2005 was a very busy and very good year for the HaSu Ranch show string. From early spring to late fall, our alpacas attended a total of 7 very competitive shows and brought home well over 40 ribbons in both fleece and halter events. 2005 was a Banner year for the HaSu suri males with multi Championships in New York and Ohio. Ashokan and Bruxo's Tatanka won Color Championships under two of the most highly respected judges working in the showring today, either nationally or internationally. Both Ashokan and Bruxo's Tatanka were chosen color champions by Amanda Vanden Bosch at the Empire Alpaca Extravaganza. And Tatanka doubled up on his banners by winning color Champion under Jude Anderson at the supreme suri show, the Ohio Alpaca Fest.
Both Ashokan and Tatanka did extremely well throughout the entire year in the showring. But when they entered the showring in the fall, after a full summer of growth and maturity, they really took it by storm. From the first show in the early spring to the last in late fall, judges consistently commented on both males superior fleece traits--luster, fineness and density with locks that twist to the skin.
 Ashokan, a medium brown male, has that gorgeous shiny maroon fleece that is so striking. The minute he walked into the ring at the 2005 Empire Alpaca Extravaganza, people took notice. With his exceptional luster and long dense fleece, he looked to be draped in glistening ropes, all carried on a tall upright, perfectly squared off frame. In her supporting comments judge Amanda Vanden Bosch referred to Ashokan as a stunning male with terrific presence. She continued her evalution with praise also for his fineness, independent locking to the skin, full coverage and density. In a very competitive class of top level suri males, Vanden Bosch, said Ashokan was "the clear winner!"
Not too long after Ashokan left the ring, Bruxo's Tatanka made his entrance. And the audience was again brought to attention. Tatanka, like Ashokan, carries their sire Bruxo's trademark traits-- superior luster, lock, density and coverage. And add to these ideal suri qualities an attitude of confidence and alertness and you have a male that is quite impressive. There was no question Tatanka would come out victorious. Even from ringside, the definition of his lock and twisting to the skin was evident. With every turn of his body, one could see that the draping fleece was dense and uniform. And after awarding him the Color Championship, Amanda Vanden Bosch confirmed all of this in her supporting comments with praise for all aspects of his fleece and conformation.
Two weeks later, Tatanka followed up this banner performance with another at the extremely competitive suri show, the Ohio Alpaca Fest. Judge Jude Anderson, with much praise in her commentary, awarded him the Dark Fawn Male Color Championship. This particular banner award is notably meaningful for the fact that it was won at one of the premiere suri competitions, and awarded by one of the most higly regarded suri judges. In Jude Anderson's words, Tatanka "is the whole package!"
We look forward to Spring 2006 when both these suri males begin their breeding careers. We expect a long line of superb cria to follow.
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