38 Breed Notes – Keeshond Club & B’ham City 2026

At the City of Birmingham, we were in the same ‘new hall’ as last year, although it felt more crowded and less spacious than before. What did surprise me though, was how few trade stands there were. I suppose it’s not surprising that with increasing entry fees and costs in general, the subsequent drop in entries is having a knock-on effect.

The Keeshond Club’s Ch show was held first in the ring with a 9.00am start for judge Angelika Rubens from Germany, who was awarding CC’s for the first time. She had drawn an entry of 42 Keesies with 4 absentees. There were no entries in the Baby Puppy classes, Minor Puppy Dog, Junior Dog, Yearling Dog, Not Bred By Dog and the Breeders Dog was absent. The largest class was Limit Bitch with all 8 girls present and judging was finished by 11.15am

Winning his second CC with Best in Show was Ann Downs’ Liefkees Assisi JW (Ch Quasars Brilliant Light van het Earlskamp Serenaubach x Liefkees Adina) from Open, with the RDCC and Best Puppy in Show going to Shelly Johnston’s Revlis Sapphire Star (Vivids Majestic Prince of Winklestar (Imp USA) x Tykees Full Of Chaos)

BCC with Reserve Best in Show was Gill Brunt’s Ch Zandvoort Grace’s Secret (Ch Divnyi Drug Dar (imp Russ) x Almaznyi Istochnik Tropicheskaya Noch (imp Russ)) and the RBCC with Best Veteran in Show went to Jane Saunders’
Liefkees Adina (Ch Wund-R Y Workin For A Livin at Szaryk x Liefkees Angelika)

Our judge for the City’s Ch show, judge Sarah Hattrell (her first appointment was at Richmond in 2023) was ready waiting and judging started at 11.30am. She had drawn an entry of 39 dogs with 4 absentees; there were no entries in both the Good Citizen classes, Special Beginners Bitch and Graduate Dog and judging was over and done with by 1.30pm

DCC with Best Veteran was Gill Brunt’s Ch Divnyi Drug Dar (imp Russ) (Russ Ch Cinerus Artic Prince of Star x Russ Ch Divnyi Drug Gusja Lebed) with the RDCC going to Mel Harris & Jean Sharp-Bale’s Neradmik Shooting Star (Ch Aragorn Elessar Elfiyskiy Berill x Ch Neradmik Pandora’s Box) from Junior.

It was another ‘one of those days’ for Gill as Belle (Ch Zandvoort Grace’s Secret) handled by Alison Bennett, not only won her 2nd CC of the day, but also beat her dad Darik for Best of Breed and the RBCC went to her ½ sister Rose, Ch Zandvoort Moonlight (Ch Divnyi Drug Dar (Imp Rus) x Almaznyi Istochnik Vologodskie Kruzheva) who was second in Open. It was another Best Puppy for Shelly Johnston’s Frostie – Revlis Sapphire Star

A reminder that for the NoEKC’s Ch show on 19th September, held in partnership with Darlington Ch show; car parking is £6 pre-paid – passes must be purchased in advance via Higham Press or it’s £8 on the day.
Extra passes for any dogs who are attending the NoEKC show only can be obtained from Jane Ring – email noekcsecretary@gmail.com

Anji Marfleet
A correction to my notes.
Angelika Rubens was awarding CC’s in the UK for the second time at the weekend. Her first appointment was in 2009 at SKC.