Fri, 09/30/2022 - 10:10am

Good as Gold

A huge entry and quality to match at the Golden Retriever Club of America 2022 National Specialty

 

Photos by Phyllis Ensley photography

 

September is a favorite time of year for Golden Retriever fanciers, because it is once again time for our national. This year’s edition, the 82nd, was hosted by the Cuyahoga Valley Golden Retriever Club (CVGRC) in northern Ohio.

Ten years ago, this club hosted what is considered one of the greatest Golden nationals of all time — and probably of any breed — on the shores of Lake Erie. That national was judged by the three iconic women Michele Billings, Anne Clark and Jane Forsyth, which resulted in some amazing moments not soon forgotten. With some very big shoes to fill, and without looking backward, this hardworking, creative Golden Retriever club once again hit it out of the park and hosted an amazing event.

This year’s national was once again near the shores of Lake Erie in Monroe, Michigan, at the Monroe County Fairgrounds, which handled the barrage of motorhomes, dog vehicles and 1,000-plus Golden Retrievers running around with wonderful efficiency and professionalism. Some of the friendliest fairgrounds people I have ever experienced. The entry this year was truly significant, with 746 regular conformation, 222 sweepstakes, and 573 obedience, rally and agility entries. When you add all hunt tests, held at another location, the numbers get staggering. To quote the judge of females this year, Mr. Sam Houston McDonald, “Anyone who judges Golden Retrievers needs to go to a Golden national just to see how truly wonderful this breed can be.”

This brings up this year’s slate of judges. The main criteria for the CVGRC judge committee were vast Sporting dog experience, a proven appreciation for the breed, and a reputation for being kind and friendly with exhibitors (such a refreshing point). Interestingly, after 82 years this is the last regional club picking its own judges for a national, as that function has been taken over by the parent club. Only time will tell how that will work out; so far, the jury is still out.

This year’s incredible slate:

BEST OF BREED, Mr. Carl Liepmann, a lifetime Golden Retriever breeder/owner; DOGS, Mr. James Brown, a Setter breeder since 1970; BITCHES, the aforementioned Mr. Sam Houston McDonald, an Irish Setter breeder for 55 years and consummate Sporting dog man; and SWEEPSTAKES, two of our very best Golden breeder-handlers, Mrs. Karen Mammano and Mr. David Harper. The number of top-rated Goldens and champions handled by these two is uncountable.

So, the table was set for yet another amazing Cuyahoga Golden National and — ta-da — another happened.

 

Best of Breed.

 

Tuesday started bright and early with Karen Mammano judging a large entry of 137 in a very efficient and thorough matter. After a few hours of judging, she ended up with a group of very similar class-winning bitches to pick from. The only problem was there were many outstanding choices, so poor Karen certainly looked a bit perplexed, but who wouldn’t be?

A little later, David Harper started 85 males. The difference in number is no reflection on David: It’s very typical in the U.S. to have a much larger entry of females. David was faced with the same problem as Karen, as the quality of the male puppies was as high as has been seen in years. David’s ring procedure was masterful, as expected, as he has been running around in them for soooo long — a little older, you know.

In the end, sweeps finals were judged by Mr. Harper. In the battle of the Pacific Northwest puppies, the beautiful 9-12 bitch Tristar’s Page of Secrets, owned by Kaitlyn Price, Jewel Scott, Karen Rupert and Sharon Dominke, reigned victorious; the 12-15 month dog Smoketree’s Comin in Hot, owned by Sally Maryatt and his handler Megan Honari, was awarded Best of Opposite.

Best Veteran was judged by Mrs. Mammano, and she chose the beautiful 10-12 bitch GCHB Malagold Southern Belle of Wing Star, owned by Melissa Davis, Geri Hart and Brad Minges, and handled by Geri. The very popular GCHS Tamarack Oughtabe The Mayor (Rudy), owned by Jeff and Diane Cooper and shown by Diane, was Best of Opposite.

Over the next two days, both dogs and bitches were judged simultaneously. Baray and the club did a masterful job of making sure that there were virtually no conflicts with classes, and people with multiple entries in both sexes’ age groups got through it well.

Mr. James Brown the country gentleman (is there a nicer judge?) judged 169 class dogs (not including veterans and stud dogs). Wow, did he do a consistent job. His Winners class looked pretty much as if they could have been bred by the same breeder. Mr. Brown worked his Winners class again and again before making what seem a tough but quality decision. The winner came from the Open class: Gingerun Tuck Everlasting, owned by Kathleen Rae Nowack and Amy Burnim and shown by Courtney Corral. Reserve Winner from the Bred-by class was Goldsmiths When It Freezes Over, owned by the Cleggs and shown by Caroline Clegg. The winning Stud Dog in another hard-fought class was GCHS Summits Fireline Medal of Honor, shown by his breeder Ms. Beth Johnson (more on her later).

When I asked Mr. Brown his thoughts about his entry, his first answer was “I don’t know how I got here, but, boy, am I glad I did.” He felt the quality was abundant and deep, and each of his choices was truly difficult. “My decision for Winners between my Open dog and Bred-by may have been the hardest decision I have made judging,” he concluded.

 

Best of Winners, Best Bred-by and Best Puppy.

 

In the other ring, working very hard but truly entertaining the exhibitors and audience, was Mr. Sam Houston McDonald. (Never have I seen a judge make exhibitors feel so at ease and enjoy their experience: Thank you, Sam … Nationals are so stressful.) If you want a challenge judging, try bitches at a Golden national — it is not for someone weak in the knees. One after another after another, 258 beautiful bitches oozing type entered the ring. In my 47 years of Goldens, they were as good a group as any, and many in there will become well-known names. Then the unenviable job of picking a winner out of a group of cookie-cutter type. I couldn’t believe it — they were all the same. How did he do that? Masterfully!

