125 Breed Notes – LKA 2017

At LKA, Keesies had the well-known Swedish judge Hans Almgren awarding CC’s in the breed for the second time (his first appointment in the UK was the NoEKC’s Championship show in 2010) and he had drawn an entry of 51 dogs – one of the largest entries this year apart from Crufts and the club shows.

Of the 51 dogs entered, there were just 12 absentees; with no entries in either the Good Citizen Dog class or Veteran bitch. There were some well filled dog classes for a change with both Limit and Open having seven entries; but it was the bitches as usual with the largest numbers – nine in Post Graduate and eight in Open. Despite being second in the ring after an entry of 71 Japanese Spitz, (which Hans was also judging) it was all over and done with just after lunch; which enabled everyone to make an early start home to miss the forecasted bad weather.

Winning a second CC with BOB was Joan Miles & daughter Sarah Dean’s Neradmik Kiss Chase with Lekkerbek (Ch Neradmik Family Affair with Lekkerbek x Ch Neradmik Miss Hollyberry) from limit. The RDCC went to Roddie’s kennelmate Gus, Miles, Cullen & Brown’s Rossvale’s Legacy For Lekkerbek (Ch Am Ch Kemonts Skylines Game boy (imp USA) x Ch Rossvale Gone With The Wind) handled for Joan by Carol Bardsley in the challenge.

It was a first big green card for Audrey White’s young Neradmik Vanilla Ice Morvania (Ch Samkees With Love to Neradmik x Ch Neradmik Miss Hollyberry) from Junior and the RBCC was Dawn Gregory’s Ch Amikirs Fabulicious Time JW (Eastkees Time Lord x Ch Amikirs Bubblelicious)
Best Puppy was Nichola Kerr’s Levi Altere V Kees Uit De Polder’s (imp NDL) (Keesbrooks Boots Made F’walking x Is Het Magie V Kees Uit De Polder’s)

In the LKA Junior stakes judged by Darren Clarke, Mel Harris and Neradmik Cary Grant for Watchkees (Imp Can)) got a second place and won £15. Mel has informed me that young Archie’s win in the Yearling Stakes at BUBA last week has qualified him for the finals. The pair will join the other winners from the Buddies Yearling Stakes classes, (which have been run throughout the year) at the grand final which is being held on the 4th February at Thrumpton Hall, Nottinghamshire; where all the finalists will have the chance to win £500 and a commission by Jo van Kampen.

A correction to my notes of last week from BUBA; it was a second RCC for Sue Pattison’s boy Joe, Zandvoort Gettin’ Purrsonal for Eastkees (AI). His first (with Best Puppy) was at Darlington in 2016 under Keith Nathan.

The Kennel Club have announced a new format for the Breeders Competition for Crufts 2019. Heats will take place at every general and group championship show throughout 2018, with points being given for 1st – 4th place. New for the competition will be the allocation of prize money courtesy of Agria Pet Insurance, where teams awarded first place will be awarded 30 points and £20, or £25 if a Kennel Club Assured Breeder. Teams in second place will be awarded 15 points, third place 10 points and fourth place 5 points. The top 40 teams will qualify for the final at Crufts 2019, of which two positions will be for the Breeders Competition winners from the European and World Dog Shows.

All general and group championship shows will schedule a KC Breeders Competition heat each day for the relevant groups in the main ring; with a suggested entry fee of £15 to be set by the individual shows. Points will be recorded and published by Our Dogs, which will publish a leader board throughout the year. The first qualifying show will be Boston Ch show in January.

With the recent cold spell, the lucky ones amongst you will have had well gritted roads. Dogs (and cats) walk through the substances left by the gritters clearing the roads and from car drivers defrosting their windscreens etc – they then lick their paws. Consuming rock salt can cause problems including dehydration, liver failure and pancreatitis; while antifreeze contains ethylene glycol – a sweet tasting chemical which can be lethal when ingested. Every year hundreds of pets throughout the country become seriously ill, sometimes fatally, because of the antifreeze substances used during a cold snap.

So please remember that if you walk your dog on gritted roads/paths, make sure that their paws are washed; either by walking them through fresh snow, unfrozen puddles away from the gritted surfaces or by dipping their feet in clean water once back at home.

Anji Marfleet