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| Spring 2007 Newsletter |
| Show Reports An American at Crufts By CCO Contributing Editor: Bryna Comsky |
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| Covent Garden was my first view of London, seven years after the Golds, Patrick, Barbara and Barbara's Mum, members of the Canaan Dog Parent Club in Great Britain, had devoted a delightful day dedicated to my architectural and culinary education. It is so much fun to "taste" a "new" city in the company of people who speak its language. The Golds' tour gave me a lasting and lingering impression of a wonderful tradition. As a born New Yorker living near Chicago, the "City of Broad Shoulders," I appreciate their natural attraction and deference to their own home city. Then came Covent Garden, full of trade stands, baguettes and cappuccinos, and tea at every corner. It was almost impossible not to buy something to take home. The old, narrow cobblestone streets were exciting by themselves, and I went back again towards evening to look for rare dog books along a street devoted to books and some prints beckoning from their small shop windows. There were none in English, Italian or French, and not a single German book store, no big surprise. The proprietors read their own books, and the customers had probably never heard of the Menzels. Their interests lay elsewhere. As darkness fell, chants came from Covent Garden. The police were present, laughing and joking, and enjoying the unusual, to me, sights and sounds. There was a play that evening, but I missed it, and also the opera. I opted for an early bedtime in the tiny room of the expensive hotel with delicious food and ice cream and better-than- Starbucks coffee. I lied. Harrod's Department Store was my first impression of London in 2007. After an all night flight, Diana Whitsit, a wig at Fresh Pond Travel, and her daughter, Stephanie, made sure I didn't sleep the afternoon away, and invited me to team up with them for some sightseeing. The father of Dodi, who was killed with Princess Di, had turned the center five floors of Harrod's into a tasteful and moving memorial for both of them. Dodi, in Arbic, must mean "dearly beloved." All the merchandise was high quality and correspondingly expensive. Very early the next morning we left by bus to Birmingham and learned that there is no "ham" but only "gum" in that city. We stopped at the Hilton, closer to the show site, and then at our hotel, the Arbor, which would comfortably keep us during the next four days. I made the ten-minute, winding, almost spiraling, walk to the NEC, National Exposition Center, whose five halls in the shape of a horse shoe became the site of Crufts, 2007. On the first day, Thursday, Gundogs were shown and judged. There are 34 breeds in this group, and entries of 200 to 300 dogs in each breed are common. By comparison, Canaans had an entry of twenty-one with one absent, but that's another story. From a ringside chair I watched the judging of Chessies, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. There were no "baby gates." From my first-row chair I literally became a part of the ringside barrier, and had an unobstructed view of the judging. The Brits have thing s figured smoothly, and organized space for vendors, food stalls and restaurants, bank branches, rooms for foreign visitors and the press, performance arenas, benched dogs, Discover Dogs, demonstrations by service and "free style" dog-and-handler teams well. The (British) Kennel Club, Young Kennel Club, a clever way to encourage "younger" participation in doggy events, and also the AKC, the American Kennel Club, all had a presence there. The lessons in organizing large shows that the Brits have to offer us are evident at the annual AKC/Eukanuba shows in California and Florida. Canaans were judged on the fourth day, Sunday. Their twenty-one dog entry was not as small as a few other rare breeds, but nowhere near the strong entries of 300 or 400, mostly from the Gundogs. Their entry brought them a step closer to their ultimate goal of qualifying for The Kennel Club Challenge Certificates which are akin to our Championship Titles. Only two cc's are awarded: one to the