KENNEL CLUB JUNIOR WARRANT SEMI FINALS 2006

Zac qualified for his Junior Warrant at 14 months old, he ended his Junior Classes to claim more than another Junior Warrant.  As a result of this we decided to enter him into one of the regional heats of the Junior Warrant qualifying rounds.  Having searched through the few selected qualifying shows we found one in the North East (slightly unfair to us Northern exhibitors compared to the amount of qualifying shows in the South !).  The schedule for Nidderdale Agricultural Society arrived, a Monday and about an hour and a half away from where we live.  After taking a days holiday I decided that if I was going to the show I might as well do the breed class as well.  A decision which paid off, as not only was Zac awarded Best of Breed he was also declared Best in Show. 

Following the judging of Best in Show, the Junior Warrant competition was called and judge Andy Clark (Anshee) sent Zac forward to the Junior Warrant Semi Finals which were to be held at Earls Court in London later in the year.

Time passed and the Semi Finals were upon us.  I decided that it wasnt really that far, and some 7 and a half hours later we arrived at Earls Court, not the best of venues to find, and from a non-Londoner, but still a city girl, the traffic was horrible !  I swear the cyclists were playing chicken with me !  Anyway, this was my first  time I had competed in this event, and to be honest I can not see why I bothered.  Compared to the Pro Plan Pup of the Year finals I could not see what all the fuss was about.  We found our way to the bench which was only big enough for toy dogs, and sat and waited and waited and waited.  Eventually our numbers were drawn and we were told what ring we would be in and who the judges are.  I was in Ring 2 with Eleanor Bothwell as our judge. 

The judging started with 3 dogs only ever being present in the ring at one time.  Commentary was taking place as each judge was assessed and the commentator gave a little speech on each dog being judged.  Zacs turn arrived and after finally getting over that he was on astroturf not grass, carpet or floor which he was used to Mrs Bothwell began to assess him, the commentator at this time decided to announce to everyone that he was 2 and a half years old... I gave up listening at this stage, seeing as she had just aged my dog by a year !  We did our bit then left the ring.  All of the dogs were then called back in and a final selection was made.

Unfortunately we did not make the final selection, however, it was an honour to get that far. 

Would I go again, no, to be honest I wouldnt.  I dont think this event is really aimed at us, the exhibitor, it is aimed at Mr Joe Public who without a doubt got to meet lots of dogs (remembering that that is the whole idea of Discover Dogs), but didnt have a clue what the whole thing of dog showing was, let alone try and understand what a Junior Warrant was.  Having competed at the Pup of the Year finals, their is no comparison between the two.  The Qualifiers should go through to a final at Crufts and miss out the middle bit in London, it will make more time for the 'fun' bits that the public want to see at Discover Dogs !

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