Page 78 - Chow Life - Summer 2016 Issue
P. 78
A Trip To
Westminster 2016
by Vicki DeGruy
You've watched it on TV for years, The obligatory Facebook a great view of the Manhattan
you've even watched in person once win picture skyline. The price was comparable
or twice. You've wondered what it was a lot of fun in the big city. We to a decent room at the Affinia but
it would feel like, to step into that watched, listened, and learned a lot. much larger and of course, with
group ring under the bright lights, But there's a big difference between grass. There was, however, a minor
in front of all those people, the doing Westminster for fun and drawback to this hotel that we will
whole dog show world. And now showing there. come back to later.
the moment is finally here. You Neo had scored an invitation by
take a deep breath, look down at the winning the 2015 CCCI National Cathy and I chose to drive rather
beautiful dog that brought you here, Specialty. Cathy Clapp and Marilyn than fly our dogs to New York.
and ask him, "Are you ready? Then earned their invite by reaching Remarkably the weather was decent
let's go!" the top five in AKC's breed point albeit quite cold, windy and single
system. When we knew for sure digits on the day we arrived. Cathy,
Whenever I tell someone I show that we would go, with Tina along coming from the south, met her first
dogs, they invariably ask if I've for help and support, the real stroke of luck when she just missed
ever been to "that big show in New planning began. becoming involved in a multi-
York, the one on TV?" When I The first item on my agenda was vehicle wreck on the interstate.
mumble "um, no, haven't done that finding a hotel near the show with Tina's plane was several hours late
yet", they're always disappointed. grass. Our Chows are country due to weather issues, but my trip
It leaves me feeling inadequate, dogs, they aren't used to ex-pens from Wisconsin was pretty smooth.
that people think we haven't really or concrete, and you know how Deciding to fill up with gas before
shown dogs until we've done that. important proper elimination is to hitting the hotel, I was surprised to
So after more than 30 years in this a good performance! Such a hotel be greeted by the Michelin Man,
sport, I decided it was about time I is pretty much impossible to find a gas station attendant wearing
did that big show in New York. in Manhattan, and the hike from a so many layers I didn't know how
near-MSG hotel to Central Park is he could move. I learned that self
Westminster isn't something too far to be practical. So I shifted service gas stations don't exist in
you just decide to go to like any our search to the other side of the New Jersey, the law requires that an
other dog show. It's in Manhattan Hudson River in New Jersey. And attendant pump gas. Nice for me,
which should tell you a lot already. struck gold. not so much fun for him!
It's complicated, expensive, and The Sheraton
hard to get to. It takes place in the Lincoln Harbor We got into town on Saturday
middle of winter. But if it was easy, in Weehawken evening. We were to show on
everyone would do it. was just across Monday at the unhappy hour of 8:30
the river from a.m. So Sunday was to be grooming
Our planning began two years Piers 92/94 via the
ago when Tina Alexander and I Lincoln Tunnel,
went without a dog to experience had a lovely grass
Westminster for the first time and area, several
get a feel for what might be involved restaurants
to show there. (see Summer 2014 nearby, and
CHOW LIFE for our story) We
stayed near the Garden and made Mike & Lisa Leonzio
in the benching area
time for sightseeing. There
was no pressure, no worries,
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