ARRF’s 3^rd Annual Canadian Regional Specialty Show, June 17, 2001 near London, Ontario, Canada. 

Another year has passed, and it is time again for ARRF’s regional specialty show! Seems like just yesterday we awoke to a rainy start, but not this year! Our specialty show didn’t start until Sunday, but Saturday evening provided us with a warm summer night to hold a BBQ for exhibitors and friends, and to hold our best ridge contest and parade of rescues!  We had 5 dogs participate in the parade, each receiving a multi coloured rosette of participation.  It was great to see all these special dogs in their forever homes, and the even more special owners who have given them these homes.  Congratulations to all of you!!!  You all deserve our heartfelt gratitude.  The best ridge contest had 8 males and 7 females participate. Winner of the best male was Frank Elstrub with Jedi (Ch. Shimbahills Okoa’s Ari) and best female was Mary Francis and Djinni (Arboroads Django’s Red Djinni).  Best overall ridge was chosen to be Mary and Djinni!

Sunday June 17^th dawned bright and sunny, and was promising to be a hot one!  It was a great day for the Association of Rhodesian Ridgeback Fanciers of Western Ontario’s 3^rd annual regional specialty in London, Ontario Canada.  After a great weekend of all breed shows, which included the All Hound Clubs’ specialty, it was time for the big event.

We started out early with sweeps judging. It was nice to see these young puppies strut their stuff! Breeder/judge Dianne Miller had the opportunity to judge all the young dogs, and picked her eventual winner from the senior puppy classes: Heronhill Hadjie V Mozanbrige, owner/handler Susan Brookes and Jo Dunn.  Her best of opposite was Mshindaji’s Thief of Hearts, owner Christine Cone. Congratulations!

Next was the indoor obedience, and after a short delay, it proved to be an entertaining venture.  It was so quiet in there, you could hear a pin drop! Cedarpoint’s Lord of the Savana (Nkosi) was the High in Specialty Trial winner, with his novice B score of 190, awarded by judge William Yates.  Not bad for a dog in his first trial, ever!  Congratulations to Nkosi and his owner/trainer Malcolm Kennedy for doing a wonderful job.

The regular classes started while the (indoor) obedience trial was underway.  By this time, the sun was out in full force and it was getting very warm.  The dogs took the heat in stride, but the owners and handlers seemed to be the ones melting!  Breeder/judge Dick Rupert from California started out with the dogs; there were 4 dogs in the 12-18 months class, 1 dog in the Canadian Bred class, 4 dogs in the open class and 1 veteran dog.  With all these nice dogs strutting their stuff, Granby Little Big Man TD, owner/handler Avril Hall, was chosen as winners dog.

The bitches came in next, there were 1 senior puppy bitch, 4 in the 12-18 class, 3 open bitches and 1 veteran bitch.  When the bitches finished striding around the ring, Mshindaji Rust Never Sleeps (Owner: Heidi Doherty) was chosen as winners bitch.  Finally it was time for the best in specialty judging and 14 specials with the winners dog and bitch and the two veterans entered the ring.  At this point it was midday and very hot!  The dogs showed us their very best in the heat, and the ARRF Best In Specialty Show winner was...

... Multiple BISS Am/Cdn Ch. Sunsweet Phoenix By Kwetu, owner/handler Mike Teeling, and Mary Teeling.  

It was quite the weekend for Mike and Phoenix as they also won the All Hound Club specialty -- two Canadian specialties in one weekend!  Best of Opposite was awarded to BISS Cdn/Am Ch. Cedarpoint’s Lady of the Lake, owner/handler Jacquie Dankner (Kali and Jacquie also went BOS at the All Hound Club Specialty!)  The winners dog (Granby Little Man TD) won BOW.  One Award of Merit was given out to Ch Rajataru’s El Toro, owner/handler Diana Hogan and Karen Matthews. Great to see all the owner/handlers winning out there!

After the congratulations were passed out, it was time for the non-regular classes.  This year we finally had a brace class entry!  Mshindaji’s Thief of Hearts and Mshindaji’s Star Tracker, paraded around the ring with owner/handler Christine Cone.  What a great sight to see!  In the altered classes, novice obedience dog, our HIT winner, Cedarpoint’s Lord of the Savana, was awarded best in altered class with owner/handler Carole Kennedy.

Well, another specialty has passed us by, and plans for next year's specialty are already in motion!  Many thanks to all our judges, exhibitors, and friends for another successful ARRF specialty.

Have a great summer, and see you all next year!!

Jacquie Dankner
ARRF Secretary

We were honored that breeder judge Mr. Dick Rupert agreed to judge our Regular and Non-Regular classes and that Dianne Miller agreed to judge the Sweeps, Veteran Sweeps and Junior Handlers. Bill Yates judged the Obedience Trial.

