Music
Man hits the right note
Let’s
meet the Knowles family, as they used to say in a certain
family quiz show. First we have daughters, Haley, Sam and
Kirsty whose hobbies include Junior Handling. Indeed young
Samantha, Irish Junior Handler of the Year, made it through
to the final six of the International competition at this
year’s Crufts. Then there‚s Dad, Barry and Mum,
Jackie who is fast becoming a star around the Glen of Imaal
area since her appearance on East Coast radio.
Finally but not least, there is their young homebred Cocker
Spaniel, Riley who, on Thursday , March 14th, gained the grand
title of Irish Pup of The Year, 2001. Riley, or to give him
his more formal title, Rushmi Music Man, appeared to be not
in the least bit daunted by the attentions of the press photographers
although he seemed less sure about what to do with the very
large cup which he now owns. The Knowles family, I am sure,
will be delighted with the trip Riley has won for them although
I foresee possible family disagreements about who is actually
going to avail of the opportunity to visit a European Dog
Show.
The judges for the first part of the event, the sixteenth
Combined Canine Irish Pup of the Year competition, were Irish
judges, Mrs Elaine Drennan, Ms Una Rigney and Mrs Patsy Lawlor.
They were involved in individually assessing the sixteen POTY
finalists. The Foot and Mouth crisis last year had caused
the cancellation of many of the Irish All Breed Championship
Shows which normally provide a Best Puppy Stakes winner for
this prestigious competition. This year, with a fewer number
of shows, the Combined Canine committee allowed the top puppy
dog and bitch in each puppy stakes to become POTY finalists.
Celebrate
Eight
of the sixteen were then shortlisted to be examined by Mrs
Paula Lehkonen from Finland. As already mentioned she chose
Riley, the Cocker Spaniel for the top spot. Runner-up this
year was Mrs Frances Toman’s Pembroke Corgi, Ardenlee
Desert Fox At Mango.
Desert Fox’s breeders Gail and Ken Huttley were on hand
to take photographs and also help Frances celebrate winning
a large trophy and a trip to Crufts. In third place and winning
a weekend golfing break for her owners, Moira and Stephanie
Walsh was the American Cocker Spaniel, Kroonagem Lady in Red
At Silvercross who was bred by Joe Harvey . Gemma, who was
handled on the night by Sean Carroll, has only been to two
open shows where she collected BPIS on both occasions and
only one championship show where she won the puppy stakes
at six and half months.
In fourth spot was the apricot Toy Poodle, Trendicote Fireflame
who is owned by Kay Ryan and Ann Ingram; little Amy has already
two group twos under her belt. Fifth was Michael and Linda
Durcan‚s Boxer, Redstone Double Trouble while sixth was
Mrs Liz Wogan;s homebred Keeshond, Deminac The Partisan. Young
Jacques has already won two GSs with BOB, a third group placing
at nine months and he won the Utility group at only eleven
months of age; he was also second in his puppy class at LKA.
Seventh in the competition was Annie and Billy Cochrane‚s
homebred Miniature Schnauzer, Kinorla Just Blame Me. Freya
was obviously following in her litter brother, Kinorla Made
Ya Look, who attended the POTY finals in England. Freya was
handled on the night by a very dapper looking Paul Hanna.
In eighth spot was Noreen Clarke‚s homebred Samoyed,
Icemist Nordic Dancer. Whoops , I nearly forget to mention
the two IKC scrutineers for the competition, Dolores Nugent
and Josephine Pope.
All eight finalists won a large trophy and a rosette; the
first three also won the additional special prizes mentioned
above which were provided by the competition‚s main sponsor,
Pampered Pets who were represented by Mr Aidan McNamara. Each
qualifier also received a lovely crystal plate courtesy of
OUR DOGS ; these are really special reminders of the occasion
for the owners as each plate has not only their dog‚s
name engraved on it but also a copy of their dog‚s photograph
which was contained in the colour programme for the evening.
There are always two sides to an Irish Pup of the Year evening;
the more serious side of the competition for the much-coveted
title and then there is the social side of the event. It always
amazes me each year how well the dog fraternity can clean
up !!! The sparkle in the clothes (and in certain eyes) could
nearly blind you and that was just the men!!
Who was it once said ΠGo west young man ? Perhaps it
was John Walsh Senior talking to John Walsh Junior for this
year the POTY final was held in a lovely new venue to the
west of Dublin, in the aptly named CityWest Hotel, Saggart.
For those not present at the Edo‚ and who think the grandeur
of the previous venue, the Selbourne Hotel, could not be surpassed,
then think again . indeed several people were so impressed
that they began to mimic Lloyd Grossman‚s famous saying
Œ Who do you think lives in a house like this‚.
This hotel has an entrance hall to die for with a spectacular
old sweeping staircase and antique fire-place with dancing
flames. The staircase was a fitting prop for the photographs
of the committee as many of the ladies, dressed in their finery,
looked as if they had spent their life gliding smoothly down
the wooden stairway (Scarlett O‚Hara eat your heart out).
The ballroom where the main event took place was spacious
with a large hall off it housing yet another ring in which
the preliminary judging had taken place in the afternoon.
This year there was seating around the second ring which allowed
spectators to watch that part of the proceedings. Both rings
and tables were decorated with large and small floral displays
which had been arranged by Mrs Ann Rafter, President of the
Combined Canine Club.
Bouquet
There
was as usual, a break between the parade of competitors and
the final judging during which dinner was served. How can
I describe the meal which was one of the best I have ever
eaten at a large function? I think I‚ll have to copy
Jamie Oliver and just say it was ‘pukka’. The Irish
musicians who played during the judging, took a rest while
the meal was served ; two young Irish dancers, however, ensured
that the spectators were not bored during the interval. Before
judging recommenced, Gerry and Louise Casey, members of the
committee were presented with a large bouquet of flowers to
celebrate their twentieth anniversary.
To keep everyone amused during the early part of the proceedings,
each table was invited to complete a quiz with multi-choice
questions; this served as an ice-breaker at those tables where
the diners did not really know their companions. It must have
worked very well for, by the end of the evening, it appeared
that almost everyone was bopping away on the dance-floor when
it was time for us to go home. Perhaps I should rephrase that;
some people were bopping while others tried to jive with their
husband’s with somewhat disastrous results. My only complaint
about the whole evening was that we had to drive home instead
of flying in one of the two helicopters parked at the front
door of the hotel!
Combined
Canine Pup of the Year 2001
Sponsored by
