WIMARU REG'D STAFFORDS
"everything a Stafford should be"
BIS MBPIS Can. Ch. Sensational Fly 'N' High
'Winston'
BIS MBPIS Can. Ch. Sensational Fly 'N' High (Winston) was introduced into the world on 11 March 2002.
Winston was our first Stafford and at the time was what we thought would be our only Stafford. He was a companion and household addition that captured our hearts from the first time we saw him.
He was from a litter of eight puppies, four boys and four girls, and although our interest initially was for a brindle female, of which there were three in the litter, this little guy stood out from the crowd. He had a confidence and awareness that was impossible to miss and was soon to be realized.
From the moment Winston came home he showed that he had promise. He settled in immediately and took to house training as if he knew what was expected. He was fully house trained in five days.
By the time he was six months old he was obedience trained to hand signal only, although that fell by the wayside somewhat once he started in conformation.
In March 2003 he attended his last show as a puppy in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. It was to be the most memorable event for us as owners, his handler and the breed.
On Saturday 8 March Winston was awarded Best In Show and his second Best Puppy In Show, just three days before his 1st birthday under All Breed Judge Sharon Francis.
This award placed Winston in the history books for the breed in Canada. He became the FIRST male Stafford to be awarded Best In Show at an All Breed Show.
Winston continued in the ring during 2003 although with limited showing.
His finale for the year came in October of 2003 at Camrose, the same venue where he first entered a show ring. It was the first time that a booster was held in Alberta for the breed. Winston was awarded Best Of Breed and his half sister, Maggie, was awarded Best Of Opposite Sex under All Breed Judge Diane Ivey.
Winston was first shown at Camrose in October 2002 and was quite traumatized, not from his debut appearance, but the Eukanuba inflatable tooth that fell on him before he was scheduled to go in the ring. Katherine Kew, his handler, had to sit and cuddle him for 30 minutes. If truth be known it was the realization that if he looked frightened the treats kept coming.
He took to the show ring in the same fashion as he took to everything else that was asked of him.
On his second show in November 2002 in Red Deer Winston was awarded Best Puppy In Show under All Breed Judge Honey Glendinning.
Winston was awarded his Canadian Championship in Calgary at eight months of age under All Breed Judge Cheryl Myers-Egerton.
We thought that attaining his Championship would be the end to his appearances in the ring but his handler had other ideas.
Over the years he has adapted to the changes in his environment and has willingly taken over the role of father and grandfather to any and all that have come after him.
In May 2011 at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan he came out of retirement to make his first appearance as a veteran after a break of almost five years.
He was entered in the Saskatchewan Terrier Association Specialty and was awarded Best Of Breed and Group 4 and took his final bow with Best Veteran In Specialty once again under All Breed Judge Diane Ivey.
Although this was Winston's only appearance of 2011 he still carries himself with the same confidence as he did the first time we saw him.
Don't be surprised to see Winston appearing as a veteran in 2012, along with his handler, Katherine Kew.
