CRUFTS CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
SATURDAY 9TH MARCH 2019
NEC, BIRMINGHAM
BEST OF BREED: CH WATERCROFT PINK FIZZ
DOG CC: BELLEVILLE MAJOR KEY
RES DOG CC: CH WATERCROFT CALLING TIME
BITCH CC: CH WATERCROFT PINK FIZZ
RES BITCH CC: JUST THE ONE AT BLAKENS
BEST PUPPY: CAPPS SMART EXCUSE BY BRICKIN
BEST VETERAN: CH VALENTINES CHERRY CRUMBLE
Here we go again, the start of the 2019 show year proper, and it was pretty much the ‘usual suspects’ (in the nicest sense) taking the top spots again.
The judge on this occasion was breed specialist Marilyn Claydon, very well known for the Brymarden Norfolks and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Marilyn
had a good entry of 70, made up of 32 dogs (0 absentees) and 38 bitches (17 absentees).
As with last year, the ring was in Hall 1 rather than our usual spot in Hall 2, and this time the exhibitors’ benches were a long way from the ring, right alongside the main aisle for the shopping. This made it difficult for exhibitors and stewards alike, culminating in some upset when three exhibitors missed the Puppy Bitch class, which was very unfortunate, but just one of those things. It also meant exhibitors had to be very much on their guard and not leave their dogs and valuables alone for a minute – even so one exhibitor still had her trolley stolen which must have spoiled her day!
Back to the more enjoyable subject of the judging – a number of the top dogs over the last fifteen months were again in the winning spots, with Ruth Gee’s Watercroft kennel taking Best of Breed once again, this time with her latest champion, CH WATERCROFT PINK FIZZ. Jackie Phillips’ 13 month old bitch JUST THE ONE AT BLAKENS (Charlie Blake At Moortop x Didjim Moorhen To Blakens) took the Reserve Bitch CC from the Junior class.
The result in the Dog challenge was a reverse of Manchester, with Cathy Thompson-Morgan’s BELLEVILLE MAJOR KEY (Belleville Slip Stream x Belleville Keynote) going one better to take the CC and thus break Cathy’s run of Res CCs – let’s hope that continues! The Res Dog CC went to Ruth Gee’s “Ronnie” CH WATERCROFT CALLING TIME.
A new star on the Championship Show scene took Best Puppy - Jill Stevenson’s ten month old dog CAPPS SMART EXCUSE BY BRICKIN, known as “Herbie” at home, put in a lovely performance on this big occasion. He is by Brickin Heart Throb out of Capps Spell Binder, a Brickin Smart Outlook daughter.
The veterans did our breed proud again, with three lovely exhibits on show, but it was Karen Hurrion’s CH VALENTINES CHERRY CRUMBLE who took the Best Veteran spot for the second year running.