Crufts 2008

We Made It!

Laden down with a dog crate, water bottle, bowl, bags full of grooming equipment etc we loaded the car. My Mum, my Girls - Hayley (who was showing Skye) and Sally-Anne and of course Skye too. I felt quite calm at this point and was more concerned that we actually got to the NEC at Birmingham on time than what was going to happen throughout the day.

So we set off at 7.30am to the world’s greatest dog show. We arrived at about 8.50am and took the long walk across the car park and around the Lake to be met by a massive inflatable Gromit. Hall 1 Ring 2 was our destination and where the border collies were showing.

Handing over our passes and tickets we searched for our bench, which took us a while as the Border Collies had been split into two areas but we managed to find it eventually.

And so to setting up camp. The others went to the toilet while I wrestled with Skye’s soft dog crate. I seriously hoped no one was watching because it must have been a funny sight. Then just as I thought we were sorted and Skye was installed inside the dog crate, she stepped on her water bowl, spilt water everywhere and we had to start the whole process all over again.

So what’s it like at Crufts?

I’ve never been before as a competitor, not that I was showing Skye as Hayley was, but I have been several times as a spectator. Until 10.00am it was actually quite quiet, with only the competitors there but then the crowds started coming. Luckily for us our bench was opposite a café area so we had plenty of room. Also there was a large screen showing the Main Events Ring right in front of us so on the few occasions I decided I needed to try and sit and relax I just watched that.

Every time I called Skye out of her crate people came up to see and stroke her, saying how beautiful she was. Skye took it all in her stride and made an elderly lady, who was wheel chair bound, very happy as she told me stories of her border collies when she was younger. Skye quite liked the idea of hitching a ride!

A photographer from the Sunday Mercury, a local Birmingham Newspaper, came up and asked if he could take some photos. This was due to the fact that Sally-Anne had decided to climb into the crate with Skye who was half hanging out in an attempt to accidentally fall out so she could come and sit on my lap. Sally-Anne was laying with her legs sticking out the crate, I had to admit it looked funny and others thought so too as passers by asked if they could take photos (especially Americans!).

Hayley and I went to the Border Collie Bitch Ring to see what the Judge (Angela Gillespie) was asking of her exhibits. We talked a few tactics, then I left Hayley there to make sure she would have no surprises when she entered the Ring.

And so the day wore on with hundreds of people fussing Skye who was lapping up the attention – as if she needs a bigger ego! Hayley began to practice with Skye, making her stand properly, ears alert, looking attentive. Then there was brushing, snipping of sticky out bits round her feet, cleaning of teeth, wiping of eyes, checking for clean ears, brushing again, up then down and then – yes – time to go for Skye’s first class – Graduate Bitch.

This was the smallest class entry for the day for the bitches with only 13 entries. Hayley waited while the class was called and a few other competitors entered the ring. Skye stood beautifully, gazing adoringly into Hayley’s eyes (or at her treat more like) as they waited for the Judge to make her first assessment of the class.  My heart was in my mouth as I watched my ten year old daughter competing against the crème de la crème of the border collie fraternity. Hayley stood cool as a cucumber, taking it all in with one eye on Skye the whole time – what a superstar!

Then came Skye’s turn to be gone over by the Judge. Would she stand? Would she let her see her teeth? Would she fidget while she went over her? Well I have to say she behaved impeccably during the whole performance. The only thing that let her down was that blasted tail, flying like a flag, announcing to the world that Skye was in da house!

I’d told Hayley not to worry about it as maybe the Judge would see past it. Tail flying is considered a fault even though most collies do it to show they are happy and that is what Skye was doing. Unfortunately it ruins the outline of the dog which is what the Judge is looking for.

Had she blown it? I guess so cos the Judge didn’t call her out. She did look at Skye long and hard though so it makes you wonder what would’ve happened if Skye had managed not to fly her flag. Hayley was disappointed but we had had a talk about how she mustn’t expect too much as it is Crufts and you’re competing against the top border collies in the UK and from across the seas. Nevermind there was always the next class!

