The National Specialty at the Roberts Centre was a celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the American Bouvier des Flandres Club (ABdFC) and all things Bouvier!
We kicked off the week with a variety of performance events: Agility, Scent Work, and Carting were well attended and showed off the versatility of our breed. On Wednesday and Thursday we added Obedience and Rally to the mix, and once again, the Bouvier teams made us proud. We had over 30 Bouvier teams earn Farm Dog and/or CGC titles. The ABdFC offers a Multi-Level Performance award for highest scoring Bouvier in performance and conformation. Two hard-working teams had tied scores—each participating in every available event!
Conformation events began on Tuesday with Futurity and Sweepstakes. It is always great fun to see the new up-and-comers and enjoy the veterans who seem to be so proud as they take their laps around the ring, happy to be back where they belong. Regular Dog and Bitch Classes were held on Thursday, and Best of Breed along with the Non-Regular Classes took place on Friday. We would like to thank Dana Cline for judging this year. He did a thorough and thoughtful job, awarding the Best of Breed to GCH Jasm’s Light Up The Night. The Southeastern Michigan Bouvier des Flandres Club wrapped up the week with their Regional Specialty on Saturday.
We had great weather for the ever-popular RV BBQ event, attended by over 100 members and exhibitors; a small but dedicated group of RV attendees make plans, get out their grills, and show off their BBQ and culinary skills! Attendees just bring their chairs and their beverage of choice. This group has proven time and again that you don’t need a fancy venue to have a great time—an RV lot, some grill masters, and good weather and friends always make for a great evening.
Every Bouvier Specialty is really a celebration of the best of the best—we are proud to dedicate an entire evening just to them! The Top 20 Gala Evening is one of the highlight events of the week. This event is meant to celebrate and recognize the hard work that is required to rise to the top of a chosen venue. Late nights, early mornings, long drives, hours of grooming and training along with lots of dedication should be celebrated in style. This year, we saluted 15 Bouviers that attained Performance Championships, the Top 20 ranked overall Performance Bouviers, our Top 10 Owner-Handled, and Top 20 Champions (measured by the number of dogs defeated). A beautiful, full-color catalog, food, drink, and an opportunity to enjoy an evening with friends topped off the fun!
The Bouvier Health Foundation sponsored both Cardiac and Eye clinics. This is always an excellent opportunity to check off two of the recommended health tests. Volunteers also manned a fund-raising booth and provided information. The American Bouvier Rescue League (ABRL), our dedicated breed rescue, also had a volunteer on-site to provide information about their programs. The silent auction was a great success, and some really nice vendors attended as well.
The Awards Banquet was held on Friday evening, featuring a tasty buffet and a final opportunity to salute the successes our members have had in the past year. Lovely decorations and table favors highlighting the 60th Anniversary of the ABdFC made for a very festive celebration! A special cake was offered on Thursday as an additional way to observe and celebrate 60 years!
Cheers to the next 60 years supporting, highlighting, and enjoying our wonderful breed!
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