Show Shots
WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW 2005

Coverage by Barbara J. Andrews, Editor

The trip was quick and pleasant. No taxi problems as this time we took a limo with a driver who spoke English and drove directly and sensibly. Even check-in at the Penta (that’s New York Pennsylvania Hotel for the newbies) went smoothly. Our large corner room afforded a grand view of Macys and the Empire State Building which wore pink for Valentine’s Day and the WKC colors of gold and purple on Tuesday.

My long time friend Meg Carpenter was over from England and we had a lot of catching up to do while her daughter Lisa and our Operations Director Denise, got acquainted. Meg brought the Qualifications for Crufts pamphlets which she distributed at the show. As a committee member (director) of the Kennel Club, and also operator of Overhill Kennels and Export, she is quite an authority on the subject. Sitting on the Standards Committee and being a long-time top Akita breeder has also enabled Meg to bring about the long-awaited separation of the Japanese and American Akita in the U.K. Update Sept. 2008 read interview with Vice-Chair of The Kennel Club's Breed Standards Committee, re: the BBC Broadcast, changing the Breed Standards in the U.K., Judges instructed to judge with health in mind, etc.)

Due to a mix-up in flight schedules, we missed the 50 th Annual Awards dinner but the Judges ACEF party Sunday night was wonderful. The food was scrumptiously Italian. I’d guess Lt. Col. Wallace H. Pede had something to do with the menu although he’s as trim as he was twenty years ago and yes, he can still heat up the tango!

Another dear friend managed to wind up his appearance at the Dog Writers Assoc. dinner earlier that night in time to share our table at the Judges’ Party. And isn’t that what Westminster is all about? Getting to see friends you don’t see often enough? Andrew DePrisco (pictured here with Meg Carpenter) is gifted with an encyclopedic memory and having edited some of the publishing world’s most exhaustive breed books and authored the Canine Lexicon, he probably knows as much about dogs as any all-breed judge today. He’s Editor In Chief Of Kennel Club Books, LLC, a major publishing firm, but like most of us, he has friends who aren’t doggy. Our laugh of the night was when Andrew told us that his partner was betting that Sandra Goose Allen, judging the Non-Sporting Group, but known as a Terrier judge, would surely put up the Tibetan Terrier….

A low point was learning that Joanne "Jodi" Engel, scheduled to do Pointers, Vizslas, German Wirehairs, Shorthairs, and Weimaraners could not be present due to cancer. The popular Brittany breeder-judge had hoped to fulfill her lifelong dream to judge at the Garden but was replaced by James Reynolds.

David Frei WKC Director Of Communications, was hard to catch but his expertise was simply everywhere. He, like so many who make this all happen, must work 20 hours a day before and after the event. So much goes on behind the scenes and we just go and enjoy or grumble depending on the moment, but we are deeply indebted to a lot of hard working, talented people for what is undeniably, the most glamorous and well attended show in America. For all the details and who won what, go the WKC’s exceptional site: http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2005/show/news/

Karolynn McAteer, who seemed to be everywhere at once, presented a clear field for the camera for just a second. Karolynn is project supervisor for the innovative streaming video, an exciting joint venture for WKC whereby people at home could watch the breed judging! A superb accomplishment that went off without a hitch. She and her dauntless crew are called "The Magnificent Seven" and with good reason. They demonstrated a professionalism equaled only by some of the top handlers! Karolynn is an Irish Setter breeder and sporting dog judge. WKC hired the shooters, all of them dog people, including a former Best In Show winner (breeder-owner-handler Chris Terrell), another former Hound group winner, and a number of others who have exhibited at Westminster. Russell Quy and his people at TWI in NYC did the internet production house and downloading and Dream Works sponsored the tremendous concept. No wonder the work was what dog people wanted to see! We are getting great comments from home viewers. Actually, they probably had the best seat in the house! (see comments re seating)

Even with a Press Pass displaying this year’s extraordinary commissioned artwork, getting around was difficult. We were fortunate to have box seats where most of the working dogs were judged the first day but getting a peek at the Toy Fox or the Mini-Bull rings was impossible. Frustrated, I began to check out the twenty or so ringside seats and I think it safe to say that about half of them at each ring for two days, were occupied by day ticket holders, many of those by children who had no interest in the judging and indeed, made it difficult for those who were trying to concentrate.

