Crufts 2014

The Mecca of all Dog Exhibitions. Crufts! Every year, again, pilgrims are on the way to the International Dog Show of Birmingham in the UK. 22.000 dogs where shown from Thursday 06 March until Sunday 09 March. Only 100 Old English sheepdog had been entered, something that is not a lot for Crufts. The judging was done by Mr. Ray Owen, who had also judged the Euro-OES Show in the Netherlands in the past year. I could have made a bet who was going to win. In the Netherlands, last year,  I had decided not to show, so there was no reason to change it here. We had taken our Bearded Collie with us.

My best friend, Lenka Klimova from the Czech Republic, did me a great pleasure by accompanying me. Wednesday morning we started our journey. At the Pet Control, just in front of the Euro Tunnel, we met the first familiar “die-hards”, followed by a large hello. In the afternoon we arrived at our hotel. The Hilton Metropole at the NEC (national Exhibition Centre), is the epi- centre  of all hotels in and around the NEC. Here you meet all famous faces and are just 200 metres from the halls away. Crufts is stress pure. In fact 24 hours in a day are not enough. The day of the show, on Thursday, starts early. At 08.30 hrs the judging of the Bobtails started. The halls are so enormous in size and the Bobtails where judged on the opposite side of the Beardie Hall. So you run over in the morning, say hello to all friends and aquaintances and quickly look at some dogs. Afterward in a military pass along the sales stands and back to the Beardies. On Friday morning, after having had a delicious English breakfast, we drove home and ended the day with a nice dinner in Maaseik.

Christina Bailey, showed her 12 months old “Texas” (Ch. Eldorado aus dem Elbe-Urstromtal) son. “Bono” is by matter of speaking my grandchild and I am a very proud grandmother.

Zottels Best Kept Secret alias Bono became Best Puppy. Thanks to Debbie Palmer for these pictures.

Chris and Eve Jones have shown “Pebbles” in the Puppy Class and became 2nd: Lafite aus dem Elbe- Urstromtal, 14 months old

Chris Beirendonk showed her beautiful Ch. “Koko Chanelle aus dem Elbe-Urstomtal”, in the Open Class. She was not placed, but was in best company……

Yossi Guy, my dear friend from Israel, has made this beautiful picture of my good friend Christina Bailet and myself.