18 Breed Notes – WELKS 2018

Even though judging was held indoors in the huge cattle sheds, it was still a wet, windy and very cold WELKS for Keesie exhibitors who were first in the ring with a 9.30am start. Our judge was Brian Curry (Norkees) (who last judged keesies at the National in 2014) and he had drawn an entry of 26 dogs with just 3 absentees. Open bitch was the largest class (with 5 girls present), the others mostly having two’s and three’s; although there were no entries in puppy dog, junior dog, both yearling classes, both veteran classes and both special beginners classes – and judging was eventually all over and done with by 12.30pm

After much deliberation, it was a 4th CC for the winner of Limit – Joan Miles & daughter Sarah Dean’s newly crowned Ch Neradmik Kiss Chase with Lekkerbek (Ch Neradmik Family Affair with Lekkerbek x Ch Neradmik Miss Hollyberry). The RDCC went to Roddy’s sire, Brodie – Joan and Sarah’s Ch Neradmik Family Affair with Lekkerbek (Ch Am Ch Kemonts Skylines Game boy (imp USA) x Ch Lady Godivas Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik (imp Fin)) handled by Carol Bardsley in the challenge.

Keeping the green cards ‘in the family’, it was a second CC, this time with Best of Breed, for Audrey White’s Neradmik Vanilla Ice Morvania (Ch Samkees With Love to Neradmik x Ch Neradmik Miss Hollyberry) from Limit with the RBCC going to the winner of Open, Jenny White’s Neradmik Dear Darling of Whitchakees (Ch Neradmik Game Plan at Lekkerbek x Ch Lady Godiva’s Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik (imp Fin)) I wonder when the last time both CC winners were half siblings; as well as both RCC winners – and all from the same kennel??

Best Puppy was Simone Lush’s Ednaaron Moonlight (Ch Hunnivoles Woody Valentine x Gallowtree Tassel at Ednaaron) who was handled by Jane Saunders for the Puppy challenge.

Sharon Rose and Ben, Ch Rossvale Master of Destiny for Esorkees, got a third place in the well filled Sybil Churchill Open Stakes class under judge Keith Nathan, winning a £10 cash prize.

I obviously missed the announcement last November, but new for 2018 on a two year trial, is a Special Beginners Competition to be held by General and Group Ch shows, sponsored by the Kennel Club. Each Ch show society is encouraged to schedule a Special Beginners class (either single mixed class or one for each sex) in each breed (the class definition being: ‘For owner, handler or exhibit not having won a CC or RCC); with WELKS being the first Ch show of the year to hold these classes.

The Best Special Beginner of each breed then goes forward to the group competition, where it will be at each society’s discretion as to the timing & placing of the group judging. The Kennel Club is providing sponsorship in the form of rosettes 1st – 4th for each Group; plus a cash prize of £100 for each group: 1st – £40; 2nd – £30; 3rd – £20; 4th – £10.

Apparently the hope is that this will encourage novice exhibitors to experience a Group competition; but oddly no-where does it say if these classes are Crufts qualifiers. If they were, certainly for the numerically larger breeds, I would have thought that would be an incentive for novice exhibitors to enter.

Anji Marfleet