Thus sang breeder/exhibitor Cynthia McCracken to kick off the Best of Breed class at the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of American National Specialty, held at the Sheraton Crescent Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, May 3-6, 2006. Ms. McCracken's husband, Michael, cleverly adapted the Irving Berlin lyrics from "Annie Get Your Gun" (how appropriate for a Gun Dog National) for dog show people, and Ms. McCracken sang them in a strong, beautiful and true voice, to the delight of the gallery.

So, next day on whose dressing room did they hang a star? Judge James Reynolds selected the bitch Ch. Robin Crest Silver Seraph JH, bred by Robin and Rita Remondi, and breeder-owner handled by Robin, as Best of Breed. This was the third National Specialty Best of Breed win for Robin Crest kennels. Sera also won the Top 25 competition at this National.

Best of Opposite went to Ch Fieldfines Back In Action, bred by Dorothea Simberlund and D. and C. Orland, and owned by MarthaFeltenstein and Dot Simberlund. VJK-Myst Ain't She Sweet, bred by Yvonne HasslerDeterding and Valerie NunesAtkinson, and owned by Orlando Cano, had a super National. First, she went Winners Bitch to finish her U.S. Championship (she's already a Mexican champion) and then on to Best of Winners AND an Award of Merit. Her littermate, Ch. VJK-Myst Ticket To Ride V CS, owned by Geri Griffin, Jean Walton and Kathleen Rath, garnered first Award of Merit. Though colored very differently, the two sister bitches show similarly.

Other Awards of Merit went to Ch. Ehrenvogel Daredevil JH RAE VCD1 CD TD OA OAJ, who obviously excels in performance events as well as the show ring. This dog was bred by Renee Lara, DVM, and is owned by Nancy Ward and Renee. Also winning AOMs were Ch. Shomberg's Some Like It Hot, bred by Sharon and Steven Dattilo and Patricia Williams and owned by the Dattilos, J. Logan, M. Fitzgerald and P Crowley; Ch. Brush Country That's My Point, bred by Alicia Richter and Mary Finley and owned by the breeders and Susan Catlin; Ch. Wyndbourne Indulgence JH (from the Hunting Bitch class), bred and owned by Susan Harrison; and Ch. Bulkley Nec Temere Nec Timide, bred and owned by Gregory Hostetter. Best entry in the Bred-By Exhibitor classes went to a male, VJK-Myst's Hot Ticket, bred by Yvonne Hassler-Deterding and Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, andowned by Diane Stendahl and the breeders.

The big National week opened on Wednesday, May 3, with Puppy and Veteran Sweepstakes judged by Brenda Abraham. From the 15-18 month dog class, Ms. Abraham selected Brush Country Here's My Point, bred by Susan Catlin, Alicia Richter and Mary Finley, and owned by Susan and David Catlin and Alicia Richter, as her Best in Puppy Sweepstakes. Best Opposite went to the 6-9 month puppy bitch Stoney Song of The South, bred by Lesli and Danny Smith, and owned by Kevin and Julie Virosteck and Lesli Smith. Best Dog in Veteran Sweepstakes went to the very spry Ch. Robin Crest Austin Montego, bred by Betty Jane Reece and Rodney Remin and owned by Robin Remondi. Best Bitch in Veteran Sweepstakes went to the 11-year-old but very young at heart Ch. Imagination Runs Wild JH, bred by Mary Tierney and owned by Alice Manning, Valerie NunesAtkinson, and Jo-Anne D. Jace. These two also placed first in the Veteran Dog and Veteran Bitch classes, respectively.

Wednesday was also obedience and rally day. After judge Harry Burke put the dogs through their patterns, Bittersweet Mint Dunstaburgh UDX2 RA AX AXJ NJP, and her dedicated handler, Eleanor Campbell, earned High in Trial, with a score of 195 from Utility B. This bitch also earned the prize for High Combined in Open B and Utility, with a combined score of 388.5. A total of nine dogs earned qualifying scores in various obedience classes, and eleven dogs earned qualifying scores in the Rally classes.

On Thursday, the puppies got another workout as judge Margaret Serak Wilson took command of the ring to judge the Futurity. Her Best in Futurity, from the Junior Dog class, was VJKMyst Hot Commodity, bred by Yvonne HasslerDeterding and Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, and owned by Orlando Cano, the same team who brought you Winners Bitch. Best Opposite in Futurity, from Intermediate Bitches, was Panamint's Bound For Glory, bred by Jane Rae and owned by Fiona Hilyer.

