Westminster Memories: An Outsider’s Look on the Westminster Dog Show

by Kerry Rushby

Photograph by Lisa Croft Elliott

Originally published March 2011

One question I asked myself during my visit to New York for Westminster: Is it the case of New York – the City that never sleeps, or is it Westminster – the dog show that never disappoints?

What went through my mind also is: what is famous about New York? The sights, Broadway, shopping at Macys or Bloomingdales, drinking at Starbucks, being chilled to the bone visiting the  86th floor of the Empire State Building and the boat trip across from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island! Only one of these ‘to do tasks’ phased me – Starbucks! I am ashamed to say that I was not a big fan of Starbucks. Back home in the UK, due to the fact that where I live, they are not around. In New York, I was surrounded by Starbucks on every corner of each street I looked at. Needless to say I went home hooked on Starbucks very own Grande Mocha Frappuchino – and I finished up a healthy one pound heavier in weight than before I left the UK! Not sure my consultant at Slimming World would be impressed, but what the hell, I was in New York! Thanks to Lisa and Carrie for the introduction into Starbucks.

Having being a follower of the sport of dogs from birth, I have been lucky enough to attend shows like Crufts every year for the past twenty years. From the Millenium, I have also competed at Crufts with my own breed, Leonbergers. I have also been fortunate enough to win Best of Breed there and also win a few CC wins and hold a record at the moment for the breed. Thus being the World’s biggest dog show with around an average of 22,000 dogs, it was always a question in my mind, what the American Crufts would be like? To visit Westminster is just a great delight and such an honor; I was excited to be visiting Westminster for a second time this year, my first visit back in 2007.

A regular reader of the AKC website, I was delighted to read in early 2010 that the AKC listed six new breeds to be scheduled at Westminster in 2011, and to my delight Leonbergers became one of them along with Redbone Coonhounds, Bluetick Coonhounds, Icelandic Sheepdogs, Boykin Spaniels, and Cane Corso. I had no hesitation but to arrange a visit to the show for February, 2011 to see the Leonbergers in their glory at the Garden. Looking back at my previous time to Westminster in 2007, I remember very little. Not knowing what to expect, having stuck in my mind that there was only just over 2000 dogs competing, when I am used to seeing more than twenty thousand dogs compete over four days at Crufts back home? Westminster was certainly no non-championship show in my eyes. It’s better than Crufts in many ways.

The Hotel Penn is where I stayed for the duration of my trip. On arrival to the hotel and in the lobby it appeared like a main entrance of a dog show. Dog people, free Canine Chronicles, leaflets, business cards lay around – all for us to help ourselves to. Dogs hanging out and around on leashes, other dogs in crates waiting to be taken to their rooms, bustling teams of assistants running around getting organized and looking after the dogs, exercising the dogs in and out of the hotel by the minute – a 24/7 job for all involved! I was amazed to see that the hotel (well-known for its convenience and popularity of places to stay when visiting New York) had revamped its usual look, to suit the needs of the guests and dogs staying in for the week during the Westminster show. Are they royalty guests and I don’t know it? Even the lower lobby was professionally equipped with wood shavings on the floor for a dog loo area followed by a divide for a ‘his and hers’ for that ultimate privacy. By the side of the dog loo area, I was amazed to see two treadmills set up for the dogs to work on, for that all-important build-up of exercise for Westminster and the pre-Westminster shows taking place in the hotel and surrounding cities. I felt like I was living in the world of a millionaire, taking on board all this generosity – given by a hotel for the benefit of our pooches! Fantastic. Or was it the famous statement of ‘Only in America’. If this is the ‘norm’ for the U.S. dog scene then ‘Oh My God’ I had a reality check and realized that now, life back in the UK is kind of dull and lacked this enthusiasm towards this wonderful sport we all enjoy and work so tirelessly for. Especially when it came to thinking of what we are given when it comes to attending the shows back home in England.

I met many professional handlers over the next ten days, but on the first day, I met Erin and Steve Roberts. Together we had dinner at a local Italian restaurant with my bosses for the week, Lisa Croft-Elliott and Carrie Russell Smith.

A dream I have always had, since showing the dogs in the UK, would be to experience working in America and handling the American way and being mentored by some of the greatest handlers of that time. Who knows, it may just happen for me! On meeting the lovely Erin Roberts, straight away I was hooked with everything she mentioned about the showing she does week in and out with her dogs across America, making it her full-time job with the great support of her husband, Steve, and her family, knowing full well that it is no easy job but actually very committed and gruelling work all day every day! But surely success in the ring would make it all worthwhile! Living in Oklahoma, Erin explained that she had to change plans of her trip to the Garden and leave earlier than planned from her home to get into the city before the expected snow blizzards hit her hometown. Her fear was that she may not have made it on time for the Garden spectacular! I was agast to hear that it took her a few days to travel to the city and yet I, myself, a typical Brit, moan about the trip to Scotland once a year that I have to do, which is a five hour drive one way from home and a 500 mile round trip! Never will I complain again.