Noting the same situation on Tuesday, I inquired in the press office as to why exhibitors were not given one seat ticket for each dog entered? The gentleman who answered me was most pleasant but I think he worked for the Garden and had little to do with the show itself. No one else seemed to know and David Frei was busy elsewhere. There must be a reasonable answer and it might just be that no one had thought out the logistics. At other crowded shows, exhibitors are allowed to set crates or tables by ringside only so long as their breed is in the ring and following a bit of a set-to accomplish that accommodation at Raleigh, everyone has been very cooperative. Surely there must be a solution to the problem of having one’s dog shown at WKC but having no way to see it shown!

Eleanor Biancanello and Spinone Ch. Teddy Roosevelt, CD, JH were waiting to go into the ring but she graciously responded to “What do you like best about the Garden today?” EB: “Meeting all the people!” BJA: What do you like least? EB: “Too crowded.” BJA: Would you like to see the Garden move to the proposed Jet's Stadium? She raised an eyebrow and then responded thoughtfully “That might be nice.”

Rumors of the show, other than who would win Best, “Is the Purloined Poodle Lady here?” (No she was not) “Is the Poodle Judge here?” (If so, wasn’t visible at the breed rings.) “Is it okay to show a dog under the breeder? (Yes, provided the proper amount of time has passed.) A hot rumor that there was a thwarted terrorist attack in Penn Station just before Groups on Tuesday. (It was in fact surrounded by fire and police, as were the side entrances to the Garden.) Heard repeatedly that Jimmy Moses wasn’t going to win with the Shepherd. (True, she was third and his Border Collie won the Group.) From fairly reliable source, a rumor that the principals of Madison Square Garden (or Westminster, depending on who told it) offered six hundred million dollars for the land which is proposed for the Jets stadium. WKC would build condos there so that the stadium would therefore not be in competition with the Garden. The proposed Jet stadium would in fact be an ideal venue for Westminster. Bigger and better than the Astrodome. Imagine that! We asked some exhibitors what they thought of the idea over the next couple of days, answers below. Speculation was high on the glorious Poodle handled by Timothy Brazier but alas, they didn’t make the number one spot in Group. There were some other upsets and many exciting successes but unlike three years ago when we had reporters on the floor emailing photos and wins as they occurred, this year we wanted to just bring you the people you might have missed, even if you were there.

“The intersection” was the place to be, especially that first day as everyone went about finding each other. Had to laugh at Peter and Helga Baines simply because one always laughs when Peter tells stories. Same is true for Ed Finnegan but I didn’t have the camera both times I got bear hugs. Probably just as well, he has never really known his strength other than in the boxing ring! Oh! the “Ed Stories” we could tell.

One of my favorite judges (and people) has always been Virginia Hampton. She and a handful of judges had a deep understanding of the Akita when most people gave them a wide berth. Perhaps rightly so, in retrospect. They were a bit “rough” back then and not too well groomed either. She did our National one year and her placements were totally predictable (and popular) to those who knew her preferences as well as she knew our breed. She was radiant, having just returned from Hawaii and her enthusiasm for the islands made me want to book a ticket for next winter. Wow.

So many of our friends were spotted but couldn’t get through the crowds to hail them. Jim and Wanda White had seats just a couple rows down from us but the most we managed was a wave. Watched Kim Pastella do a brilliant job in the Sporting ring in front of us and thought about her father and what a legend he was in the Boxer ring. Not to worry, he passed on his skills as do most of the really great couples. Must be genetic… Just think for a moment about the Bivens, the Forsyths, etc. I digress.

Back to the intersection where we spotted another legend. Rick Beauchamp, judge, author, publisher, father of the Bichon, backer of the Mini-Bull and so many other breeds working for acceptance, his touch is everywhere and a good thing for dogs it is. Would have loved to be a fly on the wall as this conversation was exciting but…. No eavesdropping allowed.

It finally began to feel like I should be someplace else and dreading the climb back up those stairs, I pushed out of the intersection. Those stairs. I suppose it is not a problem if all one does is go and sit one night for a sporting event. But not us dog people, knees notwithstanding (no pun intended) we have to be on the move.

