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BOXERS RULE!
By Stephanie Abraham
Scenes
from the ABC
Not since 1957, when
Merle Henderson piloted future Ch Amity Hall’s Master Key to WD and
BW, had a breeder/owner/handler from Bred-By won one of the top
awards at the American Boxer Club’s National Specialty, held this year
at the Abbey Resort in Fontana, WI during the week of May 4—9.
Not since Prohibition had exhibitors been told by local police that they
could have no alcohol in the RV lot—not even inside their motorhomes!
2003 was different, marking a change from the ordinary and the status quo,
sometimes a welcome change, sometimes a
bizarre one. But no one could say that the 60th annual extravaganza,
with an entry of 644 plus 308 exhibiting in the Parade of Champions, was
not exciting, exhilarating, and inspiring—in short, it was our annual
rite of passage, this time sited on the beautiful shores of Lake Geneva.
Eighty-Six Obedience entrants
competed inside the ballroom, away from the Spring chill on Sunday, judged
by Don Schempp of Kansas City and Barbara Goebel. High in Trial, with a
score of 197 ½ from Novice B, went to Sunchase’s Texas Margarita, owned
by Peggy McConnell of Dallas and bred by Tracy Hendrickson.
Margarita’s dam, Ch Sunchase Suicide Blonde UDX
OA OAJ, is one of only a few UDX boxers in the country, so obviously the
"genes" are being passed along nicely here. Though
Margarita is a brindle, this year the Fawns won the Team Competition,
assembled from the Rescue group, Boxer Rebound. Quite a heartwarming
victory. A lovely tribute to Obedience Chairperson Nan
Hauprich was held in the form of a cake and a birthday party to celebrate
her milestone event.
The Agility Trial, also with 86
entrants, was held outside on a brisk Monday, judged by Bonnie
Drabeck. Always a stunning spectator sport, one never knows what our
inventive Boxers will think of next. While some were "pros" and
competed in grand style, I must confess to enjoying the one who jumped the
hurdle and then the ring divider to cavort merrily on the green grass
outside of the Trial. High score went to "Gibson," owned
by Amy Thiem from MN, with a score of 100 and the fastest time in Agility
Preferred Jumpers w. Weaves Novice. Boxers truly love Agility
competition—it suits their athleticism and speed, not to mention their
sense of fun and creative mischief.
While the Agility trial progressed
outside, Christine Baum from VA was presiding over the annual Futurity [Dogs
| Bitches] stakes, this year with a stunning entry of 272. As the true Breeder’s
showcase, space around ringside is always at a premium for what some
regard as the highlight of the week. In class after huge class,
Chris was forced to cut future champions until 2 stood alone in the big
ring during the second day of judging on Tuesday—the Best Puppy, from
9-12 Brindle dogs, was Bayview Strikes Again, bred by Ken and Paula
Morrison and Eric Scott and owned by the Morrisons. Handled by
Cheryl Cates; and the Best Junior, from 12-18 Fawn, was High
Tech Terrons Snap Decision, bred by Terri Kaiser and Dr. William and Zoila
Truesdale, owned by Robert and Marilyn Anderman and Terri Kaiser and
handled by Kim Pastella. To the cheers of
ringside, the California brindle, Bayview Strikes Again, was crowned Grand
Prize Futurity Winner, bringing home quite a tidy sum to breeders and
owners, not to mention covering himself with glory.
Monday evening witnessed our
annual Top Twenty event, always the glamour "high" of the
week. This year our judges, identities kept secret until just
before show time, were Jack Ireland (Multi-Breeds), Debby Struff
(Handler), and Pat Billhardt (Breeder). In tuxedos and long skirts
and gowns, judges and handlers and spectators alike watched the best of
the best strut their stuff in the ballroom. Using a complex
arithmetical system of scoring, no one could possibly know the winner
until long tabulations were complete. This years Top Twenty winner,
handled by Mel Holloman, was the all-breed BIS winner Ch Brookwood Dream
Dancer, a smooth fawn dog bred by Lee Ann Brooks and owned by Lee Ann and
David Brooks and Bethany Glenn.
