THE GARDEN: MEMORIES PAST & MEMORIES MADE
dog many years before. I entered the ring as a 12-year-old with a Saint Bernard; it was so exciting. My granddaughter was showing a Chinese Crested. Amy is 5th gen- eration showing purebred dogs. We both cherish this memory. –Anna May Brown I loved watching CH Registry’s Lonesome Dove, “Lacey” show her stuff in 1992. What attitude! –Christine Calcinari I have only been to Westminster Kennel Club Show once, in 2016, though I have watched it on tele- vision every year. I have to say my favorite memory was being there last year. Even though I did not personally win, the Best of Breed Chow, GCH FlamingStar The Lion King, was one that I had bred. It was thrilling to be there in the ring with him to see himwin at the piers and then to be sitting in the stands at the Garden to watch him and his owner/handler, Vicki DeGruy, on the floor. “Neo” looked fabulous on that Jumbo Tron! –Cathy Clapp The first year I went to the Gar- den, I was a newbie who had always watched the show on TV and I was helping a friend. That was back in the day when everything was held at Madison Square Garden. We were setting up on Monday night after 9 pm (the old process) and I had a chance to stick my head in the door to the arena. The Monday night group competition was on and I could see the dogs close up and hear the announcers voice. All I could think was, ‘Oh my lord, I am really here!’ Since then, I have taken two of my dogs to the Garden myself! –Nanci Coffin LaMarque Of course I have an all time favor- ite WKC memory! It was the night back in 2008 when my Australian Shepherd “Deuce” (CH Vinelake Collinswood Yablon OA OAJ NAP NJP) won the Herding Group! I was lucky enough to be there to witness this historical win for Deuce and her handler extraordinaire Jessica Plourde. Deuce remains the first and only Aussie to win this top honor. Her kids have gone on to compete
in this prestigious show, including this year. –Terri Collins
My favorite Westminster mem- ory was from 2013. I had my Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, GCH Bryr Rose Symbol of Paris, “Eiffel”, entered in BOB at Westminster. I live in Connecticut and we had three feet of snow. It seemed impossible that I could get up my ¼-mile driveway, let alone make it to New York City. My breeder, Jeanne Ferris, said if I could make it up the driveway, she was able to pick me up and try to get to NYC. I told her it was impossible, since I could not get anyone to come and plow the driveway. My husband said, “You’re not going to miss Westminster because of snow!” He said he would carry my bags, crate, etc. up the ¼-mile long driveway and then come back to get Eiffel. So he loaded all my stuff on a sled and pulled it up the driveway with me following behind. Then he went back and carried Eiffel the whole way again, so we could meet my breeder at the end of the driveway. I took these pictures and we made the local paper. We did end up mak- ing it to the show and had a lot of fun. That is my favorite memory, for sure! –Michele Connor My favorite memory was in 1980, watching the Siberian Husky CH Innisfree Sierra Cinnar win Best in Show. –Anthea de Forest I’ve been very blessed to have had many success at Westminster Kennel Club including two Group Placements on my owner/handled Irish Water Spaniel GCH Poole’s Ide Got Water RN, JH, “Keegan” (Group 2 in 2010 and Group 4 in 2011). I was also the co-breeder of GCH Whistlestop’s Riley on Fire, “Riley”, that won the Sporting Group in 2014. By far my favorite memo- ry was from 1993 when I called home to tell my dad, Tad Duncan, who was an amazing dog man, my teacher, my mentor and my great- est cheerleader that Moo and I had just won Best Junior Handler. I was so lucky to have my mom and sister there with me, but hearing the pride in his voice during that
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