Showsight - July 2021

2021 WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB

THE GROUP JUDGES

not judged any Non-Sporting dogs in over a year, so walking into the Group ring I was filled with anticipation. Thank you, to all the Breed judges for sending me a lovely group of dogs. 7. Do you have a word or two about your winner? About the dogs that placed? As I went over each dog and watched them move, they began to sort themselves out. In the end, the French Bulldog, with a square head, proper ears and expression, overall outline and movement, carrying the proper topline as he moved around the ring with a confident attitude, was my eventual winner of the night. Second was the lovely Chinese Shar-Pei bitch, carrying herself properly, squarely built, with good expression and appropriate size. Third place was the Lhasa, with proper coat, correct outline, in beautiful condition and shown to perfection. Fourth place was the beautiful Schipperke bitch, with square profile and proper topline making a beautiful silhouette. 8. In your opinion, does this year’s show reflect positively on the sport of dogs and on preservation breeders? It was truly an honor to judge the Non-Sporting Group Saturday evening. I could only place four dogs and was pleased with my outcome. To all the breeders, owners, and handlers, I thank you for bringing such nice dogs to this great event, in spite of all the challenges we’ve endured throughout the COVID pandemic. 9. Would you like to share a few words with the members of the Westminster Kennel Club? To all the members of the West- minster Kennel Club, and President Charlton Reynders, III, you outdid yourselves; from the moment l arrived at the airport to the wonderful judges dinner held under the tent at the estate, and the entire set-up at the show. I cannot thank you enough for all the hospitality you provided.

WKC TOY GROUP G1 GCHG Pequest Wasabi (Pekingese) G2 GCHP Empee’s Cyber Monday (Pomeranian) G3 GCHP Oeste’s In The Name Of Love (Havanese) G4 GCHB Integra Maja Beach Please! (Italian Greyhound)

DENNIS MCCOY

1. The past year has been unlike anything the (dog show) world has experienced. How did you spend your time preparing for this year’s assign- ment? What a thrill when I received a phone call to judge the Non-Sporting Group at this year’s Westminster Kennel Club. While it was somewhat of a last- minute invitation as a result of a travel restriction cancellation, it was an honor

of a lifetime. Having won this Group many times myself, to be on the judging side was going to be very exciting. Nothing about the exiting comment let me down for a minute. 2. The show was not held in New York City for the first time in the club’s 145-year history. What are your thoughts about the Lyndhurst location? The show being held outdoors at the beauti- ful Lyndhurst Estate was in itself a real coup and a tremendous task taken on by the co-chairs, David Helming and David Had- dock. My hat is off to them and the entire Westminster Kennel Club; what a job and so well executed. The behind-the-scenes work must have taken hours upon hours to transform the estate into the Westminster event that will never be forgotten. Florence Foti and staff orchestrated such precise detail in regards to every move that myself, as a judge, would do—from the moment I accepted the assignment until I arrived at the airport to fly home. The event was truly one to be remembered. 3. Since the Groups were not judged at Madison Square Gar- den this year, did the night “feel” different to you in any way? After a year with few dog shows, to open up the dog show world again with such class was amazing. The site turned magical; the tenting, the rings, the TV screens in the middle of the tents out- side, coverage by Fox Sports, and then to walk into the huge indoor arena—right down to the lighting and the platform flooring was spectacular, to say the least. I cannot imagine the planning and work that had gone into the evening events. 4. What about the lack of spectators; did you miss the raucous New York crowd? Although the crowds were less, the excitement was of a different sort. Not knowing quite what to expect, the eve- ning Group ring was a replica of the floor at Madison Square Gar- den, with subtle touches that made it part of the Lyndhurst Estate. It was the ambience of Westminster brought to life. 5. Breed judging was live-streamed each day, and Groups were featured live on Fox Sports. How important is this kind of cover- age to purebred dogs? Fox Sports coverage was precise and great to work with. 6. Let’s talk about those dogs! How challenging was the assignment? Can you share your selection process? I myself had

WKC NON-SPORTING GROUP G1 GCHP Chaselands Mathew Moss (French Bulldog) G2 GCHP Majesty Legaxy Asia’s Crown Jewel (Chinese Shar-Pei) G3 GCHB Xeralane’s Shut Up And Kiss Me (Lhasa Apso) G4 GCHB Delamer Suzi Sells Sushi On The Boardwalk (Schipperke)

WKC HERDING GROUP G1 GCH Bugaboo’s Courage Of Conviction (Old English Sheepdog) G2 GCH Cordmaker Punchinello (Puli) G3 GCHG Dynasty's Epic Adventure At Sunpeak BCAT

(Miniature American Shepherd) G4 GCHS Woodside's Arabella (German Shepherd Dog)

214 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JULY 2021

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