Performance Kerries Newsletter
December 2004

By Jane Eno

My newsletter for December is also the last of a great year, 2004. We saw the first Combined Terrier Specialty at Montgomery, the first MACH Kerry blue terrier (MACH Keriland’s Talk About Town owned and trained by Janet Beeby), the first VCD1 Kerry Blue Terrier (CH Rosegarden's Vagabond Star VCD1 owned and trained by Christopher R. Cagle), three UD Kerry Blue Terriers: (Tantara’s Cosmic Phoenix UDX NAJ, Primrose Jessie James UD and Garryowen's Smarty Pants UD NA), and a new UDX Kerry Blue Terrier (Tantara Cosmic Phoenix UDX NAJ). What could be better then that? All of these are remarkable achievements.

Working on my first UD with a dog was a growing experience. I really got to know my dog better and found a great community of support at the Utility A ring. Unlike any other title I’ve tried for, I really got to know the people I was showing with each week, as we all stood ring-side and really supported each other in the quest. Best part was that Virginia Barishek was working on her UD with her Andy at the same time. Via email and phone calls she really helped me with this challenging title and helped me keep up my spirits when I NQ’d one too many times for my ego to take. Email is a great thing for those of us in obedience and agility with the Kerry Blue Terrier. Someone can live hundreds of miles away, but still be right there with suggestions and supportive comments.

The USKBTC has announced that it will support a full day of agility at the Kimberton Cluster on Friday, October 7th, 2005. This last October was my first year to go to this Agility Cluster and watch all the terriers. It was a remarkable event. I have never seen that many terriers of so many different breeds all running agility. Put the date on your calendar and make sure to drop by to cheer on the competitors, both Kerries and other breeds. It is well worth the effort. I am even hoping to dust off my sneakers and enter my Jessie in Preferred in 2005. Preferred is a new venue in agility that allows you compete at lower jump levels so it is perfect for an older dog, one that has previously had injuries, or one like mine that is a little heavy around the middle and used to the light jumping in obedience, (plus you have longer course times so people like me that are little short in leg can make the time). For more information on this upcoming event, scroll to the bottom of the "Events" listing on the USKBTC website. I’m sure there will be more information to post on this soon!


BRAGS AND STUFF

From Barbara Catalano:
My Jack (Make Me Smile Jack,CDX, NA, NAJ) was in Front and Finish, this time as the #4 Kerry in Open. Last year he was listed as # 1 Kerry and # 8 terrier. He also has gotten his NA and NAJ this past spring and two legs on his standard. Right now we are working on his UD. We do agility to un-stress him. It works.

I also have a 1 year old Kerry gal, who I have to start obedience with, and a Havanese that I am doing agility with. Pups are great! Have a Merry Christmas and a safe and peaceful New Year, everyone.

Tantara’s Cosmic Phoenix UDX NA NAJ (owned by Evelyn Gansfuss) is at 14 UDX legs and counting! Way to go!

RATINGS

(Note: I tried to correct the titles on dogs I knew had finished titles, but if your dog’s titles are wrong, please go to the Front & Finish website and update your records. They now have an on-line system for updating your dog’s information.)

The following 2003 Delaney Obedience Ratings were posted in Front & Finish magazine in December.

Tantara’s Cosmic Phoenix UDX / E. Gansfuss / 35
Tantara’s Honky Tonk Girl CDX MX MXJ / E. Fishell / 34
Wedgewood Blue Max UDX NA / C. Oddi / 15
Make Me Smile Jack CDX / B. Catalano & F. Catalano / 8

In order to qualify for these ratings, a kerry had to place for ribbons in either Open or Utility obedience in the calendar year for 2003. They receive one point for every dog beaten. (They can not beat themselves). Congratulations to these great kerries!

Since I didn’t get a chance to print the First & Foremost point winners for 2003 this year, which were printed in the September issue of Front & Finish, I thought I’d include them here.

2003 First & Foremost Point Winners

Wedgewood Blue Max UDX NA / C. Oddi / 56
Tantara’s Cosmic Phoenix UDX / E. Gansfuss / 56
Tantara’s Honky Tonk Girl CDX MX MXJ / E. Fishell / 12
Kilmarley Toplady CDX / M. Steinman / 11
Make Me Smile Jack CDX / B. Catalano & F. Catalano / 10
Garryowen’s Smarty Pants UD / V. Barishek / 4
Primrose Jessie James UD / J. Eno / 4
Gemstone’s Secret Emissary CDX / S. Bailey / 2
CH Kailey’s Irish Queen CDX OA NAJ / J Bacon 2

A belated congratulations to all these point winners! The First & Foremost scale is as follows:

First and Foremost® Point Table
Obedience Score Points

200		8

198 – 199.5	7

195 – 197.5	6

190 – 194.5	5

185 – 189.5	4

180 – 184.5	3

175 – 179.5	2

170 – 174.5	1

		
# of Dogs    	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
6 - 10		2	0	0	0	
11 - 15		4	1	0	0	
16 - 20		6	2	0	0	
21 - 25		10	3	1	0	
26 - 30		14	4	2	0	
31 - 35		18	5	2	1	
36 - 40		22	7	3	1	
41 - 45		26	9	4	2		
46 - 50		30	11	5	2		
51 - 56		34	13	6	3

				
# of Dogs  	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
3 - 4		2	0	0	0
5 - 7		4	1	0	0
8 - 10 		6	2	0	0
11 - 13		10	3	1	0
14 - 16		14	4	1	0
17 - 19		17	5	2	0
20 - 23		20	7	2	1
24 - 26		24	9	3	1
27 - 29		27	11	4	1
30 - 32		30	13	4	2
33 - 36		33	14	5	2
37 - 40		37	15	6	3
41 - 48		40	17	7	3

Last Updated: 12/30/2004, 11:52 am