THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 14, 1995 TAG: 9505120204
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANELLE LA BOUVE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Brittany spaniels, pointers, vizslas, Weimaraners, Afghan hounds, bloodhounds, borzois, Lhasa apsos, chowchows, Briards, bouviers des Flandres, Dalmatians and dogs of many other breeds came to Oscar F. Smith High School last weekend to compete in the city's first dog show sanctioned by the American Kennel Club.
More than 1,000 people accompanied the animals to a two-day event sponsored by the Chesapeake Dog Fanciers Association and the Tidewater Kennel Club.
Stanley Hoffman was chairman of Saturday's show in which 796 dogs were registered.
``We were ecstatic with the way the show ended up,'' Hoffman said. ``We didn't have one glitch or complaint the whole day. Throughout the day, we were stopped by visitors, who told us how lovely the show grounds were and how well we handled the show.
``We are very proud to have done something like this in Chesapeake because we feel the city is big enough to have its own dog club,'' Hoffman said. ``We are proud that, in just 12 years, we have put together a club from scratch. And now it's an official American Kennel Club point show.''
``The show went off like clockwork,'' agreed Carol Cooke, president of the Dog Fanciers Association. ``We had lots of compliments from the judges and ring stewards. And the AKC representatives were all complimentary. So we really felt good.
``Oscar Smith Principal Glenn Koonce and Nancy Sayer, the school's activities coordinator, were absolutely wonderful to work with,'' Cooke said.
Cooke, her husband Warren, and other members from the host clubs were up until midnight helping visitors park their recreational vehicles in the school's parking lot. By 5 a.m., they were up making final preparations.
Nearly every weekend, Bret Peterson, a dog handler from Greensboro, N.C., shows dogs - some his own and some belonging to other people. For Saturday's show, Peterson was grooming Champion Auchenhove Crystal, a Lakeland terrier, co-owned by comedian Bill Cosby.
``Cosby owns a few dogs which are shown all over the country,'' Peterson explained.
Sheila Kanzler, who works full-time for Cable News Network, prepared to show an akita that had earned points in its last two shows.
Teenager Paul Clas Jr. of Sykesville, Md., groomed the family's year-old Portuguese water dog. ``She only needs one point to finish her championship,'' Clas said proudly as he brushed his dog's fluffy black-and-white coat.
Max and Pat Harder of Harrisburg, Pa., show their dogs somewhere almost every weekend.
``This site is nice,'' Max Harder said. ``I wish the parking spaces were a little bit bigger. But the show rings are level, and they're a nice size.''
Virginia Beach resident Sarah Boyd used a knife to strip hair from the ears of an Airedale terrier called Luke.
``I know a lot of people in the clubs here. This is a great location. And we certainly hope it continues to grow,'' Boyd said. ``It's wonderful having a two-day show in one location.''
Kate Barkasi of Pittsburgh, Pa., achieved her goal when one of her Afghan hounds was selected as ``best of breed'' and awarded points. Barkasi began showing Afghan hounds after having 43 champion dachshunds.
A year-old Irish setter was selected as ``best in show'' at both the Saturday and Sunday events. The dog, Champion Pin Oak's Vicksburg, is owned by Chuck and Pam Kroth and Nancy and Jimmy Godbey of Carmel, Ind. Her handler is Annette ``Candy'' Carswell of New York.
Donald Kemp, chairman of Sunday's show, said the event was all he had hoped it would be.
``The thing I like best,'' Kemp said, ``other than when my dog wins, is the camaraderie among the people. There is a common language and a common interest.'' ILLUSTRATION: Bret Peterson with ``Champion,'' owned by comedian Bill Cosby
by CNB