For Abby and me, the last show of 2016 was the Stourbridge & District Canine Society Open show held on Tuesday 27th December. Finnish Spitz classes are scheduled for this show, and to support our breed they are only three so that a C List judge could be appointed. Our judge was Clare Masters with her first appointment, demonstrating that she has absorbed finer points from judging seminars. The entry was just five dogs, of which only three made it to the ring. After sitting in stationary traffic on the M5 for more than an hour we were tempted to turn back, when we were able to move, but a couple of ‘phone calls achieved a deferral of our classes so that we were able to arrive in time for them. After a good examination and assessment of the entries Clare awarded BoB to my Niko (Puulatva The Red Norseman among Inkivaari) with BP going to Abby’s Hope (Enkelini Toivoa). There was no provision for RBoB. Thanks to Robert Greaves who was in a position to arrange the deferral of our classes, and to Clare who judged the dogs with real feeling. Unfortunately the M5 was not much better for our return.

An examination of show dates for 2017 reveals that only six Championship shows where we have classes, with or without CCs will be held on either a Saturday or Sunday, with one Bank Holiday Monday.  Many of our exhibitors with work commitments will find it difficult to attend some of these shows, so our entries could well be adversely affected