CH Abbiestar Grand Marnier ET
It was only two months ago, when with much joy, we celebrated Abbi’s 15th birthday. Today, that joy has turned to sadness as we mourn her death.
“Abbi”
BISS/RuBISS Australian Champion Abbiestar Grand Marnier ET
9 October 1997 – 19 December 2012
Abbi was born October 9, 1997 and was originally sold to a home in Far North Queensland with great prospects for a show career.
Sadly, personal circumstances meant that Abbi could not stay and she was sent back to us at Abbiestar.
Sandra went to the airport to collect her and had already decided by the time she was home that Abbi was going to stay.
And stay she did, though many times I had thought we should have sold her on, especially after finding her scratching away on the bonnet of our new red car!
We decided to show Abbi, because that is what our dogs did and did best. In her very first show she took Minor Puppy in Group, and went on to win this award at her next two consecutive shows.
She was a constant class in group and class in show winner throughout the Minor Puppy, Puppy, Junior, Intermediate, Australian Bred, and Open classes, and won these awards at all breeds shows as well as breed specialties.
It seemed that she was forever in the shadow of her sister BISS/RuBISS Australian Champion Abbiestar Guggenheim ET, and of Australian Champion Abbiestar Athena ET who between them took the challenge points awarded to go towards the championship title. Abbi would often get the “reserve challenge” award which was great, but of course no points were awarded for this win. Abbi earned the nickname of “Pointless”.
We made the conscious decision to retire Athena, and to give Guggenheim a break from showing to get Abbi through with some points and her championship title.
She achieved her Championship title in the same year as earning her Endurance Test title.
Not only did she collect the points required, she continued with many class in group wins, several Best Exhibit in Group (Group 1) wins, and the icing on the cake,
TWO Best Exhibit in Specialty Show wins, and TWO Runner up Best in Specialty Show wins. One of the BISS wins was under Dr Richard Hilderman from the USA. Dr Hilderman is a Vizsla breed specialist judge, and former president of the Vizsla Club of America. The show was the HVCV breed specialty in 2003 and there was a record vizsla entry of 66. This was the second biggest Vizsla specialty held in Australia, and to date, Abbi still holds the honour of winning over the second largest Vizsla entry at a specialty show.
Abbi also excelled as a mother. An absolute natural and a contented adoring mother to all her puppies. Her puppies went to wonderful homes as family members and as competition dogs. She is the proud mother of champions in Australia, the USA, Canada and New Zealand.
When people visited our home or met us at dog shows with a view to obtaining a vizsla, more often than not the comment was made, “I want one just like Abbi”.
Abbi was the dearest, kindest soul who never complained about her aging years and declining health, and never once had a cross word with any other dogs.
Whilst holding her in our arms she left us very quickly and very peacefully.
Sleep peacefully Abbi-doo, you deserve the rest. The last of the “G” litter, and the last of our “children” before we had our own children.
Sadly missed and much loved by all of us at Abbiestar.
Michael, Sandra, Sophie and Stephanie Stuart
Contact Details
Michael & Sandra StuartMelbourne, VIC, Australia
Phone : 0407887553
Email : [email protected]