Marahootay

So what can we say about this year. We have had a wonderful time. We have made new friends, deepened existing friendships and met some truly exceptional people and their dogs. We would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

What of 2008, well hopefully we will compete in our first rally at Sherwood Pines on 5th January, before returning to Aviemore, where we always have so much fun. We hope that we will have a litter from Mushu when she comes into season in March, and we will endeavour to make Feline and Hades both Dutch and German Champions, although we know that it will be difficult.

December

Our Final show of the year was at Wijchen, where Hades again exceeded our expectations and won his class despite slipping in the ring, and then went on to win Reserve Best of Breed, Gooooo Hades !! Of course none of this would have been possible without the expert handling of Charlie Hughes.

We competed in the Shanley Challenge this weekend which broached the end of November and the beginning of December. As always the rally was well organised and very good fun!

On the Friday night John managed to put in an extra loop and missed his final turn returning to the van without crossing the finishing line, with three very muddy, wet and extremely happy malamutes!!

His second and third days were much better with much more respectable times and more importantly a good time was had by all, especially the dogs. The bar-be-que on Saturday night was an added bonus, ably managed by Alan, and with a few drinks inside everyone settled down for a quiet!!! chat.

November

Congratulations Hades - at the international dogshow in Bleiswijk Hades finished his Dutch Youth Championship. And to top it all off - he took Best Dog as well. Only one point to go to become a full adult Dutch Champion.

We competed at the Winners Show in Amsterdam with Hades taking the Junior Class and Feline taking the Open Bitch Class under Mr N Huber from America.

Sue Ellis won BOB and another point towards Blue's International Title, then competed in Group 5 making the final cut. Well done Sue.

Pictures to come . . .

October

We spent the weekend at Dortmund competing at both their National and International Shows.

On the Friday we competed for a National Title. Hades won his class and went on to take Best of Breed winning the title RASSEBESTER NATIONALE ZUCHTSCHAU DORTMUND 2007, going on to compete against 43 other dogs in the Group 5 final and making the final cut of 8 at only 13 months of age. Handled of course by Charlie Hughes. (Pictures to follow)

Feline won her class taking a point towards her German Championship.

On Sunday we competed at the International Championship, Feline again won her class and Hades got second to the dog which went on to be BOB.

As to the pictures Charlie made me promise not to get her bum in shot, but she needn't have worried. The screen for the group finals was huge and they filmed her running around the ring with our baby with hundreds of people watching and there were some wonderful pictures for everyone there to see!!

September

We had a wonderful weekend at the Club Championship Show judged by Nancy Russell. Charlotte Hughes excelled herself qualifying both Mushu and Hades with 2nds in their respective classes. So a big big hug for her!!

Sisters are doing it with 1, 2 and 3 in Limit bitch. Terry and Leah thank you so much.

Francine had a very good go at showing Narla, and we were all very proud of them both.

Hero was so well behaved for Charlie in the Limit dog class he made us all glow with pride.

Hades went so close to 1st in his first English show coming a very very good 2nd and reducing both me and breeder Rita Liebrand to tears.

Brothers take Best Dog and Reserve Best Dog at National Nordic Breeds Show at Zutphen, The Netherlands.

StormChaser Prince of Darkness (Hades) came a close second to his older brother Stormchaser Phantom Menace (Phantom).

Feline was also at the show and came 2nd in the Open class despite being out of coat. A wonderful day for all including proud breeders Rita and Tonny.

August

Amwa weekend.
This was the first time we had participated in this event, and joined the crew in dire alley. Fortunately for all the weather was wonderful and everyone had a very enjoyable if slightly enibrated weekend.

It must have been good I even made a very rare appearance in the show ring with Hades in the puppy class where he behaved like a typical boy and was very interested in all the new smells. Maybe he has a touch of blood hound in him?

July

Travelled to Holland to fetch our newest addition - Hades. After many tears we finally got him home. Against all our reservations Hades settled in like a true pro. No whinning, ate his meals, slept in his cage and washed the girls faces. Better still 3 days after entering the country we went training on the rig for the first time and he loved it!

June

Quiet month recovering from a very busy and expensive May

May

Competed in the AMCUK Club open show where Mushu took a second and Feline a VHC.

We also competed in The Dutch Club show where we managed to win best puppy with Hades and Feline and Mushu took 2nd and 4th respectively in Open bitch in a very large class.

At German specialty show Feline took Best Bitch beating an international champion on the way and lost to a very good dog for best of breed.

Competed at Arnhem and again had success.

April

Quiet month went to visit Hades and Rita and Tonny and see how he is getting on.

March

Crufts - Rita and Tonny brought Junior over to compete and we washed and groomed Feline. Very large classes with superb range of dogs.

Absolutely stunned when Feline took 1st Post Graduate Bitch, with superb handling by Charlie.

February

Quiet month with the dogs, still training on a Sunday, but otherwise busy catching up on essay's for work. (Hey hum work is never done!)

January

The yearly jaunt to Aviemore. And we had SNOW!!! For the first time we had left our sled at home as we had hired a van and it snowed!!

The dogs looked wonderful and given the fact that both Mushu and Feline were out of coat was hoping desperately that the cold would force some hair through for Crufts.

Our girls did us proud winning the Casiat Cup for the fastest all bitch Malamute team in our D2 class. We're so proud of them and they seemed to really have enjoyed themselves.

Nearly as much as John and I after our house sharing with Nigel and Wendy (always good fun) and Sheila who has begun to shine and surprise us all (she's not as quiet as she would like us all to believe!!)