He's been known to some as "Stretch" and to others as "Alex", but whatever he's called, there's no denying that Ch. Gryphon's Star Dragon Dancer is a Living Legend. This is the story of a dog that made wire history....
Bred by Susan Fegan of Gryphon Ibizans in LaConner Washington on 4/15/1993, Alex (Ch.Gryphon's Star Trekker x Mythmuir Golden Bough Sarita) was judged a promising puppy and sent to a show home at an early age. Unfortunately, his new owners didn't share Sue's enthusiasm for the big, rangy wire pup and they sent him back to her - believing that he just wasn't show quality.
Sue took that small setback in stride and began to show him herself - with immediate results. As Alex matured, his excellent style, structure and movement became evident and the winning began. He was soon noticed by Arkansas sighthound lovers Kathie Cox and Shelby Williams, and was sent to live with Kathie and her husband John.
Kathie and company didn't have long to wait before Alex (known in those days as Stretch) proved that they had put their faith in the right dog. At about a year of age he took a GROUP 3 at the 1994 Northeast Arkansas Kennel Club dog show and became the first group-placing wire in Breed History. Handled by Shelby Williams and co-owned by Sandra Grovenstein, Alex finished that year the Number 4 ranked (all-breed) Ibizan.
Alex - First Wire Ibizan Group Placement Alex - Second Wire Group Placement A good year..... With Chulia.....
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Alex didn't stop there, though. He followed those group placements with many more and remained in the top 10. In December of 1996, Kimberley Hinton (now Kim Winterbottom) became a co-owner and Alex became the Star of the daVinci sighthound family. Kim had shown various animals and had participated in Equestrian jumping events at Texas A&M, but she was not a dog handler and was amazed when at their first show Alex won the breed and she found herself in the group ring. They left the ring that day with a beautiful rosette...
Alex and Kim - first time in the ring together Alex and Kim - Group 2 Alex and Julie
Alex and Kim were on a roll...there were more group placements and he remained in the top 10. During the following year Kim's mom, Julia Hatfield (now Morris) handled him frequently while Kim was traveling. When Alex was 5 years old, he was betrothed to Strangedays Ruffienne, a puppy with whom he would make even more history...
Ch. Strangedays Ruffienne
In 2001 Ruffie and Alex were bred, producing the fabulous Ice litter. Although two pups were sold as pets, every one of the nine was show quality. Five of those pups have finished their championships, one lacks a single point, and one who was major-pointed from the puppy class was neutered due to a coursing injury. But that's not all:
At the 2002 Nationals: Daughter Jillian (Ch. daVinci Icing on the Cake) was both Best in Sweepstakes and Winners Bitch
At the 2005 Nationals: Grandson Domino (daVinci Moon Over Majorca) was Best in Sweepstakes and RWD.
Granddaughter Sugar was RWB Friday and WB Saturday for a 5-pt major
Son Petie (daVinci-Aliki Ice Pistol) was WD Friday for a 5-pt major
August 2005: Daughter Jillian (owned by Eva Partida) produced a stellar litter of 6 by Ch. Melquart's
Baal, one of which will soon be the first wire exported back to Spain from the US.
Shortly after the birth of the Ice Litter, Alex retired to a well-deserved life of ease with Kim and her husband Jim in Guelph, Ontario where he has assumed complete squirrel-control responsibility. He was quite content that his offspring would carry on his winning ways.....but
In early 2006, at age 11, Alex is still in perfect health (although the cold Canadian mornings often find him a bit stiff) and Kim and Julie (with the enthusiastic support of his vet, breeder, and co-owners) have decided the time has come to let their Living Legend have a last fling, with a female of impeccable breeding and most elegant style.....