104 Breed Notes NoEKC July Open Show 2017

The weather’s been on and off this year, but it was a lovely sunny day for the North of England Keeshond Club’s July summer show held at Thorpe Willoughby Village Hall. The morning dawned warm and breezy and it just got better as the day drew on. Fortunately there is plenty of space in the hall and the Club has long had the policy of allowing in spectator dogs; so everyone was kept cool indoors.

A few years ago the Club was left a very generous legacy from the estate of the late Carolyn Smith, who was DW’s Isle of Man correspondent for many years. As a Club, we are deeply indebted to Carolyn’s bequest which is now (amongst other things) being used to permanently fund class entries free of charge for members at our July show – which has proved to be a popular decision!

As usual, the show had a leisurely late start of 11.00am and before judging started a minute’s silence was held in memory of Bill Purdon, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

The Special Award Classes were held first and were judged by Val Tew (Bargeway) who had an entry of 14 with no absentees.

1st Special Junior Dog or Bitch was Debbie Palmer’s Shelderon Super Steller; Joan Miles and Neradmik Kiss Chase With Lekkerbek won Special Post Graduate Dog or Bitch and Special Open Dog Or Bitch was won by Dawn Gregory with her Ch Amikirs Bubblelicious JW.

Our Judge for the main show was Gill Brunt (Zandvoort) who had drawn an entry of 31 dogs with 9 absentees; which was good considering that no Zandvoorts or Bargeways were able to be entered for this show.

Best Bitch and Best in Show was the limit winner, Simone Lush’s Gallowtree Tassel at Ednaaron (Enreveyar Elgar x Ednaaron Mayweed at Gallowtree).

Best Dog and Reserve Best in Show was Michael and Margaret Fusco’s Amikirs Lord Of The Bubbles (Eastkees Time Lord x Ch Amikirs Bubblelicious) from PGD; with Jack’s sister Fabby – Dawn Gregory’s Amikirs Ch Fabulicious Time JW (Eastkees Time Lord x Ch Amikirs Bubblelicious) getting Reserve Best Bitch.

Reserve Best Dog was Alison Bennett’s Byquy Rich Gent (Ch Klompens Who’s Your Daddy (imp Can) ex Byquy Willma) from limit and Best Puppy in Show was Debbie Palmer’s Shelderon Super Steller (Shelderon Spirit Walker x Shelderon Summer Sparkle) handled as usual by Nicky Potts.

Best Veteran was Tom and Caroline Gate’s Valindale What Do You Think About Lacetrom (Ch Aust Ch Calivale What The Valindale x Kwajongen What Katie Did at Valindale) handled by daughter Michelle Wright.

The £25 lucky catalogue number was won by Michael & Margaret Fusco

Ann Toward, helped by Andy Fitches excelled herself by raising £79 for the raffle – despite running out of tickets to sell! In the kitchen Nicola & Christina Barton, helped by Steve Brown and Pauline Wilson were kept busy selling hot food and home-made cakes and they made a tasty profit of over £66.

As Gill is also the Club’s Cup Steward, Linda Morton very kindly stepped ‘up to the table’ and was kept busy handing out all the silverware. Linda also judged both the Puppy Walk and the Junior Handling classes which were held during the lunch break and Callum Wright was the overall JH winner.

All three of the Club’s shows this year are again being sponsored by Happy Dog, who generously provided 1k bags of food for all class winners and large sacks for all the main winners.

The judging was finished by 3.15pm which gave most exhibitors time to get home and enjoy the rest of the lovely weather.

Anji Marfleet