Smart
Fella’s smart final
 Well,
it’s that time of year again, the start of the finals
of competitions that have taken place all through last year
at championship shows up and down the country. As I have said
before, the centre of London, on a week day in the middle
of winter, is not the ideal time and place but people and
dogs arrived from all ends of the country telling tales of
the snow and ice, which by then was probably worse in the
south than anywhere else.
When we had exchanged greetings, had coffee and taken our
seats we were welcomed by Phil Humpreys, the Commercial Director
of Nestle Purina at this, his sixth year at the event, although
as he was to tell us later this was to be his last as he was
moving to Switzerland the home of Nestle - as a chocoholic
I envied him. He also told us that in future the brand name
would be Purina Pro Plan, it is hard to remember who owns
what nowadays.
After a brief introduction he handed over to Bernard Hall
who was minus wife Rosemary but who had an excellent stand-in
with Pam Blay, who organises most, if not all, of this final.
Before this year’s final started we were reminded of
last year’s winner the Tibetan Terrier Ch. Araki Pick
up a Penguin for Afterglow, who did a lap of honour handled
by his breeder Ken Sinclair as his co owner Mike Gadsby was
busy with this year's entry. The presentation was made of
the Rossut Jasmine Trophy in memory of the Beagle bitch who
won in 1973. Unfortunately Pat Sutton was unable to be there.
There were 31 dogs qualified but unfortunately three were
missing, two due to the bad weather and the Great Dane due
to the sad death of his co-owner.
Introduced
As is the usual form all the dogs came into the ring one by
one as Bernard introduced them and then the judge Valerie
Foss was introduced and came into the centre to give them
a quick once over before they all left and the first three
came back for the judging. Most people present knew Valerie
as not only was she a name in Gundogs with her English Setters
and Golden Retrievers but she now concentrates on her judging
and General Committee work for the Kennel Club and was the
prime mover behind the new Art Gallery and Museum.
The first three dogs in the ring awaiting their turn were
the Standard Poodle, Vanitonia High Profile, one of two of
this breed to qualify. The Pekingese Yakee One of the Boys,
again one of two to qualify both owned by the Easdon and Martin
partnership who won this final in 1999. The Shetland Sheepdog
Ellenyorn Maid to Love who had travelled down from Fife in
Scotland, some journey in the winter!
Other breeds that doubled up were the Miniature Schnauzers
of which there were three, two Afghans,two Dachshunds albeit
a Min. Wire and a Longhaired. Two Whippets owned by Editha
Newton who as regular handler Nev was away on a cruise had
to enlist the help of a handler, as Bert Easdon had to do
with the Peke bitch.
The final followed its usual format with all dogs being handled
and walked in the green baize ring under the oak beams in
the Whitbread Brewery, not the most ideal of sizes for some
of the larger breeds, but very impressive all the same. When
all had shown - some a bit overawed, some with style which
made you think they would certainly get their titles this
year, and some, especially the larger breeds which were in
that inbetween stage where they needed leaving at home until
they matured or got their full coats - all were invited back
into the ring again for Val to give them the final once over.
Even with three missing they filled all four sides of the
ring and stewards Ann Bliss and Simon Parsons only just got
everyone into place before Val walked around twice and then
made her shortlist of ten.
These were: the Bouvier Kanix Hedda owned by Kari Wilberg
but shown here by co-breeder Fiona Lambert as Kari was handling
husband Sigurd's Dachshund. Hedda had qualified at National
Working under Betty Flavell and was following in the family
tradition as her dam and grand dam had qualified.
The Peke male Yakee One of the Boys, qualified at U.K. Toydog
the second heat of the year under Brenda Banbury who was present
to see him after having a terrible journey back from a very
snowbound Copenhagen.
The Norwich Terrier Ch. Ragus The Inquisition was the only
one already a champion and had been strongly tipped earlier
in the day, he was there as a runner up as the winner of the
heat at Bath under Andrew Brace the Min Wire Dachs now lives
in Norway, Bodie was runner up in the Junior Stakes finals
in October.
The German Shorthaired Pointer Malmelsa Dusky Dallas of Knabynnus
qualified at South Wales under Mike Stockman and Denys Simpson
and was a qualifier for the South Wales dog of the year.
Minarets Secret Sensation the Min Poodle qualified near the
end of the year at Buba, she has been best puppy bitch at
a number of shows with her litter brother beating her for
best puppy on each occasion, so this time she obviously got
ahead.
