39 Breed Notes – NoEKC & Darlington 2026

For over 20 years the North of England Keeshond Club has posted the results and critiques from the General Ch Shows and all breed club’s shows on its website. This is freely available for all to see and I know that it is appreciated, especially by ‘non-showing breed enthusiasts’.
Now that Our Dogs has gone, I have been asked about putting up Open Show results as well. If there is sufficient interest, I am prepared to post Open Show results (and critiques) on the NoEKC’s website – the exact format to be decided!
We don’t have many breed classes scheduled, so will include AVNSC class results too. You all know which shows you have been to, so sending me a copy of a marked-up catalogue (relevant page only!), with name of show, date and judge would be a good place to start.
If you want Open Show wins to be recorded for prosperity, I will only be able to do this with your help and support, so the decision is yours as to whether you want this facility.

After a double Ch Show at Birmingham City, followed by Richmond, it was another double at Darlington; five Ch shows all within 2 weeks makes September an expensive month for exhibitors. It was a 9.00am start at Darlington and the day started off very overcast and breezy, which quickly blew away the odd heavy shower. There was surprisingly plenty of space both ringside and inside; none of the usual ‘bunfight’ trying to fight your way through tightly packed cages and trolleys to get to the good sized in/out rings.

First up was our Darlington judge, Caron Bell (Allforus) (who last judged us at Richmond 2024) who had drawn an entry of 35 dogs with 6 absentees. There were no Puppy Dogs and both Post Graduate Bitches were absent

The DCC with Best of Breed was Corentin Fedeli’s Ch Fr Ch Aragorn Elessar El’fiyskiy Berill (Pushistikoff Caesar x Almaznyi Istochnik Tantsuyuschaya Feya) from Open, with the RDCC going to the Limit winner, Sue and Alan Hill’s Bargeway Dark Knight at Plymkees (Torrikees Purple Rein x Ch Art Pride Bomb Explosive Beauty Imp Rus)

It was a second CC for Jane Ring’s Neradmik Tinseltown at Baleissa (Torrikees Purple Rein x Neradmik Shimmer N’ Shine (Imp Can)) from Limit; with the RBCC going to Gill Brunt’s Ch Zandvoort Grace’s Secret (Ch Divnyi Drug Dar (imp Russ) x Almaznyi Istochnik Tropicheskaya Noch (imp Russ)) Best Puppy was Gill’s Zandvoort Wind In Her Hair (Ch Divnyi Drug Dar (imp Russ) x Goldgin Chanel (imp Russ)) and Best Veteran was Wendy McKean’s .Ch Kichigai It Takes Two at Yawren.

Following on in an adjacent ring was the NoEKC’s Ch show, where our judge was Sue Smith (Sueacres)(who last judged us at Paignton 2023) and Sue had an entry of 33 Keesies with 5 absentees. By the time judging started around 11.15am, the sun had come out and it was beginning to warm up, although there was still the odd strong gust of wind which rattled the marquees, sending prize cards and rosettes flying.

Going one better from the previous show and also winning his second CC with Best in Show was Sue and Alan Hill’s Ozzie – Bargeway Dark Knight at Plymkees and it was a first RDCC for the Divers’ Neradmik Let There Be Rock at Murmansk (Ch Aragorn Elessar Elfiyskiy Berill x Ch Neradmik Pandora’s Box) from Yearling, handled as usual by Jane Usher.

Winning her first CC with Best Puppy was Gill and Eva – Zandvoort Wind In Her Hair from the Minor Puppy class with the RBCC going to Gill’s Ch Zandvoort Grace’s Secret (Ch Divnyi Drug Dar (imp Russ) x Almaznyi Istochnik Tropicheskaya Noch (imp Russ)) handled by Alison Bennett. Best Veteran in Show was my Flatmeer Fleurette, handled by Sue Hill. The show finished with an assortment of cakes to celebrate birthdays and recent wins.

Continuing with his winning streak, the following day back at home Ozzie (Bargeway Dark Knight at Plymkees) went to Plymouth & DKA Premier open show, where he won the Utility Group and ended up going Best in Show under judge Margaret Diffey.

Anji Marfleet