CRUFTS – A Year of Changes

by Kerry Rushby

Crufts is like no other show on Earth, but like so many other shows, it seemed to be a lucky show for some exhibitors and a disheartening show for others.

This year, at Crufts (no longer in association with dfs) at the NEC in Birmingham, the show attracted 21,029 dogs and 23,469 entries, including 1977 overseas dogs from 38 different countries. The attendance was 145,176.

Best in Show judge appointed for this year was Frank Kane. Famous for his Hirontower Cockers, Frank’s passion in dogs started from an early age, but his first dog was acquired when he was just 12 years-old. Frank obtained his first dog, a blue roan Cocker Spaniel from the famous ‘Of Ware’ and ‘Falconers’ bloodlines. In 1965, Frank attended his first Crufts, just as a spectator, which was at London’s Olympia in 1965. His first judging appointment was in 1974 when he awarded CCs in American Cocker Spaniels.

Five halls of the NEC’s daunting twenty halls were used for the show once again with the separate arena adjacent to hall one for the finals to take place. Online streaming and the Crufts FM radio proved a commercial success for the show once again this year. YouTube gained thousands of hits throughout the globe as dog fanciers waited in anticipation for the winners to be announced.

As always at Crufts over the four days, many other events took place. Demonstrations, flyball, agility and obedience just to name a few. The international junior handling final was judged by Norwegian judge Espen Engh, and this year’s winner was the Portuguese representative Raquel Colaço. Stuart Plane of Stuane Terriers, UK, judged the final of the breeders’ competition with 43 teams participating and his winner was Averil Cawthera-Purdy’s Lireva Pomeranians.

Crufts, now with its international status, is certainly a successful event. It was thrilling to have many UK, European and USA Champions win through the breed at the World’s biggest dog show including the Gundog Group winning Irish Water Spaniel, Sh Ch/Am Ch Whistletop’s Elements of Magic owned by handler Judith Carruthers and co-owned by breeder Cindy McDaniels. Other Crufts winners with American titles included the German Wirehaired Pointer, Sh Ch Ir Sh Ch Am Gr Ch Timo II V Bockenhagen at Kimmax Navhda, Labrador Retriever, Sh Ch/Am & Can Ch Salty Dog of Tampa Bay who won 2nd in the Gundog group, Kerry Blue Terrier Yingling and Davies’ Ch Am Ch Perrisblu Kenneslain’s Chelsey, who returned to the UK for Crufts and flew back to the USA with Best of Breed and Reserve Best in Terrier Group, handled by Bill McFadden, while Irish Terrier, Ch Am Ch Fleet St Fenway Fan, owned by Tony Barker and Victor Malzoni won the breed and group 3. Other breed winners were the Sealyham Terrier, Am Ch Blomendal’s Born In the USA at Thunder Rd, Finnish Spitz, Ch Am Ch Kunniakas Kovu ShCM, Affenpinscher, Gch Banana Joe V. Tani Kazari, owned by Tina Truesdale and the Cooymans, and the Keeshond Ch Am Ch Kemonts Skyline’s Game Boy, owned by Miles and Cullen, as wells as Scottish Terrier Am Gr Ch McVan’s Be Bop Baby

Before the finale of Crufts on the Sunday evening, Mary Ray and her expert team of Collies once again stunned the crowd with her latest Dancing with Dogs display. The lights were dimmed, the brass band regiment marched into the ring before blowing out the fanfare. Soon after, Frank Kane was escorted into the Best in Show ring by Crufts Chairman, Gerald King. There was a warm round of applause for Frank before each of the finalists graced us with their presence for the BIS judging to commence.

His finalists consisted of the Lhasa Apso, Ch Zentarr Elizabeth, selected by Crufts BIS handler himself and this year’s judge of the Utility group, Geoff Corish. Elizabeth the Lhasa is the winner of 19 CCs and Best of Breeds, Group 2 at Crufts in 2011, multiple Best in Show wins and in December 2011 Elizabeth and her breeder/owner Margaret Anderson represented the UK at the Eukanuba World Challenge where they were placed 3rd overall. The Pomeranian, selected by Annette Oliver, Belliver Unexpected Dream is owned by F. Nilsson and handled by past Crufts BIS handler, Mikael Nilsson. Mikael won BIS at Crufts with Ch Topscore Contradiction, the White Standard Poodle who was the first overseas dog to win BIS at Crufts. The Newfoundland was selected by Jeff Luscott as the Working group representative. Multi Champion King of Helluland Feel the Win is handled by breeder Sonja Krockovci. A multi titled Champion throughout Europe, the Irish Water Spaniel, Ch Am Ch Whistle-top’s Elements of Magic is the winner of 9 CCs and Top Gundog UK for 2011. It was selected by John Thirl-well, who himself handled the Hungarian Vizsla Sh Ch Hungargunn Bear It N Mind to Best in Show at Crufts in 2010. The Borzoi, Ch Rothesby Sholwood Snow Hawk is a winner of 5CCs but the owner, having never won a group, enjoyed her time in the big ring. The Old English Sheepdog, Multi Ch Bottomshaker My Secret, a top winning herding dog across the UK and Europe with multiple titles was handled by Zsolt Hano who recently campaigned the Tibetan Terrier, Atisha’s Blanc De Noir across Europe before returning to the States with his breeder, Sheryl Rutledge Schultis. Finally. the Norwich Terrier, Ragus Merry Gentleman won the Terrier group. It is co-owned with breeder Lesley Crawley and Matthew Odie.

Each dog had their own audience of supporters in the seated arena and once on the move after their individual assessment, people cheered for their favorites. The Pomeranian put on a great show entertaining us with his spins; the Irish Water Spaniel moved effortlessly around the ring; the Borzoi moved with elegance and style; the Norwich showed determination and put on a great performance; the Old English who’s coat gleamed in the light and was at one with his handler just caught your eye whilst the Newfoundland with his abundant size, coat and movement was a vision. Then there was the Lhasa, small in body but large in presentation, elegance on the move, style on the stance and love for her hobby.

It was with no hesitation that Frank’s winner was the Lhasa Apso. Elizabeth’s owner Margaret was clearly shocked and pausing with delight when she was selected, she exclaimed: “I am speechless, completely breathless. Elizabeth is wonderful and she always rises to the occasion. As you can see she is not at all fazed; the more applause, the more she loves it. She can’t do any more than this. I am sure someone is going to pinch me in a minute and I will wake up and it will all be a dream.” In Reserve spot was the Newfoundland ‘Brutus’ who jumped up with joy as his owner Sonja realised she was selected and shed a few tears.

The press came racing to the main ring at the podium, well wishers were shouting congratulations from their seats, friends were screaming with delight and the two dogs just took it all in stride, with no fear or hesitation. True to style show dogs! Well, of course they are. They just won the biggest dog show in the World, CRUFTS.

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Posted by admin on May 14 2012. Filed under Current Articles, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.