Flatcoated Retriever Association of Victoria

500 Points Club

Any member of this club has achieved over 500 challenge points in the show ring

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Aust Ch Copsewood Nigra (Imp NZ)   “Nicky”  1981 – 1989 Nicky was in his day an exceptional Flatcoat and achieved great feats in the show ring for what was then very much a minority breed. Nicky was bred in New Zealand by Doreen and Bill Ridley from 2 imported English Flatcoats and was the only dog produced from the mating. He was born in March of 1981 and came to Australia in May of that year. He achieved his Australian Championship on the 27th April 1982. Nicky to his day is the only Flatcoated Retriever to win Best In Show at an all breeds Championship Show. He also won 5 Best In Groups at All Breeds Championship shows, 2 Best In Show at Open shows, 4 Runner Up to Best In Group at All Breeds Championship shows, a number of Class in Groups at all types of shows and 5 Royal Show challenges. He had a total of 709 challenge points many of which were 6 point challenges and often went on to higher awards when he was the only Flatcoat at the show. Nicky did much to put Flatcoats on the map in the Show ring but he also produced working Flatcoats of exceptional quality one of which was a Field Trial Champion not to mention other Flatcoats who excelled in the Obedience ring. Most importantly Nicky was my mate and will never be forgotten by me or those many people who enjoyed a great dog throughout an all too short life. back to top

Aust Grand Ch Almanza Better Than Ever (Imp Swd)   "Inga"     W: 15/9/93 Sire: Moonstruck Adventure at Flatterhaft (Swd) Dam: Almanza Billion Dollar Baby (Swd) Bred: Ragnhild Ulin Inga was imported by Bushman Kennels arriving in Australia January 1994. She commenced her show career at the age of 10 months winning Best Puppy in show at the Gundog Championship show.  Inga has won four consecutive bitch challenges at the Victorian Gundog Championship show in 1994, 1995, 1996 & 1997 and again in 2001 at the age of 8 years old.  During her show career she won 5 Best In Groups, 6 Runner Up Best In Groups, 14 class in groups, 8 Royal Show Best of Breeds, completing a hat trick in 1996, winning Best of Breed in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. Inga also won 3 Runner Up to Best of Breed awards to kennel mates and a total of 12 bitch challenges at Royal Shows.  Inga had 4 litters, two to Ch Almanza Burning Hell (imp Swd) producing many champions, Grand champions and successful working dogs, one to Ch Almanza I Shot The Sheriff (imp Swd) producing 2 show Champions and one to Ch Almanza Never Think Twice (imp Swd) which has produced several show champions and a Grand Champion.  On 29th September 1999, Inga created breed history.  She was awarded Best In Group at Perth Royal, the first Flat Coat ever to win Best In Group at a Royal Show in Australia.  She also qualified for the title Australian Grand Champion, the first Flat Coat in Australia to do so.  Inga was retired in 2002 and at the time of writing, still holds the record for the most successful Flat Coated Retriever bitch in Australian history.  She is being shown in Veterans when the opportunity arises and is enjoying great success. back to top

Ch Almanza Burning Hell (Imp Swd)   "Burn"    W: 27/7/94 Sire: Black Bowie (Nwy) Dam: Almanza Heaven Or Hell Bred: Ragnhild Ulin      Owned: Bushman Kennels Burn was imported by Bushman Kennels arriving in Australia in 1994. He commenced his show career at seven months old and won his first class in group at championship level in March 1995.  To date, Burn has won eleven Best Class in Group, three Best In Groups, six runner up to Best In Group and one Runner up to Best in Show and Best Open in Show at all breeds Championship Shows.  He has won Best of Breed at the Victorian Gundog Championship Sow 1996 and Best of Breed at Melbourne Royal in 1998.  He has been an extremely successful sire with nne champions, including two best in group winners and a son with his NRD title. Burn’s gentle, kind nature is enhanced by his love of the spot light, making him not only a pleasure to live with, but also a lovely dog to show. back to top

