Table Talk – August 8, 2018
I spent a few days in Canfield, Ohio this past weekend. This is something I have done for so many years. Anyone who attends this show with any degree of frequency expects to deal with some type of weather issue–most commonly rain and/or heat. This year’s show was no different. We experienced incredibly hot weather all weekend. However, that didn’t deter people from having a good time.
The Steel Valley Cluster continues to come up with great exhibitor appreciation events such as a drive-in movie, along with golf cart and set-up decoration contests continuing their theme from last year: Christmas in July. The cluster also continues to offer educational opportunities like judges education and the ever-popular Junior Handling clinic. This year’s entries were up from last year with the largest entry for the weekend at 1600+ dogs. While this is not the 3,000+ from many years ago, the entry is going in the right direction! Kudos to the hard working show committee for another job well done!
Thanks to all for your comments and feedback regarding last week’s topic about the pending AKC proposal to provide the opportunity for an exhibit to earn a point for Best of Winners when there are no points available in either sex. I received comments for and against the proposal after last week’s column. The respondents’ primary concern was the dilution of the AKC Championship designation. I had the opportunity to chat with an AKC executive to clarify the proposal in its current form and my understanding of the proposal was not correct:
The catch phrase of “1 +1 + 1” being used does not accurately portray the current proposal. As I now understand, if approved by the Delegate body, Best of Winners would receive a maximum of one point if there were no points in either sex and the total number of class dogs and class bitches would equal or exceed the number required for a point in its sex for that region based on the current point schedule. To earn a point the entry must still defeat another entry; in this scenario being one of a different sex in which the judge has awarded Winners.
For example: Let’s say a breed requires 2 dogs and 3 bitches for a point. If the entry at a show is not sufficient for a point in either sex; if BOW is awarded to Winners Dog, the sum of all class dogs and bitches must be at least 2 for BOW to earn a point. If BOW is awarded to Winners Bitch, the sum of all class dogs and bitches must be at least 3 for BOW to earn a point.
The actual application of the proposal, in my mind, alleviates the dilution issue and helps address the current fancy frustration of continuously entering numerous shows only to find out there is no competition and no chance for a point. Exhibitors are getting tired of wasting entry dollars, and if something is not done, they will stop entering altogether! We all must realize that our sport is in a much different place than it was 30 years ago and if new, creative ideas are not implemented, our sport will die. AKC continues to come up with innovative ideas that maintain exhibitor interest and participation and the fancy needs to be flexible and accepting of change to help the sport of conformation thrive. While this proposal applies to all breeds, it will be most beneficial to those with lower entries (Editor’s Note: over 60 current breeds are low entry).
This proposal is scheduled to be read at the September Delegates meeting and voted on at the December meeting.
Many of our fellow fanciers are making the trip to Amsterdam for the World Dog Show. Among them are Perry Payson, Fernando Duarte, Christian Rangel, Martha Feltenstein and Laura Coomes. Safe travels to all and we’d love to hear about your travels and your World Show experience when you return!
Congratulations to Jack Bradshaw Dog Show Superintendents on reaching a milestone as it celebrates its 120th year in dog shows! Jack Bradshaw Dog Shows has been a family-run business since its inception. The Bradshaw family will be celebrating this amazing achievement at the upcoming South Bay shows in California with appetizers and cake for everyone. Please join them this coming weekend if you are attending the South Bay shows.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Vizsla fancier Ed Wanjon and his family. Ed is in ICU at Henry Mayo Hospital.
Sadly, the fancy lost two more iconic figures this past week. Clint Harris passed away at the age of 93 after taking another bad fall. Dick Becker passed away after an extended illness following a fall. Dick is survived by his wife, Phyllis, who is currently ill with cancer. I am sure that Dick, Clint, George Ward and Tom Glassford will all be watching over us together and smiling… Now might be a good time for anyone not familiar with these great handlers to do a little research and read about them. They helped make our sport of dogs great.
I was saddened to hear that long-time member of the American Toy Dog Fanciers Christine Filler-Amos passed away.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi world lost longtime breeder/judge Rutledge Parker. Our thoughts are with family and friends at this sorrowful time.
Happy 6th Anniversary to Jen and John Baggenstos! May you guys have many more years of love and happiness together.
Celebrating birthdays this week are: Suzanne Sosne, Anna Milicia, Lynn Meyer, Dave Berrey, Christine Foster Nethery, and Chris Smith.
Have a great week everyone! My next stop is Santa Barbara and I look forward to seeing many of you there! Wherever your travels take you, stay positive, be kind and keep those dogs cool! Until next time…
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