A Weekend We’ll Never Forget
Dream big. Work hard. Don’t give up. Have gratitude.
There are moments in this wonderful journey with Staffords that stay with us forever. The 2025 Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America National Specialty in Timonium, Maryland, will certainly be one of ours.
When judge Craig Scanlon (Pantycelyn, UK) awarded Felix Best of Breed at the National Specialty, I was genuinely overwhelmed. After more than two decades of loving, studying, breeding, and showing Staffords, experiencing that moment with a dog who means so much to us was something I will never forget.
And what a weekend it became!
NBISS MBISS GCHG CH Wavemaker Nonesuch TT DN CGCA CGCU TKN VHMA VSWB FITG CHIC, our Felix, went on to earn a Terrier Group Fourth under judge Darle Hecht, defeating 271 dogs along the way. The following day, he was awarded Select Dog at the Regional Specialty under Karen Waltham (Dringshaw, UK).
The weekend brought other special recognition as well. Felix was honored as the SBTCA’s Top Stafford for 2024, his second consecutive year receiving that distinction, and received the Judi Daniels Trophy. He was also selected for the Top 20 People’s Choice award for the second time. That recognition from fellow Stafford enthusiasts holds a particularly special place in our hearts.
As of April 25, 2025, Felix was ranked #1 Stafford in AKC breed points and #2 in all-breed points. It was an incredible collection of honors for a dog we are fortunate to share our lives with.
A Promising Weekend for Colton, Too
We also had the pleasure of watching Felix’s young son, Variant’s Cannonball Run (Felix × Abby), known as Colton, begin making his own memories.
Owned by Tom Jacob and me, Colton earned Winners Dog and Best of Winners from the Bred-by-Exhibitor class under Glyniss Yuill (Langrove, UK) at the Friday morning PSBTC Specialty. He also placed third in Bred-by-Exhibitor at the Friday evening specialty under Ken Meneer, second in his class at the National under Craig Scanlon, and first in Bred-by-Exhibitor with Reserve Winners Dog under Karen Waltham on Sunday.
It was exciting to see this youngster enjoying his time in the ring, and we’re looking forward to watching him mature.
The Memories Beyond the Ribbons
With approximately 100 to 127 Staffords entered across the weekend’s shows, the Cherry Blossom Cluster offered a wonderful opportunity to see dogs, visit with friends, and celebrate the breed together.
We’ve supported the Potomac Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club since its early years and have been involved with the SBTCA for more than two decades. These events have given us friendships, memories, opportunities to learn, and experiences that extend well beyond the show ring.
Having so many friends there to share this particular weekend made it even more memorable. We also thought of those who couldn’t attend, knowing how many people have been part of our journey over the years.
I’m grateful to the judges for their consideration, to the clubs and volunteers whose work makes these events possible, and to the friends and fellow breeders who celebrated with us. The messages, photographs, hugs, and kind words meant more than I can adequately express.
I have always believed that the ribbons are only one part of what makes our involvement in Staffords rewarding. The dogs themselves, the friendships, the history, and the opportunity to contribute to a breed we love are what keep us coming back.
But every now and then, a weekend comes along when the ribbons are pretty wonderful, too.
This year, Felix got a very big slice of cake. And we couldn’t be happier.
Thank you to everyone who helped make these memories so special.
Always toward the light.
Photography by Cryrolfe Photography, along with candid photographs generously shared by friends. Additional photographs by Jackie Smart will be added when available. Looking forward to a promising future with this flashy youngster!
