Small ImageBronzworth Reg. - Megan PickardSmall Image

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Highlights from the Junior Handling Years

 

Megan began her Junior Handling career in 1993 at the DC & SSA at 7 years old. She had the great fortune to begin with a wonderful dog - Am/Can. Ch. Dayspring Romyldale Rowan - who showed her the ropes of this conformation showing and did everything except call over his shoulder, "Just follow me, little girl! I know how it is done!" It was no surprise to me and Kathy Belville (Rowan's generous owner) that we were watching two naturals in the ring that day. A warm thank you to Toni Lett who rewarded Rowan and Megan with a 1st place in a large Junior Novice class. The fun was just beginning ...

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The next year (1994) at the same show, the DC & SSA, Megan showed our champion puppy, Ch. Kincardine Crescent Moon, and learned that showing a young and inexperienced dog can be a challenge indeed. Megan was learning.

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In 1995, Megan successfully showed Ch. Kincardine Cast of Thousands in Juniors. "Caitlin" thought "this kid" was kind of cool and Megan warmed to her sweet nature - the team clicked! Megan also showed Ch. Kincardine Keep Your Eye on Me, another puppy, and earned a 1st place in her class. Looking for another challenge, Megan began expanding her horizons later in 1995 and showed a Whippet. "Hawkeye", owned by our friend, Anya Rapaport, was too heavy for Megan to lift on the table for individual examination so we taught "Haweye" how to jump on the table! Her first time showing "Hawkeye", Megan won her class.

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In 1996, Megan continued to show Whippets and Shelties, and added a new breed - Bichons! Megan picked up another first place showing Shirley Baxter's beautiful Bichon, "Oliver", at London.

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But 1996 had yet to unfold the biggest thrill of all ... In October, Shelley McHugh generously allowed Megan to show her Sheltie Special, "Tommy". Megan won her class and went on to be awarded Best Overall Handler! Again the two clicked and became quite a duo. This successful trip in the ring was a warmup for their next appearance ... the Central Ontario Finals! Megan had easily qualified in Junior Novice for this elite competition, and we were thrilled when she won her class. She went back in for Best Overall - the winner of which would represent her division at the National level. Megan and "Tommy" worked as a true team, and together they moved in perfect co-ordination around the ring. One of Megan's dreams was realized that day as she won Best Overall Junior Handler at the Central Ontario Finals at only 11 years old! Thisprestigious win is certainly a sparkling highlight in Megan's Juniors career.

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In 1997 Megan continued showing our Shelties winning 1st place in her debut as a Senior with yet another unruly puppy, "Sasha"! Megan showed 'her stuff' in the United States that year with our multi BISS Am/Can. Ch. Kincardine Clearly a Song ROMC and won Best Overall Junior under Randy Sheets at the Detroit Specialty. This win was the first of many with "Chantal" and their very special ring relationship began at this show. Later this year, Megan showed a new breed, a Saluki named "P.T" and Megan had another 1st place under her belt.

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In 1998, Megan showed a handsome Pug - another breed to learn about - and again was Best Overall Handler! A month later Megan won her class at the Central Ontario Finals with the son of her first show dog - Rowan. This new boy, Am/Can. Ch. Romyldale Rory MacRorie, was also the son of Ch. Kincardine Cast of Thousands "Caitlin". Kathy Belville - Rory's breeder and owner - offered Megan a co-ownership on Rory so Megan could show Rory as a Junior in the United States too. A most generous offer that Megan gratefully accepted. Ironically however, Megan was most successful with Rory not in Juniors ring, but in the Breed ring. Their one big win in Juniors was capturing their very competitive class at the CSSA. Anywhere she showed this spirited Sheltie, the sparks flew as "Rory" and Megan seemed to feed off each others' energy - what a duo!

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In 1999 Megan and I travelled to the ASSA, and there Megan showed multi BISS Am/Can. Ch. Kincardine Clearly a Song ROMC in Juniors. "Chantal", always at her fiesty best in the early morning, was 'chomping at the bit' at 8:00 a.m. while Megan was warming up a bit more slowly! They easily won their class and went on to give a stellar performance for Best Overall. The Senior Open team won that day, but I'll never forget how "on" both Megan and "Chantal" were that very special day! Megan also showed "Chantal" in Juniors at the Kennel Club of Buffalo winning a huge class. Unfortunately, Megan could not get into Best Overall as I was showing "Chantal" in the Group ring. The rules in the United States are very strict for Juniors and Juniors can only show dogs they own or are owned by immediate family members - "Chantal" was the only dog we had with us that weekend, and "Chantal" was otherwise occupied making the cut in the Group ring! 1999 continued to be a huge year as Megan showed "Annie" - another Sheltie puppy! - to Best Overall Junior at Trillium.


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The year 2000 was a new beginning as Megan fell in love with yet another breed - poodles. Through the generosity of Joan and Judy Ticknor, Megan showed "Piper" in both Juniors and the Breed Ring. This beautiful mini black bitch was thrilling to show and the two won numerous classes and were Best Overall on at least two occasions. Megan was faced with a new challenge - she had to learn to groom this breed - and learn she did. Also in 2000, Megan showed another champion Sheltie puppy for us, Ch. Kincardine Coalminer's Daughter's "Vikki" and the two picked up another Best Overall handler. In July of 2000 Megan showed in Juniors at the Golden Retriever Specialty and won her class with a beautiful Golden bitch.

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In 2001, Megan had to make a choice: continue showing in Juniors, or devote her energy and time to working for Professional Handlers who could help extend her learning, and enhance her ability to groom and present. Megan made the decision to put Juniors on the back burner and worked for professional handler, Will Alexander.

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We will always be thankful to the wonderful people who supported Megan in her Juniors career: Kathy Belville, Anya Rapaport, Shelley McHugh, Shirley Baxter, and Joan and Judy Ticknor. Megan thanks too the following Professional Handlers who taught her so much: Will Alexander, Jennifer McAuley and Colin Brownlee. We thank as well her fellow Juniors for their sportsmanship and friendship. And an exciting and rewarding chapter in Megan's "doggy" life comes to a satisfying end.

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