Dogs &people Best in Show
C
rufts’ crowning spectacle on Sunday evening is Best in Show, the finale of the breed competitions that occur over the four days. All seven Group winners are presented to a judge to find a supreme Champion. The prize was eventually won by a spectacular American Cocker Spaniel, Show Champion Afterglow Miami Ink, to the collective groan of every dog groomer in the country. American Cockers are beautiful dogs, but their coats take enormous work. The winning breed always inspires a surge of interest from pet owners, so be aware of that coat if you’re tempted! The Reserve Best in Show was a Minarets Best Kept Secret, a Miniature Poodle owned and showed by Melanie Harwood. The relationship between Melanie and her Poodle shone in the ring, with Frankie, as he is known at home, searching his owner’s pockets for toys and treats once he had finished being judged, jumping up for cuddles and going some way to sway the partisan working and pastoral crowds. Miami might have won the judge’s ultimate approval, but Frankie stole all our hearts.
Crufts special report
Four decades after first visiting as a child, CATHERINE PICKLES explores the biggest dog show in the world, and feels awed and overwhelmed all
10 | May 2017
That was nearly 40 years ago and I’ve not been to Crufts since. I was an appalling child, who constantly wandered off, turned left instead of right, and became mesmerised by some small detail. My mother vowed, after the third time of collecting me from the Lost Child area, that she was never, ever bringing me to Crufts again. Nearly 40 years later, I am an adult version of that child. My sense of direction is still distinctly wayward, but I’m here to report for Dogs Monthly and I’m determined to see absolutely everything I can. I usually write features that I carefully compile over a number of www.dogsmonthly.co.uk
the hustle and bustle of Crufts, over again! weeks: today, I’m expected to be a fast-paced reporter, gathering stories on a show with thousands of visitors, competitors, stand holders and special guests. With me is Jamie from HoundDog Photography, a Crufts first-timer, more used to studio work and exquisitely planned portraits. This is a new experience for us both. “Everything’s pink,” Jamie says with a worried voice. And he’s right. The Eukanuba branding is gleaming and glaring. Even the carpets are pink, throwing bubblegum filters on to the dogs and people’s faces. “Can you cope?” I ask. He assures me he can and we head into the show… www.dogsmonthly.co.uk
Photos: Kennel Club/onEdition
I
vividly remember my first visit to Crufts. I was nine years old and the show was held at Earls Court. A search and rescue Bearded Collie won Best of Breed and it sat, relaxed and happy, as photographers snapped away while the owner stood 10 feet away, signing all the paperwork. We didn’t have a ticket for Best in Show, but there was a balcony above the arena, so I stood on a chair and leant over the balcony with hundreds of other people, surrounded by the debris of the dismantled show stands, and peered precariously down into the arena as a Flat Coated Retriever won.
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May 2017 | 11
8.30am
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9am
At the Birmingham Dogs Home stand is Jane Smart, a volunteer at the show for the fourth year running. She’s enjoying the early morning trickle of visitors, but anticipating the stampede that will begin at about 11am. “We’ve been here since six, waiting in the carpark to avoid the visitor queues. We’ve had our tea and marmite toasties, so we’re ready to go.” The stand’s stars are a tiny Chihuahua and a gentle-mannered bull-type, both Birmingham Dogs Home alumni, highlighting the variety of dogs regularly available for adoption.
9.30am
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel health campaigners Margaret Carter, Charlotte Mackaness and TV vet Emma Milne present Bill Lambert, health and breeder services manager at the KC, with a petition signed by 30,000 people, supporting their campaign to compel the Kennel Club to require breeders to health test their dogs and breed only from those over the age of two and a half, when health tests are more accurate. 12 | May 2017
Photos: Jamie Morgan/HoundDog Photography
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We stop briefly outside the obedience ring where competitors are waiting to be introduced to the crowds. Among them, number 15, Somerset Ollie, is determinedly trying to heave a toy from his owner, Jo Neal’s, hand. There are tense faces and forced laughter coming from most competitors. Ollie’s owner admits she’s nervous. “This is my first time,” she says. I wish her luck and move on so she can concentrate on Ollie and his neverending battle to win the tuggy toy.
