BCC Open Show May 2005 Report
by Angela Harris

At the British Chihuaha Club Spring Open Show at Breaks Manor, Hatfield, BIS judge Mrs Fiona Hooper chose Jean Bright's smoothcoat dog Copymear Carbon Copy at Chiquitito for BIS. Another smooth was BPIS, Jim and Pam Tranter's Taradona Hold the Dream, who is just a few days short of her first birthday. The smoothcoat judge, Amanda Jacks (Amarose), had 34 dogs making 44 entries, with 3 NFC and 11 absentees and the longcoat judge, Fiona Bessent (Salsero), had 64 dogs making 70 entries with 11 NFC. The longcoat BOB was Dr Geoff Curr's bitch, Kenmilltri Helenora Natimuk. Full results here.

The show was set up outside on the hard tennis courts; as judging was about to begin it started to rain quite heavily. Just about everything was taken inside and a ring set up, then the rain stopped. The rescue stall and the raffle stayed inside but all else was tried again outside. It became very hot, with just a few drops of rain occasionally through the day, and was very pleasant.

BIS judge Fiona Hooper going over a puppy

Club Chairman Mr Graham Foote with Amanda Jacks (left), the s/c judge, and Fiona Bessent (right) who judged l/c

The show was not without incident, the worst being an accident when a visitor from Australia, Anita Wright, stumbled and fell. She was taken to hospital in an ambulance and was found to have broken her right leg just below the knee; she left hospital a few hours later on crutches. Anita is the secretary of the National Chihuahua Council of Australia and was here on holiday with her husband for a few weeks.

The raffle was organised by Pam Bungard; the proceeds from this and the next two shows this year is being donated to the Animal Health Trust. The catering at the show was by Mr and Mrs Churchill and as usual was excellent and very reasonably priced.

The show was very enjoyable, and although a lot of hard work was needed, there was much laughter and cameraderie. Our next Club event is a garden party on Sunday June 26th; it is three years since the last one. Details are here, we are hoping for a good turnout.

The Chihuahua Rescue Association's stall

Beautiful Chihuaha statuettes on sale