Havanese Club of America National Specialty
The Havanese Club of America held its National Specialty in Louisville, Kentucky, this May 17-21 at the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Hotel. The show was originally scheduled for October 2020 and postponed due to the pandemic.
We are all very grateful to Sara Dellorto for her extremely successful chairmanship, which was complicated by Covid-19 rules. Thanks also to Liz Simon, our tireless ring steward and Juniors judge, and to Susan Gordon, our show secretary.
There were more events this year than ever before: three conformation specialties, two agility trials, three obedience and three Rally events in addition to sweeps, junior showmanship and 4-6 month puppy competition.
We were all so eager to have some fun and be together again! The theme this year was “Run for the Roses,” so we had cocktail events with a doggie race, a derby-hat contest and a handling event for senior persons! We also had the first run-through of our new judges education presentation, and our Havanese club annual meeting. Evenings brought a Havanese rescue dinner with live auction and a Havanese Club of America dinner with auction and raffle.
Our first event on Tuesday was Agility, skillfully managed by Leslie Sprick, and judged by Mary Mullen. This year there were two trials, both held in the hotel, which was great for fans to watch.
In Trial # 1 - 25 dogs participated in Standard, 17 in Jumper with Weaves. Eight qualified in Standard, seven qualified in Jumper with Weaves. Double Q in Master level in Trial #1- Cherry Windlinger with Bexar, Sandra Allen with Ninja, Diane Perfelice with Pepe, Joyce Coleman with Woody, Leslie Sprick with Ace. High in trial was Cherry Windlinger with Bexar.
In Trial#2 19 dogs were in Standard and 25 dogs in Jumper with Weaves. Five dogs qualified in Standard and seven dogs qualified in JWW. There were two double Qs at the Masters level: Diane Perfelice with Pepe and Leslie Sprick with Ace. High in the second trial was Diane Perfelice with Pepe. We were honored again to have four of the top six dogs in attendance: #1 Cherry Windlinger and Bexar, #3 Diane Perfelice, #4 Joyce Coleman and #6 Leslie Sprick.
Tuesday ended with a welcome event: cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a fun contest called “Two Truths and a Lie.” Each of us wrote our own two truths and one lie, and others at our table tried to guess the lie!
Wednesday began three days of Rally and Obedience trials judged by Anita Eisthen, Jill Lowry and Nancy Cheski.
Wednesday Regional #1:
Obedience:
High in Trial: Woodstock A Piece Of My Heart. Owner: Joyce Coleman.
Rally:
Rally High Combined: Woodstock A Piece Of My Heart. Owner: Joyce Coleman.
Rally High Triple Qualifying: Woodstock A Piece Of My Heart. Owner: Joyce Coleman.
Regional #2, Thursday
Obedience:
High in Trial: Pepino Rodrigo Serrano Gonzales MX MXJ MJS NF T2B. Owner: Diane Pierfelice.
Rally:
Rally High Combined: Woodstock A Piece Of My Heart . Owner: Joyce Coleman.
Rally High Triple Qualifying: Riverhill’s Ninja In Stealth Mode CDX BN RE MX MXJ MJBNF CGC TKA. Owner: Sandra Allen.
2021 National Specialty, Friday
Obedience:
High in Trial: Pepino Rodrigo Serrano Gonzales MX MXJ MJS NF T2B. Owner: Diane Pierfelice.
Rally:
Rally High Combined: Riverhill’s Ninja In Stealth Mode CDX BN RE MX MXJ MJBNF CGC TKA. Sandra Allen.
Rally High Triple Qualifying: Riverhill’s Ninja In Stealth Mode CDX BN RE MX MXJ MJBNF CGC TKA. Sandra Allen.
Moving on to conformation events, Wednesday also began the first regional specialty judged by Timothy Catterson.
Best of Breed was GCH Heartland’s Rip in Time. Bred by Sandy and Kevin McCabe, Deb McHugh and Dodi Koontz. Owned by Pat Tschohl, Sandy McCabe, Wade Koistinen and Deb McHugh.
Best of Opposite Sex: Ch. Sunwyst & Marrett’s The True Dragon Queen
BOW, Winners Dog, Best Bred By & NOHS: Askin Backstage Romance
Winners Bitch: Luv Bug n Cassimere Queen of Impression
Select Dog: GCHS That’s Fire Power At Enginuity
Select Bitch: CH Salsa’s All Eyes Watch Me
Award Of Merit: GCHG Kolmar’s Steeler Of Hearts.
Award Of Merit: CHB Kolmar’s and Los Feliz The Man Of Steel
Award Of Merit: GCH CH That’s Ooh La La At Mendota Eh
Best Veteran: GCH Wynmark’s Featured Attraction Of Reverie
The evening brought a cocktail event: Best Derby Hat. It was hilarious. Contestants strutted down the runway like models with lots of “action.” It was a time for laughter and reunions with friends.
