BISS AM/INT CH
ARTIKA'S VANISHING POINT
January 26, 1993 - December 12, 2002
Greatness; The American Heritage Dictionary Of The English Language describes greatness as: "Significant; important; meaningful. Superior quality or character; noble; excellent." If I were asked to describe "greatness", I would describe Vanna. If ever there was a canine example of greatness, Vanna was it. Vanna came to us as part of a puppy trade deal with Maryann Palmer, but her story started well before that day when the then inexperienced Mrs. Palmer asked our advice concerning the choosing of a stud for her Tradewind daughter, Siska. My wife, Lynne, after considering Siska's Strengths and weaknesses as well as her pedigree, suggested Ch Kristari's Joe Montana, who she felt complimented Siska very well in every way. Thankfully, Mrs. Palmer followed Lynne's advice and thus, events were set in motion that would lead to one of the top producing bitches of all time.
Once Siska's puppies were 8 weeks old and after Mrs. Palmer (with help from her mentor Terri
Lictenberger
) had rated the litter and selected what she would keep as pick of the litter, we were invited over to see if there was a bitch puppy that we would like to take home. There were two light red and whites and a light gray and white with a large white shawl over her left shoulder. We looked at the two reds first and found them to be decent puppies, but nothing outstanding. We then turned our attention to the gray puppy who was quite beautiful and had excellent angles and proportions, but we could not get her to trot, so we could not evaluate her movement. As I attempted to get this puppy to trot instead of gallop and jump, Mrs. Palmer told us that she intended to sell the gray puppy as a pet if we weren't interested in her. Just as I was about ready to give up, she suddenly decided to trot and it was as good as I had ever seen an eight week old puppy move. that made up our minds real fast and thus Vanna was ours!
In March of 1997, she was placed in the capable hands of Marie Falconer who exhibited her until November of that same year. In spite of never being advertised, which is so critical to a top winning special going against top competition, and the short duration of her campaign, she still finished her career with 56 BOB's, 31 group placements, multiple group wins, a Best in Specialty Show, and to top it all off, she was Best of Opposite Sex at the 1997 SHCA National Specialty! She finished 1997 as the #5 Siberian and #1 Siberian Bitch all systems. She also won the prestigious Top Winning Bitch award for that year. All of these accomplishments were achieved while competing against the top dogs in the country. In 2002 Vanna went to the SHCA National Specialty where she won Best Veteran and Award of Merit.
As impressive as her short show career was, what truly makes her stand out as "great" are her accomplishments in the whelping box. Vanna was bred a total of four times to four different studs. Out of these four litters she produced 15 AKC champions which is second place in breed history! If we could have found show homes for all of the excellent quality puppies she produced, she could have doubled that total!
Vanna didn't just produce champions, she produced greatness. She produced the record breaking CH Seeonee's Point blank who is one of the top winning dogs in breed history as well as a great producer himself. She also produced two multi BIS Philippine champions and a BIS winner in
Hong Kong.
PEDIGREE AWARD WINNER
Top Producer 2003
CH Kristari's Wheel Of Fortune
CH Seeonees Onceupona Castlerck
CH Seeonee's Aim High Of Takhari
CH Seeonees Natchez Trace
Top Producer 2001
CH Seeonees Dot Matrix
CH Seeonees Hephaestus
CH Seeonees In The Buff
CH Seeonees Sweet Revenge
Vanna had four litters that produced
a total of 15 Champions.
Producer of Multi BIS, BISS, Group Placing Winners as well as
Multi BIS International Winners
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
56 Best Of Breeds
31 Group Placements
Best in Specialty Show
1997 SHCA National Specialty -
Best Of Opposite Sex
1997 #5 Siberian Breed Standings
#1 Siberian Bitch in 1997-
All Breed Standings
2002 SHCA National Specialty -
Best Veteran, Best Brood Bitch and
Award Of Merit
It soon became obvious that Vanna was not just another nice puppy. There was something magic about her that just drew your eye to her. Whether you knew the breed or not. Whether there were a thousand other dogs, or she was by herself, your eye would fall on Vanna. When she would move, you would never be disappointed, she was nearly flawless!
She proved herself to be a winner as soon as she stepped into a show ring. At 12 weeks she went to her first specialty fun match and went best in match. At 10 months she went to her first all breed fun match and she went best in match. At 13 months she went to her first specialty show and went WB / BOW out of the 12 - 18 month class! That same year, after blowing and growing a new coat, She finished her championship in five strait shows! Her specials career started in June of 1996. She was owner handled at 20 shows in which she won 16 BOB's and multiple group placements.
Vanna (l), Rocky (m) & Fable,
Ch. Seeonees Once upon A Castlerock.
Author: James Dagan
Trixie
Ch. Seeonees Dot Matrix
Vanna's daughter going Winner's Bitch at
SHCA Nationals 2000
Rocky
MBIS MBISS Ch. Seeonees Point Blank
SHCA 2005 - Best In Specialty Show
Vanna's son
Vanna
Best Of Opposite Sex
1997 Siberian Husky Club of America
Nationals Specialty
The following is a list of Vanna's champion offspring:
By Seeonees Ezekiel:
Ch Seeonees Avery
Ch Seeonees Shiloh
Ch Seeonees Silver Sage
By Ch Snowfire's Hot Stuff:
BIS / BISS Ch Seeonees Point Blank
Ch Seeonees Incredible Journey (RMSHC WB) (Philipine HOFGrand CH BIS / BISS)
Ch Seeonees Sweet Revenge
Ch Seeonees Vanishing Act
Ch Seeonees Bird on a Wire
Ch Seeonees Once Upon a Castlerock
By Ch Kaila's Reo Lobo of Snow-Strip:
Ch Seeonees Dot Matrix (WB 2000 SHCA National / AOM 2001 SHCA National)
Ch Seeonees In The Buff (RWB 2000 SHCA National / AOM 2001 SHCA National
Ch Seeonees Natchez Trace (Philippine HOFGrand Ch BIS / BISS)
Ch Seeonees Aim High of Takhari (Asian CH)
By Ch Kristari's Firechief O'Tahluu, CGC
Ch. Seeonees Hephaestus
Ch Seeonees Wheel of Fortune
Asian Ch Seeonees Forever Friend (Asian BIS Winner)
If you look over this list, you will notice that Vanna produced champions whether line-bred or out-crossed. She didn't produce puppies that could only finish if campaigned by a handler or well connected breeder. Anyone could finish a Vanna kid. I personally finished 10 of her 15 American champions and I have no political pull at all.
Vanna's qualty offspring also helped her win the coveted SHCA Top Producing Brood Bitch Award twice! In 2001 and in 2003! She also won the Brood Bitch class at the 2002 SHCA National Specialty.
Vanna is gone, but her influence will be felt in the breed for many generations to come. That, to me is truly the test of greatness.