Since writing for The Canine Chronicle, I have become a fan of some of the top handlers in America, admiring their work and seeing the dedication they put into their work. Knowing the faces of these famous people – but them not knowing me personally – was okay for me.  During the Garden and now being faced with standing shoulder to shoulder with some of America’s greatest dog people sincerely overwhelmed me and left me shaking at the knees with many nerves! It does not take much to please a young British girl like me. I was more delighted to be introduced to a top handler by the man himself directly to me! Wow!

Monday morning soon came and having met a handful of celebs, I was ready to face the next two days of fun-filled action and sportsmanship around the rings. The 8 a.m. start of judging meant that we had to be in the arena around 7 a.m. to set up and prepare. Arriving into the press office, I was faced with hundreds of photographers and news reporters from all over the world trying to get organized and watching the Westminster KC staff assist to everyone’s needs. My desk happened to be next to the wonderful David Frei. Here I am again, a novice little journo from the UK – sitting next to the famous David Frei of USA media. I observed his cool manner and kind approach to every single person who came into the press office to sign in and also acknowledged his extensively high level of knowledge of the Westminster KC’s history and the breeds that were exhibited over the two days. Somehow sitting next to David left me all calm and collected, he seemed rather relaxed and friendly to the eye. I knew that we were going to get along fine the next two days. Suddenly, as I took a deep breath to do my next task, 8 a.m. was upon me! I walked away from my desk and out onto the stalls and stood proudly overlooking the arena, watching my fellow American friends stand up with their hand on their chest, awaiting the famous national anthem to begin. I joined them too and stood with head high and my chin shaking, with a slight tear trickling down my face feeling all overwhelmed and excited to stand in this spot waiting for this wonderful show to take place! The speakers were maxed up for volume and the big screen lit up, the anthem bellowed out and, before long, masses of cheer from all around me celebrating the opening of Westminster’s 135th show.

Taking myself down to the floor, I watched several breeds be assessed. Nice to see that America sticks to the two minute per dog rule, as the timings for each breed in America are legit! If you are five minutes late to the ring to see the breed you want, then you have had it – great method. This is by far the best way to run a show in my opinion. It keeps you on the ball and focused with what is happening in each ring. Thousands of spectators covered the rings, and also spread around the seating area – a great way for you to access the judging of all rings, is to sit in the stalls on the outer ring areas. Standing on the floor ringside is the ultimate thrill. Standing up close to some of America’s top winning dogs and famous handlers made me chuckle to myself and made me wish I could be papped at that specific moment with the celeb himself! As each dog was moved, the crowd cheered for their favorite; it was truly awesome hearing the masses of support for the dogs in the ring.

People in America are full of spirit and encouragement, it is surely lifting for the dogs competing and, of course, the handler who in the ring is nervous and focused on the task. Once again it gave me a great thrill and goose bumps up my arms as well as shivers down my spine hearing the roars, cheers and whoop whoop’s from the ringside in support of the crowd’s favorite dogs. It leaves the UK something to be ashamed of. Not only this but the support from other handlers. The way they congratulate the other winners is also spine tingling. Whilst the dog game is a competitive sport, we are all there doing the same thing, but not all of us on the day can be winners. So to congratulate a winner is something of great showmanship as when it will happen to you, you would expect the others to congratulate you the same. Another thing that the UK lacks is the support from others in the show ring. It has become very sour and hard faced. We certainly could learn from the American way a great deal!

Back in the press office and already half-way into the day’s proceedings, the room was buzzing with people, phones ringing, David Frei running phone interviews next to me. Behind me, the WKC girls were updating the website by the minute and also the Westminster facebook group. Numerous staff were shouting out for photographers to attend a ring at hour o’clock for the first appearance of one of the six new breeds at the show. It never stopped! What kept everyone going were the smiling faces of the WKC staff, constant supply of bagels, danish pastries, chocolate brownies and coffee! Well it did for me anyway. It was great to be involved in all the fun and frolics of the show and right in the center of all the action – perfect!

The evening soon came and the new layout of the floor meant that it was time for group judging. Green carpet, yellow boards with the breed names painted onto each board. Beautiful arrangement of purple, white and yellow flowers displayed promptly in each corner of the ring. On one side of the ring was the VIP seating for the judges, all wearing their best tuxedos and evening dresses, then on each short side was the press area. I was lucky enough to be situated in the press area next to the collecting ring and watch the groups get ready to go in and ‘kick ass’ in the group ring. I broke away from my job for five minutes to watch the handlers come into the collecting ring with their dogs and also watch the assistants on their hands and knees, bent over the dogs, adding the last minute sparkle to their charges before entering the ring. Televised, of course, and broadcast across America, not forgetting the live stream on the WKC website, this was no pretend show; it was the real deal and it meant business. For the group judging, the outer ring seating became full. I watched the (call boys) walk tirelessly around the seating shouting out for spectators to buy hot dogs, cola, and ice cream, leading up to the group judging. It was all very exciting stuff and thrilling to be there to see it all happen.

