Westminster Toy Group Recap

Photo by Karen Evasuik

By Amy Fernandez

Last night’s Toy Group capped off a day characterized equally by predictability and surprises at the Piers. Judge Keke Kahn didn’t think twice, awarding Group First to the show stopping Min Pin bitch, GCH Marlex Classic Red Glare. Now four years old, Classie’s been a consistent record breaker, racking up a career total of 120 BIS wins, and finishing last year as number one Toy, and third ranked all breed. She has become a regular visitor the Group ring, going Second last year and Third the previous year.

Group Second went to a veteran Cavalier, GCH Grantilley Galaxy Moon. Whelped in 2005, he finished last year ranked sixth in his breed. He was followed by the Pom, GCH CR Chase What Matters, last year’s ninth ranked Toy. Kahn rounded out her group with another consistent winner, the Scottish import Peke from Bert Easdon’s famed Yakee kennel, handled by his co owner, David Fitzpatrick, who triumphed to BIS in 2012 with GCH Palacegarden Malachy. This year was a repeat Breed win for Ch Yakee Easily Persuaded, who placed Group Third at Westminster 2013. He finished last year with a Group win at the AKC/ Eukanuba National Championship in Orlando, to finish up as 2013’s third ranked Toy.

Other surprises of the day took place in the Affen ring, where a son of last year’s BIS winner, Banana Joe, triumphed to BOB. GCH Yarrow’s Hi-Tech Ben There Done That concluded last year as number two Affenpinscher. Over in the Brussels ring, Peter Green stepped in to replace Dick Beauchamp, awarding Breed to the three-year-old bitch, Ch. Cashin’s Sizzling Bacon Bit. In Longcoat and Smoothcoat Chihuahuas, Judge Judy Webb spiced up the day with her choices. In Longcoats she gave the nod to the three-year-old tri-color dog, Ch Bramver’s Royal Tuxedo. In Smoothcoats, she chose the Mexican-bred dog, Ch Sonnus Filho (Sanchez), who finished 2013 ranked tenth in Breed. In Papillons, Breed went to the four-year-old bitch, GCH Wildfire OnThe Record, last year’s national specialty winner and 14th ranked Toy.

In Poodles, Dr. Don Sturz Jr. went with the favorite, Ch Smash JP Beauty & Beat. Handled by Kaz Hozaka, she placed second at the 2013 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. Judge Sari Teitjen’s choice in Pugs was GCH Caper’s Sirius Endeavor, last year’s second ranked Toy. In Shih Tzu, she went with Ch Hallmark Jolei Rocket Power, the eleventh ranked Toy of 2013.

Overall, Toy judging was a classic Westminster day filled with upsets, thrills, and excitement.

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Posted by Alex on Feb 11 2014. Filed under Current Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.