Table Talk
I spent a couple days this past weekend at the Steel Valley Cluster in Canfield, Ohio. This show, back in the day when dog shows were bigger, had entries upward of 4,000 dogs and parked 700 motorhomes. Motorhome facilities are excellent there, and while the grounds are spread out, it continues to be an outstanding venue for a show; and the host clubs do a lovely job with this event! Entries were below 2,000 and they parked about 350 motor homes this year, but the good news is entries were up from last year. This is a cluster that is suffering from the ‘too many dog shows’ syndrome, and it is really too bad. They still have a lot of specialty shows, so there is a nice draw for many breeds, including my beloved Shar-pei.
I was very happy to attend a show with an experience similar, to me, to the good old days: A lot of my fellow breed enthusiasts came from near and far and we spent time together enjoying each other’s company, talking dogs, eating, drinking and being merry. The entry was more the quality I would hope for during a specialty weekend: It was so much improved over what I have experienced over the past couple of years, which is very encouraging! The Steel Valley Cluster had a movie night, too. This is something they have held for the last couple of years and it is popular with the exhibitors. They also held gas card drawings using exhibitor armbands. It was great to see that AKC let Timmy Thomas out of the office to come to the cluster he helped build. I enjoyed seeing friends that I have not seen in too long as a result of my travel to the West Coast.
I heard great things about the shows in Kenner, Louisiana. I am told this is a fabulous venue for a dog show, with a hotel conveniently located nearby. It may be another show folks want to consider checking out next year.
I received sad news this past weekend and wish to extend my deepest sympathies to Katherine Wurtz-Smoot on the loss of her mother. She had been battling cancer for some time. I was also very saddened to hear of the passing of Ralph DeLaFuente. Many of you remember Ralph as a long-time Shar-Pei enthusiast who owned Ch. Grayland’s Starlite Margaret aka “Margaret”. Margaret was the multiple Best In Show winner, who was shown to perfection by Vicki Seiler.
Birthday wishes go out this week to Cheryl Patterson, Ken Nieboer, Marilyn Currey, Susie Sosne, David Fitzpatrick, and Betty Leininger.
Are you taking a fun trip that you’d like to share with us???? Shoot me an email and let me know – I’d love to share that or any other fun tidbits you think the fancy might want to know!
Be safe out there, my friends!
Until next time…..
Please let me know if there is an entire Show Committee, or special Committee member you would like mentioned for their hard work and dedication. I’d love to hear from you!!!! If there is a b-day, anniversary or special trip you’d like to tell us about, email me at Deb.Cooper@caninechronicle.com or nustarshowdogs@comcast.net.
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