Christa's weekend. . .

Already months earlier we had decided to spend the first weekend of August in Kuopio at Sawo Show including three international shows. I did this trip together with my friends and we had rented a lovely summer house for three days in Rauhalahti Kuopio. I truly enjoyed the company, thank you! :) We arrived to Kuopio on Thursday evening. The whole evening went when we prepared the dogs for the shows and listened and followed the big thunder storm with lightning.

In 2006 Christa entered also the Sawo Shows and then she went Best of Breed in every three shows and was also once placed in group. This year of course our goal was to gain at least the same results, hopefully even better. But of course no dog is a sure winner and we had to enter the ring with humble minds as always.

The Friday morning anyway was not very edifying because of very rainy weather which caused the show place was all muddy because of the rain (show was arranged on a trotting-track). From the following photo you see it easily how muddy the show ring was. 

Christa on Friday in the ring

And now you maybe wonder why Christa is so dry and clean even if the ring was all muddy?? It was because Christa travelled from the car to the ringside in a crate on wheels. There was actually two dogs in the crate and lots of stuff on the crate so it was very heavy. I drew the crate on the other side of the trotting-track even if it was sinking all the time to the mud. At the end I drew couple of meters and kept a break to rest some, drew again couple of meters and then a break again... I was exhausted! But I did not want to take dogs out of the crate as it would have been clear they were not in show condition after two seconds of walking in the mud. When I arrived near our ring, we pitched the tent and I kept Christa all the time inside the crate. When there came time to go to the show ring, I took my "little setter girl" on my arms and carried her there. Near the ring we put a little bright red mat on the ground and Christa could stand on that without getting dirty. And from there she could run directly to the ring being all white and clean. Yes, maybe even too fancy, but at least the judge had chance to see the dog as clean as possible under the circumstances. Well, I think we paid some attention as it felt like people watching us carefully when I was carrying a setter to the ringside ;) But you should have seen Christa standing on the red mat proudly waiting to enter the ring. She really is a self-esteeming "world conqueror"....... ;)

As there was so muddy on Friday, our Christa was not so excited to run in the breed ring, she is our fine lady... ;) But Christa's friend Sanna encouraged Christa to do it and they did it well together as also the judge was delighted ;) 

The judge watching Christa in move

Happy teamwork...... :)

The judge Mr Douglas A Johnson (USA) choosed Christa as Best Of Breed. Male winner and Best Of Opposite was Christa's dear brother Lenny :) This same judge has rewarded Christa also in the past as Christa went Best Of Breed in Baltic Winner 2006 show in Estonia under him. Already then Mr Johnson seemed to like our Christa a lot and spoke well about her.

BOB Blue Baltic's Ice Crystal - BOS Blue Baltic's Ice Tiger

On Friday afternoon Christa was showing herself very well and proudly in the group ring and the judge Mr Dan Eriksson (Sweden) placed her as 4th Best In Group.

On Saturday the judge Mrs Robyn Wallis (Australia) choosed Christa as Best Of Breed. This time she did not reward any males, so there was no competition for BOB with a male.

In pre-judging ring before the group ring Christa showed herself happily to same judge Mrs Robyn Wallis. Christa has lately learned how to show herself without "stacking". She just stand freely (without jumping), wag her tail happily and keep the posture. Thanks to Christa's handler Sanna for training Christa for this!

And it really was worth it to do good job in the ring as she went all the way as Group Winner despite of very high qualiy in group! We are extremely happy that the judge rewarding Christa this highly was a setter breeder with 30 years of experience so she is truly a setter specialist!

And there was one more show day to go, but still on the last day the dog and the handler had their mind and body full of speed, joy and positive energy!

Christa was showing extremely well with her most talented handler Sanna Vartiainen.

The breed judge today was Mr Darren Bowey (Australia), a well known breeder of famous and successful Bridgewood English setters. Here he is judging our Christa.

We were honoured Mr Bowey choosed our Christa as Best Of Breed with a lovely written critique. Best Of Opposite went to Christa's handsome young nephew Olli :)

BOB Blue Baltic's Ice Crystal - BOS Blue Baltic's Monte Castagno

So once again Christa got chance to go to the big ring and that's something this dog truly enjoys!!! :)

The highlight of the Sunday afternoon and the whole show weekend was that the well known judge Mr Laurent Picard choosed our Christa as Group Winner of this big international show. I am sure this judge is becoming an idol for our Christa as he is the one who made Christa a World Winner only a month earlier :) Well, this same judge admired Christa already when under 2 years old and said like "I can put this dog as a winner ANYWHERE..." and now he truly has done it!

We are so proud that our Christa was among the ten most beautiful dogs in BIS final in these two big international shows :) There was by the way around 4000 entries in both of these shows!

This weekend was absolutely great and unforgettable. There is no words to describe
how happy I am from my dog and the friends around me who support us.
I wan to tell my special thanks to Christa's talented handler Ms Sanna Vartiainen
as well as Christa's most wonderful breeder Mrs Marita Peuhkuri!
You are irreplaceable and I truly respect your help and devotion!

- Sanna -

Tail waggings and thanks to all who were there and
cheered me to these great wins this weekend!

- Christa (Ch.Blue Baltic's Ice Crystal)-