Gr Ch Kellick Finders Keepers   "Jack" Sire: Ch Bramatha The Storm Emperor (Imp UK) Dam: Ch Kellick Coreen Carn Ch Kellick Finders Keepers (Jack) has had a successful show career despite being the most fidgety dog whilst being examined by a judge, that I have ever owned. He has the advantage in the group lineup of virtually stacking himself, and he stands with his tail wagging and head up saying “Look at me”.  He was shown very sparingly the first year that I owned him as I was completing my Masters degree at the time, and that had to take priority over dog shows.  Despite this, his challenge points mounted up aided by a Best in Group at 14 months of age. He has also had two Runner Up to Best In Group at Championship shows and one at Open show.  He has been a consistent Class in Group winner in the junior, intermediate and open classes.  He has won Best Puppy in show and Intermediate in Show at Gundog Club shows.  He has been awarded 71 Best of Breed awards at Championship shows, including this year’s Royal National in Launceston.  He gained his 500th point at Burnie Agricultural Society show on October 3 1998.  As he is not yet four years of age, I intend to continue showing him in pursuit of the next big milestone, the title of Grand Champion. back to top

Aust Gr Ch Burn Eternally NRD   "Blaze"   W: 31/10/95 Sire: Ch Almanza Burning Hell (Imp Swd) Dam: Gr Ch Almanza Better Than Ever (Imp Swd) Bred/Owned: Bushman Kennels Blaze spent the first few years of his life as a working dog. Trained by Russell Kennon, he gained his Novice Retrieving Dog Title in1998.  During 1997 he was campaigned part time by Judy Kennon-Wray, finishing his show title with a Runner Up to Best in Group and Best in Group award. At the end of 1998, Blaze came back to live with Judy and at his first show back, the Flat Coated Retriever Championship Show, he won Runner Up to Best In Show.  Blaze really hit his traps in 1999 when he won two Best in Group awards, four Runner Up to Best Exhibit awards, two Best Class in Show, eleven Best Class in Group and Best of Breed at Adelaide Royal. This success meant Blaze was awarded Victorian Gundog Club’s Show Dog Of the Year.  Blaze has gone on to be Gundog Show dog of the year in 2000, 2001 and 2003.  He is at the time of writing (May 2003) the most successful Flat Coated Retriever in the show ring in Australia.  He has set the impressive record of 27 Best in Group, 3 Best In Show, 4 Runner up to Best in Show, 26 Runner up to Best In Group, 22 Class in Show awards, all at All Breed Championship show level.  Blaze has amassed close to 3000 CC points.  He has had 12 consecutive dog Challenge Cerificates awarded in 6 different states.  He won Best in Show at the Flat Coated Retriever Association’s championship shows in 2002 and 2003 under international judge.  Blaze was the first Flat Coated Retriever dog in Australia to earn the Grand Champion title.  At the age of 7½ Blaze is still enjoying a very successful show career. back to top

Ch Bushman Fire Cracker (IID)   “Crackle”   W: 7/5/98 Sire: Multi Ch Almanza I’m On Fire (Imp Swd) Dam: Almanza Eleanor Of Aquitania (Imp Swd) Crackle was Runner Up In Show at Launceston Royal. She placed 4th in Group at Sydney Royal and she was BOB at Royals in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin and Hobart. She won Class in Group at Hobart Royal as well as numerous classes in group at all breed championship shows. She was Runner Up to Best In Show at the Victorian Gundog Club Show and the Flat Coated Retriever Championship Shows in 2000 and 2001. back to top

