The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Cindy · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:33 pm

I'm sorry that I don't get to post here very often these days but I just HAD to share this with you:

I just got a very excited phone call from my good friend Pam (our dog Oliver's breeder) from the Westminister Dog Show -- Their solid black cocker spaniel "Ace" just won best of Variety!!!! This is a very big deal. I am so thrilled for them. They will be on the USA station at 8:00 tonight. Marlene, Ace's handler, should be easy to spot, she's wearing a bright pink suit.

Please keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer that he now takes best of breed... and then best of sporting breed ... and goes all the way to best in show! This is one exceptional dog, from the best kind of breeders (and real good people).

27 Ch Mario N Beechwood's Midnight Express (Call Name "ACE")
Breed: Spaniel (Cocker) Black
Sex: Dog
AKC: SR 60275001
Date of Birth: November 30, 2009
Breeder: Mark J & Pam Ragusa
Sire: Ch Beechwood's Expressing It Best
Dam: North Creek's Numbers Game
Owner: Frank & Cathy Charest & Mark & Pam Ragusa

PeggyM · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:35 pm

Congrats! I saw it on the Westminster site, live - VERY exciting to watch the judge try to decide between Ace and Beckham.

Terry T. · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:17 pm

Wow, he beat Beckham?!!! Awesome! Can't wait to watch tonight. Go Ace!! :joy

LucyD · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:20 pm

Wonderful news! Looking forward to catching the highlights later.

StellaR · **Joined:** Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:19 pm **Posts:** 585

WOW!!! Congrats!!! Was Ace at last year's show?

As much as I like Beckham, I was rooting for a different black last year at ring side. :gig

StellaR · **Joined:** Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:19 pm **Posts:** 585

Ace at a previous show!!!! :joy

Wow, what a beauty!

ginnym · **Joined:** Fri Oct 21, 2011 7:32 pm **Posts:** 327

What a gorgeous cocker! I do have a slight preference for black cockers! :Clap

Cindy · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:04 pm

StellaR wrote:

:Clap WOW!!! Congrats!!! Was Ace at last year's show?

As much as I like Beckham, I was rooting for a different black last year at ring side. :gig

No, this is a first big show for Ace, but I think we'll be seeing lots more good things for this boy. We knew he was very special, but for him to beat out such a wonderful, Grand Champion dog as Beckham, and a top notch handler, is more than a dream come true for Mario's Cockers and their extended family and friends. I have been shaking with happiness and excitement for Pam and Mark since I got the call earlier today. Pam and Mark are wonderful people/breeders. They only have a few dogs, don't breed often, and only breed for the betterment of the breed. This is an amazing, well deserved win. I can't wait to watch tonight!!! Congratulations, Mario's Cockers!! We are so proud of you and happy for you!

Cindy · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:05 pm

StellaR wrote:

Ace captured by Peggy at a previous show!!!! :joy

Wow, what a beauty!

Thank you for sharing such a wonderful photo of ACE. He is as sweet as he is beautiful!!!!

DotInFlorida · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:35 pm

WOW! I'm so excited for them Cindy! I will be sure to keep my fingers crossed tonight.
What a thrill.

Terri W. · **Joined:** Mon May 30, 2011 6:48 pm **Posts:** 78

WOW, Hold on my heart, what a beauty. Wishing all the best to Mark, Pam and Marlene. Keegan and I will be glued to the TV and keeping our paws and fingers crossed :love

AnnKelly · **Joined:** Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:24 am **Posts:** 33

Wow, how exciting. I can't wait to watch the Show tonight.

may holly · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:27 pm

I will be watching and rooting for Ace. Good to hear from you Cindy. How are Oliver and Annie and not so baby Emily? How is your eyesight? Hope you are doing great, missing you and your Oliver pictures. Ready for the Koi pond feeding schedule?

Cindy · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:46 pm

Oh well, our boy didn't win the sporting class, but he can hold his head high -- wonderful showing!!

Ace is just two years old. We are going to see much more of him!!!

Congratulations Mario's Cockers! You should be very proud of yourselves tonight.

Tom in Michigan! · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:52 pm

He did a wonderful job! What a gorgeous boy he is! All three cockers were beautiful!

polly · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:53 pm

Ace is very beautiful!!! No wonder you are proud Cindy! Also huge congrats to Sully!

Cindy · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:58 pm

may holly wrote:

I will be watching and rooting for Ace. Good to hear from you Cindy. How are Oliver and Annie and not so baby Emily? How is your eyesight? Hope you are doing great, missing you and your Oliver pictures. Ready for the Koi pond feeding schedule?

Hi May, Oliver and Annie are sleeping the winter away waiting for spring. They run out quickly to potty and come right in. Both are getting "winter chunky." Annie is still having a tough time with her allergies. Thank goodness she likes her vet -- they see each other often. They are both great with Emily.