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9.45am
The Gamekeepers classes are about to start and owners are wearing traditional country attire. Crufts originally began as a show for people with working dogs, so these classes are the heritage of Crufts, although rarely seen on TV. Richard Mace, a retired gamekeeper who has been showing at Crufts for 45 years, is here with Drizzle, his Golden Retriever. With him is his wife Jenny and grandson Jack, who is showing a working Cocker Spaniel. They’re from Welshpool in Wales and left home at 4am. Jenny, pink and gold streaks in her hair, brushes crumbs from Jack’s tweed plus-fours. “The boys show the dogs, but neither they, nor the dogs, get past me and into that ring unless I’m completely satisfied they pass muster. After the shooting season, there is a lot of work getting them ready for Crufts.”
10.15am
We head back to the press office for a slug of coffee and join Andy Gong and Franki Leung on the harder-than-they-look sofas. They are representing the China Kennel Union in the Eukanuba World Challenge with Border Collie Reflect. Things haven’t gone that well for them. “Reflect’s normal handler couldn’t travel to be here, so Reflect didn’t do as well as she might. It’s not that important, though; we’re here for the experience as much as anything.” It’s time to meet Martha Cornish, another rooky reporter, who is working for Dogs Today. Martha is eight and she’s already doing better than me: she has her own notebook. Mine has gone missing somewhere and I’ve had to borrow one. We decide to head to the Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training stand. Martha is convinced I have connections and can get her an interview. Little does she know, I’m relying on her size and sparkly headband to attract Victoria’s attention and get me a few words from the superstar dog trainer. We’re in luck. Victoria is on the stand, surround by other VSPDT trainers, who are all wearing black wigs and red belts, Victoria’s trademark look. Surrounded by large crowds with genuine dog behaviour queries that are being fielded by Victoria and her fancy-dressed colleagues, I shamelessly propel Martha to the front of the queue. Martha asks her questions; I am relegated to scribe as Victoria answers with seriousness and careful consideration. She also presents Martha with a signed copy of her latest book. Martha leaves beaming and I hand her back to her mother, who’d been abandoned on the outer edges of the crowd. 14 | May 2017
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Photos: Jamie Morgan/HoundDog Photography
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10.30am
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11am
Behind the scenes of the James Wellbeloved stand, Tim Lucas and George Riley are a well-oiled machine with 10 years’ experience of Crufts. “We’ll create 2,000 of these goodie bags over four days. It all comes down to teamwork.”
11.15am
Above the James Wellbeloved stand, the Scruffts finalists are greeting their adoring fans. Fleur is getting huge amounts of attention. Val Philips from Valgrays Border Collie Rescue and Radu Serban and Nickie Delacamp (both of whom cared for Fleur when she was desperately unwell) are doing their best to support Wendy Morris, Fleur’s owner. “We’re the coffee-getters, the time-keepers and general gophers. Fleur’s getting a huge amount of attention and today has already been a long day.”
12pm
Pam St Clement is presenting awards to the volunteers with Therapy Dogs Nationwide. The scrum around the stand is riotous and I crouch down to get a better vantage point, only to find myself sitting next to Owen and Haatchi. Jamie is attempting to get a photo in front of the stand and when I finally scramble to my feet, he is nowhere to be seen. For the past three hours, I’ve been relying on Jamie’s internal GPS and I have no idea which hall I am in, let alone where he is or how to get back to anywhere familiar. I wonder briefly if there is a Lost Adults centre.
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Photos: Jamie Morgan/HoundDog Photography
1pm
I wander lost past the VSPDT stand so many times, I fear that Victoria Stilwell will think I am stalking her. Eventually, I find my way back to hall 1 and see Somerset Ollie and Jo Neal. “We’re out of the running. I made a mistake, Ollie made a mistake, but that’s life. I just want to do it all again next year now!”
1.30pm
Training superstars Nando Brown and Jo-Rosie Haffenden are shopping and showing new baby, Santino, Crufts for the first time. Nando seems to be everywhere at the show, always smiling. 16 | May 2017
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6pm
I am fascinated by the detail in the TinyTwins sculptures. They offer to demonstrate their product if I can find a dog. I’m surrounded by 10,000 of them, but having met Fleur and heard her amazing story, I aim to return with Fleur when she has a break from her commitments.
