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MEDIA CONTACT: JESSICA D’AMATO Senior Public Relations Manager American Kennel Club Phone: 212-696-8346 E-mail: Jessica.Damato@akc.org
AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB 2020 BREEDER OF THE YEAR GROUP HONOREES ANNOUNCED
NEW YORK, NY —The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding Groups as 2020 AKC Breeder of the Year Group honorees. “We are proud to honor these esteemed breeders,” said Den- nis Sprung, AKC President and CEO. “Each of them has made important contributions to the sport and their unique breeds in particular. They are committed to bettering our breeds, and dogs bearing the honorees’ kennel names are a testament to their excel- lent and responsible breeding programs.” The 2020 AKC Breeder of the Year award winner will be announced during the show at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin on Saturday evening, December 12, 2020, which can be watched on AKC.tv. A canine portraitist will be commissioned to commemorate a prominent dog from the Breeder of the Year’s kennel, and their name will be added to the perpetual trophy. All Group recipients will receive a medallion in recognition of their achievements. THE GROUP HONOREES ARE: SPORTING GROUP: KRISTI WOODS LIBERTORE, LARRY & CHRIS DELANEY, WHISKEYTOWN WIRE- HAIRED POINTING GRIFFONS Whiskeytown Sporting Dogs was founded by Kristi Woods Libertore when searching for a versatile gun dog that worked both in the field & water and was an excellent family companion. As breeders, Whiskeytown has always strived to produce dogs that would excel in the ring and the field, equally. This work began with carefully chosen dogs that earned the highest level of achieve- ment in both venues. Whiskeytown’s foundation male was the first Griffon ever to earn GCH and Master Hunter titles. Through the years, Whiskeytown produced many Griffons that were awarded AWPGA (American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association) awards. Whiskeytown earned eight Show Dog of the Year Awards Winners and two Field Dog of the Year Awards Winners. Whiskeytown also produced multiple Show Dog & Field Dog Hall of Fame inductees. In 2014, the AWPGA
established the “Brandy Award” in honor of “Brandy,” GCHG Whiskeytown Brandewyn SH, which recognizes the top ranked Griffon in breed points, that must also be a Senior or Master Hunter. Whiskeytown has earned 12 Breeder Awards in NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association) for Natu- ral Ability Award Winning Litters. In 2017, “Brie,” BIS MBISS GCHG Whiskeytown Dalwhinnie Brie SH CGC UT NA earned a Sporting Group Two at Westminster making her the highest placing Sporting Dog with advanced field titles. Starting in 2013, Whiskeytown has had the #1 Wirehaired Pointing Griffon every year. The kennel has won the breed at Westminster Kennel Club eight of the past nine years and won the AKC National Championship multiple times. Whiskeytown pro- duced the top winning bitch of all time, “Morgan,” MBIS MBISS GCHG Whiskeytown Captain Morgan Cranberry Kiss JH. Whiskeytown has won multiple National and Regional Special- ties and produced multiple Best in Show Winners over the years. In 2015, Kristi was joined by Larry & Chris Delaney to take over the continued care and breeding program. “Kitt,” BIS RBIS BISS Whiskeytown Genesee On Tap MH UT, is the only Griffon to receive the AWPGA Field Dog of the Year and the AWPGA Field Dog of the Year Award. She also won Sporting Group Two at the AKC National Championship and a Group Four at Westmin- ster. Larry is an active hunter and show ring participant who has kept up the breeding program standards. As Larry would say, “We do it for the improvement and preservation of the breed.”
HOUND GROUP: JOHN WOODRING & WADE BURNS, LANBUR BEAGLES
Lanbur Beagles was a partnership between the recently depart- ed Wade Burns and the current owner, Jon Woodring. Jon had his first show-bred litter of Beagles in 1972 when he was in 10th grade. Wade Burns and Jon started in Beagles in the early 80’s as well as Miniature Horses with excellent success. Their first top winning Beagle, Ch. Teloca Patches Littl’ Dickens, won 12+ BISs, BOB at the National, and is the sire of the most Champions in any
46 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 2020
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