Well, that’s Crufts over for another year! The Coronavirus did not seem to have too much of an impact on the breeds, with absentees seeming to be pretty much in line with what you’d normally expect. It did seem to be lighter on the ground with regard to members of the public though.
I can confirm I think I may finally have cracked the aching Crufts legs; having bought a pair of FitFlop shoes, I definitely did not have tired and aching legs when I got home, so I think that’s the way forward for me from now on! The judging started promptly in both rings, and I did like the Crufts wide decision to have exhibitors show their dogs’ dentition, something I would be quite happy with if it was common place.
In the longs, the judge, Mr Timberlake, looked very smart in a grey suit. DCC and BOB was Hayley Murphy’s Aphienna A Million Dreams, his first CC and grandson of Fabien Chidonna at Efterpi, who also won his first CC and BOB at Crufts in 2016. RDCC was Lynn Hill’s Ch Lynpix The Mexican with Becanna, BCC Kadowaki’s Bramver’s First Priority, RBCC Hunter’s Jotolemar Best of Time, BP Geoffrey Curr’s Natimuk Beaumont and BV James Sangster’s Tidos Christmas Gift.
David Reece was looking very dapper in the smoothcoat ring in a lovely suit and cumberband, and found his DCC and BOB in Anderson’s Ch Lumanatii Rolling Thunder, RDCC Ward’s Red Hot Chilli Pepper by Milendo, BCC and BP Pier’s Indiana Malkanorah from Spain, RBCC Diane Fothergill’s Diamonchi Last One Standing and BV Lind-Rasmussen’s CIB/NORDCH/DKCH/SECH/PLCH/VDHCH/DECH/CZCH/SLOCH/LUCH/NLCH Chiboels Hollywood Look Out Elvis from Denmark.
It was quite disappointing that there was evidence of some double handling in one of the classes, notably from overseas exhibitors. I understand this was reported to the stewards at the time and that it put off some of the other dogs in the class. Whether this is common place abroad I don’t know but it is such a shame to see this happening. I hope the exhibitors in question will take note for next year.
In addition to the principle winners, there were numerous individual successes along the way; for some it was their first time exhibiting at Crufts, for some it was the joy of being placed in a large class, for some it was venturing to a dog show for the first time since losing loved ones. For me, those are the real successes – the ones that have required huge bravery and sheer determination. Well done to you all!
We had a fantastic day manning the longcoat Discover Dogs stand on the Saturday. I found people were very good about using the hand sanitiser before touching the dogs, and some very sensible questions were asked by members of the public genuinely interested in the breed. Although members of the public seemed thin on the ground on the Thursday, Saturday did not seem to be affected and we were knee deep in the public all day long.
News from the open shows:
At Gateshead, Breeze Newbery’s Ismirelle’s The Mad Hatter at Hermosoangel was BOB and G3 under judge Mr T Holgate. At Oxfordshire, under judge Mea Kendall, Beverley Sutton’s Aristodemos Spaceman Nikitos went BPIB, BOB, G1 and PG1 (smooths) and Geoffrey Curr’s Natimuk Beaumont went BPIB and BOB was Joan Waterworth’s Barwater Snow Patrol (handled by Sue Lee) (longs). In the Toy Veteran group Beverley’s Ch Lozek Rhapsody in Blue Nikitos won G1 under judge Diane Webber, then later, BVIS under the same judge.
At Northern Counties Chihuahua Club, at their open show the weekend before Crufts, the results for smooths, judged by Kirstie McMurray, are as follows: BD and BOB was Diane Fothergill’s Diamonchi Mister Moon JW ShCM, RBD was Clark Fahey and Colin Hartley’s Zoomeera Hot Cargo and BPD and BPIB was Diane’s Diamonchi Mr Black. BB and RBOB was Lee Humphrey’s Amarantos Cassini JW, RBB Serena Hunt’s Moltobello Queen of my Heart, BPB Diane’s Diamonchi Last One Standing and BVB and BVIB Clark and Colin’s Zoomeera Indy’s Angel JW.
In the Longs, judged by Danielle Gilling, BD and BOB was Pauline Wills’ Dorentys Chewy Veeton, RBD Dorothy Entwistle’s Dorentys Willy Ekaslike, BPD A Gift For Ruby, BVD Clive Jones’ Kushira Fireflash. BB and RBOB was Edith and Martin Lynch’s Garnox Picture This JW, RBB Dorothy’s Dorentys Fancy That, BPB and BPIB Edith and Martin’s Garnox Tickety Boo and BVB and BVIB Clive’s Ch Kushira Coconut Ice JW.
BIS was judged by Mairi Austin who awarded BIS to Mister Moon, RBIS to Cassini, BPIS to Mr Black and BVIS to Coconut Ice.
James Sangster has sent me details of the recent wins of his Veteran, Tidos Christmas Gift who has won the following awards in the last few weeks: Chihuahua Club of South Wales – Best Veteran Dog, East of Scotland – Best AV Toy Veteran and BVIS, Crufts – BVIB. Alfie is now 9, and, James tells me, getting younger every day! So lovely to see the veterans looking just as good now as they ever did.
Last Friday, our own Steve Rooney celebrated his 60th birthday, and there was food, fizz and cake on Thursday at Crufts. A very very happy birthday to Steve.
I will be emailing all breed club secretaries in the next week or so regarding the BEC role, but I want to give everyone a chance to recover from an extremely busy Crufts first.
Hopefully you can all have a nice rest this week, before the showing year starts off again with UK Toy Dog at the end of the month!
Rachel Berrington
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07837 371209