38 Breed Notes – Darlington & NoEKC 2021

The various forecasts for Darlington weekend (especially Sunday which was Utility day) were all proven wrong as it was lovely weather for showing dogs. The day started off warm but cloudy, there was a very brief spell of fine drizzle around lunch time and then the sun came out for the afternoon and was glorious. Lovely short grass in the carparks and showground (with no large, wet clumps of grass cuttings lying around) meant that feet (& footwear) were kept dry and clean. The showground was very spaciously laid out with more than enough space for gazebos etc and the trade stands were situated by the car park entrances along with the food wagons which must have helped to boost business. And last but not least, the fabulous ‘Classic Porta-Loos’ dotted around the ground.

Keeshonds were first in the ring with a 9.00am start for judge Ann Ingram (who last judged us at Southern Counties in 2018) and she had drawn an entry of 43 dogs with 3 absentees. There were no entries in Puppy Dog and it was over by 11.30am.

The Dog CC and Best of Breed went to Natasha Hickson’s Ch Kichigai’s Only The Lonley (Bert von Ricara (imp Den) x Kichigai Special Edition) with the RDCC going to winner of Veteran – Cheri & Trevor Rogers’ Aust Can Am Ch Keez Kause For Koncern (Keesway The Marksman at Keez x Keez Tayla Maid) Natasha and Vinnie got Utility Group 2 under Sue Dykes and Trevor & Konner Group 3 in the Veteran Group.

It was a first big green card for David Peck’s Byquy Starmaker (Ch Winklestar Hadar x Byquy Walkin Boots), handled by David Matthews for Limit and the RBCC went to the winner of Open, Nichola Kerr’s Caraspitz Good Luck Charm (Vanstrand Thunderball x Zandvoort Field of Dreams). Best Puppy was Matthews & Lee’s Winklestar Aurora at Valindale (Vivids Majestic Prince of Winklestar (IMP USA) x Winklestar Serendipity)

After a half hour break it was turn for the North of England’s Ch show; our judge for 2021 should have been Gustaf van den Bosch from Belgium, but due to Covid travel restrictions etc appointments were changed and our substitute judge was Keith Nathan (who last judged at Darlington in 2016) ably assisted by steward Graham Copley.

Keith had drawn an entry of 39 dogs, again with just 3 absentees. There were no entries in either Junior Dog or Novice Bitch and judging was over by 2.20pm which gave everyone plenty of time to pack up and still get home to enjoy the last of the day’s sunshine.

It was a first big green card with Best Veteran for Trevor and Konner (Aust Can Am Ch Keez Kause For Koncern) with Natasha and Vinnie (Ch Kichigai’s Only The Lonley (Bert von Ricara (imp Den) x Kichigai Special Edition) getting the RDCC.

It was a second CC with Best of Breed for Jane Saunders’ Liefkees Adina (Ch Wund-R Y Workin For A Livin at Szaryk (Imp USA) x Liefkees Angelika) from Limit with another RBCC for Nichola and Kizzie (Caraspitz Good Luck Charm )
Best Puppy again was David and young Rita (Winklestar Aurora at Valindale)

Doris Purdon very kindly donated a £25 prize to Best Dog, Best Bitch, Best Veteran and Best Puppy and the £50 Lucky Catalogue number was won again by a very lucky Sharon Rose! Debbie Palmer managed to extract over £70 for the raffle from exhibitors of any breed who were near our ring or just passing through

The Golden Oldie rosette (donated by Sheila Mac) was won by Sophie (Ir Ch Kichigai Rare Edition at Murmansk) who is nearly 12 years young and was handled as usual by Jane Usher.

Anji Marfleet