I am still battling eye issues. I finally got my first pair of new glasses last week (since my last surgery at the end of Oct.), so I'm in the breaking in period. It has been a LONG process, but when it comes to vision, you do what you need to do.

Emily is amazing; she's really my little buddy. It's hard to believe that she is going to be a year old at the end of next month. I still spend most every weekend with her.

Here is a photo Chip took when he came to pick me up last Saturday night, after a LONG day together while her Mommy was at work. We both look pretty tired, but Chip had to get a photo of us in our shirts!

Cindy · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:00 pm

Tom in Michigan! wrote:

He did a wonderful job! What a gorgeous boy he is! All three cockers were beautiful!

Yes, they certainly are amazing cockers. A tribute to good, hard working breeders. They should all be proud of what they have done to better our breed.

Cindy · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:01 pm

polly wrote:

Ace is very beautiful!!! No wonder you are proud Cindy! Also huge congrats to Sully!

Hi Polly!!!!!! Yes, Sully deserves huge congratulations also -- Beautiful showing on the table and in the ring.

dawn & kevin · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:38 pm

Hi Cindy,

I just started watching the dog show, at 6:30 pm PST, thanks to you and your post. Kevin had told me that the Westminster show was on the animal planet channel and I could not find it.

Hopefully, I did not already read the results. So, I will just watch and root for Ace....

So glad to see that you, Chip, Karyn, Brent, Emily Grace, Oliver and sweet Annie are doing well. Take care.

Dawn

Ace is a beautiful Cocker Spaniel. I am wondering who grooms him? I don't think that I have seen a better work of art.

Just realized that I must have missed the Cocker's. They just stated that the Terrier group is next and they are the last group before Best of Show... UGH!

StellaR · **Joined:** Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:19 pm **Posts:** 585

I finally get to watch the breed competition on video!!!

Both Beckham and Ace were wonderful today and they are both totally gorgeous. I personally think Ace showed better today. :joy

Hey, sorry, I have to root for Oliver's "relative" by breeder.

JuanitaD · **Joined:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 4:23 am **Posts:** 1511

Ace accomplished something considered an upset yesterday by beating Beckham in the ring. Many people were surprised at this. I watched the video of the black variety and must say that it was Ace that put his show-step on when it was his turn.

Sully also was remarkable. He showed his stuff in the Sporting Group, but none of the Cockers were even pulled for a second look by the judge. The Irish Setter was nice, but I'd pick a Cocker Spaniel any day.

Huge congratulations go out to your friends, Cindy, as I have never heard even a hint of anything negative about them from the shows I have attended.

Cindy · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:50 pm

StellaR wrote:

I finally get to watch the breed competition on video!!!

Both Beckham and Ace were wonderful today and they are both totally gorgeous. I personally think Ace showed better today. :joy

Hey, sorry, I have to root for Oliver's "relative" by breeder.

Wasn't that video exciting? Marlene looked like she was in total shock. Oliver wants to thank you for supporting "his family."

Cindy · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:57 pm

JuanitaD wrote:

Ace accomplished something considered an upset yesterday by beating Beckham in the ring. Many people were surprised at this. I watched the video of the black variety and must say that it was Ace that put his show-step on when it was his turn.

Sully also was remarkable. He showed his stuff in the Sporting Group, but none of the Cockers were even pulled for a second look by the judge. The Irish Setter was nice, but I'd pick a Cocker Spaniel any day.

Huge congratulations go out to your friends, Cindy, as I have never heard even a hint of anything negative about them from the shows I have attended.

Thanks, Juanita! I think Ace turned a lot of heads. He loves to show and was on his game. Thank you also for the kind words about Pam and Mark. I have so much respect for them. They are down to earth, good, hard working, people, who believe in what they are doing to help better the breed they, and we, love. These are people you can't help but be happy for when good things come their way.

As for a cocker not winning BIS, they do win in a way, as it won't tempt mills and BYB to quickly "make more" to fill the public demand.

Cindy · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:03 pm

dawn & kevin wrote:

[b]
Ace is a beautiful Cocker Spaniel. I am wondering who grooms him? I don't think that I have seen a better work of art. :wow

b]

Mark and Marlene groom the dogs they are showing, Pam does the rest. I have been lucky enough to watch them close up doing the last minute grooming during a show, and Pam at home grooming. They all make it look so easy and effortless. I remember one show, they had one dog in the ring, one on the table ready to go in the ring next, when they asked me to get one of their little girls out of her crate so she could be groomed next. I opened the crate door and nothing but fluff forced it's way out, LOL. Their little girl entertained herself in the crate by unstuffing one of her cuddle toys. The mess was quickly cleaned up, and brushed out of her coat. It was a sight I wasn't expecting, and I'll never forget, LOL!

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