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Vale

Rainbow Bridge

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends there, so that they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All of the animals who have been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing, they miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His eyes are intent, his eager body quivers. Suddenly, he begins to run from the group. Flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.

AUST CH & NZ CH EDENMIST TRI IN MY IMAGE

(Shadow)

4 December 1988 - 28 May 2001

Sire: NZ Ch Lubrabend Show Image (imp Aust) Dam: Mallorene Me N My Shadow (imp Aust)

What does one say at the passing of a dog such as Shadow? One of a litter of five whelped by Lynne and John Cummings in December 1988, he immediately took their eye and hearts and never left either. Shadow quickly developed into a showman ‘par excellence’, this being indicated early on with a Melbourne Royal Reserve CC at only nine months of age. After achieving his Australian title and accumulating nearly 500 points in total, his New Zealand title was confirmed in June 1992. An excellent win on the way to this was his Best in Show under Olwen Gwynne-Jones (UK) at the Central Shetland Sheepdog Club championships show in 1990. In an edition of the English paper “Dog World” following this show, Miss Gwynne-Jones described Shadow as a “super dog, big enough but I could forgive him that as he was so outstanding in other ways – he held himself like a king, contributed to by a beautifully arched neck; he was, in fact, a really sound well made dog with really flowing movement, beautifully moulded head, charming ears and expression and excellent coat. He stood out, and carried all before him”. And again, ten years later at the 2000 CSSC Ch show and nearly twelve years of age, he took out Best in Show again, this time under Carol Mulcahy (NSW) who also gave a stunning critique.

Full of attitude, along with very good confirmation, his qualities were recognised by breeders on both sides of the Tasman as he travelled back and forth between Australia and New Zealand with the Cummings family. As a consequence, he has sired more champions than any other New Zealand stud at this time – fifteen to date, with eight Australian champions, six New Zealand champions and one dual champion to his name. These champions carry seven kennel names and at least two of his progeny, like their sire, have been specialist Best in Show winners, while others have achieved Royal challenges and numerous In Show awards. In the next generation there are two Grand Champions, Aust Grand Ch Deerod Give Me the Night and Aust Grand Ch Daydream Darien through bitch lines.

Along with his many journeys to and from Australia, Shadow had a short sojourn of three weeks in the South Island, where he very quickly dominated, I have to say, the daily round at Dinda to the point where Ruskin (Ch Dinda Steal N the Fashion) was quite happy not to come through the kitchen door. More importantly, he gained two further CC’s, one being at the 1992 Southern Classic where he won Best of Breed under David Powers, USA. My one very personal regret was to have lost a litter by him in 1993 from my foundation bitch Ch Prosper Hi Phashion. Such, unfortunately, are the vagaries and lost chances in dog breeding.

In overview, it has to be acknowledged that while Shadow may not have been a show ring Grand Champion himself, being only ever lightly campaigned, he has certainly contributed to the breed in the most influential way possible. It is said that the worth of a dog is reckoned by the stock he leaves; and Shadow will rank as one of the all time bests in this regard. His name is behind both dogs and bitches in numerous kennels in Australia and New Zealand, and it will possibly be there for some years to come given that a young dog in the Hortonpark Kennel is nearly at his title, and there is very young stock by him in Invercargill at the Airam kennel of Maria Devery, with Lynne too running on a bitch of twelve weeks.

Thus the legacy is well set to continue, and it will be with interest that the continuance of Shadow’s influence is mapped through the future generations and, with the advantage of modern technology, even have his line directly added to.