Although my health is not what I would like it to be, American friends persuaded me to travel to Oregon for the American National Specialty. Four long days of driving ended in Hood River at a lovely site right beside the marina. The rings were large and the RV location was close. My good buddies John and Lisa Chinn of Rainier Saints in
Washington were kind enough to provide me with a golf cart so I could get around all week. Without that kindness it would have been very tough going.

We started our adventure with the weight pull Sunday evening. Brenda Swanson and I had entered our 5 year old Montanamtns Girls Getr Done, "Getr" and she easily pulled more than twelve times her own weight of 154 pounds to earn her second weight pull title. She can now add WPX to her name. We have only pulled her six times and as three legs are
required for each title she has done extraordinarily well and we are very proud of her. All three weight pulls, carting, rally and obedience were very well attended, showing that performance events are really catching on with our Saints.

Monday saw Mrs. Barb Sarti Allen judging the first of two pre show specialties. It was great fun to see all the lovely dogs being presented all day long. I have to say that since my first National in 1997 I am amazed at the huge improvements being made in our breed. Twelve years ago there were still many crippled dogs in the ring, some receiving top
prizes. But this year there were very few dogs with any noticeable limping and structure and conformation have improved tenfold. This first day of showing saw Brenda and I come back to the horse trailer with 5 blue ribbons. Not a bad job as we had entered 4 girls and 3 boys.
The specialty clubs put on some really great meals that were enjoyed out near the weight pull chute even though the night time temperatures were brisk, to say the least. Good friends and some Saint chat kept us all warm.

Tuesday came with Mrs. Howard Dees judging the second pre-show.  It was also a day for seeing Canadian friends in Oregon. Nancy and Bill Boman were there (they are BC natives) as well as the Laurie's from New Brunswick, Linda Symons and Marion Buckton  from Alberta and  Shelley Fulmes from Dawson Creek. Hope to see pictures soon of the newest
additions to Lynda and the Laurie's kennel, they sure looked cute at 8 weeks!

The show went very well and the temperatures co-operated to a point!  The wind in Hood River pretty much rivals the wind in Wyoming..........COLD!  Our dogs did not disappoint however, with 4 blue ribbons and one 4th place, followed by the excitement of seeing our
Montana Mtns Reflection of Northern Beauty (Bean) take a 5 point major for Winners, Best of Winners and Best Bred By, defeating 114 class dogs and bitches for that honour at her first week of shows!

Wednesday was set aside for educational seminars and time to get together with friends. I spent the day resting and doing some bits of grooming, answering questions for many Hood River citizens who were tickled to see all the giant dogs arrive. I wish I could have attended
the seminars as reports from those who did attend were very positive! My Iowan friend Maxine did explain to me the new treatment for osteosarcoma presently being tested by some brilliant scientists in the states. So far their treatment is successful in two out of three patients. They are hoping that this treatment will also help people with this dreadful disease.

The National show itself began on Thursday, with Mrs. Nosiglia judging the class males and increasing our ribbon count by two 1st place and one 4th place rosettes. I have always thought that coming away with any ribbon from a specialty, let alone a National with more than 210 Saints entered, is quite an accomplishment so we were more than thrilled
with our boys. Friday dawned cold as usual, but each morning the specialty clubs offered free breakfasts to the exhibitors which helped warm us all up. Mrs. Lynne Jech judged all the class girls and rewarded our entries with 2 more first place and one second place rosettes.  Our
Getr also received the rosette for best working bitch to round out the day.

Friday found us all crowded at ringside as the Best of Breed entries were ushered into the ring. As we had not entered anyone in that class we were able to sit at ringside and watch as row after row of gorgeous Saints entered the ring under the thoughtful gaze of Mrs. Nosiglia. Those beautiful dogs and bitches just brought a lump to your throat. Brenda
and I picked out the dogs we were sure would get the Breed or Awards of Merit. After picking through one of the best lineups I have seen at a National, the judge took 10 out of line and dismissed the rest. Any dog or bitch in that cut could have been given the Breed easily and I was happy to note that several of the dogs we had picked out as contenders were in that final line up. When Mrs. Nosiglia chose her Best in Breed, the handler, breeder, owner of that magnificent dog was looking up and down the line to see who had won, until shouts from the audience had her realize that her dog had repeated his 2008 National win. Am Ch Opdyke's
Drives Me To Drink is an absolutely wonderful example of our breed and very deserving of the win.

With all the fun we almost missed our queue to get back into the ring for the judge to choose Best Bred By Exhibitor. We were lucky enough to have both the shorthaired bitch and shorthaired male in the line up for that honour and were absolutely thrilled when the judge
pointed to our Montanamtns Keeper of the Cache! Keeper has just started his show career and has amassed both his majors in the two weekends he had been shown to that date so, needless to say, his name was well chosen!

And so another National came to a close. It is hard to say goodbye to old friends, especially knowing that it will be a year or two before we will see one another again. I wish all our club members might travel to an American National at some point. It is a real education!

Giselle

BEST OF BREED

CH. Opdyke's Drives Me To Drink

Carolyn Cataldo & Glenn Radcliffe, Breeder/Owner