Thursday, May 20, continued with the second conformation regional specialty judged by Dr. Steve Keating.
Best of Breed was GCHS That’s Fire Power At Enginuity. Bred by Scheiris, Scheiris, Lucas, Liebing, Woods, Woods, Welling and Welling. Owned by Arlene Liebing, Alissa Welling and Mya Welling.
Best of Opposite Sex, Winners Bitch & Best Bred By: Marcosa And Payasa Essential Travel
Best of Winners, Winners Dog and Best Puppy: Happy Paws N Lordoc’s The Red Baron.
Select Dog: GCHP Heartland’s Rip In Time
Select Bitch: GCH That’s Ooh La La At Mendota Eh.
Best Owner Handled NOHS: CH Sunwyst & Marrett’s The True Dragon Queen.
Award Of Merit: CH Askin Roman Holiday
Award Of Merit: GCHG Kolmar’s Steeler Of Hearts
Award Of Merit: GCHB Kolmar’s And Los Feliz The Man Of Steel
Best Veteran: GCH Wynmark’s Featured Attraction Of Reverie
After the conclusion of the regional specialty, the new Judges Education Presentation was given for judges. Jennifer Clevenger presented. This is a “work in progress” and changes may be made in the future.
A wonderful doggy Run for the Roses, cocktails and a gala dinner hosted by Havanese Club of America followed the show. There were many winners at the raffle and live auction, both filled with amazing donations.
Friday began our National Conformation Specialty with great excitement!
Opening the day was Puppy Sweeps judged by breeder-owner Alice Lawrence.
Best in Sweeps: Heartland’s Hope Springs: Breeder Pat Tschohl, and owners Sandy McCabe, Wade Koistinen and Deborah McHugh.
Best of Opposite in Sweeps: Bristolwood N Luv Bug’s Hot Shot. Breeder Marcy Skirvin. Owners C. Banitt, D. Boe and L. Boe.
Best Veteran in Sweeps: GCH Ivy Hills A Night In The Forest. Breeder Jennifer K Clevenger. Owner Kathleen M Harris
Sweeps was followed by the adorable 4-6 month Beginner Puppy competition judged by Robert E. Hutton.
Best 4-6 Month Puppy: Honor Adelheid Double Stuff. Breeder Jennifer Manders. Owner Renate Newcomb.
Next began the judging of the National Specialty dog classes. Following that, the annual meeting of the Havanese Club of America took place.
The evening event was the annual Havanese Rescue Inc. gala dinner and live auction. The centerpieces were muslin dogs dressed in custom-made costumes of all sorts that were sold for the benefit of the rescue, a 501c3 charity. There were 12 auction items and there was very active bidding, the top being a one-of–a kind silver cuff with a Havanese made by member Carol Croop. Havanese Rescue Inc. is a nationwide all-volunteer organization, so all proceeds go for dog’s expenses.
Saturday began with Junior Showmanship judged by Liz Simon.
The winner was Emma Gallaway showing a puppy, Belle Sun’s Change It Up.
Then Judge Robert E. Hutton resumed the National Specialty judging with great anticipation. He chose:
Best of Breed: GCHG Kolmar’s Steeler Of Hearts. Bred by Mark W Kolbe. Owned by Carol and Bob Hewlett and Stan and Fredith Holt.
Best of Opposite Sex: GCH That’s Ooh La La At Mendota Eh.
Winners Bitch, BOW, Best Bred By and AOM: Grandview’s Centerfold.
Winners Dog: Ivy Hills Dream On.
Select Dog: CH Shatara’s Leaving You Spellbound.
Select Bitch: CH Salsa’s All Eyes Watch Me.
Award of Merit: GCHB Luv Bug’s Baby I'm Howlin' For You.
Award of Merit: GCHS That’s Fire Power At Enginuity.
Award of Merit: Los Perritos Te Dijo Te Amo.
Award of Merit & NOHS: GCHP Angelheart’s N Adorabull’s Moose On The Loose.
Award of Merit: Marcosa And Payasa Essential Travel.
Best Puppy: Belle Sun’s Change It Up.
Best Veteran: GCHP Joyfulnoise Come Fly With Me CDX RAE RM OA OAJ.
Stud Dog: GCHS Angelhearts The Steel Curtain At Los Feliz.
Brace: GCH Beseme’s Go Plenty To Be Thankful For and Beseme’s When Only The Best Will Do.
After all this excitement, a bit of fun: a “class” of Senior Showmanship entrants (over 65) being judged on their handling skills! It was won by Beverly Vics. She is a good handler – no doubt about it – but was impressive in being able to kneel and rise with grace!
The new judges education presentation was then offered again, this time to anyone who wished to attend. It was presented by Adam King. It made a fine ending to a most successful specialty. We will all return to Louisville next year in August for our 2022 National Specialty.