In the Afterglow…

Photo by Lisa Croft-Elliot

Johanna Rhomberg from Eukanuba had the chance to chat with proud breeders Michael Gadsby and Jason Lynn from the Afterglow Kennel in Preston, Lancashire, about their once-in-a-lifetime experience at Crufts, their life with Ricky and what makes a ‘Champion’.

JR: First of all, I’d like to cordially congratulate you on behalf of the Eukanuba brand on this fantastic win. Can please explain how you felt when Ricky was announced as BIS winner?

JL:  The whole Crufts experience for us this year was special right from the very beginning.  I think Ricky’s World Challenge win in Orlando earned him a lot of new fans here at home, and it felt like so many people were genuinely rooting for him to go all the way. I was determined to savour every moment of what was probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Ricky put on such a brilliant performance in the Best in Show ring, and to be his escort there was absolutely thrilling.  I can’t say which emotion I first felt when Jack Bispham pointed to Ricky as his winner, but a big part of me was thinking how happy I was for my partner and Ricky’s breeder, Michael.

MG:  It filled me with so much pride to watch Ricky and Jason work together in such perfect harmony, and seeing them capture that most sought-after win is a memory I will cherish forever.

JR: Not only did Ricky win, but there was an ”Afterglow” American Cocker Spaniel in the final seven, too!  Has this ever happened before?

JL:  The American Cocker, Pearl, was also Top Gundog last year here in the UK, and is a multiple all-breed Best in Show winner herself.  The 2013 show season was amazing for us, because it seemed like both Ricky and Pearl were winning everywhere.  I think that in September alone, all 4 of the major championships shows were won by one of the two Afterglow dogs!

MG:  Of course for both dogs to win their groups at Crufts was remarkable.  I’m told that the same kennel has never bred two group winners in the same year at this show, so this is a new record that we would have never dreamed possible.  I was so happy for Pearl’s handler and owner Susan Crummey, who has done a brilliant job over the past couple of years. She’s put in the hours and it’s paid off.  The two of them put on a wonderful performance that night.  It was Pearl’s last show as well, and now she will turn her attention to the whelping box. It’s all about the next generation.

JR: How was the first week after Crufts?

MG:  Well, my euphoria soon turned to agony and I spent the next week in bed with a bad back!  The timing was terrible because suddenly our phones were ringing like mad from journalists who wanted to meet Ricky and talk about his Crufts win, and there was really nothing I could do to help.

JL:  That’s right, with Mike out of action I decided to decline all of the television invitations we had received and focus on life getting back to normal.  There were already so many cards and flowers waiting at home for us when we arrived, and countless emails and messages from our friends and family around the world.  It was a really exciting and special time, and it was so great that others wanted to help us celebrate Ricky’s success.

Photo by Lisa Croft-Elliot

MG:  Ricky had the sort of personality that said ”Look at me” from the very beginning, and he made an impression on everyone who came to see the litter.  As he went through the various stages of puppyhood, he soon blossomed into a handsome youngster and won his first CC while still in the puppy class.  We didn’t want to rush him, but he just kept looking better and better, and had soon won his UK championship title.  It was on his trip to the USA for Poodle Club of America that we realised he had the potential we had quietly dreamed of.  He made a great impression there, going Best of Winners in a strong entry, and more importantly he seemed to really come alive in the big ring with everyone watching him.  At his next show in Britain he won the group and reserve best in show, and the rest is history.

JL:  That trip to the US really highlighted how easy going and good natured Ricky is.  He takes everything in stride, and always seems to know when it’s time to play, when it’s time to rest, and when it’s time to turn on the charm.  He is a dream to live with, and has the perfect balance of teddy bear and lovable rogue that make Standard Poodles so wonderful as a breed.

JR: Any anecdote you can share with us?

JL:  People have asked me if we trained Ricky to do his trademark ”bow” and stretch to the judge, and the answer is no!  I can’t remember when he first did that in the ring, but he does it at home all the time, too.  It’s almost as if he’s trying to say ”Hold on, we’ll do this when I’m ready!”

JR: How did you prepare for the big show? You mentioned that muscle tone and skin&coat are key attributes of a poodle – how can you train these areas?

JL:  I always say that 95% of showing dogs takes place at home.  How well you look after the dogs, or how many corners you cut, will ultimately decide how far your dog is capable of going in the ring.

MG:  I’ve always been adamant about free running the dogs, and Ricky is no exception.  He is out on the field most days, at the park or on the beach so that he can burn off steam and stretch his legs.  Watching the dogs run together is such a pleasure for us, too, and the dogs benefit both mentally and physically from the experience.  There is not much room to hide poor muscle tone on a Poodle in continental trim. The quality and condition of skin and coat, regardless of the breed, are a direct result of the owner’s commitment to grooming, exercise and nutrition.

JR: What portion does nutrition have in this?

MG:  Like a person, what a dog takes in will reflect on the outside.  A quality diet is an essential part of keeping dogs in good form and preparing them for events like the show ring.  Ricky has been fed on Eukanuba Performance for all of his adult life, and we find that it gives him just the right nutritional balance which is evident in the tremendous bloom of his coat and the hard physical condition displays.

JR: Ricky basically achieved everything a show dog can dream of at only 2 years of age. What does this mean to you as breeders and was it a difficult decision to retire him?

JL:  Ricky has been a great ambassador for our breeding program, and has taken us to heights we once thought impossible.  We feel so lucky to have had the chance to show him around the world, and grateful that others who we hold in high esteem have found him to be such an exciting and worthy show dog.  I will miss showing him for sure, but hopefully there will be a Ricky puppy to follow along and take his place sometime in the future.

MG:  Breeding and showing dogs should really be all about looking to the future.  It’s not healthy to rest on your laurels.  This chapter in our lives has come to a brilliant end, but we are excited about what the future holds.

JR: Thanks very much to both of you for taking the time to share your experiences with us. All the best for your next challenges and hope to see you soon around the world’s dog show rings.

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Posted by chesliepickett on Apr 4 2014. Filed under Featured, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.