East Anglian Gundog Society Open Show. Judge: M. Neil (Moloko). Ritzilyn Rock On Tommy, 1st Junior, 2nd Yearling, 1st Novice. Messano Mustang Sally, 3rd Open.

Today was a sad day for us at Messano. Unfortunately, to save her any suffering, Maisie (Messano Eager Beaver) was put to sleep this afternoon. Maise had been unwell for a few days, but quickly deteriorated on Sunday afternoon. We therefore had to make another of those awful decisions that comes to everyone that decides to share their life with a dog.
Maisie was mother of Mopi, Sally and Roxy. Grandmother of Sunny and great-grandmother of the 'T' Litter puppies. She will be sadly missed but hopefully reunited with her own mother Briar, grand-mother Bracken and father Boysie.

Dartford & District Canine Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs M. Edridge (Tilita). Messano Mustang Sally, Res Open.

We had a long awaited holiday this week in Barbati, Corfu. It was a nice relaxing week, with no dogs to look after, and we really enjoyed ourselves.
The hotel was very picturesque but was hard work as it is built into the side of a mountain. The hotel was described as being 300 metres from the beach, which it was, but in a vertical line down the hill. In reality it was nearer a mile in total distance walked!
Thanks to our daughter Emma for looking after the dogs for us. We really do appreciate our occasional break in the sun.

Beattie (Messano Phonafriend) has been mated to Ritzilyn Male Order JW. All being well, the puppies are due on, or around, 15th November 2008. At the moment, we are not accepting any more reservations for a puppy from this litter. If you are interested in a Messano puppy, we plan to mate Roxy to Tommy in the spring of 2009 and are now taking enquiries for this litter.

We are pleased to report that two of our Messano girls, Roxy & Beattie, have proven that they have brains as well as beauty after recently being awarded their Kennel Club Bronze Award. Julie has recently become interested in obedience and this was the first award that she worked towards. Roxy & Beattie will now work towards their Silver awards and Tommy, Faith & Sunny will be trained for the Bronze award. Photos of the girls with their awards can be seen here

We are delighted to report that we have received all the health clearances back for Tommy (Ritzilyn Rock On Tommy).
He has a clear eyes certificate, an elbow score of 0-0 and a hip score of 5-4.
Tommy will now be available at stud to ladies with acceptable health clearances and a compatible pedigree.
He can hardly wait!

Sint Romboutscup International Show, Mechelen, Belgium. Julie judged at this show and awarded CACIB/CAC's for the first time. These are the continental equivalent of Kennel Club Challenge Certificates.
Paul drove to the venue in Belgium via the Dover car ferry and we stayed in a hotel in Mechelen on Saturday and Sunday night. We had a lovely time and thank our daughter Emma for looking after the three remaining puppies and two in-season bitches for the three days that we were away, above and beyond the call of duty!
Photos of all first prize and CACIB/CAC winners can be seen here

All of Sunny's puppies now have homes arranged for them.

The Golden Retriever Club Championship Show. We are not currently showing any of our dogs due to lack of coat, but Julie attended the GRC show and was delighted to see Nadine Barber's Messano Nora Batty win 1st place in a very good quality Mid-Limit class. The Judge was Mr Bernard Catterall (Golmas). Congratulations Nadine and Dolly and a speciall well done from Dolly's Mum, Faith!

Sunny (Messano Riseand Shine), delivered her puppies on 2nd July 2008. She had four dogs and four bitches. We have started an online puppy diary, to see it please click here

Sunny (Messano Riseand Shine), is due to have her puppies on 4th July 2008. We took a photo of her on 28/06/2008 with one week to go. To see it click here.

The Royal Norfolk Open Show. Judge: Mr M. Greenwood (Telkaro). Messano Phonafriend, Res Post Graduate Bitch.

Julie was invited to Judge at the Spanish Retriever Club show in Borja, Aragon, Spain. We are still waiting for details of the winning dogs, as we do not have a catalogue. we will post pictures of the winners when we have the details; in the meantime, please click here for a photo of the Best In Show Golden Retriever and the commitee. We had a very nice weekend and after the show we were invited to a local lake to watch the dogs being trained to retrieve. We have also posted some photos of this training day here.

We are pleased to announce that Sunny (Messano Riseand Shine) has been mated and is confirmed in whelp. The litter is expected on, or around 4th July 2008. The sire of the puppies is Swedish Champion Floprym Rivaldo. Details of the litter can be seen on the 'Puppies' page. If you are interested in a puppy from this litter, please contact Julie by clicking here, or caling on 01986 894627.

Newmarket & District Canine Society Open Show. Judge: Ms Sue Loach(Putjade). Messano Phonafriend, 1st Open Bitch & Best Of Breed.

Saffron Walden & North Essex Canine Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs H. Male (Malenbrook). Messano Phonafriend, 1st Open Bitch & Best Of Breed.

Suffolk Agricultural Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs D. Rourke-Knights. Messano Phonafriend, 3rd Post Graduate Bitch.

Bath Canine Society Championship Show. Judge: Mrs PJ Beauchamp (Bolberry). Messano Phonafriend, 2nd Post Graduate Bitch.

Sutton Dog Show Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs T. Judge (Tingegold). Messano Phonafriend, 2nd Post Graduate

Chelmsford & District Canine Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs J. Chalkley (Pondcroft). Ritzilyn Rock On Tommy, 2nd Junior Dog. Messano Phonafriend, 1st Open Bitch.

