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Canine
leadship battle rocks Westminster!
With
more backbiting than the Conservative party conference, and
more excitement than the Archer or Currie diaries, this year’s
Westminster Dog of the Year competition promises to be top of
the nation’s pawlitical agenda.
The Westminster Dog of the Year competition is open to dogs
from both Houses, and is run jointly by the National Canine
Defence League and the Kennel Club. Although a strictly non-political
affair, the competition usually attracts its fair share of good
humoured ‘bitching’!
The canine candidates will be judged by Clarissa Baldwin of
the NCDL and Rose Smart of the Kennel Club, assisted by Lord
Lucas, owner of the current title-holder, Puffin.
Unlike Championship dog shows, the dogs will be judged on their
good deeds and behaviour rather than looks or pedigree. The
competition is open to dogs of all ages, shape and political
persuasion, pedigree and crossbreed alike. The aim is to highlight
the very special bond between a dog and his owner – dogs
are endlessly loyal no matter what.
Now in its 10th year, the competition attracted a record entry
of 17 finalists! The judges met the following canine candidates
last Thursday (October 17th.): Amber, Hungarian Vizsla, owned
by Lord Rotherwick; Ben, Labrador, Lord Tebbit; Bippy, Jack
Russell terrier, Lord Williams of Mostyn; Bracken, English Springer
Spaniel, Peter Duncan MP; Charley, Staffordshire Bull t, Andrew
Rosindell MP; Curby, Lhasa Apso, Cheryl Gillan MP; Dandy, Labrador
Retriever, Chris Pond MP; Freddie, English Springer Spaniel,
Michael Trend MP; Harry, Crossbreed, Joan Ryan MP; Humbug, Cocker
Spaniel, John Whittingdale MP; Islay, Labrador and Panisse Lhasa
Apso, by Lord Selsdon; Jasper, German Shepherd dog, by David
Curry MP; Jervis, Norfolk Terrier, Lord Waddington; Rupert,
Smooth Haired Dachshund, Lord Bowness; Zack, Bedlington Terrier,
Vera Baird QC MP; Michael, Labrador Retriever, David Amess MP;
Elvis, West Highland white terrier, Siobhain McDonagh MP:
See next week’s issue for photos of the winner!
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