30 Breed Notes – July 2026

The show season is now in full swing; if there’s not a Championship show, there will probably be an Agricultural show somewhere; many of which still have a dog section. I’m always going on about value for money (or the lack of it re the general Ch shows) and this has been reflected for a while now in the low number of entries some Ch shows are attracting; with people voting with their feet as they aren’t prepared to spend their hard-earned money just to ‘make up the numbers’. On the other hand, Agricultural shows offer a full day out with plenty to see and do (when you’re not busy showing) for a fraction of the cost of a Ch show entry; with free parking and no spectator dog fees an additional bonus.

On Sunday it was Bakewell Agricultural & Horticultural Society Premier open show; where a very strong breeze kept everyone cool despite the hot sun. It did mean though that keeping umbrellas and gazebos etc from flying away was sometimes challenging – with windswept and sunburnt describing many people by the end of the day!

Keesies had classes scheduled and the judge was Eileen Kelly. Best of Breed was Gill Brunt’s Rose (Ch Zandvoort Moonlight) who got Group 4; Best Puppy was Mel Harris & Jean Sharp-Bale’s Jester (Neradmik Shooting Star) who went Puppy Group 2 and my Fiver (Flatmeer Fleur Dilly) got 2nd in a well filled AV Veteran class.
Hilary Mitchell was the BIS & stakes judge; Gill took young Eva (Zandvoort Wind In Her Hair) into a huge AV Puppy stakes and got third place (& forgot to collect her prize money) and then ending a lovely day out, my Dallas (Ch Flatmeer Fleur’s Krystal) won the Champion stakes and £20 prize money.

On Saturday also flying the Keesie flag was Nichola Kerr and Abel ( Abel V Kees Uit de Polders ) who went Best Veteran in Show at Tweedmouth CS under Judge Jean Taylor, winning a society ring clip, a beautiful Rosette, Framed Photo, a handmade Tote bag & a bag of Pooch & Mutt. It was her lucky day as she also won the Hamper Raffle!!

The schedule for the NoEKC’s Championship Show, Judge Sue Smith (Sueacres) held on Saturday 19th September, in partnership with Darlington is now available on Have a Dog Day; with online entries only.

Anji Marfleet