By Kim J. Harmon

NEW YORK, New York – While a colored bull terrier known as Rufus (or, more formally, as Ch. Rocky Top’s Sundance Kid) was capturing the Best In Show honor at the 130th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City, a local canine had already trotted away with his own honor.

Winston, a four-year-old Norwich Terrier owned by Nichola S. Conroy and Jeri Lynn McClure of Newtown and known formally as Ch. Foxglyn’s This One’s For You, won an Award of Merit from judge Dr H. Scott Kellogg during the initial day of competition.

“It was the most amazing thing,” said Ms Conroy. “This is his last show and what an amazing way to go out.”

Winston was handled by Lori Pelletier of Avalon Norfolks. Winston competed at Westminster last year and competed at the national championships in Tampa, Florida, just last month but wasn’t able to come away with any awards.

The 130th annual Westminster show would be his ultimate show and Ms Conroy said they had no expectations whatsoever.

“We were just glad to be here,” she said. “It was a real thrill.”

For his efforts, Winston – the offspring of Ch. Highwood’s Ratfaced MacDougal and Gaylord’s Saralee – was treated to a steak dinner on Monday night.

On Tuesday, the day belonged to Ch. Rocky Top’s Sundance Kid, or Rufus, a five-year-old tan and white bull terrier who became the first colored bull terrier to win the Best In Show award at Westminster (Ch. Haymarket Faultless, a white bull terrier, won Best In Show back in 1918).

The terrier breed has won more Best In Show awards at Westminster than any other breed. A Kerry Blue Terrier won in 2003 and a Norwich Terrier took the honor in 1998.

Rufus is owned by Barbara Bishop of Holmdel, New Jersey, and went into Westminster with 31 B.I.S. awards to his credit. He went up against a golden retriever, a Rottweiler, a pug, a Dalmatian, an Old English sheepdog and a Scottish Deerhound – a breed making its first appearance at Westminster – for the silver bowl.

It was also a busy couple of days for Patricia Laurans of Newtown, who judged the Working Group Best of Group competition. The best of group results –

WORKING

Patricia Laurans

Ch. Carter’s Noble Shaka Zulu (Rottweiler), owner by Keith Carter; Ch. Nanuke’s Snoklassic No Boundries (Alaskan Malamute), owner by Sandra D’Andrea; Ch. Southports Sherman (Mastiff), owner by Nancy Cutter and Carla Sanchez; Ch. Freestyle Ocean Breeze (Portugese Water Dog), owner by Jane and Stuart Freeman.

 

TERRIER

Peggy Beisel-McIlwaine

Ch. Rocky Top’s Sundance Kid (Colored Bull Terrier), owner by Barbara Bishop; Ch. Cracknor Cause Celebre (Norfolk Terrier), owner by P. Beale; Ch. Evermay’s High Performance (Airedale Terrier), owned by Richard Berg and Samantha Curran; Ch. Hobergays Fineus Fogg (Dandie Dinmont Terrier), owned by Ms EM Greenway.

TOY

Dr Harry Smith

Ch. Kendoric’s Riversong Mulroney (Pug), owned by Carolyn Koch; Ch. Yakee If Only (Pekingese), owned by Kit Woodruff; Ch. Wissfire Chahachi (Long-Coat Chihuahua), owned by Kahtleen Hardison and Dail P. Corl; Ch. Fwaggles Tap Man At Burmack (Toy Manchester Terrier), owned by Patrick Mackesey and James G. Burrows Jr.

NON-SPORTING

Roger Hartinger

Ch. Merry Go Round Mach Ten (Dalmatian), owned by Dick and Linda Stark; Ch. Preshar Jodao Baywalker (Chinese Shar-Pei), owned by Bryan Timby, Janice Maloney and Jody Schoenfeld; Ch. High Ridge Is Judges Choice (Bichon Frises), owned by Cecilia Ruggles and Mimi Winkler); Ch. Litilann’s Picture This (Standard Poodle), owned by A. Rairigh.

SPORTING

Michael Faulkner

Ch. Chuckanut Party Favour O Novel (Golden Retriever), owned by Wayne Miller and Ken Matthews; Ch. Jewelset’s Up Up N Away (Irish Setter), owned by Sharon Reilly and Lisa Summers; Ch. Pandora Picturesque (Cocker Spaniel ASCOB), owned by Dee Torgerson and Per Inger Rismyhr; Ch. Riverwatch Southern Cross (Curly-Coated Retriever), owned by Conrad and Ann Clippert and Mary and Gary Meek.

HOUND

Dr Donald Sturz

Ch. Thistleglen Margot (Scottish Deerhound), owned by Jeanne T. Frye; Ch. Shahtani Tropical Breeze (Saluki), owned by S. Plais and M. Jameson; Ch. Windkist A Walk In The Park (15-inch Beagle), owned by Ralph Fagan Jr; Ch. Eclipse Envy O Sportingfield (Whippet), owned by Dan Black.

HERDING

Rich Gschwender

Ch. Bugaboos Big Resolution (Old English Sheepdog), owned by Douglas W. and Michaelanne Johnson; Ch. Caitland Isle Take A Chance NA NAJ (Australian Shepherd), owned by Nancy Resetar; Ch. Pop Star SS Of Northern Farm (Shetland Shepdog), owned by Alexandra Luhrs and Thomas Coen; Ch. Catsun Comanche (Puli), owned by Susan McConnell and Joy Crowther.