While the four-year-old Newfoundland dog Ch Darbydale’s All Rise Pouchcove, known as Josh, topped a field of more than 2,500 dogs to capture the coveted award at the 128th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night in Manhattan, Newtown resident Nancy Bosley was thrilled when her Pointer bitch, CH Alydar’s Can’t Buy Me Love, captured Best of Breed early that morning under judge Paula Nykiel of Missouri.

“It was a totally unexpected win for me,” Bosley said. There were more than a dozen Pointers competing against the two-year-old Rumor, including last year’s National Specialty winner, who had been brought back from whelping a litter of puppies and was a known favorite of the breed judge.

“It was a great win because I have a great appreciation of that other bitch,” Bosley said.

Rumor lives with breeder/owner Rachael Murphy and professional handler Anthony Cantor. Charles J. Goldstine is also the breeder and owner.

“It was great because it was Anthony’s first time in the Group at Westminster and it was the first time for me (as an owner) too,” Bosley said. “It was incredible to watch her group debut. But you think, okay, this is a pointer and who knows how she will behave with the lights, noise and cameras and because she is such a young bitch. But she had crowd support and her performance was rock solid.”

Rumor made the cut as a finalist, which Bosley said was more than she could have hoped for since the group judge Judith Gooden is a long-time Pointer breeder and might have put Rumor under a higher standard.

“What I really liked about this year’s Westminster was you really felt like it was an important sporting event,” Bosley said. “The audience was absolutely huge and the stands were filled up.”

 

Breed competitions

In the Kerry Blue Terrier breed ring Monday morning, it was a repeat performance for Sherman residents Siobhan and Ernest Conti when their three-year-old CH Keribou’s Pocket of Petals captured a Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed award under Judge Dr. H. Scott Kellogg. In 2003, Zuzu won the same award opposite her dad, last year’s Westminster Best-in-Show winner, CH Torum’s Scarf Michael or Mick.

Zuzu was the number one Kerry Blue Terrier bitch in the country last year, according to Mrs. Conti, who is her breeder, owner and handler. The Greenwich Kennel Club member said since finishing her championship she has earned multiple Specialty Best in Shows. In addition, Zuzu was the Best of Breed winner at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Dog Show in Long Beach, California in December 2003, where she also captured the Best of ‘Bred-By Exhibitor’ Breed and a fourth in that group.

As a Mick daughter, people are watching her. At Westminster many judges, breeders and prospective Kerry Blue Terrier owners line the rings to watch the judging.

“It’s important to be seen at Westminster,” Mrs. Conti said. It’s also difficult to be a breeder/owner/handler in a breed filled with professionals, she admits.

“I’m always asking for help and learning more about trimming and handling. You have to present the dog to the best of your abilities and you always have to do more,” said Mrs. Conti who credits her success by working with professional handler Doug Holloway.

 

Newtown Residents

Bullmastiff breeder and AKC judge Helene Nietsch handled CH Banstock Sir Killian Red, one of the two Bullmastiff champions she bred which made it into the finals of the Best of Breed competition at Westminster on Monday. The other finalist, CH Banstock Captain Jack, was handled by Redding resident Kent David MacFarlane. Jack is an All-Breed Best in Show winning dog owned by Redding residents Katie and Gary Zigmond and Bonnie Bianchi. Killian is owned by Rob and Megan Murphy of Trumbull and Nietsch.

“As a long-time breeder I can recognize when I have quality dogs in competition, but to have that reaffirmed at the most prestigious show in the country is always thrilling,” Nietsch said. “While disappointed not to take the top prize on this day, it’s always an honor to be among the few in the final consideration. And to have two, was twice as nice!”

Making her Westminster debut was CH Enchanted’s Once Upon A Time, a one-year-old Keeshonden owned and bred by Waterbury residents Kathryn & Richard Dodge. Professional Handler Kitty Burke of Brookfield, showed the bitch to judge Dorothy O. Hutchinson of Westbrook while the Dodge family, including grandkids, were there to watch Kami strut her stuff.

“She’s in good coat and will show off for food. Anything can happen here,” Burke said just prior to the competition. Burke was hoping for Kami to follow in her mother’s footsteps by winning Best of Opposite Sex. But after the competiton, Burke said it was tough since the number one Keeshonden in the country was a bitch and captured the award. But she has high hopes for Kami who is already a multiple group placer.