39 Breed Notes – NoEKC & Darlington 2024

Another weekend and another double championship show; this time it being the turn of the North of England Keeshond Club who held their Ch show in partnership with Darlington. We were so lucky with the weather as the forecasted rain bounced down all day over most of Yorkshire, but missed Ripon Racecourse which just had heavy black clouds with a bit of a cool breeze. Coupled with short grass and no mud it made for ideal showing conditions.

As Keesies were scheduled second in the ring (after an entry of 85 Dalmatians) for judge Ian Blackshaw, it meant that the NoEKC were able to hold their Ch show first, with a leisurely start of 10.00am. Our judge was Elisabeth Spillman Akerlund from Sweden and she had drawn an entry of 42 dogs with 9 absentees.

The DCC went to the winner of the Veteran class, Natasha Hickson’s Ch Only The Lonley (Bert von Ricara (imp Den) x Kichigai Special Edition) with the RDCC going to the Open winner, Jane Ring’s Ch Neradmik Shine On Harvey Moon (Imp Can)((Ikon’s Shine In The Spotlight x Neradmik Norma Jean)

It was a crowning third CC with Best in Show for Michelle, Tom & Caroline Gate’s Winklestar Alsephina via Lacetrom (Vivids Majestic Prince of Winklestar (imp USA) x Winklestar Serendipity), handled as usual by Michelle Wright. Abbie’s 1st CC was at her first Ch show, aged just 7½ months from Melanie Reed Peck at the Keeshond Club’s Ch show in 2023 (where she swept the board winning the BCC, BIS BPIS plus the Jere Collins trophy for Best Mover) and her 2nd CC came this summer at Blackpool from Hans van den Berg. Technically, under the Kennel Club’s new ruling, Abbie became a Champion when she won her fifth RCC (which now qualifies as a third CC) at Birmingham City; but as Michelle said after winning the CC, she’s now a proper Champion.

The RBCC went to my Flatmeer Fleur’s Krystal (Milan Grey Giant Tichauspitz x Flatmeer Fleur Dilly) from Junior and Best Puppy was Sue Pattison’s Eastkees Amber Moon (Quest’ Eastkees Del Monte Dragnone (Imp Ita) x Eastkees Purple Gem) who was handled by David Matthews in the challenge

Colin Barton was our efficient steward and Vice President Ruth Burgess enjoyed her day helping Ann Toward marking up the catalogues and having a chat with old friends and colleagues. The timings couldn’t have been planned any better as the Club’s show was all done and photos taken by 12.45pm and Darlington’s Ch show judging started in the next ring about 15 minutes later.

Our judge for Darlington was Ian Blackshaw who had drawn an entry of 38 Keesies with 10 absentees.

Winning her first ever big green card was a delighted Shelley Johnston with her and Antonia Atkinson’s Winklestar Namid (Vivids Majestic Prince of Winklestar (Imp USA) x Winklestar Serendipity) from Junior. Keeping it in the family, the RDCC went to Danny’s half-brother the Matthews’ family and Tracy Lee’s Ch Winklestar Deneb at Valindale (Winklestar Reggie x Winklestar Serendipity) handled as usual by David Matthews.

It was one of those days for Michelle, as she and Abbie (Winklestar Alsephina via Lacetrom) went on to win her fourth CC with Best of Breed. Michelle said that initially she was dreading the long drive home as she had an early start for work the next day, but had since changed her mind and was probably going to go home on cloud nine instead!!

The RBCC went to Jane Ring’s Ch Neradmik Tantrums ‘N’ Tiaras (Ch Samkees With Love to Neradmik (Imp Mlt) x Ch Neradmik Grace Kelly (Imp Can)) and celebrating his birthday by winning his last 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).

Judging was over by 2.30pm which gave people plenty of time to get home, hopefully missing the worst of the traffic.

There were plenty of people ringside watching, with several querying the behaviour and temperament of some of the dogs – especially in the ring. It’s not the first time that this has been commented on by exhibitors, visitors and judges alike and really does not show the breed in a good light. Personally, I think that if your dog doesn’t like being ‘gone over’ by a judge, having its teeth looked at or generally being at a crowded show; then you go to ring craft and/or training classes and get it socialised and trained. It’s not fair on the dog to take it into an environment in which it’s obviously not happy, no matter how many shows it has been to.

Anji Marfleet