Meanwhile, if all the competition wasn’t enough
to stimulate your Boxer appetite, there were health lectures to remind us
of the more sobering aspects of the breed, and the ills that sometimes
afflict our dogs. Dr. Jerold Bell from Tufts spoke on genetics
and breeding; Dr. Natasha Olby from North Carolina State gave us an informative
though discouraging lecture on Degenerative Myelopathy; Dr. Kate Meurs of
Ohio State, a long-time recipient of ABCF grant money to study Boxer
Cardiomyopathy, basically re-named this disease (now Arrhythmogenic Right
Ventricular Cardiomyopathy) and informed us that Holter readings are
sometimes vastly different from day to day. She also discussed SAS
and the newest research that suggests that higher than "normal"
flow rates may not be indicative of disease in this breed. Much food for
thought.
A seminar for judges was held on Wednesday
afternoon, and 14 licensed judges attended a slide presentation and
in-depth discussion dedicated to Boxer type. This will be repeated in
September at the Regional in Denver.
The American Boxer Charitable Trust held
its annual dinner and auction to benefit health research on Tuesday
night. The American Boxer Club is proud to be the largest single
breed club contributor to the AKC’s Health Foundation, which provides
providing matching grants
for our Boxer research. On this night, auctioneer Rufus Burleson
coaxed over $24,000 from the generous crowd, bidding on Boxer memorabilia,
jewelry, books, and collectibles, all donated by ABC members and friends.
There were 212 Dogs were entered
under Judge Cindy Meyer of Illinois. With classes divided by color
and still sometimes approaching 30, her task was a formidable one as she
sorted and re-sorted. Many a non-placer in these classes goes on to
finish a championship, so the judge’s task is exceedingly
difficult. Beginning on Tuesday and finishing up on Wednesday, WD
was finally awarded to the 13 mo. old brindle youngster from
Oklahoma (12-18 Brindle), LaRich Stars to the Maxl, bred and owned by
LaVerne Howard and Patty Chandler and shown by Lori McClain. Reserve
to the Am Bred Fawn, Hi-Tech’s Ultimate Rendition, bred by Dr. William
and Zoila Truesdale and owned by the breeders and Kevin Carsey. Handled
by Kim Pastella.
There were 313 bitches to be judged by
Betty Mentzer from Pennsylvania. Competition was more than fierce,
and just to make the cut in the classes (many of which were Majors in
their own right) "made" many an exhibitor’s day.
When all the Winners came back for the ultimate prize, the gallery
applauded wildly as the Bred-By brindle bitch, Avalon’s Decadence,
bred by Dr. Daniel Buchwald and Norra Hansen, D. McCarroll and Dr. M. Fagan,
owned by Dan and Norra, and shown by Dan, was the judge’s choice for
WB. To win WB at ABC is a tremendous thrill to last a lifetime, but
to do it breeder/owner handled from Bred-By, the class that should be so
important but is often ignored, was a supreme achievement. Reserve to the
9-12 brindle puppy, Scenicvu’s Impetuous of Maxl, bred by D. McCarty and
K & L Mann and owned by Ted Bergquist and Patricia Healy. WD and
RWB were both sired by the same dog.
Veteran Classes bring tears to many of us as we
remember the glory days of our grand old dogs and bitches.
Thirty-one Veteran Dogs, ranging in age from 6 to almost 13, graced our
ring this year. Best Veteran Dog went to breeder/owner Bruce and
Judy Voran’s Ch Strawberry Medalist, from the 6-8 year class, handled by
Gary Steele. His dam, Ch Strawberry’s Flamenco, won the "Over
10" division of the Veteran Bitch stakes in her own right. Of the 25
Veteran bitches, also age 6-13, the top honors went to Ch Minstrel’s CC
to Scarborough, bred by Katherine Nevius and Virginia Zurflieh and owned
by her breeders and Donna and Dani Butler, shown by her young owner, Dani.
