Fri, 07/14/2023 - 12:40pm

The Most Unique Show in the World

Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac, April 11-14, 2023

There are many reasons why the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac is the most unique show in the world. First, it is not a national, just an independent specialty. This year, with the combined entry of regular classes and sweepstakes, the entry was 1,125!

The Labrador national only draws around 300 dogs, or less. The parent club is basically run by field people, who actually control the standard. Years ago, when the parent club changed the standard, lawsuits were even filed. Many of the conformation people wanted to split the breed. The biggest issue was putting in a DQ for size. Many of the best bitches were and still are undersize for the standard. Rarely do the breeder-judges ever measure.

Personally, I think the first thing that makes the show so unique is the huge international turnout. Many, many countries come to compete, and lots of foreigners come just to watch. If anyone has an interest in Labs, their trip to Potomac is the highlight of the year.

I am not a Lab person, but it is one of the most exciting shows of the year for me.

 

 

Each year a lot of special attractions are offered. Potomac was held April 11 to 14 this year. But actually, the conformation events start a day before the show: On Monday there were two different match shows with very large entries. It gives the puppies a chance for a good practice show, since many have not been in the ring before.

Besides the two match shows, Potomac also has a Top Twenty, which I have never seen offered outside a national. It is a gala affair in the evening. Tuesday evening is the International Gala, which is free for all to attend. This year several new events were added, including a 4-to-6-month competition and a Pee-Wee competition. At the last minute after entries closed, an International Competition was put in place for the visiting foreign dogs. I have never seen this done before.

 

 

A great deal of education is offered for breeders as well as judges. A large number of aspiring judges attend each year to be able to check off several boxes for their AKC application. Sorry to say, after they get licensed we rarely see them coming back to understand the breed even more. Potomac does a fabulous job with the judges education. The one problem is the students only see the “cream of the crop,” as the depth of quality is like no other show. When the permit judges do their first assignments, they must wonder why the dogs do not look like the dogs they studied at Potomac. The breed is quite split, with the dogs that go to all-breed shows and the dogs that only go to specialties. Many of the top breeders only go to specialties to show to breeder-judges. At the moment there are probably only about 20 non-breeder judges who the breeders support. So new judges rarely get an entry with good depth of quality. We learn by comparing top quality.

Sorry to say there are a lot of judges who judge the Sporting Group and have very little interest in Labs. Some are even very critical of the top-quality dogs. They like a more generic type, and prefer the field type. It is rare to see Labs in the top-10 Sporting dogs. One reason is also that most of the top breeders do not campaign them. They feel the majority of the judges do not appreciate them.

Being that Potomac is the breeders’ showcase, the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch classes are taken very seriously. In 2022, it was a disaster. They really did not know what it was about. The stud dogs came in and the judge ran them around and quickly placed them. The owners of the stud dogs were livid. There are challenge trophies offered, so it is a huge honor to win these classes three times.

The Field and Hunt classes are also taken very seriously.

The Best of Breed competition is always judged by an American breeder. The regular dog and bitch classes are judged by foreign judges. Canadian and Mexican judges are not considered foreign judges, probably because they are our close neighbors and judge here often. The sweeps are judged by prominent breeders who are not licensed judges.

 

 

Because there are around 1,000 entries in the regular classes and sweeps, this requires three rings running at the same time all day Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is only BOB judging. After breed, there is also Best Owner-Handled, Best Puppy, Best of Opposite Sex to Best Puppy, Best Bred-by Exhibitor, Best Veteran, Best Hunting Retriever and Best Amateur Owner Handler.

Over the years, the show has outgrown several venues. In recent years the Clarion Inn at the Frederick Event Center in Maryland has been the venue. The hotel is not in great shape, but is in the process of major renovations. Potomac needs to be held at a hotel that has a huge grass area to accommodate three large rings plus the grooming areas. There are some nice hotels close by that also take dogs at reasonable rates. There are lots of great places to dine in the area. The exhibitors can park their vans close to the ring or in front of their grooming tents. There is room for quite a few motorhomes.

The hotel is building a new five-story tower. One drawback right now is it is only two stories, but no elevator.

