2008 Summary

2008 started with a move to Yorkshire then along came new puppy Emma In May. Emma started showing in September with much success, winning many 1sts as well as 2 x BPIS and Res. BIS at just 7 months old. A little hound with a big personality, she always shows her socks off free on a loose lead (although doesn't do this quietly, so my apologies to fellow exhibitors !!)
Miles had another good year winning many Veteran classes and at South Yorkshire Hound not only won B.V.I.S. but also Res. B.I.S. aged 10 1/2 years old !
 

March 2009

Emma's 1st Birthday, how time flies ! A great start to the year and end to a super first 6 months in the ring. Emma has won 25 x 1st, 12 x B.P.I.B.'s, 4 x B.O.B.'s, numerous Puppy Group placings, 3 x B.P.I.S., Res. B.I.S., shortlisted a further twice for B.I.S. , qualified for Crufts 2009 and 2010 and passed her K.C.G.C. Bronze and Silver Tests. The highlight was 'doing the double' at St. Helen's C. S. Open Show where Emma won B.P.I.S. and Miles B.V.I.S. Miles made it a week to remember by winning  BVIS at The Beagles Association Open Show on the following weekend.
Delighted Emma passed her K.C.G.C. GOLD so soon after her SILVER success, aged only 12 months and 4 days this was quite an achievement !!

Emma’s BPIS at St Helens & District C.S. 14.02.09 with Judge Ken Jessup

June 2009

In the last few months Molly and Milly have been taking it in turns to visit the Vet. At times it was touch and go but I'm happy to say that both hounds have bounced back from injury and illness (and age !) and are enjoying life to the full. Miles celebrated his 11th Birthday on 21st of this month and still shows no sign of slowing down, he continues to do well in the veteran classes with many super wins. Emma is an absolute delight, so full of character, her tail never stops wagging, she is a lovely little hound to show as she so obviously enjoys herself though would prefer less noise !! She has added many more wins to her record. BOB and G3 at Boston Premier Show out of an entry of 27 Beagles under breed judge Margaret Dix and more recently her wins at The S.B.C. Championship show under Marion Hunt (below), were certainly days to remember.

September 2009

Emma can clear our garden fence with ease so at the BBQ/Rally held jointly by The N. & M. Cos. B.C. and Colne, Nelson & District C.C. in July I decided to enter her in the Agility competition. It was the first time for Emma round an Agility course and I was delighted that not only was she one of the few to get a clear round but she also had the fastest time and was presented with a lovely big rosette 'Agility Winner'. In August at Bakewell Premier show in the sea of mud Emma gained the final point for her ShCM by winning BOB under Linda Havard. Later under Mike Lancaster she was placed G2. A few days later at Sedgefield Agricultural Show under Alanya Moorland-Allan she was again BOB and gained the final point required for her JW. This time she was awarded G1 under Mr Ray Moorland and Res. B.I.S. under Mr Alan Bendelow with Miles B.V.I.S.

Miles, Milly and Emma all enjoyed a week in Ireland. At the five shows entered all three of them were graded Excellent. Emma won two of her Junior classes, Milly was consistently 3rd and Miles, though alone in all his classes, was awarded the Green Star and BOB under Mr. J. Eberhart from Germany aged 11yrs ! To become an Irish Champion you need to win 7 Green Stars, Miles (pictured below at Killarney) now has the equivalent of 6. Molly stayed at home relaxing and the following week celebrated her 14th Birthday.

South Yorkshire Hound was Emma's last Junior class and I was pleased to win this with Res.B.O.B. Miles again won B.V.I.S. and shortlisted for B.I.S. Emma has had a fantastic first year in the ring with 14 BOB's (13 this year alone). She has proved to be a very multi talented little hound, as well as her many wins in the ring she has her K.C.G.C. Bronze, Silver and Gold awards and her Agility win, what's next ?!!

December 2009

MOLLY 28.08.95 - 14.12.09
Newlin Almond at Madika (Ch. Dialynne Tolliver of Tragband x Ch. Newlin Upsadaisy)

Loyal, faithful & obedient, not words normally used to describe a Beagle but my Molly was and more. Full of character, funny and super intelligent, she was one in a million. From the minute I took her home she stole my heart with those gorgeous dark expressive eyes. She was everything you'd want in a pet and kept us amused for 14 years.

All our dogs are first and foremost house pets and for years every morning while I would make up the dogs breakfasts, Molly would race upstairs and give Russell one lick one the mouth (whether he was asleep or not) then race back down again in time to be fed ! There was the time when Russell had been suffering for years with a toe infection, then Molly came along and every night she gently licked the painful toe until eventually it was cured. Russell has always been eternally grateful to Molly for that. She also insisted on helping him dry his legs after a shower, something she did even on that last morning. She loved a good head rub and would often howl while she pressed her head hard against yours or your hand. She was so clever and could easily problem solve. If Miles was lying in her favourite spot, she would choose a toy from the box and start playing with it, Miles could never resist and would happily join in but unfortunately for him Molly had no intention of playing, she would immediately stop and curl up in the place where Miles once was. He always looked so dejected but he never learnt. Breakfast of bacon sandwiches usually meant a tasty treat for the dogs, but if there were visiting dogs then no-one got a bit. Molly had different ideas! While visiting friends with two Beagles and two Dachshunds, it was a lovely sunny morning as we tucked into our bacon sandwiches, all six dogs milling around. I said to Molly there'd be nothing for them to which she promptly walked to the back door and gave a couple of barks, everyone ran into the garden to see what it was but not Molly, she about turned and came back to the table looking up as if to say "It's just me now". Yes, she got her reward and yes, she did it again !

Not only did Molly produce a Champion son (Miles) in her one and only litter, she was also a successful show dog with 3 x Green Stars (all from Veteran), 4 x Res. Green Stars and 1 x Res. C.A.C.I.B, she did well at both Champ. and Open shows, her many awards included a Res. Best Puppy In Show and 2 x Res. Best In Show at Open Shows and eventually many B.V.I.S. awards. She was an easy dog to show as Debbie Linden found out in a few of the veteran classes. A super day was had at The S.B.C. Open Show in 1999 when she won Best Bitch and Res. B.I.S. only beaten for B.I.S. by her son Miles. She was a regular sight at the shows as the 'loose' Beagle as she was rarely on a lead, but for me her greatest achievement was simply being herself, a most amazing and loving pet.
Molly was put to sleep on 14th December to save her from further suffering from Kidney failure
I will be forever grateful to Liz and of course the lovely David for letting me have such a wonderful girl who will be sadly missed.