Ch Sherepoint Lone Ranger NRD "Chandra" W: 7/12/95 Sire: Ch Almanza Burning Hell (Imp Swd) Dam: Ch Casuarina Black Pearl (Imp UK) Clear Eye Certificate (free of PRA & Glaucoma) Hips: 4-2 = 6 Chanda was the only pup in the litter, hence her name. She was a very busy, bustling bitch, who always gave her all - whether it was in the showring, in retrieving, or just as a family pet playing with our grandchildren. Chanda had two litters for Sherepoint, both small litters, and after a family crisis in 2001 she went to live with Julee Hosking in Victoria, and produced a litter of nine pups. We are forever grateful to Julee and Mike for giving her such a wonderful home. She was the first flatcoat in South Australia to win In Group awards and pioneered the way for flatcoats to be considered for further awards. These are some of her achievements. • Top Showing Gundog Puppy in the Gundog Club of SA Inc 1996 – first & only flatcoat to win this award • Runner Up in Group at All Breeds Championship Show in 1997 • Bitch challenge Sunbury Championship Show -1997 • Top Showing Flatcoated Retriever in SA two consecutive years • Top Showing Interstate Flatcoat – Flatcoated Retriever Assn of Vic 1997 • Reserve Challenge Bitch Adelaide Royal 1998 • Runner Up in Show at Gundog Club of SA Open Show in 1999 • Top Dual Purpose Flatcoat – Flatcoated Retriever Assn of Vic 1999 • Awarded Novice Retrieving Dog title – after numerous placings and two wins in Novice • Numerous In Group awards • Dam of the big winning dog Ch Sherepoint Blue Maxim back to top

Aust Gr Ch Bushman Burning Desire   "Cinder"   W: 31/10/95 Sire: Ch Almanza Burning Hell (Imp Swd) Dam: Gr Ch Almanza Better Than Ever (Imp Swd) Bred/Owned: Bushman Kennels      Handled: Jazmyn Wray ‘Cinder’ was a winner from her first steps into the show ring.  She won at group and in show level from Baby puppy right through to date.  She is a very stylish bitch with a very enthusiastic show attitude. Cinder’s only downfall was being hidden in her dam’s and litter brother’s shadow for many years.  One of the highlights of Cinder’s career was winning Runner Up to Best in Show at the Victorian Gundog Championship Show in 1998 under an international judge.  Cinder is a multiple Best in Group, Runner Up to Best In Group, Class in Group and in Show winner all at All Breeds Championship Show level.  Cinder has won Challenge Certificates at Royal Shows. Jazmyn Wray (3rd Generation Bushman handler) campaigned Cinder through over 600 points of her Grand Champion title, finishing in stlye with a Best in Group and Australian Bred in Show in September 2002.  Jazmyn was only 10 years old. Cinder’s first litter was to a half brother, Bushman Tempted To Talk.  This litter resulted in just two living bitches, one of whom is the very successful Gr Ch Bushman Talk About Lucky. Cinder’s second litter to Lussac Moody Blue (Imp UK) produced puppies who have been sent to New Zealand, Norway and have been kept by Bushman. back to top

Aust Ch Sherepoint Blue Maxim   “Max”   16/1/98 - 2006 Sire: Lussac Moody Blue (Imp UK) Dam: Aust Ch Sherepoint Lone Ranger NRD Bred/Owned: Jean & Ross Bryant.   Lived with & loved by Mary & Denis Safe Hips: 0-0 Clear Eye Certificate: (Clear of PRA & Glaucoma) "Max" was our biggest winning dog – his father was an English dog imported by Bushman Kennels – Lussac Moody Blue – his mother our own Chanda. The following are his achievements: • Max had won over 600 challenge points before his fourth birthday and was the sire of six champions, for three different kennels - this together with his show wins – is an unequalled record in South Australia. • Top Showing Interstate Dog in 2000 for the Flat Coated Retriever Assoc of Vic, 2nd in 1999 & 2001 • the first male SA flatcoat to gain membership of the Association’s 500 Club • Reserve Challenge Dog at both Adelaide and Melbourne Royal Shows in 2000 at only 2 years old • Runner Up in Group three times at All Breeds Championship Shows in quality competition • Dog Challenge winner at the Sunbury Championship Show in Vic in 2000 under a Swedish judge • Challenge Dog winner under Breed Specialist Brenda Phillips (Exclyst) in Sydney in 2001 • He was well on his way to probably becoming South Australia’s first Grand Champion Flat Coat – however that was not to be. Sadly the family he lived with had him de-sexed just before his fourth birthday – "Max" was a “incurable romantic” with both bitches and dogs, and the male dogs didn’t like his advances. From his last six shows he took out four Best of Breeds and one dog challenge. Our thanks to Mary and Denis Safe for allowing us to show Max. Fortunately we were able to have a frozen semen AI litter from "Max" in 2002 which produced two Champions from a litter of five pups. back to top