Okay so let’s go to the Benching area. On the way there, I snapped this shot of a familiar face to everyone in the Maryland area that loves to eat! That’s right, Sue Whaley and her group put on one heck of a crab feast. If you haven’t been in a while, you now remember what you are missing! Sue’s foxhounds are always a delight to see and the more so because they are actually part of working packs or whatever you call them. I wonder how much longer that will be a gentleman’s sport in this country now that the ban on fox hunting is official in the U.K. They are continuing the hunt in defiance of the law but it may be too little too late. The humaniacs have won again. When we lived close to the famous Tryon Hounds it was a thrill to hear them on a quiet evening and when I was in England, I was honored to visit one of their famous packs. Time marches on, all too often stomping right on top of the past. For some, I suppose that’s perfectly okay but some day we may wonder what happened when they have taken away our rights to own a dog. It is shows like Westminster that will keep the public interested in dogs. It catches their fancy, and hopefully, will make taking our right to own a dog so unpopular that it will never happen. Hopefully.

Those were my thoughts as I pushed and squeezed my way to the benching. You will read nothing but criticism tinged only with tolerance, no matter where it is mentioned. I could swear that many years ago, before it became “champions only” the benching area was roomier. Maybe it was the strange perspective of youth or the lack of patience that comes with age, but I stayed only long enough to touch bases with Toy Fox Terrier breeder Marsha Shively.

I managed a shot of the Owner Handlers Assoc. booth which was set up at the end of one row. Nice display, as was the MBF table but to tell you the truth, I don’t think they were well positioned to provide the information and education they are both so capable of doing in that venue. The decibel level was such that conversation was difficult and it must not be comfortable to the more sensitive ears of the dogs. And the heat. No TV lighting so slightly better in benching than out on the floor but offset by the press of so many warm bodies. Maybe some were just props, actually I was given a couple of decidedly cold stares by harried owners as I approached with the camera. Realizing the stress level was turned up a notch back there by having to politely answer the same questions over and over and over, I didn’t ask for comment.

Joan McCuller - Ch Sun Sense Victory Dance "Lance" BJA: What do you like best about this year’s Garden? JM: “Making it nice for the Handlers. It’s a little bit better than last year and not as crowded. BJA: Least? JM: “Un-personable people that are here, the ones hired as help. The people directing you, they are really not too nice - or kind.” About moving to stadium? JM: “Just let it be here, it's a tradition, let tradition stay. It's nice and we've been here since the beginning of Madison Square Garden and before, so let it be. It’s nice here.”

Laurie Jordan responding to What Do You Like Best? LJ: “It's cooler, not as hot, more air circulation, a lot cooler.” Least? LJ: “The crowds, every year.” BJA: What would you think about moving this to the Jet’s Stadium? LJ: “I think it's a great idea!” BJA: Not worried about tradition? LJ: “No, maybe breaking things is sometimes good. Y’know?”

Patricia Craige Trotter made it seem like old times as she flew around the ring with a Vin Melca Elkhound. I can tell you, there were more than a few tears shed as most of us were thinking of our own infirmities and her incredible abilities. Pat set the style for neck, shoulders, and movement in her breed and she showed it to perfection against her traditional blue outfit. If memory serves me, Pat has won the Hound Group four times but never had a Best at Westminster. Alas, it was only a placement this year but what the heck, not much has ever held that woman back and there’s always next year!

Doormen! It was raining and getting a taxi proved futile. People were forced to stand in queue across the street or in the street to hail their own cab while the single Penta doorman stood against the building and ignored everyone! The big fellow we all call Wally was not there and when I went in to ask the Bell Captain for assistance, the doorman ignored him too! He’s entitled to a break but it would have been better had he simply absented himself. Our party bought umbrellas and walked to the Spanish restaurant for dinner, writing it off as “just New York.”

Ran into Erin Roberts on the way from grooming area to the ring. Literally. She laughed and while we didn’t have time to get her feedback on the Best and Least questions, I managed to snap a great photo. Can’t say the same for Carol Stone because it seems to have digitalized right out of the camera! Weird, but Carol and her Finnish Spitz agreed that the Best thing is “Cooler, seems to be little less crowded than usual.” And Least. “How you have to move through to crowd to try to get the dogs to the ring and the people don't let you do that.” Asked about a move to someplace like the Jet's Stadium Carol replied “I think it'd be a lot nicer and probably also the hotels, more hotels you can choose from because now you can only stay at the Penta.”

