The Same, But Different: Westminster At Lyndhurst

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250 – June, 2021

By Sarah Montague

By the time the Westminster Kennel Club announced (on October 21, 2020) that its 145th Annual Show would be held at the historic Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown on June 12th and 13th, 2021, the fancy had learned to weather change. The mass show cancellations of the early phases of the pandemic had given way to a reimagined circuit, with organizers and clubs all over the country creating new protocols, in new spaces, with new roles for everyone except the dogs. (See our series Good (Dog) People, which profiles some of the movers and shakers.)

Still, Westminster is usually the summit of the competition year, and so identified with New York City, that we were curious about how handlers bound for this new incarnation felt about it. About exchanging February for June, and the indoor scrimmage of Pier 92 and the glitzy mosh pit of MSG for outdoors in late spring at a robber baron’s castle. I spoke with Phil Booth, David Fitzpatrick, Kelly Shupp, Anna Stromberg, and Marcelo Veras.

First, there was overwhelming support for the Club’s decision: “I think that the Kennel Club is doing a wonderful job under very difficult circumstances, and you know that they’re trying their best to make it work. We’re all grateful.” (Shupp)

“I felt that that was an excellent decision on the Club’s behalf, for the sport in general and for this show in particular.

“They found a way and I think it’s going to be fun.” (Booth)

“One thing about the Westminster show committee–they always seem to rise to all their challenges, so I expect it to be a great show.” (Fitzpatrick)

Great, and in some ways very different.

Click here to read the complete article
250 – June, 2021

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