Benched Shows

138 – March, 2010

By Peter Baynes

I have just attended three wonderful benched shows in a row, all with different characteristics –?Golden Gate, Westminster, and Chicago.  However, they all had one feature in common, they all attracted the general public with what we call “great gates.” Detroit is coming up after I write this, and I anticipate that they will also have a fantastic gate.

Golden Gate is held in the Cow Palace. The arena is surrounded by tiered seating which enables spectators a good view of most of the judging; the benching, however, is in another building as are a few of the breed rings. It appeared that the spectators in all the surrounding areas were as numerous as any other American show I have attended. It was initially a two day show but is now two shows back-to-back. Therefore, although  the entry has suffered because of too many other shows in California, they now get two lots of entries instead of one.

Westminster is famous for the sell-out crowds it attracts, and even though the entry is limited to champions only, it has not affected the gate. It is the only remaining benched two day show and, as I have mentioned earlier, the benching area is cramped. At times, I am told, it has to be closed to spectators. This does not, however, affect the great presentation in the arena for the groups and Best in Show. I was considering making this my annual Westminster report, but I am sure readers are not interested in my Broadway shows review, and the stars we met. Also, other reporters do a great job for this magazine. I should mention, however, that the empty seats you may have seen on the television were already paid for;  because of the bad travel weather, many spectators didn’t make it.

International Kennel Club of Chicago is  held in the massive McCormick Place another two day back-to-back show with plenty of room for both rings and benching. Lou Auslander, however, came up with a new concept, which I would term organized crating, allotting numbered spaces for breeds, or handlers to be together. This is another show that attracts great crowds and has a wonderful atmosphere. I believe this concept has also been copied by Philadelphia.

The point I am trying to make is that all these benched shows attract the general public, and these clubs must consider it well worth the extra expense. In addition, just a minor quibble about unbenched shows. I have never understood the powers of a Bench Show Committee, if the show is not benched. I only pray that some day I do not find out.

Looking through some old Popular Dogs magazines of the early 60s, even some of the lesser-known shows here were benched. I came to this country in 1967 and by then (with the exception of Westminster and Atlanta), all the shows I attended were not benched. Some old-timers may disagree with the inclusion of Atlanta, but Tom Crowe did  persuade the club to hold a Westminster of the South (once), with wonderful, custom-made benching. Unfortunately it was a financial disaster, but I believe it was not a disaster for the club.

I must mention that the most elaborate benching I have seen in my travels was in Australia, at the Sydney Royal show.

In Britain, whether I was showing or judging, with the exception of the smaller events, all the shows were benched, and this tradition continues to this day, although many have graduated to using crates on the bench; a practice which was considered cruel in the old days. Some of the benches were ramshackle affairs, and were known to collapse on occasion. Many chained dogs would also slip off the bench, to be rescued by some kind soul if the owner was away. Some even chained their children to the benches. We were never quite so cruel, but we did let our son sleep there with one of our dogs. In fact, one photo made the national newspapers.

Some brave judges (me included) would tour the benches after the judging to discuss the placings of the breeds they had judged. Other judges could always be found in  the bar, so there was really no hiding from the exhibitors. Winners would even buy the judges a drink.

In Britain, to this day, many have picnics at their benches. Sometimes the plotting of future wins takes place there. On most occasions the judge of the next month’s show will be exhibiting, and quite available at their bench for some kind advice from exhibitors about the judge’s future decisions. One couple, owners of a famous kennel, always had fabulous picnics and judges who were ignored for most of the year were always invited to participate just prior to their next assignment. It sometimes worked, but never with me.

One advantage of all the benched shows in Britain is that old friends or famous breeders are easy to locate. Just buy a catalog (stet) find the bench number, get out your map, and Bob’s your uncle. One year at Crufts I decided to look up an attractive young lady that I hadn’t see for 40 years. Locating the bench, I saw her mother sitting there. Fortunately I didn’t ask, “Where’s your daughter?” because it was the lady in  question, and she hadn’t aged well. Although I looked exactly the same, she didn’t recognize me, and so I beat a hasty retreat.

One year, when Earl Graham, the American photographer, was going to Crufts, I told him to look up an old friend of ours, a good looking guy who, when I was living there, had a dog the same age as ours, and we used to swap wins all the time. Our dog was called Uncle Sam and was very similar to his; he always got upset when people mistook his dog for mine. I scripted Earl Graham to find Sid Reilly and ask, “Is that Uncle Sam?” His startling reply was, “No! Uncle Sam was a little dog, and I am not Peter Baynes, he is fat and ugly.” Incidentally, we are still friends.

Another advantage is that potential buyers can easily locate the breed they are interested in. At one time, at many British shows, puppies for sale could be benched, and adults could be listed for sale in the catalog. We once bought a nice Pekingese at Crufts, although we were showing Boxers at the time. I have mentioned before that when Crufts was held in London, many celebrities would visit the benches, looking for their favorite dogs. Many a transaction was completed there; I even guided a famous star to my above adversary, who had a litter at the time. That’s what friends are for.

One English benched show, I remember vividly.  It was an outdoor show, with benching under a large tent, and  I was waiting with my Boxer to go in for Best in Show. I couldn’t understand why they started pulling down the benches before the show was over. After failing to go  Best in Show, I then observed the reason, they were setting up a bandstand for a rock group.

I drifted over to the drummer who was setting up his kit, one of the two most expensive American kits that you could buy in England. I felt a little sorry for him, wondering if the group was going to be good enough for him to make the payments. He was a likeable young chap, but with a rich Liverpool accent, another detriment in my opinion. We chatted a while, and I could see the envy in his eyes, when I told him I owned the most expensive American kit, and the name of the nightclub where I played. I wished him luck, but forgot to ask his name, and also the name of the group.

As I left the tent, I saw the group’s van outside. The poor devils couldn’t even spell. They had misspelled “Beetles” with “Beatles.” I nearly mentioned it to them, but what the heck, they weren’t going to make it, as competition was tough in the early days of rock groups. Even I, when I was desperate, had earlier played in a good rock group, and it had failed.

Incidentally, the Beatles did visit the nightclub where I played, later in their career, after their concert at the local theater, although I’m sure Ringo didn’t recognize me; he was too busy chatting up the girls and boozing. Maybe, however, he remembered that I had told him about the club, because by then the club was famous for the new artists that had appeared there such as Long John Baldry, Reggie Dwight (Elton John), Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Bo Diddley, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker (later of Cream), and many more who would play “The Stage of  the Stars.” Before I forget, the “Rolling Stones” were refused admission because of their appearance. You can read about it all in a book named “The Place.”

Incidentally, the Beatles started their first US tour at the Cow Palace. To think it all started at a small benched show in northern England, and if I had corrected their spelling, maybe I  could have become the “Beetles’ manager. Perhaps I could have made them a failure, too.

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