A rather belated Crufts 2013 round up...an action packed three days for me, being there Thursday-Saturday.

Thursday was the least eventful day, with just Elton in the YKC obedience. Possibly the less said about that the better - he was completely overwhelmed once in the ring and although his HoL was okish, when we cut the cord (removed the lead) he sat there and decided it was too scary to move! So I called it a day - no point stressing him, C'est la vie! Though having only one obedience class and no breed judging that I was interested in gave me time to do some proper spectating and shopping, so there were plus points!

Friday was Toy Day - breed for Solei & breed stakes for Elton. Elton's stakes were in the same ring where he had lost it the previous day, but in a different context (and on lead lol) he was fine and showed very well. Didn't get anything, but I knew it was the wrong judge for him...just nice to qualify. Solei went well, remembered what to do and although he was unplaced in Veteran Dog it was the nicest Veteran class I've ever seen in Paps - there were 17 dogs entered and a lot of quality. He did then go on to get a VHC in Good Citizen Dog :-) So happy me - a card at Crufts is fantastic.

Solei age 8.5yrs at Crufts 2013 (Photo Yulia Titovets)

Saturday was the "big" day - the Finals of the Special Pre-Beginner Obedience Stakes. I have had little else on my mind since Elton got through the semis in November! Oh and did I mention - one of the motors in my chair failed and the part was taking forever to get back in stock, so I was without a working chair for 6 weeks...it was finally fixed on the Monday as we were off to Crufts on the Thursday!! I was just slightly stressed. Having been unable to do any proper practice I had one session with him (he was a very good boy) and then that was that - our Crufts preparation!!

(Photo Yulia Titovets)

Saturday was also Gundog Day, so Ria was in action in the Kooikerhondje ring! I was really pleased with her - she got a 2nd in Post Graduate Bitch to the Reserve Best Bitch, and a 2nd in Good Citizen Bitch to the Best Bitch. Good results!

Elton was in the ring early, having been drawn 2nd - couldn't decide if that was a blessing or a curse!
Nice to get it out of the way I think - though we had stays at the end of the class. After Thursday's disaster I could not have been prouder of him, the ring was right in the middle of Crufts with scores of crowds, and flyball being run just down the hall!! but he was a star, I came out of the ring thoroughly satisfied with how he had worked - whatever happened. As it turned out, the marks reflected what I felt!

The scores nearly halfway through the class

By the end of the class he was lying Joint 2nd, surrounded by Border Collies/Working Sheepdogs (BC/WSD)! That was the most terrifying stay I have ever done in my life...but all clear. So then we had a run off for 2nd/3rd. I was not all there by then lol and I knew we hadn't done enough to win it, but 3rd was beyond my wildest dreams...there were BC/WSD in 1st, 2nd & 4th, so he was the Top Anything But A Collie. What a result :-D



So all three dogs came home from Crufts with placements, I spent far too much money and have fab memories that will stay with me for ever :-) Even now, 7 weeks later, I still can't quite believe it happened! But there is no doubting who the star of Crufts was :-) Dog in a million!

I'm clever, yes?