18 Breed Notes – WELKS 2024

At WELKS Keeshonds were first in the ring with a 9.00am start; our scheduled judge was originally Stuart Mallard (who has since withdrawn from judging) and the replacement judge was Jill Peak (who last judged us at Blackpool in 2022 ) She had drawn an entry of 43 Keesies with 6 absentees and there were no entries in either Puppy Dog or Yearling Bitch, with Limit Dog being the largest class with all 7 boys present. Judging was over and done with by 11.00am, just in time for us to get home as the weather improved.

The DCC with Best of Breed went to Mel Harris’ Ch Amikirs Lover Boy for Watchkees (Ch Neradmik All About The Boy for Watchkees x Ch Amikirs Bubblelicious) with the RDCC going to the winner of Limit, Jane Ring’s Neradmik Shine On Harvey Moon (Imp Can)((Ikon’s Shine In The Spotlight x Neradmik Norma Jean) who was handled by Jean Sharp Bale.
Winning her crowning third CC was Jane Ring’s Neradmik Tantrums ‘N’ Tiaras (Ch Samkees With Love to Neradmik (imp Mlt) x Ch Neradmik Grace Kelly (Imp Can)) Dolly won her first CC at the Keeshond Club’s Ch show in 2022 from Rony Doedjins and her second CC came this year at Manchester from David Cavill. The RBCC again went to the winner of Limit, Andy and Jean Fitches’ Sofia Loren Della Ginevrina (Imp Ita) Bitch (Carpe Diem Della Ginevrina x You Are My Everything Della Ginevrina)
Best Puppy was Johnston & Atkinson’s Winklestar Namid handled by a delighted Shelley Johnston.

After the weather we’ve had so far this year, it unfortunately came as no surprise that it was a cold, wet and windy weekend for WELKS. So despite spacious outdoor rings being optimistically pegged out, all judging was held in the cattle sheds. As someone who goes to shows usually on their own with multiple dogs and does not have (nor could carry) cages, an unbenched Ch show can be (& often is) a nightmare – as WELKS proved to be.
There were 3 rings in our hall which were all down together at one end, and although a ‘grooming area’ had been provided, in reality it was a free for all. People put their cages, chairs, trolleys and grooming tables, taking up as much space as they wanted, wherever they wanted, with no consideration for other exhibitors.
At least with benching, you are guaranteed x amount of space, a relatively safe (and hopefully clean) place where you can leave your ‘stuff’ and dogs whilst you are in the ring etc, next to people in your breed whom you know to keep an eye out for you. I eventually managed to find a small (dirty and draughty) space next to the sliding doors where I could leave the girls and my stuff – not worth paying for and most definitely not the £45 it cost me for the couple of hours I was there.
There are better organised open shows held in Newark’s cattle sheds, where the societies are able to provide bigger rings with more space for exhibitors, at a fraction of the price (£30 v £5 per entry) and you don’t have to print out your own ring numbers either. It has been many years since I last entered WELKS, and after last Sunday’s experience, I think that it will be even longer (if ever) before my next visit.

Anji Marfleet