I don't need a recorder to interview Andy Linton. What does he like Best? AL: “Has anything changed?” I tried to pry more from the man of few words. What do you like least? AL: “Slippery carpet.” BJA: I noticed that's a problem. Alright, you've got to be a sports fan. How would you feel about moving the Garden to the new Jets Stadium? Pay dirt! Andy paused, shrugged, �That would be great. This is terrible because it's, well, we all claim to love dogs, but putting dogs in this situation shows we don't love dogs as much as we claim to.�

Meg Carpenter who has judged Crufts knows all about immensity. She said the best thing about WKC “is the incredible enthusiasm. Absolutely wonderful, as is the quality of the dogs. I do wonder though if the judge is in any way influenced by the audience? Least liked? Meg turned from glowing to glowering! “I hate the facilities for the animals! And more so if there were to be a fire or some emergency. How would they get the poor animals out of here? It really concerns me.” Meg was pleased to learn that there a pre-entry allowed for the top dogs in each breed and she reckons that accounts for the outstanding quality throughout the breed rings.

Kathy Mines, beautiful in brilliant blue thinks the best thing this year is “The way MBF handled getting the handlers in and out and the dogs in and out. It was so non-stressful, the dogs are more relaxed, the people more relaxed, everybody is in a better mood.” And Least? KM: “Probably trying to groom with all the exhibitors passing by, hard trying to trim on dogs.” How does she feel about moving the Garden to a bigger, better facility? KM: “I think that would be great, even though I know it's a lot of historic significance in keeping it at the garden, but I think it would be better for the dogs and the people. And the exhibitors and spectators, if it was in a larger facility where there's more room and people are a little bit more relaxed.”

Jim Moses has had a great year with his German Shepherd bitch Ginny and the crowd, as always, cheered for one of the most popular of AKC breeds. She performed beautifully but so did every dog in that ring. In fact, it was amazing to watch those dogs, one after another, shut out the glaring lights, the screaming crowd, and concentrate on their human. The BIS Shorthair fairly took one’s breath away. I know there will be comments about Ch. Rancho Dobe’s Storm who it is said stood like a statue for 13 minutes. Probably exaggerated with the telling but the GSH bitch was no statue. “Carley” was animated perfection, and had she been a terrier, she would have been vibrating as she struck and held pose after pose. A true Professional, handler Michelle Ostermiller was cool as could be, did not spoil a single moment. The talent was in seeming to let Carley do her thing. Best In Show offered the best and the crowd agreed, it was won by the Best!

Christina Halliday was surrounded by a cluster of people in the benching as she answered questions about her handsome German Shepherd Dog. Best? CH: “I love this show! I love its tradition, I've been doing this since I was ten. Nothing else gives me the same feeling as this show. I get more cranked up for this show, no matter how hard it is, it doesn't make any difference, it just means so much I get goose bumps talking about it.” Least? CH: “This particular year, I can't think of too much, I mean it's always cramped, sure it's a hard show but you know that going into it.” She paused, thought, replied “I don't think there's anything that bothers me about it, I'm just so lucky to be able to be here and be with a breed like a German Shepherd and know that there are 50,000 registered every year and I’ve got one of the top five and this is where they can come and be seen and where it means the most. I tell you I'm fortunate, I don't have any complaints.” Well said Christina, so what would you think about moving Westminster to Jet's Stadium if they build it? CH: “ I don't know if I'd like that or not. I mean this is horrible, probably breaking a hundred fire laws or something, but this is the Garden and this is where it's supposed to be. Like ever since I was a little girl, I remember watching on TV. My first Garden was about fifteen years ago or so, they still had the class dogs, and I still have my little ribbon that my Saluki won, ya know, gosh it's just always Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Yeah I think we better leave it alone.”