The Scottie Mayson Musetta qualified at Darlington under Terrier
expert Bill Browne-Cole and has only been shown four times
although owner Susan Gaskell is no stranger to these events.
The Whippet that Editha handled, Nevedith Eefa Empress, was
also following in the family tradition as her dam was also
a qualifier. June Freeman had sent her through from East of
England.
The second Standard Poodle came through from City of Birmingham
judged by Denise Courtney, Afterglow Jamaica Me Crazy was
handled by Mike Gadsby his co owner and last year’s winning
handler was history to be repeated?
The second of the three Min Schnauzers in the running order
was Risepark Smart Fella for Tamberg bred by Peter Newman
(a previous winner of the Tom Horner Award of Excellence)
and Barry Day and owned by Gill and Cliff Ogburn, who have
had great success in the past with their Standard Schnauzers.
Andrew Gullick handled the Norfolk Jaeva Party Politics who
is owned by himself, Martin Phillips his breeder and Kate
Tate. What a first show he had as well as qualifying under
at SKC August under Stephen Bardwell he won RCC and BP in
breed, some start!
The second Afghan to qualify was Black Pepper from Karnak
bred by Brenda Thornton and Peter and Jean Wright. He qualified
at Richmond under Derek Smith and is owned by Chris and Julie
Amoo with Brenda. If you are superstitious you will like this,
as he was born on the same day of the year as Ch. Viscount
Grant, a previous winner of this competition and a Crufts
BIS winner, he qualified at the same show and that was the
third time he had won a day’s heat, spooky or what possums?
Val had a long look at all of them again and then shortlisted
down to five, the Scottie, Norwich, Min. Schnauzer, Peke and
Afghan and they went around the ring in that order, one final
look and the handshake went to the Min. Schnauzer Jack, followed
into reserve position by the Afghan Pepper. The remaining
three left the ring to applause and a gift from the sponsers
as had the previous finalists and the photographers and camera
teams came into the ring. Both dogs only nine days apart in
age behaved like seasoned pros and took it all in their stride
while both owners had smiles from ear to ear as they were
presented with their prizes of beautiful crystal.
Ann Bliss who was unable to stay for lunch after all her hard
work was given a gift in the ring and we all adjourned to
the bar for pre-lunch drinks, very civilised. If we had been
at home I am sure most of us there would have been stuck with
a cup of tea and cheese sandwich.
After an excellent lunch of goats cheese followed by stuffed
lamb and lemon tart, Phil Humphreys standing in for the managing
Director took to the ‘mike’ to thank us all for
coming, congratulate the winners, spoke a bit about the company,
thanked his team, none of it too long to be tedious, the sign
of good speaker. He then introduced Ronnie Irving, the Chairman
of the KC who started by having a bit of a go at the dog press
but then followed it with advice he had been given "that
it was better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool
than open it and prove it". Reading from his notes he
then in his own words gave us a bit of a Party Political Broadcast
on behalf of the KC which included the fact that there were
now 1.7million people living alone so that meant less dogs.
He reitarated the fact that there are fewer dogs being registered
although he referred to Rose Smart to confirm that this trend
was levelling out. He seemed a little suprised that there
had been criticism of the KC and its policy on open shows,
I am sure he heard the mumblings from the audience at this
stage.
Feffie Somerfield was the next to speak and she gave a spirited
account of the old days, dogs and judges but seemed to feel
that all was not lost yet; I, like many listening, hope that
she is right otherwise we will all have seen the best of dogdom.
Feffie congratulated Pam Blay who has put so much work into
the competition for 16 years since taking over from Tom Horner
who with Catherine Sutton thought of this competition 31 years
ago. She presented the winners with their prize after which
Marion Spavin presented the runners up with the Dialynne Trophy.
The judge also received a gift of crystal and then Kerry Williamson
the Managing Director of Dog World was called upon to present
the Tom Horner Award of Excellence which this year went to
someone from the world of administration. Miss Sybil Churchill
until recently a member of various KC committees including
Chairman of Crufts, only having to retire due to the ‘age’
rule, still the Secretary of the LKA, someone who does not
suffer fools gladly. A breeder and exhibitor of Cairns and
Border Terriers, a lover of hats, and someone who celebrated
her 70th birthday in a hot air balloon, a lady of talents
and suprises!
After a little more dog talk out into the cold afternoon London
streets we went, some only taking local trains, others having
many hours travelling ahead of them but all looking forward
to another new year of dogs, dog shows and pleasure, meeting
up with friends and sharing a common interest, I wonder whether
we will all feel the same this time next year or will even
more of the fun have gone, only time will tell!
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