Crufts 2024 – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

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154 – April, 2024

By Lee Connor

Photos by Lisa Croft Elliott

Just as you never forget your first love, it’s often said you never forget your first Crufts, and I can attest to the truth of this statement–well, the Crufts bit anyway.

My first Crufts was back in 1991. Age seventeen, I was at college at the time and then it was announced, “This is to be the last Crufts ever to be held in London.”

Suddenly all studies were thrown out of the window; I just had to be there. I feigned sickness, hopped on a train and made my solo pilgrimage to Earl’s Court.

It’s an experience I have never ever forgotten. To be surrounded by so many people–thousands of likeminded people who were just like me in their love and appreciation of all things canine–was mind-blowing.

The show was a true spectacle. The acres of green carpet, the unbelievable noise and smells, the sense of excitement and pure joy; this was a homage to the pedigree dog and the skill of its breeders.

I floated from hall to cavernous hall, almost open-mouthed, seeing examples of certain breeds–that previously I had only ever seen as photographs in dusty dog books–now transformed before my eyes into living flesh and blood.

Although the show subsequently moved to Birmingham, the spine-tingling magic of those London days–thankfully–went with it.

Click here to read the complete article
154 – April, 2024

Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=284125

Posted by AnthonyA on Apr 18 2024. 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.