LINES FROM LINDA AYERS TURNER KNORR: DAN SAYERS NAMED SHOWSIGHT’S NEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Despite the obvious charms of a girl like “Kate,” Dan was ulti- mately taken with a different curly-haired, water-loving breed. While joining a classmate on a trip home for the weekend in New Jersey, he went to a nearby dog show (of course!) where he saw an Irish Water Spaniel (IWS) being prepared for the ring. It was the first time Dan saw a rat-tailed spaniel in the flesh, though he’d admired the breed ever since photos of CH Oaktree’s Irishtocrat appeared in the New York Times following that dog’s Westminster win at The Garden. Upon graduation, Dan rewarded himself with an IWS puppy that arrived at Newark International Airport from Seattle. The year before, he’d attended the IWSCA National Specialty in Massachusetts where he met a couple from the Pacific Northwest whose dogs appealed to him. The arrival of Mirkwood’s Cameo Appearance allowed Dan to finally enter his own dog in the shows he’d only been able to experi- ence as a spectator. “Teala” proved an ideal partner for a beginner, bringing her calm confidence into the ring alongside her nervous han- dler. She eventually finished her championship in fine form, earning both majors in one weekend under all-rounder Langdon Skarda and breeder-judge Arlene Thompson-Brown. Teala eventually earned her CD and produced eight champions, including a pair of Group winners. Dan’s first bred-by dog earned his championship by going Best of Winners at Westchester KC under Roy Holloway. The win was particularly meaningful to Dan as he found himself standing in the winner’s circle with two of the professionals he’d been admiring for years. That day, Peter Green and Bill Trainor handled the Breed and Best of Opposite winners respectively. Inter- estingly, it was Roy Holloway who handled a Bouvier des Flandres (CH Beaucrest Ruffian) to Best in Show at that all-breed event in New Jersey years earlier. As his confidence grew, Dan would occasionally show dogs for some of the people he met at handling class. Of the breeds he exhib- ited from time to time, the Sussex Spaniel and Rhodesian Ridgeback became two of his favorites. He eventually co-bred the latter, with one Ridgeback producing a National Specialty Best of Winners under all- rounder Michele Billings and a National Specialty Best of Opposite winner under breeder-judge Barbara Sawyer-Brown. As Dan was learning how to show dogs and breed them, he was also expanding his planning, problem-solving, and management skills in his professional life. As a designer and project manager with several leading architectural firms, Dan honed his instincts for recognizing (and producing) balance, proportion, form, and function. These skills translated well to the dog world, allowing him to discern these quali- ties in the whelping box, on the grooming table, and in the ring. Membership in several dog clubs offered additional opportunities for Dan to share his experiences and express his particular point of view. His articles in the IWSCA parent club’s newsletter became reg- ular features and his Breed Column in the AKC Gazette introduced his work to a broader audience. Dan’s writing was ultimately recog- nized by a few literary figures in the dog world and his efforts began to appear in essential publications like Dog Fancy and Dogs in Review . This eventually led to his role as Editor-in-Chief of Best in Show Daily , the nation’s first digital-only dog show publication.
Mr. Sam Houston McDonald awards a Group placement to Sussex Spaniel CH Stonecroft’s Go The Distance CGC. photo by Tom Di Giacomo
CH County Line’s Pride And Joy finishes her championship under breeder-judge Mr. D. Jay Hyman. photo by B.W. Kernan
Dan handles Irish Water Spaniel CH Beaufield Kibitzer to Group First under all-breed judge Ms. Denny Kodner. photo by Downey
72 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2024
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