2021 WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB
INTERVIEW WITH WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB’S 2021 BEST JUNIOR HANDLER LILY BENNETT
1. Congratulations on your Best Junior Handler win at Westminster! Is it a dream come true? Thank you so much, it really is! It’s something I never thought I could ever achieve with a rare breed at Westminster Kennel Club. I’m very thankful for the judges who picked me in a very tough line-up of very talented Juniors. 2. Was the experience different somehow because it was held at Lyndhurst instead of in New York? To me, it wasn’t that different. I’d attended WKC for three years before it was moved to the Lyndhurst Estate, and it was always a magical experience at The Piers. With it being moved to Lyndhurst, I was a bit nervous about how we were going to park, get to the grounds, and turn in our Reel Health daily assessment. But when we got there, it was a very smooth and pleasant experience, going through the line of cars, and getting our wristbands and temperatures taken. 3. Who was the first person you called or texted after you’ d won? The first person I called was my dad, who is currently in Idaho working. When I told him that I had made it to the floor, he thought I meant that I’d faceplanted into the ground as I was going around the ring. I had to explain to him what I actu- ally did. He actually shut down his job early to watch Gunner and I, but the stream cut out. So, he was not able to watch. Other than calling my dad, I had so many people calling and messaging me with congratulatory messages that I got so over- whelmed and had to put my phone on silent until the next day. 4. How have you celebrated your victory? Did you and your dog enjoy a special meal that night? It was quite late, so nothing was open. Gunner and I cel- ebrated with some of my dog show family who were with me by going out to have soft-serve ice cream and crepes for dinner.
200 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JULY 2021
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