33 Breed Notes – Paignton 2024

And still this matter over the proposed use of a ramp at shows rumbles on. Despite repeated requests to The Keeshond Club, officially from the NoEKC and from individual members, the results of the so-called ballot are still only known to a very select few. The question most are asking is – what are The Keeshond Club trying to hide??

As so many exhibitors have said that they either a) didn’t vote for a ramp or b) didn’t even know about the ballot, I really wouldn’t be surprised if the result was for against the use of a ramp by the few people who were aware of the ballot and that ‘committee votes’ tipped the balance by an extremely slim majority. But I am more than happy to be proven wrong – as and when democracy prevails and members are given the actual ballot results.

It is the exhibitors’ choice as to whether their dog goes onto a ramp to be ‘gone over’ by the judge. But if there are four dogs in a class, one goes on the ramp and three don’t – how can that be a level playing/judging field?? How many ringcraft clubs have ramps for puppies to practice on, as none of my local ones have one. To be perfectly honest, with entries at the moment averaging in the 20’s; if a person can’t bend over to do so few dogs, then they really need to ask themselves if they should be ‘centre stage’ in the first place.

At Paignton Keeshonds were second in the ring after 24 Shiba Inus for judge, all-rounder Lee Cox, who was awarding CC’s in the breed for the first time; and he had drawn an entry of 24 Keesies with 4 absentees. There were no entries in Junior and Post Graduate Dog, Puppy Bitch and Special Beginners Dog or Bitch.

It was a second CC for Sharon and George Rose’s Dianakees Inspector Morse at Esorkees (Ch Rossvale Endeavour to Esorkees x Ednaaron Moondance) from Limit. The RDCC went to the Veteran winner, Natasha Hickson’s Ch Only The Lonley (Bert von Ricara (imp Den) x Kichigai Special Edition)

Winning her crowning third CC with Best of Breed was Carol Bardsley’s Skathki Emerald City (Ch Samkees With Love to Neradmik (Imp Mlt) x Ch Neradmik Ruby Slipper for Skathki) Her first CC was at Richmond in 2022 from Jean Sharp Bale and her second CC was won the following year at WELKS in 2023 from Dianna Spavin. The RBCC went to second in Open, Jane Ring’s Ch Neradmik Tantrums ‘N’ Tiaras (Ch Samkees With Love to Neradmik (imp Mlt) x Ch Neradmik Grace Kelly (Imp Can))

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).

Anji Marfleet