Table Talk · October 8, 2025
What a week! Last week I attended what some call “Terrier Week,” a cluster commonly known as Montgomery County Week. It normally includes two days of Hatboro Dog Club shows, Devon Dog Show Association, and the greatest terrier show in the world, Montgomery County Kennel Club. Every five years, Morris & Essex starts the week on Wednesday with their All-Breed dog show held at Colonial Park in Sommerset, New Jersey. This adds an exciting dimension to an already busy week of shows. Those of us who have been in the sport for more years than we care to admit remember many clusters where we changed location–oftentimes more than once! For many, this past week brings back those memories as Morris & Essex is in New Jersey (Wednesday), Hatboro (Thursday and Friday) and Montgomery (Sunday) are held at Macungie Park, and Devon (Saturday) is held at Ludwig’s Corner.
This year’s Morris and Essex show was the grand event that everyone hoped it would be… once you got in the park! John Miller and his Site Control crew worked very hard to make participants’ arrival as efficient as possible. Unfortunately, traffic had to go through law enforcement on the street prior to arriving at the first parking attendant. Site Control put out as much information as they could regarding arrival and asked everyone to give themselves enough time to get in and settled. Yours truly arrived at the line at 6:30 AM and found a parking space at 8:30. John Miller told me he parked his first vehicle at 3:30 AM! Thankfully, judging was delayed by 30 minutes (with catch-up due to the traffic situation), which created that dreaded wrinkle in people’s schedules! Sadly, those who wanted to purchase Morris & Essex merchandise were disappointed if they arrived after 10 AM as the shelves were empty.
The Hatboro Dog Club and Montgomery County KC shows ran smoothly. The weather made me wonder if I missed my turn and ended up in Florida! The sun was shining, skies were blue, and temperatures were warm during the day. Fortunately, there was plenty of shade at the park! The exhibitor experience at these shows is second to none, my friends! The clubs, working closely with Site Control, made the experience amazing!
John Miller and his Site Control crew were incomparable throughout the week. It is very important to remember to thank them when you see them at the next show. They worked even harder than they normally do with minimal, if any, sleep. A thumbs up or a thank you, and kindness to the men in orange goes a long, long way! THANK YOU once again, John Miller and team for a job well done! I do not know what we do without you.
Unfortunately, an Australian Terrier was lost at Hatboro, and it still has not been found, although there have been sightings! If you are around Macungie Park, and see an Australian Terrier running loose, please do not chase it. Call the Macungie Police.
Ania Romano Kelly received the customary “TP” of her set-up for her back-to-back Best In Show wins at the Hatboro shows! I’m sorry we could not connect for an interview Ania, but rest assured, I’ll catch you at the next shows!
Many fanciers went to Poole Forge park on Monday following Montgomery County to celebrate Peter Green’s life. A lovely plaque was dedicated to this great dog man. It reads:
Both born in Wales and lived in Pool Forge, Peter Green and his legendary Sealyham Terrier, CH. Dersade Bobby’s Girl, or Binny, truly left an indelible mark on the dog show world. Their 1977 Westminster Best in Show win was a watershed moment for the breed and for Green himself, launching a career that would span decades and redefine excellence in terrier handling including four total Westminster wins and a win at Crufts.
This is a fitting tribute to one of the greatest dog men the world has ever known.
Sadly, Kate Hanlon lost her battle with pancreatic cancer last week. The effect this great loss has had on our community has been overwhelming. If you were blessed to know Kate, you knew what a force she was in our lives. Kate was one-of-a-kind. She was an avid Red Sox fan. She had a huge mouth, but an even bigger heart! She would help anyone and would talk with and be kind to everyone! She had a heart of gold, and she will be sorely missed by everyone that had the pleasure of calling her their friend. Kate is no longer in pain. Heaven has gained the best angel. Sincere condolences to Eileen, Abigail, and everyone who knew or crossed paths with her. Rest easy, Kate.
It is difficult to believe that Andrew and Vienna Mueller have already been married for a year! Happy anniversary, lovebirds and may you have many, many more!!
Fanciers celebrating birthdays this week include Amy Duncan, Anna Stromberg, Jon Cole, Mary Osbun, Amy Cox, and Gaby Gilbeau. Best wishes for a great day and a great year ahead.
Be safe out there, my friends. May your travels bring you cherished memories, great wins, and special times with good friends. Until next time…
Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=340774
Posted by Comments are closed