Over the long four days every type of weather can happen: freezing cold with rain one day and extreme heat the next. This year every day was up in the 80s, but with no humidity and a little breeze. There were pools to water down the dogs. The large rings offer plenty of shade. The Clarion does appreciate all the business that a show brings. It is totally sold out nearly every night.

To put on a show of this magnitude takes a huge committee of workers. Vicky Creamer is show chair and Krista Beal co-chair. There are 35 different committees, and some have multiple workers. Potomac also has a lot of performance events that are held at a separate venue not too far away.

When I was invited to judge the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch classes this year, I was extremely honored. As time progressed, more non-regular classes were added to my assignment, even after entries closed.

 

 

Being that breed judge Janet Farmilette (above) could not be at the beginning of the show, I took over judging the 45 veterans on Tuesday afternoon. It was a very challenging assignment. The depth of quality was so deep. Many of the old-timers that were big winners from the past still looked great. On Wednesday I judged Hunting classes, and it was nice to see some really top Labs that also have a hunting title. Thursday I had 20 stud dogs and eight brood bitches to judge. So in all I had 84 Labs to judge.

The Stud Dog class was extremely strong. Many were big-winning dogs, and their get were also big winners. I was mentally exhausted when I completed these classes and still had the 4-to-6 puppies to judge. This year a Generations class was offered, spanning three generations. I wish more clubs would do this.

On Thursday the International competition for visiting dogs had great depth of quality. My winner was a seven-year-old black bitch from Mexico that also won her Veteran class under me. I learned she won the breed at a big specialty in Texas the weekend before. Best of Opposite was a young black dog also visiting from Mexico.

It was a great honor to have judged all these non-regular classes and the special attractions. Having a deep passion for the breed, I will always cherish the memories of judging them. The only drawback is I was not allowed to watch the regular classes or sweeps, since the dogs could be in the Stud Dog or Brood Bitch classes.

 

 

I have been judging for 47 years and have had the honor of judging Best in Show at both the AKC National Championship and Morris & Essex, and judging at three World Dog Shows, including Labrador bitches in Amsterdam in 2018. These assignments were very memorable, and now I add Potomac to that list. I have to thank Vicky Creamer and Krista Beal so much for making it possible, along with the entire committee. Most of all, a huge thank-you to all the exhibitors and breeders who brought such great dogs for me to judge. The Labrador people around the world have been very kind to accept me into their wonderful world of Labs.

 

 

International Visitors

 

By Cully Leck

Potomac has always piqued my interest. I’ve lived in Frederick, Maryland, all my life. In fact, my mom found out she was pregnant with me while staying at the Clarion Hotel, which this show calls home. But it took me until 2022, nine years after I started in purebred dogs, to visit Potomac for the first time.

Before 2022, I had already earned the title “Honorary Lab Person.” Working for handlers who showed Labs, befriending multiple Lab breeders and exhibitors — including Krista Beal and Betty Durst, co-chairs of this event — and given my overall love for the breed, it was only a matter of time before I attended. In fact, I was lined up to show in Junior Showmanship for the first time at Potomac in 2020, but the global pandemic kept me locked in my house instead. So in 2022 I went, and I fell in love.

This year due to scheduling conflicts, I was unable to make it to my Whippet national in Topeka. When I found that out, I sent a message to Krista: “What do you need me to do at Potomac?”

I ended up behind the merchandise table and found myself enjoying every minute of it.

On Tuesday while I was working the table, I received a call from Krista: “Cully, I have a VERY important task for you: Tonight you HAVE to come to the cocktail party. Don’t worry — I have a ticket for you. And you have to interview ALL the international guests who are here for me and Desi, please.”

I was thrilled. What a task, getting to meet so many awesome international guests and learning more about the breed. I ended up meeting many people that night in just a few hours. Hearing fun stories and chatting with people from all corners of the world. The Potomac is such a special event. One of the things that makes it so special are the international guests. There are few events in the U.S. that draw international visitors like this, and I think even fewer that draw international dogs.

I cannot thank Krista and Desi enough for allowing me to meet all these fantastic people and record their impressions. If you’ve never been to Potomac, put it on your bucket list now! It truly is one of the best shows on the planet, and I am counting down the days to 2024. Just like I’m sure most of these folks are, too.

