27 Breed Notes – B’pool 2024

It was another early start for exhibitors as yet again Keesies were first in the ring with a 9.00am start. Blackpool is one of the few remaining General Ch shows that don’t rotate the groups; show entries aren’t great as it is, but I’m sure that it always being on a Friday doesn’t help and for most people it has to be an extra early start to avoid the appalling traffic on the motorways around Manchester and the M6. Despite us all being there ready at the crack of dawn, judging was still delayed by half an hour to 9.30am as the M6 was closed due to pedestrians.

Our judge for Blackpool was Hans van den Berg from the Netherlands (his last appointment was at Birmingham National in 2016) who had drawn an entry of 20 Keesies, with just 2 absentees. There were no entries in Junior Dog, both Post Graduate classes and Limit Bitch; with open dog being the largest with 4 boys present and judging was over by 10.45am

Winning his second big green card, with Best of Breed and Best Puppy was the Cullen’s, Joan Miles and daughter Sarah Dean’s Skyline’s Outlander at Lekkerbek (imp USA)(Am Ch Windrift’s Dirty Hairy x Am Ch Skyline’s Mine Eyes Have Seen). The RDCC went to the open winner Debbie Hopkins’ Ch Quasars Brilliant Light Van Het Earlskamp Serenaubach (Am Ch Trumpet’s It’s Good To Be King (Imp USA) x Bel Ch Joyfull van het Earlskamp) handled as usual by Simon Oakley.

It was also a second big green card for Michelle, Tom & Caroline Gate’s Winklestar Alsephina via Lacetrom (Vivids Majestic Prince of Winklestar (imp USA) x Winklestar Serendipity) from Yearling, handled as usual by Michelle Wright.
And another RBCC in quick succession for Gill Brunt’s Zandvoort Moonlight (Ch Divnyi Drug Dar (Imp Rus) x Almaznyi Istochnik Vologodskie Kruzheva)

After the choice of judge, paying for car parking is probably the second most irritating issue for exhibitors and every year is something that I seem to comment on. I personally object to having to pay an extra £4+ for parking (or an extortionate £10 on the day) on top of the entry fee, to park my car in what is often just a roughly cut field. Often exhibitors and their dogs have to fight their way through wet, knee-high grass to the show ground entrance and there’s usually not a waste bin in sight either, which doesn’t help matters.

Seating or lack of is another issue. OK, like waste bins in the car park, they’re not high on the agenda of essentials; but it is the little things that make the difference. Some societies seem to have an abundance of spare chairs available for exhibitors; whilst at other shows they are conspicuous by their absence. Yes, the majority of the outdoor show societies have to hire everything, from tables and chairs to toilets and marquees and it all costs money. How often have you arrived at a certain show only to remember that chairs are like hens’ teeth – and for the umpteenth year in a row you have yet again forgotten to bring one along?

I know how difficult it can be for a society trying to balance the books; but you have to be seen offering value for money. I noticed that some shows are offering a reduced entry fee for more than 5 dogs entered, but how many of us have 5 plus dogs to show? Surely just one extra dog per exhibitor at a reduced rate is better than nothing; maybe a free or half price entry if the 2nd dog is a minor puppy or a veteran?

Blackpool is also one of the General Ch shows which while no longer having benching, still charge top entry fees of £32 per dog (plus car parking) as opposed to Border Union – £28 entry fee with free car parking and benched. I know which show gets my vote. Continually increasing entry fees and reducing what is ‘on offer’ – ie no benching or ring numbers isn’t going to solve anything; dog shows need exhibitors and not much seems to have changed for the better for the exhibitor. At the end of the day, for the majority of exhibitors, dog showing is just a hobby, but it needs to be one that is both affordable and enjoyable. It all boils down to value for money.

Anji Marfleet