It'S SHOW TIME
Summer 2023 - where it all began!
We spent the summer of 2023 going to lots of fun shows in order to get Kestra accustomed to being handled by strangers and just generally get used to being around crowds of people and lots of other dogs. We embarked on ringcraft classes as soon as her injections were complete and she could start going out for walks. She soon picked up the art of 'stacking' and soon learnt how to run alongside nicely and turn on command. Both Kestra and Kira aced the fun shows and both came away with many 'Best in Show' rosettes but of course they were only for fun...
Since then...
Kestra (and then later Kassie too) have gone from strength to strength, here's some of their accomplishments:
Kestra:
🍀1st in Minor Puppy Bitch at our first every Championship Show (Gundog Breeds Association Scotland) in November 2023 which qualified her for Crufts 24.
🍀Kira had her first ever go at a 'proper' show in December 2023 and came 4th in a strong Post Graduate class. Kestra came 1st in Junior Handling (with our daughter Sophia handling her in age 6-11)
🍀Tweedmouth Canine Society (Dec 23) - Kestra came 1st in Minor Puppy Bitch, 1st in Puppy Bitch and then went on to get Reserve Best Puppy in Show.
🍀Border Counties Gundog Show (Jan 24) - Kestra came 2nd in Puppy Bitch
🍀Crufts (Mar 24) - no placings in Puppy Bitch but what an amazing achievement to have even got there so early in our show 'career'!
🍀North and South Shields Premier Open (Mar 24) - Kestra's first ever go in Junior class where she came a very respectable 3rd.
🍀Sunderland and District Canine Society (Mar 24) (Easter match night) - another 1st place for Kestra handled by Sophia in Junior Handling
🍀Consett Canine Society (Mar 24) - first ever go in Post Graduate and Kestra only went and came 1st. She also got Best of Breed and Best Puppy
🍀Birtley and District Premier Open (Apr 24) - 1st in both Junior and Post Graduate, also Best of Breed and Best Puppy
This was Kestra's last ever show as a puppy. We had a few months break while Kira's last litter were born and raised. Next up was:
🍀Sedgfield Open Show (Aug 24) - 1st in Post Graduate and then came Best of Breed
🍀Durham County Premier Open (Aug 24) - 1st in Post Graduate and Best of Breed
🍀Wolsingham Open Show (Sept 24) - 1st in Post Graduate and Best of Breed
🍀Darlington Championship Show (Sept 24) - 1st in both Junior and 2nd in Yearling
🍀Houghton le Spring Open (Oct 24) - 1st in AVNSC Open and Best of Breed
🍀Gundog Breeds Association Scotland (Nov 24) - Kestra came 1st in Graduate alongside joint show Irish Setter Championship Scotland - 1st in Graduate
🍀Houghton le Spring (Nov 24) - Kestra 1st in AVNSC and Best of Breed
🍀Eston and Barnaby Open (Dec 24) - 1st in Post Graduate and Best of Breed
🍀Darlington and District Premier Open (Jan 25) - Kestra came 1st in AVNSC Post Graduate, 2nd in AV Gundog Yearling and 5th in Junior Handling with Soph
🍀Manchester Championship Show (Jan 25) -Kestra came 1st in Yearling
🍀South West Durham Canine Open (Feb 25) - Kestra came VHC in AVNSC Post Graduate and took Soph to 2nd in Junior Handling
🍀Crufts 2025 - Kestra 2nd in GCDSB
🍀Northumberland County Show (May 25) - Kestra came 1st in Post Graduate - Kestra then pipped Kassie to Best of Breed
Kassie:
🍀By sheer timing, Kassie's first ever show was a joint Championship Show so it was a lot to ask!
Gundog Breeds Association Scotland and ISCS (Nov 24) -
Kassie came 2nd in Minor Puppy Bitch and
1st in Special Beginners Bitch
🍀Houhgton le Spring Open Show (Nov 24) - 1st in Puppy and came Best Puppy in Breed plus then came 3rd in Puppy Group!
🍀Darlington and District (Jan 25) - 1st in AV Gundog Puppy (this was a huge class too!)
🍀Manchester Championship Show - 2nd in Puppy Bitch
🍀South West Durham Canine (Feb 25) - 1st in AVNSC Puppy (a huge class!) and came Best Puppy in Breed
🍀Crufts - 4th in GCDSB
🍀Northumberland County Show - Kassie came 1st in Junior
Happy to help!
As relative newcomers we know first hand how daunting it can be to break into the show world when you know you're up against highly experienced handlers. I have received so much help and support getting to where we are today and I will gladly help anyone else who feels like they might like to give it a try. While it would be lovely to see the Scokira name more and more attending shows all around the country, equally there is absolutely NO pressure whatsoever to do so. Our primary focus is happy, healthy, well bred puppies who are just as happy in muddy puddles as they are in the show ring. We want all Scokira dogs to live indoors as family members unlike how some .larger names in the show world tend to operate!