Best Male, and the other to the Best Female. The breed judge, Mr. K Nathan, selected Anacan Call Me Ishmael at Dunline for Best of Breed. "Jacob" was bred by Mrs. E.M. Minto by The Lion of Judah at Anacan ex Anacan Whole Lotta Class. I believe "Jacob" sired the Best Female, Lorianna Call Me Madam, whose dam, Anacan Forever Amber, is a favorite of mine. The Veteran Dog, over ten years old, Anacan Ziggy, bred by Mrs. EM Minto by Gvir Me Shaar Hagai ex Minto's Libyan Jewel, was Reserve Best Male, akin to our Reserve Winners Dog. Wen the dust settled, "Jacob" represented the breed in the "Big Ring," akin to our group ring. There was much pageantry and fanfare during the evening group competition, all directed at promoting the positive concept of dogs as companions who are able to provide service, fun and performance for their owners. The Brits are acutely aware of the worldwide anti-purebred dog feelings, and are taking dramatic steps to stem the unfavorable momentum. Both natives and foreigners were welcomed to the Crufts, 2007, venue by the Brits. The world's largest dog show with an entry of over 24,000 dogs from 178 different breeds from 35 countries in 2006, received even larger crowds in 2007. Crossbred and mixed breeds also compete in some areas and participate in some training displays. There are seven groups, organized somewhat like what we are used to seeing, except that Canaans compete in the Utility Group in the company of Akitas, Chow Chows and Dalmatians. There are 24 breeds in this group, including the Tibetan Terrier who won Best in Show this year. A list of the Canaan Dogs who qualified for Crufts follows. Each one had to qualify to enter. These Canaan Dogs were judged on Sunday, March 11, 2007, at Crufts by Judge Mr. K Nathan, Ring Number 9, Hall 4. Dogs' names, gender, dates of birth, breeders, sires and dams, and some owners'names are listed below. The information comes from the Crufts catalogue for Toy and Utility Dogs. One Canaan Dog was absent. Anacan Touch of Class at Arikara B 30.07.03 Br Mrs E M Minto, Anacan Masterpiece - Anacan Whole Lotta Class Lorianna I will Survive B 22.02.06 Br Miss L. Hastings. Ger. CH Nizzana Hadad for Lorianna - Lorianna Lucky Star Lorianna Ever Reddy D 05.03.04 Br Miss L. Hastings, Anacan Call Me Ishmael at Dunline - Anacan Forever Amber with Lorianna Anacan Shoshannah for Amicitia B 29.05.05 Br Mrs E M Minto, Sheleg Harrishon at Danehaven - Anacan Simply Irresistible Lorianna Light My Fire D 22.02.06 Br Miss L. Hastings, Ger Ch Nizzana Hadad for Lorianna - Lorianna Lucky Star Lorianna Call Me Madam B 05.03.04 Br Exh, Anacan Call Me Ishmael at Dunline - Anacan Forever Amber with Lorianna Lorianna Desert Storm D 05.03.04 Br Exh, Anacan Call Me Ishmael at Dunline - Anacan Forever Amber with Lorianna Talither Bat Me Babrees B 18.09.99 Br Shiboleth & Terry, Sivan me Shaar Hagai (imp) - Layla me shaar Hagai (imp) Nizzana Ganymede D 10.08.05 Br Exh, Int/Bel/Lux/Ger CH Nizzana Hadad for Lorianna - Talither bat me Babrees Best of Breed Anacan Call Me Ishmael at Dunline D 08.04.00 Br Mrs E M Minto, The Lion of Judah at Anacan - Anacan Whole Lotta Class Veteran Dog & Reserve Best Dog Anacan Ziggy D 09.06.96 Br Mrs E M Minto, Gvir me Shaar Hagai at Anacan - Minto's Libyan Jewel Anacan Masterpiece D 07.10.99 Br Mrs E M Minto, The Lion of Judah at Anacan - Kibutzer Kween in Kofyn. Anacan Glory Bea B 13.04.06 Br Exh Sheleg Harishon at Danehaven - Anacan Glory Bound Anacan Kefira B 06.09.04 Br Exh Anacan Masterpiece - Anacan Whole Lotta Class. Chancos Simene at Anacan B 23.10.04 Br Mrs. M Nilsson Selin Babrees The Lunar Eclipse - Sanchaan's Marietta Anacan Akilah B 29.05.05 Br Mrs E M Minto, Shelog Harishon at Danehaven - Anacan Simply Irresistible. Babrees Desert Orchid Via Caoilta D 22.05.02 Br Mr & Mrs I & J Terry, It/Int CH Velikayas Lahatutan - Layla Me Shaar Hagai. Anacan Sheer Elegance B 06.09.04 Br Mrs. E M Minto, Anacan Masterpiece - Anacan Whole Lotta Class Sheleg Harishon at Danehaven D 04.02.01 Br Mr & Mrs Shonewald, Sivan Mi Shaar Hagai (imp) - Petra Havar Bakar Eliad (imp). Babrees French Resistance D 12.01.06 Br Exh Babrees Desert Orchid Via Caoilta - U'Nes Bat Bayud de Solemel (imp Fra). Bryna Comsky Index |