Morris & Essex 1950 – And The Winner Is…

By Amy Fernandez

From the start, every big event in our sport has been preceded by months of speculation and prediction. And based on history, going into it as “the favorite” generally spells disaster.  No need to illustrate the truth of that point. It’s a primary reason why Westminster winners usually retire then and there.

In that respect, M & E 1950 could be called a classic example of why it pays to quit while you’re ahead.  The dog game was coming back stronger than every after a decade of national troubles. M & E, which had been an anchor point of American dog shows since 1927 had regained all of its former glitz and glamour.  Clearly, fanciers had missed it. Entries clocked in at 2587 representing the 45 breeds invited that year and the gate topped 20,000.

Dogs came from throughout the country but attention focused on the Scottie, Eng. Am. Ch. Walsing Winning Trick of Edgerstoune. As Jones remarked in his Gazette report “Before the final, Winning Trick, handled again by Phil Prentice, was the one on whom most eyes fastened.” These days, Westminster winners tend not to push their luck. But he did. Winning Trick easily won the group. But that BIS situation was scary. For example, Nate Levine and Bang Away ended up Group Second that year. Howard Tyler was in there with a Puttencove Standard. The Hound Group provided another shocker when the legendary Smooth Dachshund, Aristo v Marienlust went second, beaten by a DuPont Beagle under Harry Peters.

As Jones said “Clancy’s venture into the big time could not have been more dramatic, particularly as he was called upon to face the almost unbeatable BIS winner of last year’s M & E Ch. Walsing Winning Trick of Edgerstoune.”  Winning Trick wasn’t shown much, but he won the big ones. M & E 1950 would be his 39^th American show and if there had been official ratings in those days, he would have been miles ahead of the competition. In addition to Westminster, he had taken M & E 1949. Unfortunately, he pushed his luck a bit too far that day.

Ultimately, the winner turned out to be the most unlikely contender in the bunch, a breeder/owner/handled Irish Setter from Iowa. Nobody was putting their money that one.  Although the show was drawing plenty of nationwide competition by then, it was the first time a Midwestern dog actually won it.

Then again, Ch. Tyrone Farm Clancy was no one off. Yes, this was his first really big win, but M & E seemed to be a lucky show for Irish Setters.  The famous Ch. Higgins Red Pat took the first one way back in 1927 and the equally famous Ch. Milson O’Boy did it again in 1935. John Rendel in his Times report described Clancy as a crowd pleaser in beautiful, gleaming coat and quoted Judge Hugh Lewis who didn’t hold back his praise for his winner. “I think he’s a terrific setter. As a matter of fact, I think he’s the best I’ve ever had my hands on, sound as a dollar, a nice mover, a nice size and as good as they come”.

Actually, Clancy was no newcomer to shows, then 4 1/2, he’d picked up 28 groups and 14 BIS wins during his two year Midwest show campaign. But he was news around this part of the country. And that news traveled fast. Earlier that day he won the group under breeder Laura Delano, which made a clear statement about his Irish Setter quality.

Clancy’s win was truly a major upset that day, but quality is the point of this game. Tyronne Farms now ranks among the most influential kennels in the breed. Wednesday is sure to provide plenty of new and surprising upsets. See you there!

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Posted by Jane Alston-Myers on Oct 5 2021. 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.