Wednesday, February 13, 2013

AFFENPINSCHER WINS WESTMINSTER!



GCH CH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari

It was a watershed year for the Westminster Kennel Club show.  Capitalizing on both the new and the old, the WKC pulled off one of the most successful shows in years.  The return to the inclusion of class dogs in the show resulted in one of the most dramatic moments in Westminster history.  The move to a two venue event came off brilliantly with a modicum of inconvenience.

We couldn’t help but think of Charles Dickens as the 137th Westminster Kennel Club show came to an end.  We had seen ghosts from WestminsterS past as the 2011 Terrier Group winner, the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH CH Slyfox Sneaks a Peek, made a surprise appearance, handing the 2013 Number One Dog All Breeds, the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky, her first Group loss in 19 appearances this year.  We also saw the 2012 Number One Dog all Breeds, the German Wirehaired Pointer, GCH CH Mt View’s Ripsnorter Silver Charm, win the Sporting Group despite a strong challenge from the 2011 Number One Dog the Black Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction.

Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect

Additional ghosts from Westminster present included 2012 Top Ten Dogs, the American Foxhound, GCH CH Kiarry’s Pandora’s Box, the Affenpinscher, GCH CH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari, and 2012’s Number Five Non-Sporting Dog, the Bichon Frise, GCH CH Vogelflight’s “Honor” to Pillowtalk.  Ghosts from Westminster future were the sensational Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Claircreek Impression De Matisse, and the clear crowd favorite, the Old English Sheepdog, Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect.  The Portie, Matisse, entered the fray late in 2012, but finished strong with one BIS and six Working Groups.  However, it was the OES, Swagger, that caught everybody off guard.  For the first time since 1991 class dogs were participating at Westminster.  Swagger came out of the Bred By Exhibitor class to take the breed over 16 titled dogs, including at least two BIS winners. 

Judge Michael Dougherty stated that each of his seven dogs deserved a Best In Show rosette, but he only had two awards to give.  He gave the first ever Westminster Kennel Club Reserve Best In Show Rosette to the Ghost of Westminsters Future, the OES, Swagger, breeder/owner handled by Colton Johnson.  The Best In Show trophy went to a Ghost of Westminsters present, the Affenpinscher, Joey.

The Dutch native, Joey, has been here in the USA these last three years winning 85 BIS, including 37 just last year.  The Westminster title is his first of 2013.  It was also the first Westminster title for superstar handler, Ernesto Lara.  Our congratulations to Ernesto, breeder/owner Mieke Cooymans, and Zoila Truesdale.

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