Aust Gr Ch Bushman Better Be Boss   "Forrest"     W: 2/11/97 Forrest joined our Kennel (Skyehaven) in January 1998. His show career was steady at first, being a slow maturing dog, he just got better and better.  His parents were both imported from Almanza Kennels in Sweden by Bushman Kennels. He gained his Australian Champion relatively easily. Forrest’s Showing success really took off in 2001, his winning starting off in Open Shows, With 2 Best In Groups, 2 RU Best In Groups and 14 Class in Groups, although he did not achieve his first Class in Group in a Championship Show until late 2001, 2002 would be the beginning of his Championship Show success.  He has 1 Best in Group, 6 RU Best In Groups, 2 Australian Bred IN SHOWS & 16 Class in Groups.  Forrest Was BOB, Royal Adelaide Show in 2003, and after a lifesaving operation in May 2004, after suffering from Bloat, he got RUBOB, in September to his Son Gr Ch Skyehaven Mightnpower. Forrest has 104 BOB’s, and 1,311 challenge points, he was the First Flat Coat Grand Champion in South Australia and his show record is only bettered in S.A.  By his Son Gr Ch Skyehaven Mightnpower, his Daughter Gr Ch Skyehaven Just A Dash, is the most successful Flat Coat bitch in S.A. to date, and was the first Flat Coat in S.A. to win a BEST IN GROUP.  Forrest’s awards include, joining the 500 Club in 2001, Interstate Dog of The Year 2002 & 2003 and Mischkador Black Chance Memorial Trophy (most Challenge points) 2002 for the Flat Coated Ret. Ass Of Vic. & Top Showing Flat Coat 2003 Gundog Club Of S.A back to top

Aust Gr Ch Skyehaven Just A Dash   "Starr"     W: 23/6/99 Sire: Gr Ch Bushman Better Be Boss Dam: Ch Bushman Tempted To Tease. Starr lived up to her Pet name; she just seemed to keep winning challenge after challenge.  She was the first Flat Coat in South Australia to win a BEST IN GROUP, the First to Win a CLASS IN SHOW; the first Bitch is S.A. to become a GRAND CHAMPION.  She also won a RU Best in Group and 6 Class in Groups!!  Starr won 27 Best of Breeds, when the Dogs where dominating Best Of Breeds, 61 RU Best Of Breeds and has 1,079 Challenge Points. Starr had a litter in 2003 with Ch Bushman The Marshall and her daughter Skyehaven Just A Star was an Australian Champion at just 14 months old, with multiple Class in SHOWS And Class in Groups.  She also won RU BEST IN GROUP at 9 months old at an Open Show, she has nearly 200 challenge points at 18 months old. back to top

Ch Kellick Chiron  "Tali"   11/01/96 – 31/08/04 Sire: Ch Almanza Burning Hell (Imp Swd) Dam: Ch Kellick Kitty Hawk Bred: Peter & Helen Eley    Owned: Rhonda Williams Tali was my second show dog and he was the one who taught me that showing could be fun.  He was always a pleasure to handle inside the show ring and I often wished that he was as well behaved when not in view of the judge.  Tali won 10 awards at group level at Championship shows including one Best In Group and two Runner Up to Best In Group.  He won 16 awards at group level at Open shows including one Best in Group and two Runner Up to Best In Group. He was a very slow maturing dog and received his first In Group award after the age of 3. He was retired at age 5 due to persistent lameness and did the rest of his showing off at the local parks playing with his beloved football. back to top

