WWW: THE SPORTING GROUP

 GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction

(Photo by Jeffrey Hanlin)

One of our favorite conversations during the month of January is Who to Watch at Westminster (WWW).  While we have already declared our top picks, we caution that Westminster is the most unpredictable show we attend every year.  Because the level of quality of the dogs is so high, just about any breed can see an underdog walk away with the purple & gold ribbon.

The Sporting Group this year was the most hotly contested of any, with the German Wirehaired Pointer, GCH CH Mt View’s Ripsnorter Silver Charm, and the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Wynmoor Champagne Supernova, finishing as the Numbers One and Two Dogs All Breeds.  The race was so close that the last show of the year decided the rankings.  When it was all over the GWP, Oakley, had accumulated 73 BIS and 152 Group Ones, to the Springer’s, Peyton’s, 63 & 147.

Challenging the top two for much of the year was 2011’s Number One Dog, the Black Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction.  Beckham scaled back his appearances after breaking the record for the most BIS by a Sporting Dog back in July when he collected his 118^th career big rosette.  By the end of 2012 he would raise that bar to 121.  His record to date stands at 122.

The Clumber Spaniel, GCH CH Clussexx Collaboration with Traddles, had a very successful 2012, finishing as the Number 11 Sporting Dog with seven BIS and 31 Groups.  He is currently the Number Six Dog All Breeds (through February3rd) after taking the closing BIS at the Rose City Classic in Portland OR and 11 big Sporting Groups.

We have picked the Black Cocker Spaniel, Beckham, to head this Group, but we wouldn’t be surprised if any of these four walked away with the Group One.