Vince Hogan Managing Director of "Our Dog" weekly newspaper, Manchester, England has a great arrangement with Dog News and is a friend of a friend. As we chatted he mentioned “We also do “Our Cats” as well.” BJA: Oh really? I didn't know you published a cat paper? Cat Shows are big here, a lot of interest. VH: “Oh yes, at home too. How many would you say you have here in a show? BJA: Well if you mean here, they used to have the TICA shows at the old Garden and the ushers told me there were as many cages set up on that floor as there are dog in the benching. VH: “Imagine that!” BJA: Let me ask you what I’ve been asking others. What do you like Best about WKC this year? VH: “I think I would have to say it’s the presentation and the pulse around the Groups at night, that's the best thing. I have some criticism however.” BJA: That's my second question, What do you like least this year? VH: “Well, it's the same every year, it's very crowded, it's not “exhibitor friendly.” If you were trying to groom a dog in there, I mean, that is a zoo! It's difficult, and there are safety issues, for example, there are wires everywhere. It's just very difficult for anyone to move around and I don't think they give enough space to the exhibitor. BJA: How do you feel about moving Westminster to Jet Stadium? VH: “Well with us in England, it’s what we would call a conundrum. Some parts good and some parts bad. The same question arose when we moved Crufts from Earl's Court in London, or Olympia originally, and it went to Birmingham. Everybody said it would never be the same and it would loose its atmosphere etc., etc. But I think Crufts has proven it can be a stage regardless of venue. Now the Garden here clearly has its own unique atmosphere and it does! When it's packed at night, it's just a ball of noise, excitement, and it's terrific! So it would be a shame to lose that. But then that's the sixty-four thousand dollar question - What do you do?”

Vince is absolutely right. I well remember Earl’s Court and the two-story, straight-up escalators worked. Too bad we can’t say the same for the Garden. The National Exhibition Center is immense and a lot of walking. Both were and are “tradition,” made so by the quality of the dogs and the thrill of the event. Crufts could be played on a hockey field and it would still be Crufts. Westminster will always be “The Garden” and no matter the venue, the crowds will fill the stands to overflowing.

The excitement is electrifying, even during the day. The voltage seems to increase at 8 PM when the spotlights lights come on and the best dogs of the day enter the ring. Not a tired handler to be seen. Everyone, including it seems, the dogs, are running on adrenalin. They are at their very best for what Americans call “the greatest show on earth.” I remember seeing Sandy, collapsed on an empty bench after a stunning performance with her awesome Malamute. She looked like a shell of the beautiful vibrant handler of a couple hours earlier. But that’s the Garden. It demands everything we have to give and for those who go home with that treasured win, it’s worth it!

Of course there is the glamour. If anyone doubts, just have a look at these lovely ladies. I haven’t a clue who they are. Laughing, still radiant at Group time when most were looking a bit frazzled, I couldn’t resist the photo. And besides, I had promised to bring Bill something special from New York… If you recognize them, send them this link!

As wonderful as it is, Westminster is not a place for anyone with the slightest touch of claustrophobia. One has to feel sorry for the poor dogs shut up in those tiny breathless cubicles they call “benching” nowadays. I clearly remember entering a dog to be absent just so we could have a wider space even when we could sit in front of the bench. I noticed less of that nowadays, no doubt due to the difficulty in entering any dog other than the top ranked in each breed. No such thing as “space dogs” any more so exhibitors must stand, hour after hour, in front of their dog, protecting it and answering questions. Of course they can hire a security guard and some do but most exhibitors just tough it out along with the dogs. As this reporter was moved along by the thrusting crowd, I heard numerous unflattering comments about “the poor dogs” from both seasoned exhibitors and first time spectators.

We humans, we can stand the crush of people, correction, we can understand. If we are overheated, what with the TV lights putting out such high wattage, we can go into the rotunda, even outside, or back to the hotel, or shopping. The dogs cannot. They endure. They look up at their handlers with adoration and trust. They stand, they free pose, they find the strength to strut like Olympic contenders, and they do it because they love us.

Makes me think we could and should do a little more for them. Maybe the Jets Stadium will become a reality. Maybe, like Crufts, the club will be forced to cast tradition aside and seek a better venue. Or maybe not. Every year thousands swear they’ll never go back but as long as we do, odds are, nothing will change.

Show Shots WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW 2005

Coverage by Barbara J. Andrews, Editor

Show Shots
WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW 2005