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Tonka's Career
by Renee Remhart Tonka finished in 1 week with 4 majors. After 6 months of specialing him at the age of two (2), I had to quit showing him for personal reasons. At the time, Tonka was ranked #1 in both systems (another record set). He had accumulated so many breed and group points that he still was ranked within the top 10 at year-end after only showing for 6 months. Since then, I have shown him here and there. Then, at 7 years of age last October, I brought him out as a Veteran just for fun. Well, Tonka had other plans. That very first weekend out he Won the Group and took a Group Two the next day. At that point, my friends wanted to test the waters and sent us out to California in November where he defeated the top 2 ranked Mals (BIS mals at that) in the breed, then went on to a huge Group Two over top working dogs in the country. In December, Tonka pulled down a BIS Veterans. Last month, we were honored by a Best In Specialty Show under provisional judge Cathy De La Garza. Since showing him as a Veteran, Tonka has now placed in the Group Fourteen (14) times and has Won the Group five (5) times. Tonka now has ten (10) Group Wins under his belt and I believe thirty-two (32) placements with approximately seventy-five (75) breed wins. What is most impressive is that he places in the group approximately 50% of the time he wins the Breed. WOW! The biggest thrill of it all has been that ALL of Tonka’s wins have been owner-handled. |
"A little history lesson is in order.
There are approximately 2% red champions out of the total sum of
AKC champion title malamutes. That means, folks, less than 150 red
champions.
The first red to finish an AKC champion title was Ch Kodara Scarlet Panda (a
bitch!)
The year was 1965 - 30 years after breed recognition.
The first red to win the working group was CH Alcan Jack O'Diamonds.
The year was 1982 - 47 years after breed recognition. Redjac won an all
breed BIS in Mexico.
The first red to win multiple AKC All Breed group firsts (USA) was CH
Tanunak's Dakota Chief.
The year was 1993 - 11 years after Redjac history making win.
The top winning red bitch in breed history is currently CH Alcan Seismic
Activity of Joshua.
And now...drum roll... the first AKC USA all breed Best In Show winninf Malamutes is
Ch Snowlion's Soldier of Fortune.
The year is 2004 - 69 years after breed recognition.
All of these are firsts that can never be redone, defeated or over shadowed.
Panda is and always will be the first red champion.
Redjac is and always will be the first AKC all breed working group winning
red (and mind you this was before the group was split!)
Dakota is and always will be the first multiple AKC USA Working Group
winning red.
Tonka is and always will be the first AKC all breed BIS winning red.
None of these achievements can ever be topped, one upped, defeated, or forgotten.
One more thing needs to be noted...the last 11 years has seen a red dog in
the top 10/top 20 nearly every year! When you consider how few of them are
actually campaigned as specials, this is a feat of extrordinary measure!
Three of them have done so from Veteran class...Dakota, Maggie and
Tonka. They also all are Best In Show Specialty Winner... so was Redjac.
Hats off to Tonka, Renee and Snowlion Kennels ! Finally!!! You get to
wear the crown Renee, but never forget who it was who paved the road for
you. It was Panda, Redjac, Dakota and Maggie (and a few others!) Each of
us, would have wished this was our own dog. Having said that, I think I can
speak for all red dog owners and say that we all applaud you for going the
extra mile and finally doing the impossible. Owner handled no less!
Tanunak never forgot Panda and Redjac. We support Tonka and Maggie and
Bomber and all the rest of those few reds who make it into the specials ring
and take home a coveted prize. Few have gone before Tonka...but they made it
possible for this record setting, hearth thumping win!
Congratulations Tonka. You go guy!"
Suz Richardson
