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Well, that’s Crufts done and dusted for another year. In a lot of ways, it was very familiar, but although there wasn’t the sense of foreboding that we felt two years ago with Covid coming on like a tsunami, all the blue and yellow flags and emblems so very evident this year were a forceful reminder of the serious and worrying events happening on our continent. We were second in the ring this year, which meant proper preparation time for our BoB, Heli Mooney over from Ireland with Micona Sierra, her Irish Champion bitch, getting the better of her sire, multi-champion Castlemary Druid, owned by Mick Murphy and handled by Raila Neiminen, over from Finland.

Our judge was Frank Kane, known to all TV watchers as the expert commentator on the group judging, and he gave us a master class in how to go about the task. Inevitably some exhibitors were pleased and some disappointed, but I heard nothing but the highest praise for the way Frank went about his task, with courtesy, humour and that little extra reassurance for the more nervous handler, putting everyone at their ease and making the day thoroughly enjoyable for everyone, including the spectators.

The other main awards went to Paula Foakes with her Kanukalos Rhapsody getting RBD from open, and our Quincebos Tulipwood at Pines getting RBB from veteran, and then taking BV from a rather flagging Druid. I understand that the trip over the Irish Sea was somewhat rough, causing a bit of upset to dogs and exhibitors alike, but that didn’t stop Druid’s son, Micona Comanche Court, from taking BP again (he was BoB at Manchester in January) for Ms. Huuskonen, a Finnish lady living in Ireland. It was good to see such a decent size entry, the highlight being 10 bitches entered and present in a spectacular open bitch class.

The only downside was that a number of the Hovawart community reported positive for Covid after the event. Happily, no-one was seriously ill, and I believe all are now recovered, but it shows that the pandemic certainly hasn’t gone away. As usual, the Hovawart stand at Discover Dogs was busy, with a few serious enquiries and a much greater number encountering the breed for the first time. I think those manning the stand….a big “thank you” to them and their very patient dogs….would all be rich if they were paid by the “is it a retriever?” We might get a badge for them to wear giving the standard reply to save sore throats in future years.

Nick Boisseau tells me he is getting very close to finalising the Year Book, but he did ask me to remind people that they need to contact him very soon if they want an obituary included for a dog that has died in the last year. He is also keen to include any unusual activities undertaken by people with their hovawarts, and photographs are both illustrative and most popular with readers. His contact details are on the club website, or you can get things to him via me (details below).

The weather has been lovely for a day or two now, prompting a first mowing of the “lawn”….having dogs cause the quote marks. Remus insists on doing each “up” and “down” alongside the machine, ball in mouth, certain I would be happier throwing it for him than cutting the grass. He can’t be the only one who does that, but I’d bet he is up there with the most persistent.


Elaine Sharpe
01743 891310
pineshovawarts@gmail.com