Miss Virginia Lyne judged the Dog classes on Friday morning. After Miss Lyne sorted through her very strong entry, Brush Country's Here's My Point, who was also Best in Sweepstakes, emerged as Winners Dog from the 12-18 month class. Her Reserve Winners Dog, also from 12-18, was Summertime's Smooth Sailing JH, bred by Ann Carter and owned by Amy Johnson and Ann.

Mr. Reynolds judged the Bitch classes on Friday afternoon. He chose the winner of the Open Bitch class, the aforementioned VJK-Myst Ain't She Sweet, to take home those big, fat, juicy five points, and second in Open, VJK's Point Made for Khrispats, bred by Pat Smith and Khris SmithBonner, and owned by Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, took home the Reserve ribbon.

Ms. Brandi Smith had some fine Juniors to judge bright and early on a fine Saturday morning. From the talented entries, she chose from Open Senior Jalise Zumstein, handling Ch. Foxgloves Accidents Happen, as her Best Junior Handler.

To round out a very special Best of Breed day, Miss Lyne chose Ch. Robin Crest Silver Spirit JH, owned by Robin Remondi and littermate to the Best of Breed winner and sire of Winners Dog/Best In Puppy Sweepstakes, as the winner of the Stud Dog class. Mr. Reynolds chose Ch. Cheza's Stelor In Disguise, bred by Jane Rae and owned by Gregory Hostetter, as his Brood Bitch class winner. "We went out of our way this year to invite some veteran GSP breeders who were active in the breed a few decades ago," said Show Chairman Ken Clemons. "We provided a special seating section for them ringside. Their presence really added to the enjoyment of the National for many because they were so willing to answer questions and give an unbiased view of the current state of the breed and the parent club and to put the present into an historical context. Their insights were particularly interesting to newcomers to the breed."

This National was dedicated to an extraordinary GSP person, Dave Gilliam, a past president of the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Washington and past director of the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America. Mr. Gilliam was a proponent of the dual GSP and a Shorthair Man Extraordinaire for over 40 years.

Cynthia McCracken, who had called the Best of Breed dogs and bitches to the ring with her rousing rendition of "Let's Go On With The Show" also delighted the gallery by singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" to open the show each morning, and to honor the two Canadian judges, she also sang "Oh, Canada" on Friday and Saturday. Ms. Lyne remarked that she had never heard the Canadian anthem sung better.
As if that wasn't enough of a vocal workout, Ms. McCracken also sang "Happy Birthday" to Mr. Reynolds, whose birthday was May 6, the same day as the Best of Breed judging. Before judging, Mr. Reynolds quipped it was hard to believe he has been judging for 30 years when he had just turned 39 that day.

The hardworking and very efficient show committee, headed by Show Chair and Judges' Hospitality Chair Ken Clemons, was composed of Susan Clemons, Assistant Show Chair, Ribbon Chair, and Advertising Chair; Cathy Reifschneider, Obedience and Rally Chair; Dan Schoenfelder, Grounds; Lou Torres, RV Parking, Karen Niffenegger, Banquet; Alice Richter, Trophies; Pat Stouter, Concessions/Vendors; Doris Schoenfelder, Raffle; Patte Titus, Catalog Sales; Renee Lara DVM, Merchandise Sales; Patty Crowley, Parade of Titleholders; Leita Estes, Educational Seminar; Betsy Yates, Judges' Education, Top 25, Brenda Abraham; and Mary Carson, Transportation. As if carrying out all the arrangements for the regular and non-regular classes wasn't enough work, the show committee organized several special events for attendee, including Junior and Adult Handling Seminars conducted by Valerie Nunes-Atkinson and Carol Cronk. These helped everyone warm up their dogs and tune up their skills for the National ring: "We really tried to emphasize the opportunity for social interaction and camaraderie because one of the purposes of a National is to forge bonds among breed fanciers to give added strength and unity to our parent club," commented Clemons. "A National is not just about showing dogs and observing dogs. It's also about creating a shared experience among those who love the breed. "

A very special event was the Top 25 competition held on Friday evening. The Top 25 GSPs in breed standings from the previous year are invited to enter. They are examined independently by three different judges-a professional handler, an AKC judge, and a GSP breeder-and rated on General Appearance, Structure and Movement, with scores added up for a total of 100 possible points from each judge. This year's judges were Margaret Serak Wilson (professional handler), Susan Harrison (breeder) and Gloria Kerr (judge). The results of the ratings are kept secret, though the top three vote getters are informed before the Banquet, and the winner is announced at the Banquet. This year's Best of Breed also won the Top 25, and the First Award of Merit and Best Opposite winners rounded out the Top Three.