Page 28 - C:\Users\Keita\Documents\Flip PDF Professional\Autumn 2023\
P. 28

Separately  Classified.  That  has  just  I told my family and friends Steve had
        made  me  smile,  people  who  are  qualified for Crufts.   I really feel that
        experienced at dog showing have no  Jane  enjoys  Steve’s  successes  as
        idea how many acronyms there are    much  as  I  do.  Quite  a  few  of  my
        to get your head around, the number  friends came to see Steve and me at
        of  times  I’ve  used  incorrect  words  Crufts; it was so lovely to have the
        for AVNSC is unreal. With my lack of  support of so many people cheering
        experience and confidence I queued  us on.
        up  all  day  at  the  wrong  show  and
        missed  the  class.  I  explained  my  I  have  done  a  combination  of
        situation  to  a  very  kind  steward  as  Championship  and  Open  shows.  At
                                            Championship  shows  there  is  a  lot
        they  were  packing  away  who
        explained it was my first ever show  more tension in the air; there is more
        to the judge at the ring I’d waited at.  of  a  sense  of  you  all  being  in
        She very kindly gave Steve and me   competition  with  one  another.  At
        the full ‘being in the ring experience’  Open shows it’s more relaxed and I’ve
        and  said  at  the  end  “you  must  found people to be more friendly and
        continue you have a really good dog”,  helpful.  Interestingly  you  often  go
        bless  her;  I  was  almost  in  tears  at  under  the  same  judges  at  Open
        this point.  One of the best things that  shows that you do at Championship
        happened at this show was I made a  shows; I’ve found it really useful to
        friend  of  a  girl  much  younger  than  have lots of different judges go over
        myself  who  had  about  6  months  Steve. For example, I am still dining
        more experience in dog showing than  out on the fact that the 2023 Best in
        me. She’d asked me to hold her bag  Show judge at Crufts gave Steve Best
        as she went in the ring and we got  Puppy  in  Show  at  the  Nordic  Show
        chatting.    We  talk  at  least  once  a  2022.
        week  about  this  new  dog  showing
        world  we  are  navigating  and,
        although  we  live  a  couple  of  hours
        apart, always get together if we are
        at the same show.  At a show a few
        of the people I’ve met whilst showing
        celebrated  Steve  getting  all  of  his
        Junior  Warrant  points  with  a  picnic
        and a bottle of fizz out of paper cups
        - classy.  Having positive like-minded
        friends  in  all  parts  of  your  life  is
        important; I’ve found this to be even
        truer in dog showing.               BPIS, Nordic Show. Judge Stuart Mallard
        My  first  Championship  show  was  Due  to  the  lack  of  Keeshonden
        under  the  guidance  of  Steve’s   currently showing there aren’t always
        breeder, Jane.  She guided me with  breed  classes  at  open  shows.  You
        what to do, where to be and gave me  enter  under  AVNSC  mainly.  He  has
        lots of encouragement that my dog   placed first numerous times in AVNSC
        and I were getting on ok and looking  and gone into the group under lots of
        the part. Celebrations that night when  different judges; it has reassured me
                                          28
   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33