A Spectacular Westminster 2021 Comes To A Close

©Kerrin S. Churchill

By Amy Fernandez

This spectacular one-off show has come and gone, and one thing’s for sure, Westminster dodged a bullet in terms of the weather. Intense heat and humidity throughout the week leading up to the show gave way to ideal weekend weather. Impeccable timing for sure because we are back to the wind, rain, and nasty cold weather here in New York. The show was a success, but you wouldn’t expect otherwise. Westminster has pretty much set the bar for flawless show management, and number 145 was no exception. It ran like clockwork. Fox did a great job broadcasting the show. They actually had a gigantic “Fox compound” set up at Lyndhurst for the past two weeks. It was a lot of work, but the live streaming and televised coverage effectively compensated for the lack of spectator experience.

As always, group judging kicked off at 7:30 with Hounds. Mr. Jamie Hubbard gave us a truly interesting lineup of winners, shining the spotlight on some of the lesser-known breeds with fourth place going to the four-year-old Harrier bitch, GCHS. Blythmoor Sheez-Beez Tell Me No Tales, and the Redbone, GCHG. CCH. My She Dances Like Uma Thurman in third place. Coonhounds definitely got their chance to star at Westminster this year because Group Second went to the Bluetick GCHG. Evenstar-Wesridge’s One Hail of a Man. The Hound Group winner was the stunning Whippet GCHP. Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon who has reigned as top Hound for three years running and currently ranks as the top winning Whippet in the breed’s history.

The ever-elegant Mrs. June Penta presided over the Toy Group, selecting four crowd-pleasers as her winners.  She chose the Italian Greyhound, GCHB. Integra Maja Beach Please! as fourth, preceded by that indomitable Havanese, GCHP. Oeste’s In The Name of Love. Bono’s four-year winning streak has almost made him a permanent resident of Westminster’s group ring. The Pom, GCHP. Empee’s Cyber Monday was runner-up to David Fitzpatrick’s dazzling Peke GCHG. Pequest Wasabi, who has already done a lifetime of winning for such a young dog.

Non-Sporting was judged by a true student of these breeds, Mr. Dennis McCoy. His first-place winner was the ever-popular Frenchie, GCHP. Chaseland’s Mathew Moss, who capped his breed win over 26 contenders. The red rosette went to the five-year-old Shar-Pei bitch GCHP. Majesty Legaxy Asia’s Crown Jewel, followed by the Lhasa GCHB. Xeralane’s Shut Up And Kiss Me, and the Schip in fourth place, GCHB. Delamer Suzi Sells Sushi on the Boardwalk. (Now that is a cute name).

The famed Corgi expert Mr. Bill Shelton was in charge of the Herding Group, giving us the ever-popular Old English GCH. Bugaboo’s Courage Of Conviction as his group winner and the Puli GCH. Cordmaker Punchinello as runner up. Third and fourth, respectively, went to the Miniature American Shepherd, GCHG. Dynasty’s Epic Adventure at Sunpeak and the lovely German Shepherd bitch, GCHS. Woodside’s Arabella.

Mr. James Covey judged the first of Sunday’s groups, giving the Sporting group to a breed that remains a Westminster favorite, the German Shorthair Pointer GCHS. Clarity Reach The Sky Vjk-Myst. Jade, of course, is another phenom presented by the super talented Valerie Nunes-Atkinson. She was followed by the Brittany GCHB. Hope’s Copper Pennie, with the English Setter, GCHS. Sevenoaks Weymouthcatchingfire in third place, and finally the majestic Gray Ghost, the Weimaraner, GCH. Greyborn’s Belle Starr in fourth.

The Working Group was in the capable hands of Mrs. Judy Harrington, and her first-place winner was no big surprise. The Sammy, GCHG. Vanderbilt N’ Printemp’s Lucky Strike has been striking the show ring like lightning and is currently ranked as the top dog all breeds. Group Second proved to be an equally popular decision, going to the cleverly named Doberman bitch, GCHP. Protocol’s I Came I Saw I Sparkled. Likewise, her choice for third, the stunning Dane GCHG. Landmark-Divine Acres Kiss Myself I’m So Pretty earned plenty of approval from the crowd, as did her group fourth place selection, the absolutely stunning Pyr GCH. Rivergroves Just In Time.

Mr. William Potter judged the final group of the night. And his choice for best Terrier was another breed we don’t see enough of in the Westminster spotlight, the audacious Westie GCHG. Crystal Boy De La Pomme.  Judge Potter definitely shook up the traditional status quo for this group, giving second to that unstoppable Mini Schnauzer GCHP. Carmel Sky High Wish Upon A Star and third to the scrappy and charming Border, GCHG. Meadowlark High Times. He rounded out his lineup with the breed that has ruled Westminster through the decades, the Wire Fox Terrier GCH. Random Real Quiet.

And finally, it was the big moment for 2021. Best In Show was judged by Mrs. Pat Craig Trotter, who certainly knows her way around this green carpet, having piloted her Norwegian Elkhounds to the final round at Westminster on eleven occasions. I guess the same could be said of her winner. David Fitzpatrick, of course, won Westminster 2012 with the celebrated Malachy. Wasabi has certainly been making up for lost time in this abbreviated show season. He is definitely consistent, and Sunday night was no exception. He looked great, moved like a trooper, and even though he was the smallest contender, he truly owned that big ring. Reserve BIS went to the Whippet, Bourbon, the 2020 AKC National Championship Best In Show Winner.

Congratulations to everyone. Get some rest. Westminster 2022 will be here before you know it.

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Posted by admin on Jun 14 2021. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.