19 Breed Notes – Keeshond Club 100th Ch show 2025

The Keeshond Club Centenary Anniversary show on 3rd May, attracted an entry of 81 Keesies for Australian judge Katrina Santas. The last time a breed club show drew an entry of more than 80 dogs was back in 2018; entries dropped during lockdown and have been decreasing ever since.

There were 15 absentees and all the classes had at least one entry apart from Yearling Bitch which had none; and both the Limit and Veteran classes had the largest entries for both sexes.

The show was opened just after 10.00am with a speech by Kennel Club chairman Tony Allcock (who is awarding CC’s in Keesies for the 1st time at Paignton this summer) who also stayed to watch the day’s proceedings. Judging then started with the Baby Puppy classes; there was an hours break for lunch and judging of the girls was over by 3.30pm.

The DCC with Reserve Best in Show came from the Champion class, Gill Brunt’s Ch Divnyi Drug Dar (imp Russ) (Russ Ch Cinerus Artic Prince of Star x Russ Ch Divnyi Drug Gusja Lebed) whilst the RDCC went to the winner of Limit, Jane Saunders’ Liefkees Amore (Ch Int Ch Quasars Brilliant Light Van Het Earlskamp Serenaubach (imp Bel) x Liefkees Adina)

Best of Breed and BCC was the Gate’s Winklestar Alsephina via Lacetrom (Vivids Majestic Prince of Winklestar (imp USA) x Winklestar Serendipity) handled by a delighted Michelle Wright. The RBCC went to the winner of Post Graduate, Val Tew’s Bargeway Breeze On By (Quest’ Eastkees Del Monte Dragnone (imp Ita) x Bargeway With Grace)

Keeping it in the family, a delighted Val also got Best Puppy in Show with Bargeway Crystal Clear (Torrikees Purple Rein x Ch Art Pride Bomb Explosive Beauty (imp Rus)) with Caron Bell helping out in the challenge with handling. Best Baby Puppy in Show was Alison Passmore’s Torrikees You Wear It Well and Best Veteran in Show was Joan Miles’ Ch Rossvale’s Legacy for Lekkerbek who was handled by Susan Cullen in the challenge.

In addition to the regular Club cups and trophies on offer, there were special crystal prizes for class winners and all the rosettes were donated by Valindale in memory of David Matthews. A special mention has to go to the goody bags which every qualifier for the DOTY received, which were put together by Vikki Marshall

The whole show (as well as the following day’s DOTY ) was videoed and can be viewed on YouTube. It was nice to see some ‘old faces’ ringside – Doris Purdon, Eileen Wilding, Lynn Goddard and Gay Smith to name a few.

There were plenty of goodies for people to spend their money on for both days – laden raffle tables, the club stall (organised by Tracy Lee) and a joint Health and Welfare table which was inundated with donations.

Personally, I’m not a fan of canine shows being held in hotels as they tend to feel like impersonal, corporate affairs and you are not in charge of the venue and any other events taking place are out of your control. Despite this, all the hard work the committee had put in to make the function rooms look special was obvious to see, the ring was surrounded with white picket fencing, which was entered via a floral arch and there were beautiful floral displays everywhere provided by Tracy in memory of her brother.

Anji Marfleet