SHOW STATISTICS UPDATE:

Bobby Qualified 2005 and 2007

Finlay Qualified 2006

The time draws nearer to 10th March, Terrier Day at Crufts and Bobby still doesn't have anything to wear! Lots of time will be spent ensuring his coat is in pristine condition - he loves the attention anyway - so that won't be a hardship to him. Will report more fully after the event. It's our first time so for those of you who stumble across our webpages, maybe our story will be of help to you. Call back after 10th March and we'll let you know how we coped

Bobby’s Big Day . . . .  Couldn’t quite believe the Big Day had finally arrived. For the last two weeks every time I thought about The Big Day, my stomach flipped over with butterflies and each day of grooming Bobby made me more nervous than the day before – his coat just didn’t seem to want to lay in the right position. He also looked hairier than the day before, so out came the clippers but my lack of confidence did me no good and so I put them away again and just snipped off the tiniest bit of hair – as if that could make all the difference! 

Anyway, the alarm clock, set for 5am, didn’t wake me up – I was already well awake – so up we get. My nerves had deserted me the evening before and so the day dawned with not a flutter of butterflies anywhere.

The journey to the NEC was untroubled and we three (Steve, Bobby and myself) arrived at 7am, just as predicted and leisurely walked across several car parks to Hall 1 where we would find our bench and some of the friends made along the year long campaign to get qualified.

We were benched between Jim and Anne Falconer (Scarista) and Gail Dixon (Chatterdale) so we’re amongst good friends. Bobby had his usual snappy barks at several dogs – but that didn’t bother me now. We were there, at Crufts, at the largest dog show in the world and I didn’t care if he snapped at other dogs – we’d made it!

Although several friends/colleagues were nervous – they had set their hearts on CC’s and Reserve CC’s and the like – the atmosphere was one of joviality, like a holiday camp. So, Bobby and I set out our table, got out the grooming implements and got to work with the brushing and final touches. Time didn’t flash by as I thought it would, but crept slowly towards the allotted slot. The photographer had been up to see me and made contact – we were having an action photograph taken in the ring as a reminder of this momentous day – and he just wanted to assure me that he would be there.

Crufts, to me, is just like all the other championship shows in that your bench is usually some distance away from the show ring so you have to keep a very close eye on the proceedings in the ring to make sure you don’t miss your call. With that in mind, Bobby and I scampered off to await our time. 

With 17 of us I knew that we would be in the ring for a while and I kept catching sight of the photographer taking our photographs – very disconcerting especially as you’re trying to look natural. Bobby snapped at a few dogs along the way; Steve managed to take a few photos and a little video clip of the pair of us; the judge looked us over; he selected 6 or 7 dogs – not us of course – and that was it! Out of the ring and back to the bench and the time was only 10:30am. The preparation was well worth it though for the experience was magical.

We spent some time hanging around the ring to see what our friends and colleagues were up to. Bobby had his photographs taken many times by people passing by and he loved every minute of it. We then wandered around some of the trade stand and nearly bought a push-chair type contraption for Bobby. The Stand owners wanted us to leave Bobby with them as he was a useful addition to test out their products as we kept placing Bobby inside the carriers. Again he loved the attention.

All too soon people started packing up their dogs and belongings in readiness for the homeward journey. Traffic on our return was generally good and we were home in time for tea.

This next year will be spent campaigning both boys for qualification in 2006 so keep your fingers crossed for us . . . .