What a week! There are so many fun memories from the VCA’s 50th Anniversary National Specialty Show, it’s hard to figure out where to start! So, I guess we start at the beginning…
The trip started for Indy on Sunday when he went home from the Arapahoe Kennel Club show with our friend Kelli Kujawa (Designer Vizslas) who took Indy to spend the night with Dave West and his three beautiful girls, Ginger, Tehya, and Jasmine. Indy was thrilled to be in the company of such beautiful women and we understand he was quite the gentleman and didn’t cause any problems. Early Monday morning, Dave, Kelli, and Dave’s Dad, Gordon, loaded up the 15 passenger van with suitcases, crates, and Vizslas and headed for Wisconsin. We received lots of text messages along the way keeping us updated on our Indo, and we were so pleased to hear he was a polite traveler.
On Tuesday, Jenny got up early and dropped Karma off in Longmont with the Koprowskis on her way to work. Our spoiled little princess was invited to fly with Pat, Jacqueline, Zeke, and Newt to Wisconsin! We ordered her some “Mutt Muffs” to protect her ears, and she spent almost the entire flight sleeping! Uncle Pat was very proud of his new flying buddy and Karma was so happy to be with Zeke. At a quick refueling stop in Wahoo, Nebraska, Karma and Zeke had just enough time to find a swamp and get COVERED in thick, black mud. Lovely. I’m so glad sweet little Newt stayed out of trouble 🙂
After working half-days, Marc and Jenny dropped Schmav with “Aunt Jan” and caught a 3:00 flight out of Denver to Milwaukee. Then it was a quick 35 minute drive to Oconomowoc to catch up with everyone. Indy and Karma were given back and we got to meet Karma’s mama, Holly! Holly is so sweet and beautiful. Jill transported her up and it was so wonderful to meet her and see where Karma gets the other half of her expressions! They could be twins! After tucking Indy and Karma into their crates, it was time to grab some dinner with our Vizsla Club of Colorado friends, then it was off to bed for the early 7:00am start to Sweeps!
Before we delve any further, a huge heartfelt thank you to both Cruiser Vizslas and Classic Vizslas for giving us a shout-out in their ads. When we picked up our catalog, we were so touched to see your tributes. Thank you, thank you, thank you…it was unexpected and a lovely surprise!
Wednesday was Sweeps and Marc was ready to handle Karma. While our dynamic duo didn’t earn a ribbon, we had fun cheering on their cousins Gunner and Jamie (Calibre Vizslas) to a 4th in Sweeps, and cousin Chancey Pants to a 3rd! The only other event on Wednesday was the dog classes and Zeke is already a champion, so we had a free afternoon! We loaded up in the Koprowski’s car and headed to check out Milwaukee…did you know that’s where Harley Davidson Motorcycles was invented? Pat and Jacqueline DEFINITELY knew this fact, so we had to grab some authentic Milwaukee Harley shirts before grabbing some lunch. Then we headed back to Oconomowoc to catch up with our Cruiser’s family and friends. Wednesday was Jacqueline AND Jill’s birthday so we got to PAR-TAY! It was so fun to catch up with the friends we have made at the TCVC Specialties — Wes, Joan, Theresa, Frank, Kathy, and Paul — it’s always such a fun time when you guys are around! Thanks for keeping us laughing 🙂 And of course any evening with the Koprowskis and Jill is going to be entertaining!
Thursday was a big day. Karma would show in the class and then that evening was the All-Star Review. Karma looked great in the class, but the judge was looking for dainty girls, and our Karmalita has gams! We weren’t surprised she finished out of the money, and it was just fun to watch our wiggle-butt in the ring. After Karmie showed, she cheered on Grandma Geli and Grandpa Ralph who both won the Veteran 10 -12 class!!! Woo-hoo! This means Geli and Ralph would cut straight through to the final cut! Thursday night we got all dressed up for the All-Star Review where Indy would be showcased. Marc was planning to handle Indy, however, we found out that Barry’s (Indy’s dad) breeder Marcia Folley (Classic Vizslas) was able to make it to Nationals. Not only did Marcia come, but her daughter Brooke Folley-Counts was able to make the trek as well. And good thing they did because Brooke was honored at the 50th Anniversary Celebration Thursday evening! Brooke was quite the Junior handler back in the day and the VCA wanted to recognize her for her accomplishments. Marc and Jenny were honored to have Brooke handle Indy, and Marcia was literally breathless watching them in the ring. Indy was handled to perfection and it was so exciting to get the beautiful All Star rosette…they are even customized with their full registered names! Meeting Marcia and Brooke was definitely a highlight of the trip, and we look forward to many more years of friendship.
Friday was the BIG DAY, but before that, our little Indy was entering the ring for his second time in FIVE years (the first was the night before at the ASR). Tad (who handled Indy to his Championship all those years ago) took Indy in and Indy did very well — except he has gotten very good at the Rally sit! It was pretty funny to see Tad using different methods to keep Indy from sitting in the show ring! But our Indo – yes the dog we entered on a whim – actually won a ribbon! Indy and Tad walked out with 3rd place in the Hunting Dog class! To enter this class you have to be a Senior or Master hunter, so Indy was up against some very nice dual quality Vs, making this a very exciting win! This was also the first time Jenny got to see Indy in the ring since he already had his championship title when she and Marc met. Hmm, Mom liked it…maybe you’ll be seeing more of Indy’s showmanship in the future 🙂
When Breed went in, it started a very long process. There were 11 groups for the judge to go through and that was just to do the first cut! We were thrilled to see Karma’s Daddy, Tok, make the cut along with her Uncle Battue, who ended up winning an Award of Merit! Grandpa Ralph with owner/breeder Kathy Engelsman (who is like one of the NICEST people ever!) actually got pulled out for Select Dog at 12.5 years old! Woo-hoo! It was very exciting…in fact, Ralph was so pleased he grabbed his big rosette from Kathy and pranced around the ring with it, wagging his tail the whole while! We are starting to see where Karma’s wiggle-butt comes from 🙂
After the exciting finale, we spent the evening with the Cruiser gang and the crew from Colorado. There was a very exciting silent auction, where we are pretty sure Jenny wrote the largest check, but it goes to a good cause, so that makes it okay, right?
All in all the 50th Anniversary was awesome! We had such a fun time and we have many people to thank: Marcia, Brooke, Kathy E, Kathy R, Paul, Wes, Joan, Theresa, Frank, Jamie, Jeff, Mary, Betty, Sharon, Rich, Larainne, Kelly, Dave, Gordon, Pat, Jacqueline, Susan, and of course our hostess with the most-ess…Jill 🙂
We can’t wait for the Nationals in our very own Denver next year!!