There were seven in her class and once again she was the second youngest. This didn't stop her winning a good second place behind Jane York's little girl. I was very pleased with her.

Congratulations to Ann who made up a home bred Pyrenean, a gorgeous girlie with eyes you can just melt into. Well done.

Paignton: August begins and we made the long trip west to Exeter, the judge this year was Kath Howarth.

As the next Crufts qualifier we were expecting large classes again and sadly again this was the case. While there were only six entries in the Puppy dog class, obviously girlies are all the rage this year as Ghost competed in a Puppy Bitch class of 12 entries. As the second youngest in the class she held her own to be placed Reserve, one position off that elusive qualifier spot.

Many thanks to Mark Squires for these photos

Tia once again proved that being up in the Limit class is not a problem, she was placed 2nd in an class of 15 entries. What was I worried about!!!

Sasha also held her own in the Open class, shortlisted into the final six from an entry of thirteen, she wasn't placed but smiled all the way round the ring with me.

Anne and Harlee won Best Dog while Sue and Topaz took Best Bitch in a repeat of the result from National Working and Pastoral. With both these dogs on two tickets, after much consideration Kath gave the single CC to Topaz to make her a UK Champion. Many congratulations to Sue.

July

National Working & Pastoral Breeds: The following weekend we headed for Malvern for the National Working and Pastoral Breeds Championship show and the next Crufts qualifier. With a large entry we weren't hugely hopeful for results. Sasha and Tia barely had their coats back and Ghost was the youngest in a class of 15. Sadly, but not unexpectedly, none of the girls were placed.

Congratulations to Anne and Tony as the lovely Harlee won his second CC, and Sue and Topaz who also won her second CC.

East of England: Ghost entered the showring for the first time at the start of July. We took all three girls up to Peterborough for the East of England Championship show.

Ghost moved really well and at just over six months old she was shortlisted into the final six, but sadly not placed.

Many thanks to Mark Squires for these photos

It's a bit shakey but this is Ghost on her first time in the showring.

Tia and Sasha both still without their coats were placed Reserve and Second respectively in Limit and Open Bitch classes. We're hoping for good results later in the year when they look slightly better!

June

We have had a quiet month, meeting up with friends and their malamutes in Southend, eating fish and chips by the sea. Ghost has been practising her ringcraft and is now at a point where I don't think she'll make us look too silly. At our club matchnight in her last under-age puppy competition she was placed 3rd out of 10 after dribbling all over the mat for the cheese!

Meeting up with daddy: We took a stroll along the beach with Sue and John. Six malamutes walking happily together, although she had to stop for a rest half way.

And Ghost had a chance to meet up with her daddy!

May

Edinburgh: The third weekend in May brings Edinburgh and the Scottish Championship show . . . a long way to go for a chance to qualify for Crufts 2010. As Ghost is still not old enough to enter the showring I was making the trip with some friends while Wayne stayed at home puppy sitting.

Thankfully the girls had kept most of their coats and despite a fire alarm in our hotel at 6am that ensured we were up nice and early we were at the showground for what apparently is the first time there's been good weather.

In the puppy dog class Sarah, handling for Donna, with Troy were placed Reserve and Francine with Meeko won VHC in a class of 9. Tracey and Oska were given Reserve in Post-Graduate Dog, at just 18 months this is only the second time that he has competed in this class. In Limit dog Sarah and Nero were shortlisted but sadly not placed. We watched the making of a new Champion in Sherman owned by Kris as he won the Open Dog class and then gained his third CC.

Tia was competing in the Limit class for only her second time. A tough class with an entry of 9. She was on top form and moved effortlessly.

Exceeding all my expectations Tia was placed first in only her second Limit class. Not only does this give her a Crufts qualification for next year but also a stud book entry and with it a lifetime qualification for Crufts.

Many thanks to Mark for being kind enough to take photos of me crying in the ring here! I barely had time to recover when it was Sasha's turn. She's moved up to Open this year and after missing the National last week this was her first outing in this class.

She was also on top form and moved like a dream.

Looking fabulous she earned herself second place. This also gives her a stud book entry and a lifetime qualification to Crufts.

Sharon Loades, winner of Open Bitch class took the Bitch challenge certificate, giving her her first champion. Then when I thought things couldn't get any better, as second place Sasha was called back into the ring and with Tracey handling Tia for me, Sasha took the Reserve Challenge Certificate.

A completely fabulous weekend . . . . more photos here.

