Simi Valley Kennel Club
May 20-21, 2006 AKC Trial
Report by Kristi Cetrulo

I was looking forward to this trial for two reasons: it was Kane’s first trial ever and it was Chance’s first trial since winning Crufts. Yes, Chancie won Crufts – the biggest conformation show (over 24,000 dogs!) in the world and Chance went Best In Show! (I had NOTHING to do with this but I can still brag on him!)

Gale was in season so she stayed home so I only had Cinder in Excellent. Patches has started over again the Preferred program so she can jump 4” lower and Patches has more than proven herself – it is time for her to have fun. Let’s just say that I could not have run the courses worse with Cinder if I had tried. And let’s leave it at that….not a great weekend for the Binder-brain and I.

Chance was in Open for the first time and this was his first show in years. He was so awesome! He Q’d both days in Open JWW and they were not easy classes. I am pretty sure he won both of these classes. Then on Sunday, he went out and had a stellar Open Standard run but since I made him hold all his contacts, he only came in 3 rd. J

Patches was wonderful – as she should be in Novice Preferred jumping 16”!!! She was three for four (two standards – both 1 st places and one jumpers, also with a 1 st.) Yay Patch – she is now in Open Preferred Standard and needs one more jumpers leg in Novice. It is remarkably hard to get a MACH dog around a Novice course, believe it or not J I could see Patch looking at me as if to say “Are you SURE it is four jumps in a straight line???” It was pretty funny!

Kane was LOVELY for his first show. Saturday started with Nov JWW and Kane, trying very hard to figure out what I wanted, put his paws up on a wing jump and knocked it over. LOL!! Then he went into Standard and not only held all his contacts, but Q’d with a 2 nd place! YAY KANE. On Sunday, we had a rather dramatic flyoff the teeter in Standard but then he flew around his Nov JWW course and Q’d with a 1 st place! Good boy.

I am very proud of my “boys” and can hardly wait to show them next weekend at the ASCA trial in Cayucos. Wish us luck!