photos by Matthew Stander & Eugene Zaphiris
It's been years now since I've been to the Seaside Park/Ventura County Fairgrounds. The venue itself has basically remained the same-a spread-out fairground with indoor and outdoor rings not necessarily nice to look at but extremely functional for a dog show. It did, though, evoke for me the old days when Ventura was the Saturday show, with Lompoc on Friday and Santa Barbara on Sunday. The race, of course, back then was heading back on the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara for the eagerly awaited Judges Dinner put on by Tom and Ann Stevenson. In today's Santa Barbara traffic we never would have made it, but back then we usually did, with barely enough time to change for dinner. Somehow by the skin of our neck, we would do it! I remember one particularly harrowing ride with the two Annies (Clark and Gallup) and Ruth Cooper in tow and Gene driving. Those of you who have driven with Gene will know what I mean. Those were the days, but that was then and today is now. Now the shows held on this site are Channel City on Friday, Santa Maria on Saturday, and Ventura on Sunday. I don't know whether or not they alternate dates. We missed the Friday show, but certainly there were large entries all three days—2,600-plus on Friday, 2,965 on Saturday, and 2,800-plus on Sunday, with large numbers of spectators as well.
On the subject of entries, certain people have been writing, decrying the falling numbers of entries at dog shows. I'm not too sure, after talking to some of the Bradshaw and Onofrio people, how accurate these writings may be. Certainly, the Great Western weekend and this so-called “El Camino Real Summerfest” affair were way up over last year. Additionally, in Oklahoma City and at the three following Texas weekends of Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston, entries are up tremendously compared to last year, too!
The first night, the PW Corgi owned by the Missy Capone team and handled by Bill Shelton was the victor; Saturday was the Musser's Scottie, handled by Gabriel Rangel, while Sunday belonged to Roger Rechler's Akita, shown by Laurie Jordan. All three winners were bitches and, I may add, are not only exemplary examples of their breed but are also top contenders for major awards this year. I can't speak for the first night, but days two and three had varying degrees of strength in the group, which, of course, had to do with breed judging itself. While, again, the final night's line-ups were only as good as the group judges' judgments were concerned. Some could be questioned, others not, but isn't that always the case? Both the Corgi and Akita won all three groups, while the Scottie was only shown in the Group one night. Two new breeds to watch in Herding were the Beauceron and Swedish Valhund, which made their debuts—for me at any rate—this weekend. I suspect the Valhund will catch on easier for most people than will the Beauceron, as far as numbers of dogs owned are concerned, but that perhaps the Beauceron will place more in Group competition. I don't even know why I think that, but I do.
I would have to say that the main topic of conversation at the shows not directly connected to the showing of dogs was AB 1634. Certainly the three groups most directly involved and the most visible at the show was PETPAC, CAL-FED and CDOC. I have no intention at the present time in discussing the merits of one organization as opposed to another, or which to donate to or even support. NOW is not the time for petty ego trips, or even an analysis of what the motivating factors in forming the groups may or may not have been. After that is hopefully accomplished—whether it is defeated in Committee, by Senate vote, or the governor's veto—will be the time for those kinds of discussions. That's why I was shocked to hear that on Sunday, CDOC was denied a booth which it had on Saturday by the Sunday show. I am told this was the case, and if it is true, then shame on that decision, I say. The fact is we must appear united in this fight, no matter which organization is involved. As far as AKC visibility at the shows with regard to AB 1634, unfortunately, there appears to have been none to be seen. At Great Western there was a representative, but for the constituency at Ventura there was none. The fact is that AKC is working behind the scenes in Sacramento very well and effectively from what I hear. Too bad they haven't let everyone know precisely of its activities. That is what there is that can be made public! Not everything is for public consumption all of the time, is it.
On another point I thought permitting dogs to be debarked on the show grounds, while perhaps legal, was extremely inappropriate. I hope this practice does not extend beyond California, for sure, and is rethought there as well.
I see where the Bayou Kennel Club is proposing to end the term limit implemented by the Delegates against the Board. I hope this gets by the Board and that the Delegates have the opportunity to reverse themselves. Last time, the concept passed by just one vote, so it would not be that much of a reversal, would it!
FLASH! AB 1634 never got out of Committee. More on that next week. Breathe easy for a while! •
