08 Breed Notes – NoEKC Feb open 2026

Despite a few fraught days and a bit of reorganising, the Club’s open show went ahead at the weekend at the new venue, Elsecar Parish Hall and many thanks to them for coming to our rescue at such short notice. It was cool and cloudy, but considering what the weather’s been like, we were lucky and even the sun made a half-hearted attempt to shine at the end of the afternoon.

The show started at 12.00pm with the Special Awards Classes, which were judged by Linda Divers. The winner of Special Yearling Dog/Bitch was Alison Bennett’s Zandvoort Mr Sunshine, Limit Dog/Bitch Colin Barton’s Neradmik Prince Charming of Kyross and Open Dog/Bitch was won by Mel Harris’ Ch Amikirs Lover Boy for Watchkees.

The Open show followed about 5 minutes later, where our judge Allyson King had drawn an entry of 27 dogs with 6 absentees and as what has almost become the norm now, it was mainly the lower classes which were empty. There were no entries in Minor Puppy, Puppy, Yearling and Special Bred By Exhibitor Dog; Minor Puppy, Yearling, Limit, Veteran and Special Not Bred By Exhibitor Bitch.

Best Dog with Best in Show was the winner of the Special Not Bred By Exhibitor class, Mel Harris’ Ch Amikirs Lover Boy for Watchkees (Ch Neradmik All About The Boy for Watchkees x Ch Amikirs Bubblelicious) with Reserve Best Dog, RBIS and BVIS going to Natasha Hickson’s Ch Kichigai’s Only The Lonley (Bert von Ricara (imp Den) x Kichigai Special Edition) from Special Vintage.

Best Bitch and BOS was my Flatmeer Fleur’s Krystal (Milan Grey Giant Tichauspitz x Flatmeer Fleur Dilly) from the Special Bred By Exhibitor class and Reserve Best Bitch was the Open class winner, Gill Brunt’s Ch Zandvoort Grace’s Secret (Ch Divnyi Drug Dar (imp Russ) x Almaznyi Istochnik Tropicheskaya Noch (imp Russ))
Best Puppy in Show was Nicola Kerr’s Bargeway Dancing Queen (Torrikees Purple Rein x Ch Art Pride Bomb Explosive Beauty (imp Russ))

Jean Sharp Bale ‘stepped into the breech’ and was our steward for the day, and Jane Ring was kept busy wearing her secretary’s hat and chefs’ apron in kitchen and took £72. Ann Toward manned the raffle taking £82, helped by Karen Avill (Pauline Wilson’s daughter) who had popped in to say a quick hello and ended up helping out and handling dogs!! Sharon Rose won the £25 lucky catalogue number prize.

There was a brief break between dogs and bitches for a puppy walk and a presentation of the Annual Awards and Trophies was held after the competition of judging, which was done by 2.30pm – giving everyone plenty of time to get home in the daylight

Anji Marfleet