Gr Ch Skyehaven Mightnpower   "Shine"   W: 23/6/99 Sire: Gr Ch Bushman Better Be Boss Dam: Ch Bushman Tempted To Tease. Shine is the top winning Flat Coat in South Australian history, and is still showing to date (April 2005). He is loveliest Flat Coat you could ever meet, with an amazing temperament and personality. Shine’s first big win was BEST BABY PUPPY IN SHOW!! Flat Coated Retriever champ Show 1999, in the 2000 Show he won BEST JUNIOR IN SHOW & and in 2004 BEST AUSTRALIAN BRED IN SHOW!! Shine was shown lightly until 2003, that year he got 389 challenge points. In 2004 he really started dominating is South Australia, who have more Flat Coats Shown consistently then any other state in Australia, not only did he gain 504 Challenge points, he won BEST IN SHOW at the Setter Club of S.A. Championship Show (For all Gundogs) under an Austrian Judge, the then had the biggest win in South Australian history beating over 600 Gundogs in the Royal Adelaide show winning 3RD BEST IN GROUP!!! Under a Swedish Judge, where the judges are used to seeing top quality Flat Coats on a regular basis, with 150-250 Flat Coats Shown at any one show. Shine continued the year in good style winning RU Best in Group at an All Breeds Champ Show and gaining his Grand Champion Title with a BEST IN GROUP at another All breeds Champ Show. Shine also won RU BEST IN SHOW at an open show the same year. 2005 has started well with another RU BEST IN GROUP, and 2 Class in Groups. To date he has 1 BEST IN SHOW, 1 BEST IN GROUP, 3 RU BEST IN GROUPS, 1 CLASS IN SHOW AND 10 CLASS IN GROUPS. 96 BOB’S AND 1270 CHALLENGE POINTS. Other awards include joining the 500 Club in 2003, Interstate Showdog of The year 2004 and Misckador Black Chance Memorial Trophy (most challenge points) 2004, Flat Coated Retriever Ass. Of Vic, Top Showing Gundog Dog (Gundog Club Of S.A.) 2004. The only 3 Flat Coat Grand Champions in South Australia are Shine and his sire: Gr Ch Bushman Better Be Boss and his litter sister Gr Ch Skyehaven Just A Dash. Shine has 2 progeny currently showing, Skyehaven Up The Ante (Multi Class in Groups) & Skyehaven Fortune Shines (BEST PUPPY IN SHOW, Flat Coat Champ Show 2004). 2 more will be in the ring this year, Skyehaven Shine On and Skyehaven Simply Magic. back to top

Gr Ch Bushman Talk About Lucky   "Luck"   W: 17/10/99 Sire: Bushman Tempted To Talk Dam: Gr Ch Bushman Burning Desire Bred/Owned: Bushman Kennels Luck was produced from a very small litter of only two bitches but sometimes quality is every bit as rewarding as quality! Luck has enjoyed a very successful show career, ranking amongst some of the top Flat Coat bitches ever campaigned in Australia. Luck was puppy of the year in 2000 – Flat Coated Retriever Association. She is the only Flat Coat bitch (at the time of writing – June 2006) to win two All Breeds Championship Show Best in Show awards. She is a multi best in group, multi class in group winner. She has had several Royal Show Best of Breeds, getting pulled out in the final cut at Sydney Royal show in 2003. She also won Runner up to Best in Show at the United Retriever show in NSW. Luck had her first litter to Bushman Fire Strike in 2001, sadly only producing 3 puppies. In April 2005 she gave birth to 2 healthy puppies by frozen semen from one of our first imports, Ch Almanza Never Think Twice (Imp Swd). Luck bounced back into the show ring in September 2005 winning Best of Breed at Royal Melbourne Show. She was also bitch CC and runner up to Best of Breed at Canberra Royal 2006. back to top