The Stud Dog and
Brood Bitch classes fill
the ballroom with our top producers and get—always a formidable
sight. With 22 Stud Dogs competing, the winner this year was Ch
Hi-Tech Johnny J of Boxerton. Owners: Dr William Truesdale &
Zoila Truesdale. Breeders: Allison Crowther & Jeffrey Crowther.
(Kim Pastella, Agent). This is the 4th year that Johnny has won this
coveted honor. He also sired the Top Twenty winner and the RWD. Top Brood
Bitch, in an entry of 14, was Ch Raklyn’s Celebration. Owners:
Erin & Debbie Struff. Breeders: Lois Buchanan & Debbie Struff
& Tina L. King. Both Johnny J (tie) and Celebration were
ABC Top Producers of the year 2002, so these high honors seemed
fitting indeed.
Junior Showmanship was hotly contested this
year, judged by professional handler Cindy Meyer. The eventual winner was
New England’s own 10 year old Paige Day from the Open Junior class,
making her debut at ABC.
On Friday morning Betty Mentzer began the
arduous and at the same time thrilling task of judging 119 specials. With
the stewards, headed by Salli Moore, dividing the entrants by color
and gender, ring procedure ran very smoothly. Betty cut and sorted,
evaluated and eliminated, until early afternoon, with ringside spectators
paying keen attention, taking notes on the animals they watched. At
last, less than 10% of those who entered that Specials ring remained
center stage. Best of Breed this year went to the young, upstanding
red brindle dog, CH Brookwood’s Mystic Warrior. Owners: Jeffrey
Bennett & D McCarroll & M Fagan & L A Brooks, Breeders: Lee
Ann Brooks & Bethany Glenn. Handled by a justifiably delighted
Gary Steele, and sired by this year’s Top 20 winner. Lee Ann Brooks was
rightfully proud to be breeder of both of these fine winners. Best of
Opposite Sex was awarded to the exquisitely feminine Ch Bravo’s Dance
Card, repeating the same win in 2000. Owner: Susan H. Finley. Breeders: Susan H. Finley and Joyce Campbell, DVM. (Tami Mishler,
agent.) In fact, the BOB and BOS reversed their respective wins at
the ABC Regional last fall. Best of Winners to the history-making WB
from Bred-By, Avalon’s Decadence.
Award of Merit Winners (alphabetical order):
CH CAPRI'S WOODS END SPELLCASTER. Owners: Barbara Bachman &
Mrs J L Billhardt & Sergio Tenenbaum. Breeder:Barbara Bachman.
(Diego
Fernando Garcia, Agent.)
CH FIRESTAR'S LINDY HOP. Owner: Diane E Boyle & Elizabeth J
Cavanaugh. Breeders: Owners. (Jerry W Bryant, Agent.)
CH MISTY GIRL OF BD STAR JP. Owners: Cheryl & Keith Robbins
& R & S Cormier. Breeder: Shigemi Kanda. (Michael Shepherd,
Agent.)
Multi-year AOM winner. CH SKIDOO'S CHARLIE'S ANGEL. Owners: Charles Vose & John
Tenette & Wendy Morawski. Breeders:Wendy Morawski & Les Cline.
(Jim Bettis, agent.) Last year’s WB and a repeat AOM winner.
CH STANDING-O GALAXIE GASHERON. Owners: Ray & Julia
Wainwright & Carol McGuire. Breeders: Brian & Liane O'Donnell.
(Earl W Overstreet, Agent.)
There you have it--the culmination of many Boxer wishes and
dreams, all wrapped up in this very special week in May. Next year, as the
Abbey turns itself into condominiums, we leave WI for the Drawbridge Inn
in KY. Great appreciation must go not only to President and AKC Delegate
Dr. Jim Kilman, but also to Show Chairman Bobbi Wagner, who somehow
manages to do 100 things at once, sees to the parking of 81 RVs, finds
space for all our many colorful vendors, and keeps smiling through it
all. Each year, as we pack up and travel home, whether it be across
the country or to many far flung places—Japan, England, Mexico,
Singapore, India—we are inspired to return with next year’s big
winner. But mostly, we are happy to enjoy reflected glory in the kind dark
eyes of the Boxers we hold so dear.
Scenes from the ABC
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