Ch. Arcata Johnny B Goode
"Tim" is owned and loved by Anna Sokolenko in CT. He is very close to finishing his Championship. Tim is by Obi (Ch. Kendras Obsidianboy of Arcata) and Cleo (Arcata Cleo of Moonraker Farm). Tim not only excels in the show-ring, he loves Agility and Rally and is titled in both areas. UPDATE: Tim finished his AKC championship in May, which makes him the eleventh ARCATA ECS to finish.....CONGRATULATIONS Tim and Anna!
Father, Mother and their two sons
This is George, Flame, Brighton and Gibson enjoying a family moment!
Ch. Beligar Inner Space, WDX
We imported George from Liz Buttrick of Beligar Kennels in the UK in 1998. George is the Sire of Brighton and Gibson (below) He was 10 years old on December 17, 2008. He too was handled to his Championship by Barbara Heckrman. George is a "gentle soul" and very much the English gentlman!
Achieving his WDX title was quite a task for me. We had a practice day the day before the test and George completed the "field" part of the test admirably. The water practise was a different kettle of fish! George refused to retrieve the bird from the water. I kept throwing the bird back into the water, waded in to coax him to retrieve it, all to no avail. George loked at me as if to say "You want me to retrieve that bird in this cold and muddy water? You must be joking!" I eventully conceded and we went back to the hotel to dry off. The next day we did the "field" part of the test which George passed wih flying colors and I had planned on not taking part in the water test. Several friends convinced me to try so I reluctantly agreed. We stood at the edge of the pond and the bird was launched, George, sitting by my side looked up at me and took a flying leap into the water, swam out to the bird and retrieved it to hand!!!!! I was shocked.....the gallery was screaming........ the Judge was beaming and I had tears of joy running down my face! I picked up George and give him a huge hug and he looked at me with those expressive eyes and I swear he smiled! As one of my friends said "It was George's leap of faith for Catherine". I will never forget that day.........it was truly one of the moments that will stay wth me for ever. That day George and his son, Brighton were awarded 2 of the three WDX's and the third dog was a field bred ECS. The other 16 dogs were awaded their WD's.
Arcata Brighton My Day (MH, SH, WDX) and Arcata Gibson Fireburst (SH, JH)
Brighton and Gibson are owned and loved by Mike and Lisa Laskie in CT. They have the same mother and father but born 3 years apart. Brighton was Mike's first ECS and at the age of 18 months he decided to start traiing him for the field. Mike had never trained a hunting dog before and took some ribbing from the die-hard Springer folks who didn't believe a "bench-bred" (show dog lines) could hunt! Well Mike proved them wrong and went on to put the very diffifult Master Hunter title on Brighton. He was the first bench bred solid ECS to achieve this title. Mike is now a well respected Judge and Trainer of ECS in the field. Mike has an amazing rapport with Brighton, Gibson and the dogs he trains. Starting Brighton in the field at 18 months was a great feat in itself. Normally pups are started at 6 to 8 weeks. I am truly indebted to Mike for allowing these boys to reach their full potential and do what they were originally bred for....HUNT!