Opening Night at the Garden
Click here to read the complete article 220 – March, 2016
by Joan Harrigan and Susan Beegel
Note: After the conclusion of each group and the Best in Show competition, the Canine Chronicle interviewed the judges. The group judges were then given the opportunity to review and edit their comments. Some chose to make changes; others let their remarks remain as originally given.
Though the Piers are now the venue for most of Westminster, the show is still known as The Garden and likely always will be. And, Monday evening, one of the world’s most iconic venues once again hosted the Westminster group competition.
HOUND GROUP
Judge: Miss Virginia Lyne
Saanichton, B.C., Canada
Group One:
Ch. Belisarius JP My Sassy Girl
Borzoi
Bred by Kyoko Ozeki
Owned by Mai Ozeki
Group Two:
GCh. Sporting Fields Shameless
Whippet
Bred by Dionne Butt & Amanda Giles
Owned by Barbara Call, Jane Cooney-Waterhouse, Dionne Butt, & Amanda Giles
Group Three:
GCh. Baghdad Eleganza Extravaganza
Saluki
Bred by Baghdad Salukis
Owned by Lyndell Ackerman
Group Four:
GCh. Torquay Midnight Victory
15-inch Beagle
Bred & Owned by Marcelo Chagas, Marco Flavio Botelho, Alessandra Botelho, and Dr. Roger P. Travis
After the judging, Virginia Lyne talked about what prompted her to become a judge—in a single word, “passion!” Expanding on this, Lyne spoke of her love of dogs and the sport of breeding and showing them. Her original breeds were English Cocker Spaniels and Whippets; her comments on the night’s judging follow:
“This was an outstanding group, with depth to burn. There were multiple dogs that were well-deserving of making the cut or being placed—and only four ribbons.
The Borzoi is a beautiful size, with curves in all the right places. She has all of the essence of breed type, and is totally sound on the down and back, and beautifully open and free on her side gait. Her handler may have moved her a little too fast at first, but he got my message, and then moved her a bit more slowly.
And, I love the Whippet. She is full of the S-curves that are central to Whippets—curves on top, and curves underneath. She has a beautiful, open side gait, and is just a very, very classy special.
The Saluki is feminine, with a beautiful ear and expression. She has a beautiful coat and jacket. She’s not too big, very feminine—you know she is a female. She is just beautiful.
The Beagle is sturdy and independent! She is strong-boned, with a beautiful head. She was also very sound.”
TOY GROUP
Judge: Mr. Jason Hoke
Madison, WI
Group One:
GCh. Wenrick’s Don’t Stop Believing
Shih Tzu
Bred by Wendy, Jody, & Richard Paquette
Owned by Sharon Bilicich & Jodi Garcini
Group Two:
GCh. Pequest General Tso
Pekingese
Bred by David Fitzpatrick
Owned by Nancy H. Shapland and David Fitzpatrick
Group Three:
GCh. Hitimes What The Inferno
Pomeranian
Bred by Joan & Ashley Carcasole
Owned by Bonnie A. Bird
Group Four:
GCh. Infiniti Holding Kryptonite
Italian Greyhound
Bred and Owned by
Kimberly & Randall Frennier
Judge Jason Hoke spoke of why he became a judge, saying that he has literally been in the sport his entire life, as he was born into it. Shepherds were his original breed, though Hoke says he is probably best-known for Great Danes. For him, it was a natural progression to move from being a breeder, to a professional handler, and finally a judge. His comments on the group follow:
“The Toy Group is always a beautiful group. You couldn’t go wrong with any one of them—it was a stunning group!
This dog speaks to the essence of a Shih Tzu. A well-balanced dog with no exaggerated features. From the moment one views the expression of the dog you are captivated. The eyes are large and round, set well apart. A broad muzzle and underjaw are in keeping with its oriental heritage. The neck is gracefully set into the body without becoming too long, balanced. Its well-slung body reaches below the elbow without ever appearing too low, finished off with a tail-set beautifully high in a graceful curve over the back. The coat is so typical of a correct dog in the breed—while dense, it flowed beautifully towards the ground. Of special note was that this dog was capable of carrying its head held high without the aid of its handler, truly exemplifying what a Shih Tzu should truly be.
The Pekingese is a remarkable dog of type. He has a broad, enveloped-shaped head with eyes set wide apart. His elbows are tight knit to the body while coupled with a lovely depth of body slung low between the legs. The topline is level to the touch with tail set on high and carried well over the back. This dog exhibited the all-but-missing pear-shaped body, with his correct taper from wide in the front to narrow behind. On the move, his correct shape lended well to the subtle and correct roll desired in this breed. He was conditioned to perfection with neither too much nor too sparse of coat. A standout among the group bested only by one on the day.
The Pomeranian is a true sportsman of a show dog, exhibiting the spark so desired in the breed. The ears are set on high to aid in expression. When viewed in profile, he had the exact shape we desire to see in a Pomeranian. Well-stationed, short-backed, tail carried high on the body in keeping with the desired compact look.
The Italian Greyhound is a very correct dog who handled the big ring well. The head, eye, and expression, coupled with the crisp fine ears carried beautifully set the tone for its correct breed type. The neck flowed gracefully into the shoulders without being abrupt. The outline was pleasing, falling off at the hindquarters. On the move is where this dog shone. With a perfect high stepping, free gait, without overextending or tending towards exaggeration, this dog walked his way to Fourth Place.
