On Friday it was a crack of dawn start for keesie exhibitors to beat the morning rush hour traffic, as we were first in ring with a 9.00am start for German judge Hans Gruttner; who was awarding CC’s in the breed for the first time. Herr Gruttner had drawn an entry of just 37 dogs with just six absentees, with only one being a bitch! There were no entries in either of the Special Beginners classes and no Veteran Bitches.
I thought that it was a surprisingly low entry for a first time foreign judge; but maybe it was the thought of doing battle with Friday traffic that deterred exhibitors? Anyway, he went over the dogs quickly and methodically and by 10.30am it was all over and done with and at least we could all get back home and warmed up at a reasonable time.
There was no expense spared this weekend for exhibitors as Birmingham National had provided plastic walkways all around the rings in the outside pavilion and down between all the benches. Which considering the amount of rain that had fallen was definitely a good job! Unfortunately the rings were getting somewhat muddy and slippery underfoot, especially when moving your dog outside and manoeuvring around the marquee pillars; there were quite a few ‘near misses’!
It was another CC for Melanie Harris’ Ch Neradmik All About The Boy for Watchkees JW ShCM (Ch Am Ch Kemonts Skylines Game Boy (imp USA) x Ch Lady Godiva’s Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik (imp Fin)), with the RDCC going to second in Open Sue Lindsay’s Mezanda Madog’s Storm ((Ch Wund-r-y Workin for a Livin at Szaryk (imp USA) x Enreveyar Mystic Star at Mezanda) handled by David.
Winning her first big green card with Best of Breed was the winner of Limit class, Jane Saunders’ Liefkees Adina (Ch Wund-R Y Workin For A Livin at Szaryk (Imp USA) x Liefkees Angelika) and the RBCC went to the Junior class, Dawn Gregory’s Amikirs Doubly Delicious (AI) (Am Ch KJ’s Hot Date x Ch Amikirs Bubblelicious)
Best Puppy was Paula King’s Zandvoort Honey Trap At Grayona (Zandvoort Purrsonal Life (AI) x Zandvoort Ursula Andress). Jenny Williams and young Freya, Repeta’s Follow That Dream to Druitz (Swed Imp) won a fifth place in the Eukanuba Puppy Stakes from judge Howard Ogden.
The funeral of Irene Howe took place a couple of weeks ago and was very well attended by representatives from both her breeds, Keesies and Jap Spitz and the dog showing community in general. Gordon would like to thank everyone who made such generous donations to Macmillan Cancer Support in lieu of flower as over £800 was raised.
Anji Marfleet