Our judge at Midland Counties was Carole Jackson (Carnor) judging for the 2nd time – her first appointment was at BUBA in 2015. It was another leisurely start as Keesies were second in the ring after Shih Tzu and judging started promptly at 12.15pm – our given ‘not before time’.
Carole had drawn an entry of 51 dogs with 16 absentees; 13 of which, surprisingly, were males. It was almost 2.40pm before judging was done and we had the Eurasiers (who had been given a NBT of 1.30pm) for company as they were third in the ring after us.
Winning his first bit green card from limit with Best of Breed was Joan Miles & daughter Sarah Dean’s Neradmik Kiss Chase With Lekkerbek (Ch Neradmik Family Affair with Lekkerbek x Ch Neradmik Miss Hollyberry) The Reserve DCC went to the second in Limit, Jean Davies’ Neradmik Over The Rainbow To Kyross (Ch Neradmik Help The Hero at Maldine x Ch Neradmik Chanel)
It was a second CC for Geraldine Clark’s Byquy Pebbles At Kwajongen (Ch Klompens Who’s Your Daddy (imp Can) x Byquy Willma) with the reserve CC going to Dawn Gregory’s Ch Amikirs Fabulicious Time JW (Eastkees Time Lord x Ch Amikirs Bubblelicious)
Best Puppy was the Shreeve’s Gineter Christmas Angel (Ch Winklestar Hadar x Bargeway Peaches and Cream Gineter)
Sue Pattison’s Eastkees Sparkling Diamond (Eastkees Time Lord x Eastkees Daisy’s Mayhem) got a first place in the Eukanuba/Dog World Puppy Bitch Stakes from replacement Judge Barry Croft; winning a Eukanuba Breeder Bag worth £40.00.
Midland Counties is probably one of the cheapest general Championship shows to enter, charging £22 per dog and with free parking and admission. They are also one of the shows that don’t offer a Best Puppy in Show; instead this year they were offering each BPIB £20.
It can be a very long and tiring day for a young puppy hanging around waiting to go into the group (especially if three or four groups are held on the same day) and I’m sure that a lot people, if given the choice, would opt for the cash and the chance to get home nice and early!
Anji Marfleet