West Of England Ladies Kennel Society Championship Show. Judge: Mrs P. Bevis (Starlance). Messano Phonafriend, VHC Post Graduate Bitch

Norfolk & Norwich Canine Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs H. Mell (Meloak). Ritzilyn Rock On Tommy, 1st Puppy, Best Puppy, Gundog Puppy Group 4. Messano Mustang Sally, 1st Open Bitch. This was only the second show in 20 months for Sally (the last being in September 2007 and previous to that; August 2006!), so we were very pleased with the result. Nadine Barber's Messano Golden Opportunity also did well, winning the Any Variety Gundog Veteran class at 9.5 years of age.

Yorkshire Golden Retriever Club Championship Show. Dog Judge: Mr P. Mills (Millwater). Ritzilyn Rock On Tommy, VHC Puppy Dog. Bitch Judge: Mrs S. Towers (Alibren). Messano Phonafriend, 2nd Graduate Bitch. For a photo of Beattie taken at the show, click here.

Northern Golden Retriever Association Open Show. Judge: Mr D. Taylor (Olygen). Ritzilyn Rock On Tommy, Res Puppy Dog. Messano Give Me Faith, 3rd Special Veteran Bitch. Messano Phonafriend, 1st Post Graduate Bitch. For photos of Faith & Beattie taken at the show, click here.

Scottish Breeds Canine Club Championship Show. Dog Judge: Mrs K. Greenwood (Telkaro). Ritzilyn Rock On Tommy, VHC Puppy Dog, 3rd Maiden Dog, Reserve Novice Dog.

Great Yarmouth, Gorleston & District Canine Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs Bothwell (Norcis, a non-breed judge). Ritzilyn Rock On Tommy, VHC Puppy Dog or Bitch. Messano Phonafriend, Reserve Open Dog or Bitch.

Eastern Counties Golden Retriever Club Open Show. Judge: Mrs J. Wild (Bluewaters). We did not exhibit at this show, but Paul was the 'official' club photographer for the day. The results of the show, with photos of all first place winners, can be found on the ECGRC website by clicking here and following the link

Eastwood Canine Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs K. Ellis (Tenfield). Messano Phonafriend, Reserve Post Graduate Bitch

South Western Golden Retriever Club Championship Show. Dog Judge: Mrs B. Athey (Ninell). Ritzilyn Rock On Tommy, 3rd Puppy Dog. This win gave Tommy his qualification for Crufts 2009 and made the long journey to Shepton Mallet worthwhile.

Crufts Championship Show. Dog Judge: Mrs Pauline Bevis (Starlance). Nadine Barber's Messano Golden Opportunity was awarded Very highly Commended in Veteran, from an entry of 27. 'Chester' is now 9 years of age and is our Faith's litter brother from our 'G' litter. Well done Chester! Nadine sent us a photo of Chester taken the day after Crufts, to see it click here. There were several other Messano's present at the show, including Messano Quest For Gold (click here for a photo), Messano Spinning Jenny, Messano Otis Redding JW and our own Ritzilyn Rock On Tommy in Special Puppy. Unfortunately none of these were placed in their huge classes, but all of them behaved well and flew the flag for the Messano kennel.
Julie had more success in the Large Munsterlander ring, where she was awarded a second in Limit bitch with Anna and a 2nd in Open Bitch with Ellie, They were only beaten by the CC & Res CC winners.The Munsterlanders are owned in partnership with Paul's aunt, Gill Patrick (Ashlowrick).

Southern Golden Retriever Society Championship Show. Bitch Judge: Mrs C. Zingg (Rayleas). Messano Phonafriend, Reserve Post Graduate Bitch.

Horley & District Show Society Open Show. Judge - Dogs - Ms Charmaine Ennis Whelan (Ramchaine). Bitches - Mrs Pam Simms (StVincent).
Messano Phonafriend,1st Graduate Bitch. Messano Jitterbug, 2nd Open Bitch.

We have decided not to mate Beattie this season, as we would like to have a summer in the show ring with her. We therefore decided to mate Messano Mustang Sally instead. The male that we have choosen for her is Swedish Champion Floprym Rivaldo. Rivaldo is staying in the UK for a while with Susanna Zubair & the Thornywait Goldens. We decided to take advantage of his open pedigree to bring diversity into our bloodlines. If Sally is in whelp, the puppies should be due around 26th March and ready to go to their new homes at the end of May. If you are interested in a puppy from this mating, please contact Julie to discuss, as we already have a waiting list for this litter.

Boston & District Canine Society Championship Show. Julie had the honour of judging the male dogs and awarding the Challenge (CC) and Reserve Challenge Certificates (RCC) at her first Championship Show judging appointment today. The Challenge certificate (his third) was awarded to Mrs Pat Trotter's Baricia Bobby Dazzler JW. The awarding of the third 'ticket' has earned him the title of 'Show Champion Baricia Bobby Dazler JW'.
The Reserve Challenge certificate was awarded to M Woods and H Crawford's Amirene Some Kind Of Loving.
Best Puppy Dog & Best Puppy In Breed was awarded to Mrs J. Muncey's Kennelridge Maestro.
Julie enjoyed her day and thanks everyone who either supported her with an entry and friends who attended to watch her special day.
Photographs of the dogs placed first and second can be found on the following link:-
http://www.albumtown.com/showalbum.php?aid=88135&uuid=6492