What a Weekend!!!

Its started with a trip to the Kennel Club - with Sam Moore and Matkamies to represent the SFLS in their annual Good Citizen Awards, and we were delighted that the SFLS was 1st Runner up in out category. 
One amusing part of the day - was having arrived at Vauxhall underground - Sam and I realised the station did not have a lift and it was an escalator ride down to the platform!   I was thinking I would have to change plan and get to another station - but asked a helpful member of staff who said - no problem we will just stop the escalator.  So a pull out barrier was put across the middle of three escalators - and the staff waited and checked to see it was empty - and then hit the emergency stop button.  Leaving Matka, Sam & I to walk down!  On the return trip I pressed the "HELP" button at the information point at the foot of the escalators, to hear a cheerful voice saying welcome back doggy, pleased to have you at our station again, and that we could use a stopped escalator again.  Great service well done Vauxhall.

Elbereth Tarmo (Photo by Ian Reynolds)

On the return trip home Matka enjoyed a walk home from Hampton Court station - along his favourite tow path walk - but decided on a few swims and victory rolls to celebrate!   This rendered him grubby and smelly and wrote him out of the show the next day!

I decided to enjoy a day at the show without a dog, and just keep Sue & Kia company!  The show was the National Working & Pastoral show at Sky Blue Connection Leisure Centre at Coventry, so you can imagine our surprise that as judging was about to start Julie & Pawel phoned to say they were "lost" having mistakenly gone to RAS at Stoneleigh, a few miles south!  They arrived in nick of time but somewhat stressed so as I was foot loose and fancy free I groomed up Teebo (Elbereth Tarmo) as he had got a shade damp in the walk from the two wet car parks on his travels!  and I suggested that as Julie was a little stressed from the hurried trip that I show him,  it was a very large junior class (8 present) and Teebo won, he was really on form and went on to win 3 classes and reserve BOB to Ch/Int/Lux Ch Elbereth Kia Joins Bridus, under Mrs P Roberts.  As well as it being a special day getting BOB & BOS the wins meant so much more, BOB for Kia gave her, her Sh CM and the three class wins gave Tarmo his Junior Warrant (both subject to KC confirmation.).  Teebo is the first dog winner of the JW and the second overall, the JW give him his stud book number too!

Mustn't forget the new little babies, E Hunajakarhu, E Miskakarhu and E Suvituuli who all behaved impeccably, and had a great family reunion.  

Southern Cos - and Hurrah Marja

Southern Counties is a society which has long supported the breed, and every year the committee invite a Finnish judge for our breed, which means the show is well supported by exhibitors.  Sadly for technical reasons only understood by the Kennel club, it is a show where we only have one CC (for BOB) and one res CC on offer instead of the usual two, one for each sex.  The judge for 2012 was Hannu Talvi, but as I had a new litter I was unable to attend, so Matka headed off with Auntie Sue, and sister Kia, and was handled in the ring by Louise.  I was delighted to receive the text message that Matka was awarded best dog, then how to enjoy a show and not be there, I heard that Elbereth Marja, owned by Judi & David Cross was Best bitch, being handled by Vince Howlett.   In the challenge Marja was awarded BOB and the CC, with Matka taking reserve, a super day, and Marja becoming the 4th Elbereth to win a CC, an even more special day as I understand this was Judi's first ever CC.  

It was a special day too for the Kosla family, especially Julie, who has show trained Teebo (Elbereth Tarmo), and bravely pilots him, her first show dog in the ring, so winning Best Puppy under a Finnish judge was very special.

Elbereth Marja photo by K Greenland