Both conformation judges provided us with written commentary regarding their assignments.  These can be found below.

Commentary from Mr. Dick Rupert

17 June 2001
Oakhurst International
Richard E. Rupert

Subject: Judging Report – Association of  Rhodesian Ridgeback Fanciers of Western Ontario & Whippet Club of Eastern Canada 

First, let me begin by thanking both of you for a very enjoyable “Judging” day in Canada. The weather was most pleasant and the entry for both Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Whippets quite respectable. I especially appreciated the very reasonably 10:30 AM starting time! 

Rhodesian Ridgebacks:
In marking my catalogue, during the early Monday morning flight back to California, I was surprised by the percentage of the entry that crossed the border from the United States. Fortunately, I managed to select several of the “local” animals, for key awards i.e., Winners Dog, Reserve Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, Best of Opposite, and Award of Merit. So all in all, the Canadians fared quite well at the ARRF sponsored event. 

In general, I was pleased by the general quality of my entry. In contrast to my recent judging experience in the U.S., your dogs were a bit stronger than the bitches. Most of the entries had good temperament, nice expression with dark round eyes, great ridges and very good feet; however, a majority of the bitches were high in rear. I was also concerned over the tendency toward “slightness” and refinement of bone. Perhaps my sample for this observation was too small as both my choices for BOS and Veteran Bitch were more typical of general “bitch” quality. 

I was impressed by overall quality of the “Specials” entry. Several of these would receive strong consideration in any major competition. The show attitude and enthusiasm of the two “liver” nose males in particular was most enjoyable to have in the ring. 

All things considered, I felt it was a good specialty reflecting well on both on ARRF and the participants. The future of the Rhodesian Ridgeback in Western Ontario Canada is in “good” hands!  

Congratulations are due to both clubs for the “work” of your member volunteers. Their combined efforts resulted in a fun show to judge and a great experience for the participants. You should all be very proud of your accomplishment. Keep up the good work!  

Thanks again for the wonderful day, and best regards for the future – Dick Rupert

Commentary from Ms. Dianne Miller 

Its been almost 15 years since I bred Ridgebacks and at present don't own one but I am always drawn to this magnificent breed, their intelligence, pleasing personalities, low maintenance and unique appearance are what I love about them.  I would like to thank the club for asking me to judge Puppy Sweeps and Junior Handling. 

Senior Puppy Class - only a choice of one and she was my Best in Sweeps, (#265) she has maturing to do but her general outline was very typical not extreme - a pleasing bitch. 

In the 12-18 month class the males and females were varied in type, most had nice side gaits, clean coming and going, croups and toplines need some improvement. Each head was different but pleasing and within the standard.  

My Best of Opposite (#704) was a nice moving dog well proportioned and a good representative of the breed. This dog also went Winner Dogs in the breed later that day in the All Breed Show.  

Junior Handling was very tough especially in Seniors- for the most part (all girls) they were in sync with their dogs, looked professional and did a very nice job as a team. 1 thru 4 were all 1# in my evaluation.

The Specialty had some nice dogs and bitches in the classes and in Specials.  I noticed there was quite a variety in type, size and colour. I feel that some improvement is needed with front and rear assemblies, toplines and size.  In some classes there were solid and appealing dogs, I especially liked 3 bitches in particular that stood out in my eyes- they were typey, correct size and moved well. 

It was great to see 2 granddaughters from a dog I co-owned with Symetri Kennels. One of these bitches went Reserve Winners bitch at the Specialty and Winners Bitch and Best of Winners in the All Breed Show later that day. 

It was a thrill to see the Veterans bitch- a daughter from one of our own breeding, she looked great and moved smoothly considering the heat that day. 

Everyone showed their dogs well and the sportsmanship between exhibitors was great. Congratulations to the winners. 

For the past then years breeders and RR enthusiasts have wanted this breed to be recognized as a "Sighthound", the entire style and type (typical for the original standard) is changing......the RR'S that I see today are taller, sleeker with steeper croups and greyhound in outline. By becoming a sight or coursing hound does this mean that the overall appearance has to change? Can the Ridgeback not coarse, turn or pursue from the original size and style? If you breed beyond the limits of the standard you lose the essence of the breed and the Rhodesian Ridgeback as it was written will no longer exist.

Thank you for allowing me to express my opinion.

Dianne Miller

A big thank you to all participants for helping to make our Third Annual Specialty a big success! Congratulations to ALL the winners. Hope to see you next year!   

