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'She was just working' English springer spaniel wins best-in-show
Posted: Wednesday February 16, 2000 01:03 AM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Sailing along on snowy, feathered feet, a lively English springer spaniel showed her champion bloodlines and world-class breeding as she took best-in-show honors Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club Show. Salilyn 'N Erin's Shameless, the 5 1/2-year-old daughter of 1993 top dog Salilyn's Condor, flew past a favored standard poodle to win the 50th best-in-show title of her career, which will end now. "She's going from here to be a mom," said trainer Kellie FitzGerald, who's been working with the dog, called Samantha, for her whole 2 1/2-year career. "I just depended on her to give me a good show and she gave me a good show," she said. "I can't describe the feeling at the end of the lead. She was just working. She was going around the ring, looking at the crowd, getting pumped up by it." The dog, owned by Carl Blain and Fran Sunseri of Sacramento, Calif., won the sporting group earlier in the evening. She'll return with FitzGerald to join her sire, Robert, in Troy, Mich. Samantha was bred and co-owned by Julia Gasow, who died in 1999 after devoting 63 years to the breed. "It's hard to describe in words Julia Gasow. She represented so much to the dog world," FitzGerald said as Samantha, white and liver-spotted coat flying, leapt against her handler's legs in excitement. The Salilyn kennel name was retired with Gasow's death, Blain said, though her partners hope to keep the bloodlines active indefinitely. Gasow 'bred this breed for years and is totally responsible for what it is today, including this wonderful dog,' Blain said. Some 2,600 dogs in 156 breeds and varieties were seeking honors at the country's most prestigious dog competition. Westminster is a test of conformation, in which judges decide which dog best meets the American Kennel Club's standards of physique and temperament for its breed. In earlier group competition Tuesday, a 2 1/2-year-old Pembroke Welsh corgi who has been competing for less than a year trotted her way to the head of the herding group. Coventry Queue, called Bebe, is owned by Steven Leyerly of Pomona, Calif., and Isabel Robson of Glenmoore, Pa., and shown by Michael Scott. A droll basset hound from Argentina pulled off an upset in the hound group. Moonbeam's Astronomer, a 7 1/2-year-old American-bred dog called Astro and shown by Andrew Luque, was bought five years ago by Maria Elisa Martinez of Buenos Aires and has been shown almost exclusively in South America since then. The highlight of Monday's group competition was the third win in a row by Lake Cove That's My Boy, a standard poodle who earned the non-sporting title. The 4-year-old called Treson or Tre by handler Dennis McCoy, is owned by longtime Westminster exhibitor Isabel Robson of Glenmoore, Pa. McCoy had planned to retire last year, but decided with Robson to give Tre another year. Both will now leave the show ring -- McCoy to become a judge, Tre to stand at stud. The terrier group went Monday to a perfect "Ten" -- Willow Wind Tenure, a 2 1/2-year-old Bedlington owned by Carol Greenwald of Mankato, Minn., and shown by Taffee McFadden. Charing Cross Ragtime Cowboy, a shih tzu called Joey who just celebrated his third birthday, collected his 102nd best-in-group title by winning the toy group. The dog is owned by Gilbert Kahn of Monclova, Ohio, and shown by Luke Ehricht. The working winner was Ravenswood Southern Cross, an upstart one-year-old Doberman pinscher owned by Don and Betty Clark of Penns Park, Pa. Rio, shown by Diego Garcia, earned his championship title when he was a mere six months old. Many of the competitors at Westminster have more than physical beauty to their credit. A number have have titles, or at least compete, in obedience, agility and other skills particular to their breed or group, such as tracking or herding. Smotare's Deja'vue Xperience, a 7 1/2-year-old Ibizan hound, was doing his best spoiled brat imitation, somehow curling his 50-pound frame into the lap of owner Rose Bednarski after winning best opposite sex in his breed. The slothful pose and sleepy expression belied a much more energetic personality. "We go to nursing homes and to schools educating on the breed," said Bednarski, of Kenosha, Wis. "It's giving some change in the lives of the people in the nursing homes and bringing some joy to them. He loves it. He loves people. He's really a people dog." Rachel the beagle is another multipurpose pup, according to owner Caryn Westmeier of Louisville, Ky. The 6 1/2-year-old, whose full name is Golden Horns Lay-Away Plan, has obedience and agility titles and -- to channel her natural talents as a scent hound -- may take up tracking. Such other skills, though they aren't demonstrated in a Westminster performance, can definitely been seen here, Westmeier said. "It makes them a well-rounded dog," she said. "They're more intelligent, they're not just couch potatoes, they're get-up-and-go dogs. "And it makes a well-rounded life for me, too."
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