THE GARDEN: MEMORIES PAST & MEMORIES MADE
phone call has resonated with all these years later and will stay with me forever. –Stacy Duncan Westminster, 2009—my first and only time to the Garden. It was an occasion to see my cham- pion Tibetan Mastiff male “Midas” compete (GCH Drakyi Gold Stan- dard). He was highly favored to win, given his sire’s BOB/Group shortlisted win the year before, so I made it a priority to make the trek from Southern California to NYC. After his exciting Breed win, I took my place in the stands all the way down at the end, near where he was alphabetically positioned for the Working Group competition. I got all my local seatmates to cheer as Midas did his go-round for Judge Paula Nykiel. Then, as she made her placements, 1, 2 and 3, she contin- ued walking down the long line, I kept saying to myself, ‘Just keep on walking,’ and she did! Midas was pulled for his Group 4 win, the only Tibetan Mastiff to this day to place in the Working Group at the Garden. I proudly wore his rosette the rest of the night. What a thrill! –Richard W. Eichhorn Since we’ve been spending win- ters in southern Florida, I haven’t attended the Garden. In the past, I attended both as an exhibitor and as a judge. The times I remember very fondly were when I presented my Breed at the seminars. The feelings of collegiality amongst breeders were evident, and I do believe that attendees were there just because they wanted to learn. Although my dog won Norwich Terrier Best of Breed in 2016, that is not my favor- ite memory of Westminster. It was in 2011, our first time entering and going to WKC. We had a first litter of Norwich Terriers almost two years prior— three girls. One became an AKC champion and was going to West- minster just a few months short of her second birthday. She was handled by Andrew Green, so we were “spectator-exhibitors” sitting way up in the upper seats (so she couldn’t see or “smell” us and get distracted). Judge Ken McDermott was the judge. Sitting behind us
was a women who had been breed- ing and showing for 35 years – larg- er dogs, I don’t remember which breed. “Maggie” looked so small from that distance but when she was selected as Best of Opposite Sex we excitedly rejoiced although weren’t entirely sure what that actu- ally meant! This breeder behind us said, “This is your first litter? Your first show dog? She is a Champion already before 2 years? She won BOS? Congratulations! I have never done that in 35 years!” As novices we really didn’t understand, but we smiled and nodded, then went down to celebrate with CH High- wood’s Lady Margit of Highwood, “Maggie”! We have attended WKC every year since that time, but nothing will erase that memory. –Nancy Fonyo That’s an easy one. It was the year that First Lady Jackie Kennedy brought JohnJohn and Caroline to the benching area and the kids sat down with my Collies and got hugs and kisses. My mother hissed at me, “Don’t call her by name, just say Ma’am.” Suddenly somebody said “Kennedy” off in the distance and the Secret Service guys whisked them away. –Bob Futh My unforgettable moment was my first time exhibiting—1953. We entered our two 6-9 puppies and their dam; there was a Collie entry of 69. We were riding with Ed Pickhardt in his old woodie station wagon, which broke down on the Merritt Parkway. My mother stayed behind to get the car fixed along with the bitch entries. Fortunately Ed’s neighbor Claude Decker and his daughter came along in their convertible with their two English Setters. Somehow Ed and I and the dog puppy and his sire squeezed in too and we made it in time for the deadline and judging. Mother came along in time to see Barry win his class and show his sister to win hers and go reserve. It is a great first timer’s tale! –Sally Futh My favorite moment was in 1976, when our Whippet CH Gold- Dust’s Twenty-Four Karat and our Greyhound CH Grey Roc Winged
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