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3pm
Police constable David Price is dealing with theft from a stand. He tells me there’s been very little crime reported, although sadly one stand had its entire morning’s takings stolen yesterday. “It’s hectic and our presence here is all about reassuring the public. We’ve reunited a few lost children, but absolutely no stolen or missing dogs have been reported. If it did happen, the NEC has amazing real-time digital CCTV.”
4pm Photos: Jamie Morgan/HoundDog Photography
18 | May 2017
I
t was a delight to see Liam Landymore receive his Young Kennel Club ‘Good Buddy’ award in the main arena on Sunday. Liam, who is now 18, has been campaigning through Liam’s Mob (Men on Board) to encourage more men to get involved with positive reward-based dog training and reduce their involvement in macho rough-housing with dogs – or worse, using dogs as weapons. “It’s a great honour to get this award, but more importantly, it has given me a platform to develop Liam’s Mob and my own career with dogs. I’m off to the US to work with The Rescue Programme, an organisation that pairs prisoners with rescue dogs, supporting the rehabilitation of prisoners and support for rescue dogs. I’ll be the guest speaker at an event later in the year, and I’m working on a documentary. I can’t believe the opportunities I’m being offered now.” With support from the IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers) and Victoria Stilwell, Liam’s future looks bright and a far cry from his traumatic past when Charlie, his LabradorSpringer cross, saved his life! Now his most significant and immediate issue seems to be finding space on his sweatshirt for all his rosettes! www.dogsmonthly.co.uk
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Photo: Kennel Club/onEdition
An excited Jenny, the gamekeeper’s wife, phones me and I’m confused then relieved when I remember I gave her my card. “Richard and Drizzle have won their class! We didn’t expect this. We’ve got to go into the main area for the final judging. I thought we’d be heading off home by now, but it seems we’re in for a very late night!”
Welcome to the Mob
Photos: Jamie Morgan/HoundDog Photography
Photo: Kennel Club/onEdition
2pm
We finally head to the main arena to see Fleur competing in Scruffts, and Richard and Drizzle in the Gamekeepers class. They aren’t placed, but seeing them in the main ring, having first interviewed them in the morning, is a real treat. We squeal and groan along with the crowds at the incredibly competitive international agility and sit, mouths open, at the performance from the winning Japanese competitor in the international heelwork to music. Continuing the Saturday theme of International Day, next up it’s the final of the junior handling competition. None of the competitors have met their dogs until today and one competitor undoubtedly hopes she’ll never see her partner again when it poos in the ring, right in front of the bank of photographers. She efficiently attempts to clean up after her dog. The bag splits and she tries once again to clean it up. Things don’t go well; there’s poo on her hand and she is holding it out like it doesn’t belong to her. Fortunately, the photographers take pity on her and look determinedly away, unwilling to add to her discomfort. They miss her surreptitiously wiping her hand on her dog. It’s time for the short list and she doesn’t make the cut. I am left wondering what would have happened if she’d won and had to shake the judge’s hand. The eventual winner is the competitor from Ireland, much to the delight of the home crowd. Sixteen-year-old Scarlett-Atlanta Burnside hasn’t had an easy time with her borrowed Pointer and she’s shown real skill and aplomb getting him round. It’s time for Fleur and suddenly the main arena looks huge as she and Wendy enter first. Fleur is tired and immediately lies down in her spotlight. I fear Fleur is exhausted from so much attention today. She’s gentle and delicate and so carefully handled by Wendy; the love between them is palpable. The overall Scruffts Champion is Biscuit, a GSD cross, with his gold Good Citizen Dog Scheme award. It’s a fair choice; Biscuit was on top waggy-tail form in the ring, but I feel for Fleur and Wendy. We leave the main arena briefly to see if we can find Wendy to offer our commiserations, but we can’t find them. We contemplate heading back to the main arena for the Group judging, but we are exhausted and collapse against a wall to watch on a big screen with a group of NEC staff who are enthralled by the action. There is debris all over the floor and tired people crane to watch as they distractedly try to clear up. It seems oddly fitting to end my day just as I did 40 years ago: exhausted, foot sore, but with as many vivid memories as my nine-year-old self. c May 2017 | 19