Stubbylee Blog

The Eukanuba Champion Stakes final was a superb event with so much done for the exhibitors. After a buffet lunch for the exhibitors and interviews with the wonderfully named Dog World TV (had to be with Liz as I’d no voice)the event started. The room was done out with Eukanuba banners, balloons & even a pink carpet with 3 rows of comfey chairs surrounding the ring on 3 sides. There was a glossy catalogue for each spectator with photos of all the dogs taken specially for the event. Each of the 25 dogs entering the ring with the judge who qualified them finishing up stood in front of a large 3ft x 3ft poster of the dog (we got to take this home with us). There was a draw to split the dogs into 5 groups of 5 they would be awarded points by each of the 3 judges (Liz Cartledge, Michael Quinney & Ron James) with the 2 top scoring dogs in each group going through to the next round from which the top 5 would be chosen. Diva absolutely loved everything. True to our luck we were drawn in the same group as the multi BIS winning flatcoat who went on to finish 2nd & a Brooklynbear Newfie who finsihed 4th & will represent the UK in the World Challenge in America. The overall winner was the top winning Chinese Crested who was just superb.
Afterwards there was a dinner & disco with an expenses paid room for the night (dog allowed in the room as well). It was a fantastic day. We’ve been lucky enough to compete in the Contest of Champions and now the Champion Stakes in the same year both were great events but probably last night’s Champion Stakes was better as it seemed more focused on the dogs.
Back down to earth today with a bang spending most of the afternoon in our local hospital A & E. Liz had hardly been able to move this morning, it turns out she has a prolapsed disk which must have been aggrevated yesterday so now has to spend a couple of days at least taking it very easy.