NON-SPORTING GROUP
Judge: Mrs. Luc Boileau
Lake Geneva, WI
Group One:
GCh. Imperious Hamitup Southern Bell
Bulldog
Bred by Suzanne and Rick Glover and Rick & Kelly Franz
Owned by Ellen Charles, Imperious, Hamitup, and Hetherbull Kennels
Group Two:
GCh. Merry Go Round Coach Master
Dalmatian
Bred by Patti & Ron Strand & Julie Ann Bryant
Owned by Susan B. Carter, Paulo Carneiro, and Patti Strand
Group Three:
Ch. Afterglow Maverick Sabre
Standard Poodle
Bred by Michael Gadsby & Jason Lynn
Owned by Ilaria Biondi de Ciabatti
Group Four:
GCh. Sabe’s Simply Invincible
Boston Terrier
Bred by Sharon Saberton
Owned by Joe & Carla Sanchez & Sharon Saberton
Judge Luc Boileau showed dogs for many years in Canada, and came to the U.S. in 1970 to continue his career. “In 1990, I went Best In Show at Westminster with a Pekingese [Ch. Wendessa Crown Prince, under Judge Frank Sabella]. I said, ‘That’s it. I’m never showing another dog.’” Boileau earned his license, and has been judging dogs ever since. His comments on the Non-Sporting Group follow:
“The group as a whole had so much quality—any of the four dogs who placed could have been first. You could reverse them, mix them up—you couldn’t go wrong. There were many more in the line-up that I could have used, but I only had four ribbons!
The Bulldog is such a great example of her breed. She is the correct size—so many of them are getting too big—too much Bulldog!
The Dalmatian again had beautiful movement. He’s a beautiful show dog, and the right size. He is in beautiful condition.
The Standard Poodle was magnificent—I thought that the handler moved him a little too fast for me. Often people think faster is better, but not always.
The Boston Terrier is of beautiful type, and in beautiful condition. His size and movement is gorgeous.”
HERDING GROUP
Judge: Mrs. Dorothy Collier
Sapphire, NC
Monday night concluded with the Herding Group, swelled by four newly-AKC recognized breeds.
Group One:
GCh. Lockenhaus Rumor Has It V Kenlyn
German Shepherd Dog
Bred by Pamela McElheney & Kent Boyles
Owned by Deborah Stern, Pamela Buckles, Patti Dukeman, Pamela McElheney, and Kent Boyles
Group Two:
GCh. Wind Spirit Rod’s Amazing Grace
Australian Shepherd
Bred by Carlos Osmar Bertero & Marcia Berna Bertero
Owned by Marcia Berna Bertero & Megan Hof
Group Three:
GCh. Majestic Elite Clever Endeavor PT
Border Collie
Bred by Ronni DeLay
Owned by Ricki Johnson, J. Frank Baylis, and Ronni DeLay
Group Four:
Ch. Cordmaker Mister Blue Sky
Puli
Bred by Sue Huebner
Owned by Jackie Beaudoin, Linda Pitts, Penny Kelly, and Sue Huebner
It’s late when final group pictures are taken, but Judge Dorothy Collier pauses to talk for a moment. When asked how she came to be a judge, Collier replies that after breeding and showing her own dogs for many years, it was a natural progression. “I’ve enjoyed it thoroughly,” she concludes. Her original breed was the Old English Sheepdog, though Mrs. Collier is probably best-known for her Komondorok. Her comments on the Herding Group placements follow:
“I anticipated above-average quality at Westminster. This year’s Herding Group far surpassed my expectations. Kudos to the breed judges for sending so many superior dogs to the group. All of my placements were excellent representatives of their breeds, as were all of the dogs that made the cut. Each displayed the important and desirable qualities necessary to do the work for which they were bred.
First place went to the German Shepherd bitch. She gives a first impression of femininity, confidence, and alertness. She has the desired height-to-length proportions, with balanced angulation and the ability to cover ground effortlessly. Her head is elegant, yet strong, with correct ear placement and carriage. Her topline flows gracefully from her withers to back to croup to tail-set, presenting a pleasing outline and a picture of strength and fitness. She presented in perfect physical and cosmetic condition.
Second place went to the Australian Shepherd bitch. She is an excellent example of her breed, giving the immediate impression of femininity, strength, and balance. She has an intelligent expression, correct head planes, and correct ear-set. Her neck is slightly arched, flowing into her straight, level topline, which she holds standing and moving. She moves with ease, covering ground effortlessly. She was in excellent coat condition, with the desired textured outercoat, and the proper amount of undercoat.
Third place went to the Border Collie. He is first and foremost a working dog, with the agility, strength, and soundness to do the work for which he was bred. His expression and demeanor are intense. He has correct head planes and pleasing ear-set, strong and muscular, slightly arched neck, blending smoothly into well-laid back shoulder and level topline. He has the desired gently sloping croup, with low tail-set. He has what I consider the ideal Border Collie movement: free trot with head level with the withers, level back, and trailing tail. He has the straight, coarse, dense outercoat and softer undercoat necessary to protect him in all weather conditions.
Fourth place went to the Puli. He is a muscular, compact, medium-size dog. He has a correct slightly-domed skull, with high-set ears of medium size, and dark alert eyes. He has excellent black-pigmented eye rims, nose, gums, and skin. He has a correct level back with a slightly sloping croup. He carries his tail over his back, blending into the topline. He moves with the strength and agility necessary for a working Puli. His corded coat was in perfect show condition, which would serve him well working on the plains, as well.”
It’s the end of a long day. Tomorrow, it’s back to the Piers, then a return to the Garden for the final three groups and Best in Show.
Continue to page 242 for critiques from Tuesday night’s judges.
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