At this point I realised that my camera had decided to take blank photos so I have none of Hayley's first experience on the green carpet, I was not amused! Just to add insult to injury I'd stood and watched a lady take lots of close-ups of Skye's head.

As we made out weary way back to camp we were stopped several times by more people wanting to fuss Skye. We felt a bit down and disappointed but one look at Skye with her big ‘love me’ eyes and we settled down to a sandwich, cup of tea and a heavy canine on the lap - that couldn’t possibly have been comfortable but very determined to stay there just the same.

After dinner and time to relax and watch the big screen we were having a re-arrangement of camp when a lady from the BBC came up to us. She wanted to know if Skye did anything other than breed showing. When I told her she also does agility she invited us for an interview for the live program to be aired on Saturday night. It did mean we would have to stay until 9.00pm but they would supply us with as much tea and coffee as we could drink. I was nearly bubbling over when my Mum piped up and said,
    “Sorry, we can’t we’re going out on a hen night later and we’ve got to get home”.
Well if ever there was a time ………..  I don’t tend to argue with my Mum, we get on so well but she was stubborn and refused to let our friend down on her Hen Night - I couldn’t believe it!

Hayley was gutted too and she quite liked the idea of meeting Ben Fogle!

So another disappointment dampened the camp. I took Skye to the sawdust patch which was a dog toilet and she performed perfectly. Every time she came out the crate we were mobbed by adoring fans. I wondered what she made of all of this, yes we are used to doing shows but not with such magnitude. In the end I could see she was getting a bit cheesed off and just wanted to be with us.

What surprised me about Crufts is that walking around the Show with a dog, people just seem to think they have a god given right to just suddenly reach out and touch a dog on the way by. Skye was not at home walking in the crowd and it also didn’t help when people didn’t bother to look where they were going.

Letting Skye have forty winks in her crate, ably accompanied by my Mum – but not in the crate obviously – I took the girls off for a wander around the Halls and to purchase a souvenir each of their visit. Sally-Anne bought a border collie pen and Hayley bought herself a bum bag to put her treats in. It was bedlam out there, 150,000 people apparently and they all seemed to be going our way. Crufts is not for the claustrophobic I can tell you. Well our excursion lasted about three quarters of an hour, most of the time spent trying to find a route through a bottle-neck and not lose my girls into the bargain.

So to the next Class – Good Citizen Bitch with 21 entries. I think we knew we didn’t stand a chance but I wanted Hayley to get used to the atmosphere so that if we ever came again she would know exactly what to expect and hopefully get a rosette next time. As suspected we didn’t get placed, the tail flew again in all its glory.

And so on leaving the ring following a hand shake from the Judge we made our weary way back to the bench, packed up and left the building to spits of rain. Glad then were we when a bus pulled up to take us back to our car. Too full by the time we came to get on. So as we waited in the queue a coach turned up. I wondered how Skye would cope with such an experience as riding in a coach.
    “No dogs allowed on the coaches, just the buses,” we were told! Starting to shiver I decided that Skye could probably do with stretching her legs properly and suggested that I walk her back while my Mum and Girls got the coach. So off we went round the Lake, Skye on a flexi-lead and grateful to be out in the fresh air. As we made our way round the Lake I was horrified to see that some people had allowed their rather large dogs (judging by the size of it) to poo on the grass and had just left it there! At Crufts of all places what an insult and to those owners who did stop to pick up the ‘parcels’. I was shocked that any dog owner coming to the most prestigious dog show on earth would be so blatantly offensive.

Anyway, making our way round the Lake at quite a pace we managed to intercept our family just before we reached the car.

Did I enjoy Crufts? At the time I’d have said no, I had to keep reminding myself of where I was and how much I should be enjoying it. Maybe that was the problem and I was expecting too much as its very stressful for a first timer who is not quite sure how everything works - but you live and learn. If we ever make it again I will definitely do some shopping before the crowds arrive, I wouldn’t arrive so early, I’d take something to make me relax, oh, and I’d take something with me to tie that damn tail down!