Our judge at South Wales KC was David Robbins; who was awarding CC’s for the second time (his first appointment was at Southern Counties in 2014) Keeshonds were first in the ring and there were just 16 dogs present from an entry of 18 with no entries in neither Veteran bitch nor surprisingly, either of the Puppy classes. So even with a leisurely 10.00am start; judging was over and done with well before lunchtime.
It was a 2nd CC for the Hickson’s Kichigai’s Only The Lonley (Bert von Ricara (imp Den) x Kichigai Special Edition) handled as usual by Natasha; with the Reserve Dog CC going to the 2nd in open, Sharon Rose’s Ch Rossvale Master Of Destiny for Esorkees (Ch Neradmik Handsome Hero x Rossvale Scarletts Secret)
It was a 1st big green card and Best of Breed for Jean Sharp Bale’s young Neradmik Grace Kelly (imp Can) (Am Ch Designer’s Fedx x Can Ch Neradmik Academy Award) from Junior and the Reserve Bitch CC went to the Hickson’s Ch Kichigai Magic Dancer JW (Kichigai Luke Skywalker x Kichigai Tiny Dancer)
I know that the puppy classes have been getting smaller, often with just 1 or 2 entered and I supposed it is understandable from a cost point of view for those Ch shows without tickets. But I can’t remember any Ch show offering CC’s that hasn’t had at least one puppy entered, let alone turn up.
When I wrote previously about the combination of a dwindling number of exhibitors and even fewer breeders; I said that I thought it highly unlikely that we’ll ever see the days when there were entries of 25 plus keesies for a general open show. As apart from the breed club open shows, getting an entry in double figures is virtually unheard of nowadays.
Little did I know that my comments would so soon be applicable to championship shows! The number of dogs actually present at Ch shows with CC’s this year (excluding Crufts & club) has averaged out at 26; with breed specialists generally attracting the smallest entries. Even if the shows do get a half decent paper entry; this is invariably decimated by an absentee rate of anything between 25 – 50%.
Currently, keesies have twenty sets of tickets on offer each year; with this set to rise to 22 CC’s in a couple of years’ time. It does make you wonder when our CC allocation is going to start decreasing, instead of increasing each time they are reviewed.
In my last set of notes I said that at Driffield the Best of Breed, Peck & Matthews’ Byquy Workin Boots was handled by David Matthews; when in fact Flash’s handler was Melanie Reed-Peck. Apologies all round.
Anji Marfleet