The Westminster Kennel Club has a long tradition of hosting America's most prestigious dog show. The 2011 show was no exception, with dogs from around the country travelling to New York City to show on Madison Square Garden's famous green carpet. The 135th annual Champions-only event was held on Monday and Tuesday, February 14 and 15, and Group judging was again broadcast live on the USA and CNBC networks.
In 2011, with the addition of six new breeds, 179 American Kennel Club-approved breeds competed at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. The AKC divides breeds into seven Groups, depending on the general function for which the breeds were developed. Each Best of Breed winner competes in the Group, with first through fourth place awarded. The first place winners in each Group then compete for Best in Show, which, at Westminster, means the coveted purple-and-gold rosette and a considerable number of silver-plated trophies.
Westminster Kennel Club Group Results: Monday, February 14, 2011
The Hound Group was first in the spotlight on Monday night, with 28 breeds competing for the top spot. Hounds are used for hunting, but the similarities end there; the Hound group contains sighthounds, scenthounds, hounds that hunt raccoons, those that hunt Elk, and even one breed, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, developed to hunt lions. Judge Dr. Robert Indeglia sorted through the breeds and found the Scottish Deerhound, GCH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, for his Group winner. Second place went to the 15-inch Beagle, GCH Torquay Midnight Confession; third to the Norwegian Elkhound, GCH Vin-Melca's Voyager; and fourth to the Petits Bassetts Griffon Vendeen -- better known to most as the PBGV -- GCH Celestial CJ's Hearts On Fire.
Next up was Toy Group, with judge Mr. Frank Sabella evaluating the winners of 23 breeds. Toy dogs all share a small size and are ideal lap dogs, but the breeds have many different backgrounds. Some were developed specifically to be a companion and, in medieval times, to keep the fleas away from the humans; others were bred to go after small game such as mice and rats. The winner of the 2011 Westminster Toy Group was the Pekingese, GCH Palacegarden Malachy; second place was the Affenpinscher, GCH Banana Joe v Tani Kazari; third went to the Pug, CH Xoe's Oscar De La Hoya; and fourth to the Papillon, CH Copella's Rising Attraction.
Mr. Everett Dean had the task of judging the 18 breeds in the Non-Sporting Group. An eclectic mix of dogs that could probably fit in several Groups, the Non-Sporting Group includes such diverse breeds as the Standard Poodle, the Bulldog, and the hairless Xoloitzcuintli. Mr. Dean selected the Chinese Shar-Pei GCH Vaje's Miss Jayne Hathaway as his Group winner, followed by the Bichon Frise GCH Saks Hamelot Little Drummer Boy in second; the Lhasa Apso GCH My Thai Ta Sen Halleluiah Chorus in third; and the Keeshond GCH Karolina Bonnyvale Meant To Be in fourth.
Finishing up Monday night's Group competition was the 24-breed-strong Herding Group. Split from the Working Group in 1983, Herding is the newest AKC Group; dogs in the Herding Group possess an innate ability to control the movement of other animals. Mrs. Lynette Saltzman judged the Group, awarding the win to the Bearded Collie, GCH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins. Second place went to the Belgian Tervuren, GCH Sky Acres Spy Plane; third to the Border Collie, GCH Bon-Clyde's Take One; and fourth to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, GCH Segni At Coventry.
Westminster Kennel Club Group Results: Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Mr. James Reynolds and the Sporting Group kicked things off on Tuesday night. The 28 breeds in the Sporting Group were developed for hunting and field work; the Group includes pointers, retrievers, spaniels, and setters. The black Cocker Spaniel GCH Casablanca's Thrilling Seduction caught the judge's eye to win the Sporting Group in 2011; in second place was CH Jewelset's Up Up N Away, the Irish Setter; third was GCH Fireside's Spontaneous Combustion, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon; and fourth was GCH Poole's Ide Got Water RN, the Irish Water Spaniel.
The Working Group was next, judged by Mrs. Dorothy Collier. Dogs in the Working Group have assisted mankind over the centuries as guardians, rescuers, and protectors. From the 28 Working breeds, Mrs. Collier chose the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH Aviators Luck Be A Lady, as the Working Group winner. Second place went to the Boxer, GCH Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream; third to the Kuvasz, GCH Szumeria's Wildwood Silver Six Pence; and fourth to the Samoyed, CH McMagic's Candied Ham Of Pebblesrun.
In the penultimate competition of the night, the 27 Terrier breeds and judge Mr. Edd Bivin took the ring. Terriers were originally bred to hunt vermin, and the tough and tenacious nature required for that job persists in Terrier breeds today. The final Group winner of the night was the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH Slyfox Sneak's A Peek; Group second was awarded to the Norfolk Terrier, GCH Cracknor Cross The Ts; third to the Skye Terrier, GCH Cragsmoor Buddy Goodman; and fourth to the West Highland White Terrier, CH Blythefell Fergus.
The 2011 Westminster Best in Show Winner
Finally, the seven Group winners entered the ring for Best in Show. The judge, Mr. Paolo Dondina, was the first Italian to ever judge Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, as well as the only judge to oversee Best in Show at Westminster and at Crufts, held in March in the UK, during the same year. Mr. Dondina carefully evaluated each of the Group winners, and in the end chose the winner from the Hound Group, the Scottish Deerhound GCH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, as his Best in Show Winner. "Hickory," as he is known to friends and family, earned a place in breed history as he became the first Deerhound to win a Westminster Best in Show.
For American dog show fanciers, not much can compare to the two nights in February of the Westminster Kennel Club show. Even people who would never go to a dog show in person tune in to watch the Westminster dogs on television. The show has truly become "America's Dog Show," and Westminster winners are remembered even years later as having that "something special" that led to a win at the Garden.
Jennifer A. Walker - I have been writing for as long as I can remember, and was first published when I was eleven and wrote a profile of a local poet for my ...
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