Westchester and Tuxedo KC photos by Matthew Stander & Eugene Zaphiris
While Somerset Hills continues to be the top draw entry wise for what is the Northeast's top après summer dog shows, Tuxedo Park amazed everyone by drawing more dogs and having more entries than did Westchester. This is a turnaround, as, compared to any comparison of the two shows in the past. Tuxedo gained over 700 dogs this year. Nonetheless, I must admit to continually think of the entire weekend as the “Westchester” weekend. I guess I'm just too much of both a traditionalist and sentimentalist for my own good. Just walking and/or driving onto Lyndhurst, which, of course, is a National Trust Historic site is enough to thrill you. It is as picturesque a venue as there is in the entire country! Just look at the picture to the left of this story. See what I mean! (Practically, I am happy to tell you that, once again, campers are being permitted on an overnight basis.) Aside from the physical beauty of the site, the show itself was one which exhibitors always considered extremely prestigious. A win of any proportion was, in the past, hotly contended for, and the results cherished. In the late '60s, for instance, Bloodhounds I bred and/or owned were awarded WD, WB, and BOB there. To this day I consider that sweep one of my better accomplishments in the competitive world of dog showing. The reason for that feeling was due to the importance which was attached to the Westchester show and what it represented. And correctly or not, and with the major change in values with regard to dog show wins, I continue to have that kind of respect for a Westchester win. This despite the obvious decline in numbers of dogs being shown and/or entered. And I am sorry to say that in the glamour appeal (in certain instances) of those on its judging panel. One of the most pleasant surprises of the entire weekend was the appearance of Gayle and Jud Streicher at both the Westchester dinner and the show itself. It's been awhile since they were there, and it was a most reassuring visit to most everyone present.
Start from the start—now on Thursday at the very spacious, flat, and well planned venue in North Branch Park in North Branch, New Jersey, are four independent group specialty shows for Hounds, Toys, Sporting, and Toy dogs. On Friday comes Tuxedo Park at the same venue. This is now the second or third year for Tuxedo to be held in conjunction with the Saturday Somerset Hills Show instead of Sunday's Westchester Show in Tarrytown. The convenience factor in not going “to and fro” proved a great uplift in Tuxedo Park entries. The move, in the long run, may benefit Westchester as well on two fronts. Westchester now will resume overnight camper parking, and on Saturday has introduced Agility, which proved very popular. Northern New Jersey is now the Monday show with Westchester. While entries were down there, perhaps this new attitude towards camper parking will be an inducement for larger entries for Sunday and Monday. Geographically, of course, the Friday and Monday shows logically should be reversed, but when it comes to show venues, logic is usually not to be a factor in consideration.
I did not attend the Thursday and Saturday shows, so I missed, on the latter date, seeing the Toy Poodle establish the new record for BIS wins. I did see the Akita win on Friday and the Sealy do the same on Sunday and Monday, too—again, I missed the Monday event. I saw several new young exhibits which looked most impressive—a Peke, a Mini Poodle, a Scottish Deerhound bitch, a Canadian-imported Greyhound, and one or two Bichons I had not seen before. I will follow their progress with curiosity. The spectator crowd continues to freefall downward at Westchester, and while I thought overall the atmosphere was more upbeat than last year generally, I would still like to see a return to the group glamour of yesteryear. Certainly that Pedigree booth monstrosity should be replaced with something more appropriate, if not something with a little class, wouldn't you think? The floral arrangements at Tuxedo were lovely and the picture taking area creative, too. Weather was hot and humid but bearable, so all in all a truly great dog weekend was had—or so I thought anyways.
You know, this AKC-CHF rift has gotten out of hand. I got a 6:30 AM call on Monday virtually accusing me of being in cahoots with AKC in first its private conversations and then public condemnation of CHF. I had no idea what the person who called was even referring to. It took me two full days to get an idea of what was going on! It sure sounds as though reason and logic are with AKC in the dispute, but why not find out the facts yourself and come up with your own conclusion. Base them on fact and not emotion, and for God's sake, don't be intimidated by anyone! Let me hear what you think. Maybe I'll change my mind, or alternatively, it will help to reinforce my own thinking. •