Gr Ch Bushman Crash and Burn   "Crash"   W: 10/1/01 Sire: Ch Almanza Burning Hell (Imp Swd) Dam: Gr Ch Almanza Better Than Ever (Imp Swd) Bred/Owned: Bushman Kennels Crash was certainly the perfect name for this energetic, over the top ball of energy! He was a repeat mating of our very first litter at Bushman and one of only two dogs in the litter. Crash hit the show ring with much enthusiasm and won Baby in Group at his first four shows. He won his first group and Runner up to Best In Show at just 20 months old. He completed his Grand Champion Title in October 2004, making him the youngest Flat Coated Retriever ever to gain this title. Crash is a multi Best in Group, Runner up to Best in Show and Class in show winner. He was Flat Coated Retriever Puppy of the Year in 2001 and Flat Coated Retriever show dog of the year 2004. He was also Best in Show at the Flat Coated Retriever Championship Show in 2004. In 2005 Crash was shown lightly while we concentrated on other members of the kennel, but he still managed to win top winning Flat Coated Retriever in Australia (Dogzonline pointscore) for a second year in a row! At the time of writing (January 2006) this impressive dog is just about to turn 5 years old, we are sure he has a lot more in him yet! back to top

Gr Ch Bushman Hit Or Miss   "Mystery"   W: 5/11/01 Sire: Gr Ch Bushman Burn Eternally NRD Dam: Ch Bushman Ready Aim Fire Bred/Owned: Bushman Kennels Mystery has had an impressive show career, made even more special by the fact that she has been compaigned by her junior handler, Jazmyn Wray who was only ten years old when Mystery commenced being a show dog. Mystery won Flat Coated Retriever Puppy of the Year in 2002 and that same year won the bitch Challenge and runner up to best of breed at the Royal Melbourne show, to her famous father, Blaze. Mystery has twice won the bitch challenge and runner up to Best in Show at the Flat Coated Retriever Championship Show and has had many class in group and in shows and is a multi Runner up to best in group winner. In both 2004 and 2005 she won Best of Breed at the Victorian Gundog club Championship Show and was pulled out in the final cut for best in show. Mystery was out of the ring for a short period in 2005 while she had a litter to kennel mate, Gr Ch Bushman Bring It On. At the time of writing (January 2006) Mystery has a mere 240 points to finish her Grand Champion title. She has certainly done her sire, who was the biggest winning Flat Coated Retriever in Australian history, very proud indeed. back to top

Gr Ch Bushman Bring It On   "Captain"   W: 14/4/02 Sire: Casblaidd Dunken Disorderly (Imp UK) Dam: Ch Bushman Betr Think Twice Bred/Owned: Bushman Kennels Captain was the result of a careful blend of Swedish and UK lines, and he has proved his worth in the show ring time and time again. Jazmyn Wray who was twelve years old when she began handling him has handled him through most of his major wins and has also excelled in Junior Handlers events with him also, the two of them make a very impressive team. Captain to date (January 2006) has won 21 Class in Groups, two Class in Shows and four runner up to Best in Group awards. 2005 was a big year for Captain, he won Best of Breed at Sydney Royal and was pulled out in the final cut for Best in Group. He was dog CC at Melbourne Royal and runner up to best of breed to his kennel mate, Gr Ch Bushman Talk About Lucky and he was dog CC and runner up to best of breed at the Victorian Gundog Championship show. To date Captain has sired a bitch to Gr Ch Bushman Burning Desire who has achieved great things throughout her show career as a puppy and finished her title in December 2005 aged a mere 13 months old. Ch Bushman Up And Flying. Not only is Captain an outstanding show dog, he is one of the nicest Flat Coated Retrievers you could hope to meet. He has a divine temperament and always gives us his best in the ring, rain, hail or shine! back to top

Gr Ch Bushman The Deputy