An unforgettable day.

‘India’

Crufts entries were about to close and it was time to decide whether to enter or not – and which dog.  I do not usually go under a judge twice who has awarded a C.C. the exceptions being Crufts and the Club championship shows.  The judge this year was Breed Specialist Marcelle King of Belamba Tervueren.  Both my Open bitches had previously won C.C. and BOB under Marcelle so a decision had to be made as to which one to take.  The reason I chose on India was because when she won under Marcelle as a 2½ year old, she wrote in her critique that she considered her to be one of the best bitches she had ever judged. 

 As I value her opinion I hoped her judgment of India would not have changed over time. It was a gamble, as we all know that usually which ever one we choose to enter it is the one that is not entered that is in coat and looking good on the day, so I decided to enter her in Open bitch and decide on the day depending how she looked.

 The omens were good and India did not let me down, but then again she never does,  she held her coat, looked fantastic and was really enjoying her showing, so she really took the decision out of my hand . The big day arrived and ironically, this year my family decided to come for the first time.  We were up at 5am ready to leave at 6.  India knew she was off to a show as she always gets excited when the show bag comes out, so rushed to pick out her favourite toy to carry with her.  Crufts is one of the few shows we are organised enough to pack a picnic for; so with the show bag, grooming table, cages and the picnic loaded, we set off on what turned out to be the most magical day of India’s (and my) show career. 

 Cruft’s was as Cruft’s usually is – noisy, crowded, exciting; lots of visitors to the benches; previous puppy buyers dropping by just to say “Hi”; and then suddenly it was time to get India out and start grooming her for her class.  I had her stood up on the grooming table, which she loves as she can see what’s going on and demand loads of attention from passers by.  Even before she set foot in the ring, the amount of people – both visitors and fellow exhibitors - who stopped and commented on her was truly amazing.  As always India lapped it up.

 Open Bitch was called and in we went.  I looked around the ring and remember thinking that there were some beautiful bitches in there.  India has always been shown naturally, looking out of the ring, which I prefer – but a couple of years ago I decided to handle her myself as she is just so happy to be with me and stands there wagging her tail.  Of all days India was on top form – she showed and moved perfectly - and went to win the class, and the CC. 

 In the challenge she was up against last year’s very handsome BOB winner and to my delight, Marcelle gave India the nod.  I was thrilled with the applause and congratulations she received.  This was India’s second BOB at Crufts – she did it in 2003 under Jacky MacAndie (Niavana) – and to do it again at 10 years old was nothing short of incredible.

 The breed judging was over and India was in her benching cage with her toy, having a well earned rest.   We then decided to move camp into Hall 5 where the Group ring is situated and unpack the picnic.  The party was in full swing.  My daughter, niece and their friends (who are all “non-doggy”) had had their faces painted with TEAM DOMBURG, and Nicole Gardiner (who is 6 years old) gave us a handling demonstration.  I rang my husband, who had not come to Crufts to tell him to record the group as we might get a glimpse of India in the background.

  With a large group of friends and well-wishers present the atmosphere was great – we were all relaxed and having a great time whilst waiting for the group to be called.  India was fast asleep at my feet and I remember somebody asking when I was going to start to get her ready.  At this time I looked up at the big screen and nonchalantly announced to everyone that we were OK as a Border Collie was doing a demonstration.  Unfortunately, the Border Collie was closely followed by a Briard, a  Rough Collie, a Smooth Collie and an Estrela Mountain Dog… “S**T – THE GROUP’S IN!!!!!  …

 Hall 5 has never seemed so long or so empty as India and I raced down it to the Group Ring.  As we steamed into the Collecting Ring I saw the last dog running across.  The ring steward told me that another 30 seconds and I would have missed it!  So India and I tagged on the end!  I know they say “Make a grand entrance” but with no bait and a scruffy dog – not to mention my own hair – this was not the entrance I had in mind for the Largest Dog Show in the world!!

 Whilst waiting for my moment to be gone over’ Carol Winfrow (BOB Groenendael) very kindly gave me half a sausage which India baited for the whole duration of the group – not having a bait bag or a pocket I had to shove it up my sleeve!!

 For those amongst you who have been fortunate enough to get as far as the Group at Crufts – we all know that feeling that we are there to represent our beautiful breed, and that anything more is the stuff of dreams.  Kari Jarvinen put India though her paces – and she obliged like the great showgirl she is.  She had been there two years earlier she knew the big ring, she knew the atmosphere, which can be daunting, and she took it all in her stride, which is more than can be said for me.   The last dog was being gone over and the ring steward walked around and told us all to stand our dogs on the green line.  When Mr Jarvinen shortlisted India I nearly passed out!  The final 7 dogs included, a champion Briard, the Rough Collie who was top dog in her breed 03 & 04 plus big group winner, an International Champion Maremma,  a very famous BIS winning Champion & Int Ch  O.E.S and a group winning Champion Swedish Vulhund, so we were in exceptional company. The judge asked us to move again and then we lined up awaiting his final decision.  In front of me was a massive screen and I watched the judging on that – I can remember thinking wouldn’t it be nice if she got a Group 4 – when I saw the judge walking in our direction.  I thought to myself it must be the Bearded Collie – lucky devil – but no it was India!!  The next words out of my mouth were “Oh! My God!!” – then I was in a state of shock!  The applause was deafening, but strangely, I could hear my friend Nancy Evans ear-piercing whistle over it all.

 From then on everything was all a haze.  After a brief word with the judge, who could not believe her age and told me that he had her as his winner from the moment she made her delayed entry (!), we were whisked off to face the cameras, the press, the BBC, and who knows who else!  I don’t actually remember sitting on the podium doing the interview – all I remember was sitting with my arm around India and thinking what my wonderful girl had achieved.  We were then taken to the press office upstairs accompanied by two stewards who do not leave your side.  Nancy and Clive Evans came too.  It is a totally different world up there.  All the other Group winners were there drinking champagne and celebrating.  I was interviewed by Animal Planet, the BBC again – and I don’t know who else.

 After about an hour we were taken back down to the tunnel behind the Main Ring for the big finale – Best in Show.  Once again India performed beautifully and never let me down.  I can remember looking at the Best in Show trophy and thinking I’ve got nowhere to put that (ha! ha!) but I could have managed the whopping big bottle of champagne!  Congratulations to Co-Co the lovely Norwich who went Best in Show.

 I rang my husband who, along with the rest of our family, met us at TGI Fridays on our return with champagne on ice.  We took in all our rosettes and prize cards and Group certificate and trophy – and displayed them all on our table.  I think the staff thought we were mad – but I didn’t care – my India had just won the Group at Crufts!!

 Over the next few weeks the phone never stopped ringing.  We were deluged with  e-mails, congratulations cards, flowers and champagne from some of the top kennels (who I didn’t realise even knew India existed) from all over the world – over 200, and I’ve kept every one.

 I would like to say thank you to all my friends who supported me; my fellow exhibitors for their sportsmanship and good wishes; the judges Marcelle King and Kari Jarvinen; but most of all, India – Pastoral Group Winner Crufts 2005.