Still to come...

We ARE - even though I had decided that the shows were over for this year - still going to a show this year. I entered both dogs to the Swedish Winner -show, Hund2006. It is held on the 9th of December in Stockholm and we are staying in Sweden for 2 nigths. The hotel is booked and the trip by boat reserved.

I have no hopes what comes to the results. It is just fun to be able to go abroad and see other Valls. I have been to Finnish Winner -shows and this show will be as big as or bigger than those what comes to the number of entered Valls. I would like to compete in agility, too, since they have a competition for Class III dogs. But so far I have not found any place where I could enter the competitions...! But, it is still a long time before the show, but at least I'll have something to look forward to at the end of the year !

We are the winners !!!

Jonni and Niina Leinonen started their agility career in Varkaus on the 23rd of September with a smashing clear round victory !! They won a class of 20 dogs with the second fastest time ! The course was such a difficult one that even though there were many experienced dogs entered only 4 of them managed to go through the course without any faults ! This was Jonni's second clear round win and he needs "only" ONE MORE to became a Finnish Agility Champion !!
Jonni and Niina were the fastest to go through the jumping class but they dropped a pole on the first jump ! Only 3 dogs out of 19 got a result from the course so even though they got that 5 penalties it was a great run !!! Next time the pair will compete here in Joensuu.

My old boy

This is my old boy, Stana. He is a standardbred-russian trotter cross and is born 29.6. 1983. Since the weather is so warm he is still kept out in the paddock where he can eat grass as much as he wants ! I don't ride him anymore. He retired 6 years ago since he suffered an tendon injury. He is a happy camper and he LOVES to eat ! He is perfectly happy even though he is not actually DOING anything. He is put out to pasture / paddock in the morning and taken in for the night. I have owned him 20 years (I bought him in 1986) and have promised to keep him 'till the end. I love horses and Stana was THE horse for me. He is the love of my life in the horse world.

Agility result

Yesterday (Sunday the 19th) we competed in agility in Iisalmi. Jonni got our first clear round for this competition season by running the course 8.36 seconds UNDER the ideal time ! We were placed as 4th among 14 top dogs. We were the last ones to get a clear round ! Next weekend we are competing in Varkaus and after that....? I have two choices: Joensuu and Mikkeli. I will just have to think which one would be better for us.

Pictures of Jonni and Bella as a pup...

Above are pictures of Jonni and Bella as a puppy. They sure look CUTE !! Jonni has the same expression on his face that he still has: a calm look on his face. Bella is also easily identified for her tail ! I could spot that tail anywhere !

News from US and Sweden !

(picture (c) Oili Helenius)

Jonni's dam INT CH Fennican Yvonne Ystävä, born March 1996 (!), was BOB and BOB-Veteran in SKV's Special in Mälarö, Sweden on the 2nd of September. The judge was Maija Mäkinen from Finland and there were about 35 dogs entered. "Vonne" has recently moved to live in Sweden. Jonni congratulates his Mum for a great show result !!!

And next: great news from the States: Jonni's half-brother Finn (F. Yahoo Finnboy, owner Marion Erp) got great results from agility and can soon boast to be THE FIRST EVER Vall in AKC history to have a RE -title !!!!! WAY TO GO Finn and Marion !!!!!!

Puppy news and Amos BIS-4 veteran !!!

Lejondalens Amos-Pärson was BIS-4 veteran in Öland dog show on the 2nd of September. The judge was a Finnish Leni Nousiainen. Congrats to Amos for yet another great result in the veteran ring !!!

Heds Umbra De Lux and Tridents Ozzie got a litter together and now the pups are THIS big ! All have found themselves a good home. This was Umbra's second litter to kennel prefix Rätt O Slätt. Umbra has got two litters to kennel Heds. Bella was Umbra's first pup and litter. :-)