Well with this show last year I was bragging about Dave. This year he was busy grooming Havanese and didn't even get to see the competition. I saw bits and pieces. Not much of it greatly impressed me, but it did leave an impact.
One was when the judge told the handler of the winner of the Lure Coursing Bitch class that she was not eligible to compete for breed. Now, I admit that I don't know about how Lure Coursing meshes with conformation, but there was quite an uproar, because the judge was told that by a member of the show committee that they are not supposed to be able to compete for breed, but by the rules they are? The judge said that the bitch in question was the best moving Ibizan that she had seen in a very long time. What a disappointment for the owner/handler.
Next, I saw the judge award the Winners Bitch (An almost 3 year old, who according to the AKC website had 1 point as of August 30), Best of Winners, and Best of Breed (not in that order). She gave the Breed ribbon out, then the Best of Opposite (who thankfully did not go to the Winners Dog), then came back and gave the Best of Winners to the Amateur Owner Handler showing the bitch. #20 in the catalog.
As I was watching the Non Sporting Group (Non Sporting Specialty today), the Ibizan people and dogs were getting photos. Not many were happy.
THEN IT REALLY HIT THE FAN>>>
The buzz is as follows: Evidently, the Norwegian Judge, Mrs. Eli-Marie Klepp, had spent this past week with the breeder/co-owner of the Breed Winning Bitch, who is also on the Board of Directors of the Ibizan Hound Club of the United States. They drove out to Purina Farms from the east coast together.
With all of the changes with AKC regulations, is it against the rules? Probably not. Is it moral or ethical? Probably not. Does it look bad? ...YOU BETCHA!!!
One was when the judge told the handler of the winner of the Lure Coursing Bitch class that she was not eligible to compete for breed. Now, I admit that I don't know about how Lure Coursing meshes with conformation, but there was quite an uproar, because the judge was told that by a member of the show committee that they are not supposed to be able to compete for breed, but by the rules they are? The judge said that the bitch in question was the best moving Ibizan that she had seen in a very long time. What a disappointment for the owner/handler.
Next, I saw the judge award the Winners Bitch (An almost 3 year old, who according to the AKC website had 1 point as of August 30), Best of Winners, and Best of Breed (not in that order). She gave the Breed ribbon out, then the Best of Opposite (who thankfully did not go to the Winners Dog), then came back and gave the Best of Winners to the Amateur Owner Handler showing the bitch. #20 in the catalog.
As I was watching the Non Sporting Group (Non Sporting Specialty today), the Ibizan people and dogs were getting photos. Not many were happy.
THEN IT REALLY HIT THE FAN>>>
The buzz is as follows: Evidently, the Norwegian Judge, Mrs. Eli-Marie Klepp, had spent this past week with the breeder/co-owner of the Breed Winning Bitch, who is also on the Board of Directors of the Ibizan Hound Club of the United States. They drove out to Purina Farms from the east coast together.
With all of the changes with AKC regulations, is it against the rules? Probably not. Is it moral or ethical? Probably not. Does it look bad? ...YOU BETCHA!!!