 

ARRF SPECIALTY WINNERS

Breed Competition:
Best of Breed:
Ch Sunsweet Pheonix by Kwetu
Breeder: Sun Gatto& Mark L.Lieberman
By Ch Kwetu’s Boomerang ex Kimani’s Sunsweetened Breeze, Owner:  Mike & Mary Teeling 

Best of Opposite:
Ch Cedarpoint’s Lady of the Lake
Breeder/Owners Jacquie & Stewart Dankner
By Ch. Rubandi’s Ruby Red Sailor ex Tudoridge’s La Quinta, CD 

Best of Winners:
Granby Little Man TD
Breeder, Wendy Maclean,
By  Regalcrown’s Beausoleil ex Granby Jakkals Mafaro, Owner: Avril Hall   

Award of Merit:
Ch Rajataru’s El Toro
Breeder, Ann Miller
By Tropaco Rocket’s Red Glare ex Rajataru’s Dbltake Tosca, Owners: Diana Hogan & Karen Matthews 

Dogs:
12-18 Month Class:
Granby Little Big Man TD
Breeder, Wendy Maclean
By  Regalcrown’s Beausoleil ex Granby Jakkals Mafaro Owner Avril Hall  

Canadian Bred:
Wheatenridge  Katanga’s Bioko
Breeder, Diane Waters & Terry Taft
By CH Bardonridge’s Katanga ex CH Wheatenridge Rollings Home Owner Jacek & Joanna Gorka, Diane Waters 

Open Dog:
Legacy Sir Montgomery
Breeder, Diane Blackwood
By Ridgelea’s Shakar Viken ex Also Aslan’s Kwetu Lovestory Owner: Alice Hirsch 

Veterans:
CH Heronhill’s Ridden CD
Breeder, Jo Dunn
By Heronhill’s Kumba ex Shakespeare’s Tammy Fae, Owner: Heather Allison 

Winners Dog:
Granby Little Man TD
Breeder, Wendy Maclean,
By  Regalcrown’s Beausoleil ex Granby Jakkals Mafaro, Owner: Avril Hall  

Reserve Winners Dog:
Legacy Sir Montgomery
Breeder, Diane Blackwood
By Ridgelea’s Shakar Viken ex Also Aslan’s Kwetu Lovestory, Owner: Alice Hirsch

Bitches:
Senior Puppy:
Heronhill Hadjie V Mozanbridge
Breeder, Jo Dunn
By CH Hunter’s Drift of Heronhill ex Ch Glenaholm Jessalyn, Owner: Susan Brookes 

12-18 month:
Mozanbridge’s Skaduwee Danser Breeder, Susan Brookes
By Lord Greystoke of Mozanbridge ex CH Heronhill’s Windwakker CD, Owner: Susan Brookes 

Open Bitch:
Mshindaji Rust Never Sleeps
Breeder, Sandra & John Stanley
By Mshindaji Calluna Sonofagun ex Mshindaji’s Solid Gold, Owner: Heidi Doherty 

Veteran Bitch:
Ch Wheatenridge’s Challenger
Breeder, Robert & Diane Waters,
By Ch Sunda Masai Warrior ex Ch Roughrider’s Flashdance, Owner: Diana & Darren Hogan 

Winners Bitch:
Mshindaji Rust Never Sleeps
Breeder, Sandra & John Stanley
By Mshindaji Calluna Sonofagun ex Mshindaji’s Solid Gold, Owner: Heidi Doherty 

Reserve Winners Bitch:
Heronhill Empangeni
Breeder, Jo Dunn
By Ch Heronhill’s The Power Of One ex Ch Heronhill’s Skukuza, Owner: Jo Dunn 

Brace:
Mshindaji’s Thief of Hearts
Breeder, Sandra Stanley
By Mshindaji’s The Mane Event ex Mshindaji’s Salt N Pepper, Owner: Christine Cone
Mshindaji’s Star Tracker
Breeder, Sandra & John Stanley
By Mshindaji’s Mane Event ex Mshindaji’s Mystic Cruise, Owner: Christine Hyatt 

Best Altered Class:
Cedarpoint’s Lord of the Savana
Breeder Jacquie & Stewart Dankner
By Ch Rubandi’s Ruby Red Sailor ex Tudoridge’s La Quinta CD, Owner: Malcolm & Carole Kennedy 

High in Trial:
Cedarpoint’s Lord of the Savana
Breeder Jacquie & Stewart Dankner
By Ch Rubandi’s Ruby Red Sailor ex Tudoridge’s La Quinta CD, Owner: Malcolm & Carole Kennedy 

Sweeps:
Best in Sweeps:
Heronhill Hadjie V Mozanbridge
Breeder, Jo Dunn
By CH Hunter’s Drift of Heronhill ex Ch Glenaholm Jessalyn, Owner: Susan Brookes 

Best Opposite in Sweeps:
Mshindaji’s Thief of Hearts
Breeder, Sandra Stanley
By Mshindaji’s The Mane Event ex Mshindaji’s Salt N Pepper, Owner: Christine Cone