Winners Bitch came from the Bred-by Puppy Class, Skyline Bad and Boujee, owned by C. Higgans and her handler Ryan Tepara. Ryan has become a very talented Golden handler, and she looked so together for her young age, not easy with a Golden. Reserve Winners was from the 15-18 class, Huntleigh’s R U Ready Starfire, owned and shown by Maria Franklin. It was electric to watch the competition between these two; you could point at either and not be wrong.

When I asked Mr. McDonald his thoughts, his first statement was “to make sure to compliment the Cuyahoga Club for their amazing hospitality.” This was quickly seconded by Mr. Brown. Mr. McDonald then commented on his two winners: “It could have easily gone either way and I am excited to be watching their successes in the future.” Agreed. Later, in a large group of 18 Brood Bitches, Mr. McDonald chose GCHP2 CH Summits Emery It’s In The Bag, shown by her breeder Beth Johnson. For those paying attention, Beth Johnson won both very large Stud Dog and Brood Bitch classes. What an amazing accomplishment.

On Thursday evening, one of the main events of a Golden national, the Top Twenty, was held. This year the three judges were breeder Mrs. Donna Edwards, breeder-judge Mrs. Donna Ernst and all-breed judge Mr. Jamie Hubbard. After a wonderful evening of the best of the best for 2021/22, the winner was GCHS Summits Silver Lining SWN, owned by Catherine Williams and his breeder-handler Ms. Beth Johnson.

What do you do when there are 205 Best of Breed Goldens to judge? You do it over two days. The 76 bitches were judged Friday afternoon, and 126 dogs and non-regulars on Saturday. This phenomenal task was placed in the ageless and very capable hands of Mr. Carl Liepmann. Mr. Liepmann acquired his first Golden in 1962, and has stayed active in breeding and purchasing Goldens ever since. I had the honor of finishing a Golden for Carl a long time ago and learned then that all of his Goldens needed to do equally as well in the field as the show ring, as he hunted with all of them.

The start of the Golden national’s Best of Breed judging has become a tradition: The gathering of more than 200 Goldens lining up and checking in as bagpipes play is a nod to their Scottish heritage. This year the lone bagpiper played the entire time while each Golden ran around the ring as the specials were checked in one by one.

 

Best of Opposite Sex.

 

Now it was time for Mr. Liepmann to get started with his 76 bitches. As is usual for him, he wasted no time getting them sorted into groups of 20 and usually reducing those to 10 to then come back for another cut. Each Golden was thoroughly examined, each one given equal opportunity to shine. Eventually choosing around 35 to join the males the following day, Mr. Liepmann told me after that “I left that night thinking given the quality of the females I just judged, if the males are anywhere near as good … what am I going to do with 126?”

Saturday started early, as it was to be a long day. To stay consistent, dogs came in in groups of 20, and were reduced normally to groups of 10, which meant males had to get through three cuts to be in a position to compete against the previous day’s females. Even with the larger numbers, the quality was so deep that it was not easy to reduce some groups to 10 as that process continued, but eventually the final male group of around 30 emerged to compete against the females and non-regulars.

Mr. Liepmann was a master of his ring, moving the dogs around to all areas of the large ring to allow the entire audience to get close looks at the final groups. After much consideration the final cut was reached, and now came the unenviable task of picking the winners. You could tell the struggle was real as each dog remaining was deserving of winning the National on his or her merits. What a group of Golden Retrievers.

Well, the time came, and Mr. Liepmann picked his winners. Best of Breed was GCHP Mican’s Broxden Riesling To The Occasion CGC, owned by Loiz Fernandes, Deborah Salow, Kevin and Cindy Fisher, Amy Rodrigues and Joe Ovalle, and shown by Amy. Riese was brought out of retirement at 10 years old to show in the regular breed class, was in spectacular condition and never quit. He owned the ring like the older master he is. Well deserved.

Best of Opposite: Ch. Maximus Catalina At Grandquest, owners Alejandro Lima and Janice and Michelle Granda, and shown by Janice.

Best of Winners was the bitch Skyline Bad and Boujee (Higgins/Tepara).

Select Dog: GCHS Sunkota Casey’s Off to Dublin, owned by Cathy Story and shown by Kristin Lyons.

Select Bitch: Ch. Top Pride’s High Roller V Alristar, owned by Minho Song.

At the Golden national, when you start with 206 champions, being one of the 20 Awards of Merit is a very high honor. There are too many to list, but results are available on the Baray website (www.barayevents.com).

 

Best Veteran.

 

Mr. Liepmann could not get over the quality at this year’s national and how difficult it was to walk quality dogs out even at the early stages; by the final cuts, he was excusing dogs he had used for major awards in the past. “In my 42 years of judging and over 25 nationals,” he told me, “this maybe the most enjoyable experience I have had because of the amazing quality of these Goldens.” Nice job, Mr. Liepmann!

In closing, kudos must be given to this incredible Golden club on yet another amazing event. Headed by Show Chairman Don Burlett, the show committee included event chairs Donna Ernst (Conformation), Joan Durback (Obedience), Kathy Sutiff (Rally), Julie Swarner (Agility), Beth Gerdes (Hunting Test), Judy Knobbe (CCA), Bruce Ellis (Field Trial) and Christy Thomas (WC/WCX), as well as Sue Savido (the incredible raffle), Vicki White (fundraising) and Donna Edwards, who seemed to be everywhere. I know I missed a lot, and I apologize. Be proud of what you accomplished at this amazing national.

 

 

© Dog News. This article may not be reposted, reprinted, rewritten, excerpted or otherwise duplicated in any medium without the express written permission of the publisher.

Stay Connected

YES! Send me Dog News' free newsletter!