There were some wonderful exhibits in the group judging. Some of my favorites were the Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund, GCh. Gleneagles Who’s Famous Now, handled by Ernesto Lara. This little dog’s face just smiled the whole time he was moved and assessed in the ring; the crowd loved him, the camera loved him, I loved him. Watching his tail wag the whole time, it told me that this is why we show dogs – because we all enjoy doing it – including the dog. The Pekingese is a favorite of mine probably because of his English roots, being originally imported into America from the UK, GCh. Palacegarden Malachy. Not only did he have the thumbs up by me, but the crowd also loved him. Malachy’s handler, co-owner David Fitzpatrick, is a wonderful and kind man, someone else who I was fortunate to meet during my visit. David must have been feeling a lot of pain by the end of the day as some days before the show, he broke his wrist and ended up in plaster. But the show must go on! And David did – well done David – a group 1 at the Garden, well worth the pain I bet. Meeting Erin Roberts days before, I was instantly in support of her. Watching her beautiful Schipperke TJ, GCh. Dante Fire When Ready, win the breed and put on a great show in the group just enlightened me and urged me to clap and cheer for this little showman. Great to see him get shortlisted in the exciting Non-Sporting group, which was eventually won by the Chinese Shar Pei, GCh. Vaje’s Miss Jayne Hathaway, handled by Clint Livingston. Jayne the CSP is also another dog I have followed and seen her achieve so much during her career. I enjoyed watching the wonderful Clint take her to the final seven for Best in Show. Clint and his team deserve a pat on the back. The trip from Colorado was well worth it after this win. As I previously mentioned, I probably would not have made it to Westminster this year if Leonbergers were not classified, but luckily for me, this year they were. The superb Best of Breed Leonberger was Gulliver, GCh. Starhavens All I Want For Christmas. An exceptionally good specimen of the breed and a clear winner on the day, his owners and breeder must have celebrated some that evening. I was even more overwhelmed to see my ringside photo used on their website showing their win from the Garden. Cheers to me! It was great to have seen the Leos in the USA and I will be back for more at a later date.

I grew up with Akitas and again experienced a lot of success with the famous Redwitch stock, so, I also enjoyed watching the breed judging of the twelve entered Akitas on the day. Best of Breed was one of America’s number one Akitas, GCh. Nakodo’s Reign of Glory, a beautifully presented bitch in great form who excelled in profile and breed type. It was fantastic to have now seen Echo in the flesh after all this time, and for definite a worthy winner for owner Keith Venezia. Only one dog stole my heart and I fell in love with her during this year’s Westminster. It was Missy the Tibetan Terrier, GCh. Sunclipse Mystique. Ever since I saw one of her advertisements in The Canine Chronicle, I could not wait to see this beautiful looking bitch in action at the Garden. Luckily for me, I got a preview of Missy before the show and watched her in action on a photo shoot with her handler Lois De Mers and Lisa Croft-Elliott one sunny afternoon in Central Park. This girl just had it – watch out Vogue, she is simply stunning! Great to have cuddles with Missy and admiring her ringside and watching her take Best of Breed was just excellent to see. Great to also meet Lois De Mers during my stay at Westminster and we have exchanged facebook friendship since then.

Best in Show soon came upon us and I really did not know which dog I wanted to see take Best in Show. The judge Paolo Dondina had the honor of judging BIS and it was mind-numbing to think which dog would be selected. Just being in the room, watching it happen, standing ringside and taking in all the cheers, chants and screaming of fans was enough excitement for me to take in for a lifetime. Mr. Dondina chose the Scottish Deerhound, GCh. Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, handled by the wonderful Angela Lloyd. Hickory seemed by far the crowds favorite, and she must have won the heart of the judge, too. I am happy to say that I was home from home, away from my roots but the dog who originates from the country next door to me is a great feeling and with Hickory’s English roots, it is fair to say that the British show scene is yet to be beaten or overlooked! Purely because so much has originated from the English KC and as the producer of some of America’s greatest dogs, England’s history and I stand proud.

From meeting the stars, dining with the best, and feeding my Starbucks addiction – my most memorable moment from my trip to Westminster 2011 is being there to see it all take place. It is something that my parents would love to do, and so for them, I am living the American dream for us all.  I am also very honored and humbled to have mingled with the stars in New York, but the most famous and best VIP couple in town that weekend of Westminster was the world famous photographer, Lisa Croft-Elliott and partner, Carrie Russell-Smith. I can meet famous people every day of my life for the rest of my life, but never will people like Lisa and Carrie come into my life ever again. They are one in a billion and I love them dearly. Thank you Lisa and Carrie for my New York experience and sublime opportunity that kids like me would kill to experience.  – Kato

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