 

Jan Roger Sauge, Norway

J.R. has been here several times and judged in 2008. This year he was here mainly to support a friend who was judging.

 

Sussie Wiles, U.K.

Judging males this year, she is a returning visitor who loves the international vibe and meeting Lab enthusiasts from all over the globe. She loves being here at the largest show dedicated to Labs. She has judged at many shows, including Crufts, but she put this assignment at the top of her achievement list in her judging career.

 

Hannie Jokisilta, Finland

This was Hannie’s seventh time at Potomac. In 2013 she judged and has never skipped another show! She came this time to see all her friends stateside. She enjoys the atmosphere and truly feels like it is one big family.

 

Susan Trigg, Canada

Susan has been coming to this show for more than 10 years, mainly to spend time with friends and to share and listen to stories. She told me it’s a dream for Lab lovers. I asked her — and all the Canadians I interviewed — how often she comes to the U.S. for dog shows. Knowing people in other breeds who travel here often for shows, she told me Potomac is the only time she comes to the States.

 

Raymond Attard, Australia

This was Raymond’s first time at Potomac, but he had the task of judging one of the two B matches held in conjunction with the show. He described the show as fabulous. The consistency among the dogs, especially among the blacks, was incredible. And the camaraderie among exhibitors was fantastic. He absolutely plans to return.

 

Nancy Farquharson, Scotland

Nancy has been coming for 18 years. She loves the dogs, the friends she gets to see and the friendliness of the American people. She has judged Potomac sweeps as well as sweepstakes at other shows here in the U.S.

 

Eva Vilamo, Finland

This was Eva’s fourth time at Potomac, but this year she judged the other B match. She loved seeing all the stunning dogs in front of her instead of in photos and videos online. She was also excited to meet new people and revisit old friends.

 

Lesley Park, Scotland

Lesley has been coming to Potomac for 23 years. She enjoys the event — the dogs, the people and spending time here in the U.S. She couldn’t imagine being at home and knowing Potomac was going on without her.

 

Kirsi Luomanen, originally from Finland, now the U.K.

Kirsi has been to Potomac 21 times. She called it the mecca for Labs. She came to Potomac for the first time in 2000 as a judge and has kept coming back ever since.

 

Margaret Brown, Scotland

Margaret has been coming since 1999. She thinks it’s the best Lab show in the world, with the best dogs and the best people, and she loves it here in the States. The atmosphere is very welcoming to outsiders and foreigners. Margret judged here in 2007, and her husband Andrew judged here in 2022.

 

Tina Peixoto, Portugal

This was Tina’s first time at Potomac. She tried to make it many times before, but was unable to for multiple reasons. This first time was very special as she had the bitch assignment. When I asked her how she enjoyed the show so far, she told me that she loved the dogs, especially the blacks, and was very happy to be here, as this was one of her life goals.

 

Leann, Canada

Leann has been coming to these shows since the ’90s. She mainly came to find some potential stud dogs, do some shopping with the vendors and also brought her friend Shannon to Potomac for the first time. Shannon doesn’t come here often, occasionally for some specialties, but she never misses Potomac.

 

Lola Nichol, Canada

Lola has also been coming since the ’90s. She loves coming to the world’s largest Lab show and seeing the number of international visitors. This year was extra special for her as Lola showed her dog “Colt,” the top Lab in Canada in 2022, in the Top Twenty gala. Potomac invited her to show this year.

 

Kathryn Karpoval, Ukraine

This was Kathryn’s first time here. She enjoyed the well-organized showing of dogs and talking to breeders, and cannot wait to come back.

 

Maragreta, Ukraine

This was Maragreta’s third time at Potomac. She was happy to be here this year, especially bringing Kathryn to show her dogs. She loves the dialogue she gets to have with breeders here to discuss problems in the breed and how to solve them. She also likes American lines, and this way she can see stud dogs up close.

 

Julie Bedford-Pope, New Zealand

The last person I talked to, Julie has traveled here since 2009, and comes for the people, the dogs and the atmosphere. She called it the greatest show on earth and gave me a quote that really stuck with me: “If you do not see something you absolutely love at Potomac, you should give up looking.”

 

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