The Gossip Column: March 13, 2026

CRUFTS 2026 is now in the record books. The four-day event went as smoothly as one could hope. Amazing when you think that the show is run by ROYAL KENNEL CLUB employees without any show superintendents such as we are accustomed to using. The end result was seven beautiful dogs all worthy of the top prize that was awarded to LEE COX’S Clumber Spaniel with reserve going the the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen from Croatia, owned and handled by DR. IVA RAIC. While I try to avoid my travels and life experiences here, I have to make an exception to write that I was the judge for Skye Terriers at this year’s CRUFTS. Having judged the  SKYE TERRIER CLUB show on the Isle of Skye in 2022 was the highlight of my life in pure bred dogs, judging at CRUFTS just put the icing on the cake. Such a great honor. Among some the Americans at the CRUFTS were several AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB employees, President and CEO GINA DINARDO,  Executive Secretrary SHEILA GOFFE, Vice President of Sport Services MARI-BETH O’NEILL, Vice President of Sports and Events DOUG LJUNGREN and his wife JUDY and Vice President of Public Relations and Common Actions BRANDI HUNTER MUNDEN enjoying an abbreviated weekend as they had to fly back to attend Tuesday’s delegates annual meeting and election. Where the smart money is on the three nominated candidates will be victorious. The bigger question is whether current chairman TOM DAVIES will return for one last year in that position. He has made it known that he would like one more year as Chairman or will there be new elected chairman? Also seen at CRUFTS were some US exhibitors - our junior showmanship representative TATUM BARTLETT  traveling with with her mother JAMIE SOUZA BARTLETT and ALICIA MORRISON JONES,  ERNESTO LARA, ANDREW GREEN, REBECCA CROSS, WILLY SANTIAGO, TERRY SMITH along with AMY GREEN, RANDY MCATEER, BRUCE SCHWARTZ, LINDA CLARK, a familiar face DUSTIN RUNNELS,  better known as DUSTIN RHODES the professional wrestler and his wife TA-REL MARIE RUNNELS. Sad news from Finland was the passing of one of Finland’s finest and most respected judges RAINER VUORINEN  at the age of 88. Hospitalized for several months, his passing was not unexpected but shocking nonetheless. Estranged from his family, he is said to have his ashes buried with his good friend and equally respected judge “HASSE”, the late HANS LEHTINEN. These two gentlemen are singularly responsible for the Finnish judges receiving world wide recognition. They were humble, knowledgable and great representatives of their native land.  RAINER, like HASSE (they are hard to separate) are a great loss to the world of pure bred dogs.