05 Breed Notes – KC open Jan 2025

Last weekend, the Keeshond Club held their open show, which started with a minute’s silence for David Matthews and Beryl Henman. Judging then began at 10.00am with the Special Awards Classes which was judged by Tina Johnson. Winner of the Special Yearling Dog or Bitch class was Miles, Dean & Cullen’s Ch Skyline’s Outlander At Lekkerbek (Imp Usa), Special Limit Dog or Bitch was Johnston & Atkinson’s Winklestar Namid and Special Open Dog Or Bitch was won by Marshall’s Arabesque At Devonia (Imp Russ)

There was a short 5-minute break followed by the Open show. The judge was Tony Paczkowski who had drawn an entry of 37 Keesies with 9 absentees. There were no entries in Puppy Bitch, both the Yearling and Novice classes and the Post Graduate Dog was absent and it was all over by 2.45pm

Best Dog with Best in Show was the winner of the Veteran class – Hickson’s Ch Only The Lonley (Bert von Ricara (imp Den) x Kichigai Special Edition) while Reserve Best dog was the winner of Open, Gill Brunt’s Ch Divnyi Drug Dar (imp Russ) (Russ Ch Cinerus Artic Prince of Star x Russ Ch Divnyi Drug Gusja Lebed)

Best Bitch was the winner of Open, Marshall’s Devonia Black Pearl (Arabesque At Devonia (Imp Russ) x Torrikees Made In Heaven at Devonia) with Reserve Best Bitch going to Gill Brunt’s Goldgin Chanel (imp Rus) (Rus Ch Rizheis Shain iz Mirashela x Rus Ch Zareslava iz Mirashela) from Limit. And it was another Best Puppy for Tew’s Bargeway Crystal Clear (Torrikees Purple Rein x Ch Art Pride Bomb Explosive Beauty (Imp Rus))

It was a (relatively) mild day with blue skies and sunshine yesterday for the funeral of David Matthews. The village church wasn’t large enough to accommodate the anticipated number of people who wanted to pay their respects, so the service was held in the village’s Memorial Hall and apart from a couple of empty seats, it was full. There were also many people watching the ceremony via Zoom which was provided for all the people who weren’t able to attend in person.

It was a lovely funeral, with the arrival of the hearse, drawn by a fabulous pair of matched black horses with his coffin covered with images of all his Keesies and the beautiful floral displays, created by his sister Tracy. It was a fitting tribute and David would have loved it.