WESTMINSTER 2015 DAY ONE

GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect Day 

Day One at Westminster brought some surprises. From the start we saw several of the favorites in the Toy and Non-Sporting Groups fail to get out of the breed. However, the biggest surprise was reserved for the Herding Group where last year’s group winner, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, GCH CH Riverside Telltail Coco Posh, was bested by the top winning Cardigan of all time, GCH CCH Aubrey’s Tails of Mystery. 

However, the Cardigan, Libby, was not able to break through to a group placement. Herding Group judge Klaus Anselm’s top four were the Old English Sheepdog, GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect, the Bouvier des Flandres, GCH CH Stonepillar's Steel Blu, the Australian Shepherd, GCH CH Copper Hills No Reservations CGC, and the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Lockenhaus' Rumor Has It V Kenlyn. 

GCH CH Dawin Hearts on Fire 

We were not surprised that Non-Sporting Group judge Shirley Limoges went with the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Dawin Hearts on Fire, as her Group One. We were surprised that she left out the Chinese Shar-Pei, GCH CH Shine’s Deck the Halls, and the Keeshond, GCH CH Skyline’s Unit of Measure. Rounding out her four were the Xoloitzcuintli, GCH CH Bayshore Giorgio Armani, the Bichon Saks Winning Card, and the American Eskimo Dog, GCH CH Nuuktok's Atka Inukshuk. 

GCH CH Hallmark Jolie Rocket Power 

While our top two picks, the Shih Tzu, GCH CH Hallmark Jolie Rocket Power, and the Pomeranian, GCH CH Hitime What the Inferno, made it into judge Elliot Weiss’ Toy Group, we did not predict that the Yorkshire Terrier, GCH CH Trio’s Big Shot (whom we love), would get the Number Three spot, or the Havanese, GCH CH Love's Havaheart Los Goodfellas (whom we have never seen) would come in as Number Four. 

GCH CH Tashtin’s Lookin’ for Trouble 

Finally, while we knew that judge Betty-Anne Stenmark would find room for her Hound Group winner, the 15” Beagle, GCH CH Tashtin’s Lookin’ for Trouble, and her Number Two, the Bloodhound, GCH CH Flessner’s International S’Cess, we were pleasantly surprised that she found room for the Otterhound, GCH CH Aberedeen’s Under the Influence, and our dark horse, the Black & Tan Coonhound, GCH CH Bayaway Due Process of Law. After Day One we think we are headed for one of the most exciting Westminster finals ever.