough to be some time later
shown how was advised
to handstrip there was an
a Lakeland interesting litter
terrier by Biddy with potential, if
Postgate I was interested,
(Horn) who this was in
lived very local 2013, 8 years
and was the terrier person to aspire to, in my ago. We selected a bitch puppy from the litter,
area, always winning with her immaculately Wilma (Digelsa Diva). As all my dogs do,
groomed sealyhams. We went on to breed a they hit the showring at 6 months on the open
couple of litters of lakelands. Unfortunately show circuit. First show was at Newark, where
(fortunately) a divorce led to a gap in showing Wilma performed very well and went onto win
and the Lakeland terriers were transferred to Reserve best puppy in show, at just 6months.
my dads ownership. When settled again, the Other Best Puppy in shows soon followed. At
decision was taken to move back into terriers, her first Champ show, from the puppy class she
Bedlingtons a breed I had always admired was awarded best puppy and the Reserve CC.
became the dog of choice. We were soon up Wilma was awarded her first CC from puppy
and running with these, slowly gaining our by Zena Thorn Andrews and went on to collect
apprenticeship and learning the finer points of her 2nd and crowning 3rd CC’s. My second
grooming. Listening to all and everyone with Manchester was Barney (Talanors Diamonds
what knowledge could be gleaned. Goals were N’Dreams). Another dog, I selected carefully,
set each year and targets set. Always looking I had always liked his sire and noticed him
to go one better the next year. I believe we when been shown in puppy, also admiring his
have been getting things right, having made grandmother, who appealed in size and overall
up several champions in the breed, been top balance, I noticed her at the club show. Barney
breeder in 2011 & 2013, winning heats in the has proven to be a great showman, winning
Petplan junior stakes, puppy of the year , etc.. many CC’s (even though continually competing
We also made Group 4 at Crufts in the breeders against the breed record holder) and even more
competition, progressing from the shortlisted 10 reserve CC’s. As a puppy he cleared up, only
the previous year. Another breed I had taken ever been beaten once for best puppy in the

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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / MAY 2021