Vizsladogs, Ltd.
CH OB CH & WT CH Berki Szelid Strauz CDX UDX WDX TDX
(Imp Aust) Hungarian Vizsla
This article was submitted and written by Jenny Peacocke - Based on article by Jan Edwards.
In 1987 O'Jay, at 9 years of age (owned and handled by Jan Edwards), became the 2nd triple champion in New Zealand. (Coincidentally he also became the second Vizsla triple Champion Worldwide the first being Triple Champion Cariad's Kutya Kai Costa VD CDX UD owned by Robert & Marianne Costa from New York).
Obtaining the triple championship wasn't easy by any stretch of the imagination but then it shouldn't be.
SHOW
O'Jay became a show champion in his first year and went on to gain approximately 37 challenges. He was also a group winner and did well in the ring including winning a best veteran against 42 other breeds under Mr M Farakashazi (Hungary). O'Jay sired three litters and produced several other champions. His progeny have also done well in hunting.
OBEDIENCE
When he was a year old, Jan and O'Jay started obedience with Wainuiomata All Breed Canine Obedience Club. O'Jay started to compete in championship obedience shows when he was 2 years old and certainly in the earlier stages thrived on the work obtaining the nickname burglar'.
In obtaining his obedience championship title, O'Jay won special beginners, novice, 4 test A's, 4 test B's, and all his test C challenges were won during 1984 the first being at Napier (this was the first challenge to be issued by that club in 8 years of Championship obedience shows). His final challenge was made even more memorable bu achieving it at the club where he started - Wainuiomata All Breed Canine Obedience Club.
WORKING TRIALS
O'Jay qualified CDX on his first attempt on 14th September 1980. His (and Jans) first introduction to tracking was at the OTA Easter seminar in Kawerau. O'Jay was approximately 4 years old.
O'Jays first qualification was a UD at Palmerston North NDOA in 1983 under Dawn O'Dwyer who was also the judge who awarded his last TDX to make him a working trials champion on Saturday 4th April 1987. He then really capped it off by going out the next day and gaining another TDX under Marie Stewart. O'Jay was a top qualifier in UD WD and TD trials.
Jan comments that seeing this in typed form it all looks very neat, tidy and straightforward, but she is right to comment that anyone having competed in any form of show, obedience, or tracking will know many a lesson is learnt and as O'Jay was the first dog she had worked, they were really guinea pigs for each other!
O'Jay passed on in 1993 having done more than enough to promote the Vizsla breed - and letting the next generation carry on.