The National: The second weekend was a day out at The National Dog Show, the first Crufts qualifier with a huge entry of over 150. Sasha had sadly cut her pad a few days before so I wasn't able to take her to compete. Tia did me proud. This year she has won her way out of Post-Graduate and up into Limit. Her first outing in this class under Sue Ellis and she was placed VHC from an entry of 17. Well done baby!

Many thanks to Mark Squires for this photo

Francine took Meeko in the ring and qualified for Crufts 2010 at her first attempt with a 3rd place in Puppy class. Tracey and Oska were placed VHC in the Post-Graduate class, his first outing in this class too.

Hades, father to Ghost, is now up in Open Dog class, and despite only being two and a half he was placed VHC in a strong class. Best of Breed was won by Diesel, brought over by Tonny and Rita from Holland - many congratulations to everyone.

Nutty puppies: Another day, another moment of madness with the girls. Ghost is now 4 months old and can hold her own with the girls tearing about in the garden.

Cheddar walking weekend: May started in glorious style with a weekend away in Cheddar Gorge. Adrian had organised a hiking weekend for the bank holiday. So a weekend to chill out with friends and our malamutes, except that some idiot put a six mile hike in the middle!! It was beautiful though.

Back at the campsite we got back to the serious job of sitting about chatting! Well - some of us did . . .

All in all a fabulous weekend - more photos here.

April

Casiat: Apart from the lovely dinners and evenings with good conversation and wine, we also love Simon and Carol for another reason! They have a lovely enclosed paddock across the road from their house. Although Ghost is not trusted off the extendable lead!

Sasha, Tia and Ghost playing in the garden. While Ghost has picked up Tia's obsession - Sasha just doesn't understand what the big deal with tennis balls is!

Yes the coughing is me!

April arrives and we took Sasha and Tia to support a local open show. As they are now both in the Open class I took advantage of the fabulous Debs to handle Tia for me. Cheers hunny! Sarah with Nero took Best of Breed, and Francine with Meeko took Best Puppy.

March

There are other kinds of racing other than with dogs! A day out at Silverstone watching our friend Rachel Green take on a huge hunk of a car racing a Mosler 7 litre beast. With her fellow driver they finished a very respectible 5th in class. As you can see Sara and I had to fight for room in the grandstand!

RachelGreenRacing.co.uk

First month together

As March has gone on Sasha and Tia have begun to bond with their new arrival. It will take time but the early signs are promising.

More pictures from their first month together

Crufts 2009

March must mean time for Crufts. Once again Sasha qualified and was competing in the Limit Bitch class.

Sadly Sasha wasn't to the judges liking and was not placed, but we'll try again for next year.

More pictures and video from our day out

A new arrival

March arrived and two days before Crufts we welcomed a new member of our family.

We brought Ghost into our pack. A lovely grey and white puppy bitch, a daughter of Champions Hades and Feline, from the Marahootay kennel. She is big boned and has a lovely shaped head.

It would seem she can make a toy out of anything - including a food bowl - just as long as it makes loads of noise!

Only time will tell how she performs in the showring but for now we have three happy cuddly girls all together

February

In February Joseph came to visit and spent a little while discussing tennis balls.

January

Aviemore: the main event and what has turned into our annual holiday! We had a fabulous time despite some racing problems but once again a great week up in the mountains. Once again the snow narrowly missed us, so we carried the sled 1200miles and didn't take it out of the van!

Saturday race day dawned beautifully clear and cold and the girls were up for the challenge, however about a third of the way round ice played it's part and took out the front wheel on the rig. Wayne commented that trying to complete the course without brakes or steering was interesting and ended up walking round for most of it. This put us further down the field than we had hoped for Sunday. However despite Tia still unhappy about the ice and a few trail incidents the team once again successfully completed the course as the second fastest all bitch Alaskan Malamute team, missing first place by 30 seconds.

The Aviemore trek was once again a fabulous day out in the mountains - this year with the addition of a video camera on the front of the rig! Part one of the trek video here:

Aviemore photos and videos from our week away can be seen here

Second weekend of the year was a trip north for a busy two days of showing and racing. On Saturday Wayne, John and Mark went to the SHCGB Sherwood forest rally while Sue, Tracy and I went to the Boston Championship show. On Sunday we all went to the rally and I have video of a few of the D2 class.

I'm not sure what is wrong with the sound so I advise you to turn it off!

January is turning out to be very busy. On the first weekend I stepped into a showring for the first time with a male Malamute - Meeko [Marahootay Diamond Seeker]. Taking part in the Junior class at only seven months old I was very surprised and pleased to be placed 3rd of 5.

Congratulations to Sarah [Wintadreama] who took Best of breed with Nero and then Working Group 2.

2009 here already, time certainly does fly when you're busy with Malamutes!