Report of the Crufts

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Big, Bigger, Biggest!!!!!

A travel report to the Crufts in Birmingham. (GB)

While we were talking to other bouvier-lovers last year, the idea was born to make our dream come true.

A Dream?

Yes, a dream! For at least 20 years, I have been saying how much I would like to go to the Crufts! But every year we had many reasons NOT to go. Finally last year seemed to be different. There were more reasons to GO. So the idea was born.

These days it’s pretty easy to make the arrangements for a short trip, so why would a trip to Birmingham Great Britain be different.

Within half an hour the flight and the hotel were booked on the internet, and we could also book the entry tickets for the worlds largest dog show on the internet. It all seemed to be a piece of cake.

All the arrangements were made……. And then what? It was only September 2006 and the Crufts was in March 2007. We only had a few things more to take care of, like getting new passports and make the arrangements in a good pension for our dogs, and then the only thing we could do was wait….

The thoughts about the Crufts disappeared to the background.

February came and the show season in Holland started again……and by that time we started to get a little nervous.  We would go to the Crufts! For years we had been sitting in front of our televisions, to look at the reviews of the Crufts, and now we would have the opportunity to go there and see it all for ourselves.

Wednesday March 7th, was the day that we would have to bring our own dogs to the pension. We were very happy to be able to leave them behind in a wonderful pension, were they would get all the attention they need, and were the owner would go out twice a day for a long walk with our dogs. But it hurts to leave your loved ones behind.

Thursday March 8th, the alarm clock woke us at 4 AM!!!!! Pffffff you don’t want to think about the time at that time of day!

But we were going to the Crufts, so enthousiastically we jumped out of bed to grab the last items we needed and to get ready to go to Schiphol Airport.

Fully packed, with our cameras, camcorders and the rest of our stuff we arrived at the airport after a drive of about one and a half hour.

The tension was starting to build. What would it be, the Crufts? Something that we had been looking forward to for so long….. would it be a disappointment? Well first things first and the first thing was checking in, and making sure we were at the right gate. It all went smoothly. When we arrived at the gate, we got the feeling that we were only surrounded by people who were on their way to the dog show.

Breeders, exhibitors, spectators, judges, owners, everyone was on their way to the Crufts. Knowing that we would be able to go directly from the airport to the Crufts, we thought it could never go fast enough.

Fortunately everything went smoothly, and within an hour after leaving the Dutch grounds behind us, we were standing on English grounds with our suitcase in our hands. That is how fast it goes. We hurried to find ourselves a locker and then…….

You follow the directions from the airport, and a shuttle-train brings you in a matter of minutes to the Crufts, and there you roll out of the train more or less between the dogs.

Instantly you see how special this show is when you arrive at the NEC in Birmingham, the place where the show is held.

The setup alone is so enormous, and everything is pointed out so clearly….. that is really special. This is not a little show, no here everything breathes SHOW. It’s really breathtaking. The whole show is so well organised and runs so smoothly, that alone is an amazing experience.

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Click to increase the picture...

We used the Thursday to try to see as much as possible. But I think we have only seen part of it. This show is so enormous, that you really don’t have time to see it all. There is so much to do, and so much to see, no really this is not “just a show”.

Agility, Heelwork, Obedience, Flyball, Doggy dance, you name it and if it has something to do with dogs it is there on the Crufts. Contests are being held, demonstrations are given.

They show you how rescue dogs, guide dogs, hearing dogs are being trained en they show you how they work for people when their training is done. There were New Foundlanders walking thru the NEC as Lifeguards. These dogs are specially trained to save drowning people from the water. There was no demonstration to show these dogs in action, but I would not even have been surprised if there would have been one.

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Click to increase the picture...

Click to increase the picture...

Click to increase the picture...

Every one of the 5 halls is divided in a part with rings where the shows take place, and a part with stands.

There are so many stands with just as many different articles for sale, articles that we had never seen in Holland before, or that we don’t know of yet. Everything is worthwhile to take a closer look at. Big stands of the leading names in dogfood are present there. Stands with special member’s facilities, it’s really all very impressing.

So many dogs are gathered, so many that you have never seen before. I have even seen breeds that I had never seen before in real life. It was really amazing.

The number of dogs….. it is unimaginable. This year there were over 22.000 dogs entered on the show that was divided in 4 days. That is 5.500 dogs per day!!!

We were so happy that we had our walking shoes on, because you really make miles there.

Thursday was a day filled with impressions, from the time we arrived at the Crufts till the time we arrived in the hotel. When we arrived at the hotel in the evening, it turned out that even the hotel was fully packed with dogs and their owners.

A television set was strategically placed in the dining room, so that everyone could see the Crufts. When the show on TV was over we went to bed early, tired but satisfied. The next morning we were out of bed by 5:30 AM. Breakfast at 6:30 AM and even before the clock turned 7 we were on our way to the NEC by cab.

Friday!!! This would be our special day. The Bouvier was on the agenda for today. With the Bouvier on the stand our day is made in advance. Naturally we found friends from different countries. And even Holland was represent, which gave an extra dimension to it all. Like we are used to do on every dog show in Holland we had to make pictures, and we had our camcorder ready for action. A total number of 46 bouviers was entered on the show. It was a very friendly and well organised show.

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Click to increase the picture...

Every spectator applauses for the winner of every class. The ringmaster kind of tells you who won. But still everything is just a little different as in Holland.

At the end of the show we went on to see even more dogs. We were determined to see the show and judging of the Best in Group.

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Click to increase the picture...

A bouvier from England was chosen to represent the Bouvier in the Herding group.

This part of the show really makes you hold your breath. THIS IS SHOW!!!.

The handling of the dogs who are presented as best of breed. Even Hollywood stars would faint by the look of this. Completely with music, speaker, lighting it was made spectacular. Unfortunately the Bouvier did not become Bes in Group, but it was really beautiful to see this part of the show. No show can compete with this.

After this experience we were really exhausted and left to go back to our hotel, were we had dinner.

 

The next morning we had to get up very early again, because our plane would leave at 7 AM. It all went so fast, but then again it was a short journey. But a journey in which a dream came true! We really enjoyed this trip. We have met so many people in England with whom we could share the love for our breed.

 

In short this was an experience we will never forget.

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Last updated: apr-01-2007