WHO'S ALL SET FOR BARBADOS, TRINIDAD & JAMAICA?
by Sean Kinsella
To leave Britain in April must be considered a sin! To leave Britain in April to go to the Caribbean . . . well I suppose one could he forgiven!!!!
The story all begins in 1995 when out of the blue Peter Gilkes rings to ask whether or not it 'would be possible for me to judge German Shepherds on Barbados. I paused, stuttered out some sort of reply and hay presto it was done. "There is just one other thing," he threw in as an afterthought, "Have you ever judged breeds other than Shepherds?" "Yes," I retorted, "Dobermans, Rottweilers, Boxers and Afgans." "Marvellous, could you judge these other breeds as well?"......no problem! The scene was set, all was well with the world - what a wonderful opportunity for me to hone my skills as an all rounder!!
Once all the flights, etc were arranged a fax arrived from Trinidad from the President of the GSD Club himself. . . . Could I judge Shepherds in Trinidad as well? No problem, was again the reply. Another wonderful opportunity for me to impress as an international judge. Whatever next? . . . Jamaica was next? While I was in the area could I come to Jamaica to see all my old friends and maybe take in a show, do the odd lecture, take the odd training session, etc?? No problem, was the reply yet again . . . and all this in 10 days!!!! That was it, the ego was mega inflated - little did I know what was to come. .
Now the idea about judging abroad is quite simple - arrive about a week before the show and leave the day after. This way if all goes wrong on the day you're well out of it within 24 hours. Plus the added advantage that everybody is so nice to you while you are there, they can't do enough for you for a whole week!!
This time, however, was a little different. Arrive there, spend the week in Barbados, the following Friday depart for Port of Spain, Trinidad. Judge Saturday, return in the evening. Judge Sunday in Barbados, leave Monday for Jamaica.
Now just bear in mind that the Caribbean is hot! Barbados is moderate with pleasant sea breezes, Jamaica is slightly hotter and less breezy, Trinidad is a CAULDRON! just walkingaround the Port of Spain is enough to lose you half a stone!
On the evening before the Show we were invited to the President Knolly Skinner's house up in the hills for a pre show get together which was hugely enjoyable. On the day of the show the very able Phillip Bellamy erected the rings which were of decent size with an inner ring and a collecting ring. I was at this point very relieved to see the canopies which were hopefully going to keep the sun off my balding pate throughout the heat of the day. Unfortunately, and this is where I displayed my ignorance, these canopies were for the vast hoards which were going to turn up to watch this wonderful display of competent judging!!! Here I was, an insipidly white European, to stand out under that great big burning thing in the sky on my own!
However, judging began with sun block dripping off every available exposed bit! The organization was very good with dogs being presented in good condition and quite professionaly too. After each class the microphone was placed in my hand for the verbal critiques which by now are a familiar sight throughout the world. By this time the crowds had started to fill the seats all around the ring. The place seemed to be packed full of onlookers marvelling at the 'mad dogs and Englishman' all participating in this ritual of dog showing. The crowd were very demonstrative with encouragement shouted at varying points of the procedure. The handlers too were getting heavily involved with expletives being exchanged like tennis balls hack and forth with the crowd! The one thing I do enjoy is a rapport with the handlers and the crowd and it was during one of the earlier classes that there was an opportunity to lighten the atmosphere and become more involved.
On Trinidad, as everywhere else for that matter, there is a 'Star Handler' - this is the boy, the kiddy, the Megastar. There was no doubt he was good, but when I say walk, I mean walk - after all it's bloody hot. He's at the front, I ask him to walk, he walks for about 3 strides and then runs again. I ask him to walk once more, again he runs. I tell him to walk, he runs. I plead with him to walk, he still runs. The crowd are starting to buzz. I tell him to walk once again, but he can't contain himself, he still runs, the crowd are on the point of anarchy, the steward is very nervous, as are the other officials. I stop the class, the crowd settles, the officials breath a sigh of relief, I walk slowly and deliberately over to the front of the class, put one arm around the handler's shoulder and whisper softly in the his ear, "Watch my ********* lips WALK!" Handler collapses into fits of hysterics, nearly breaks his leg falling over his dog and apologizes profusely, although at this point I can't see a damn thing blinded by the array of perfectly white teeth once hiding in their covers but now exposed to the world and glinting unashamedly at me from the dark orifice they once occupied! The crowd roar with approval not knowing what the magic words were (Thank God!) and the class finished with the handler still proudly at the front and the ice well and truly broken. The atmosphere reinforced by the commentary and a fantastic day's showing was completed with many new friends made and much back slapping from the audience, who, let's face it, could have gone to watch the Test Match between England and the West Indies just down the road.
England lost the cricket which, I hasten to add, every Taxi driver on Trinidad reminded me of!
Onward and forever upward, the next day it was back to Barbados and another day of reckoning comes. Your hosts are driving you down to the showground (which incidentally puts us all to shame in Britain as they have their own training and showground with all the facilities on site and all this on a small island with a population of only 250,000) at 8 o'clock in the morning with some pleasant small talk about the weather, the entry and your co-judges, etc Co-judges?? There aren't any!!" Oh" I replied nervously "and how many other breeds are there to judge?" I suppose there are about 20 odd"
Gulp! Well they did say you had judged other breeds as well. Needless to say I ventured through and enjoyed my foray into the other breeds. The quality however was extremely good especially the Boxers, Rottweilers and German Shepherds. The latter were left right to the end. There was a little confusion when I asked the Steward to move the table, which I had been using for the toy breeds, into the middle of the Showring. There were a few anxious looks as a few of the exhibitors tried unsuccessfully to pick up their charges!!
However, judging went ahead . . . although not numerically strong the quality of the Shepherds was very good with some British Kennels represented: Middross, Kingstown and Silkenwood. These Kennels are to be applauded on the quality which they have sent to this small island. There are I believe some other Shepherds from Britain on the island but these were not shown which is a shame. The breeders that did show had also bred some very good quality animals from dogs that have been imported which is very
heartening for the future. One such female was Windancer Anni (Kingstown Kimon of Netanya x Edgkens Gina) bred by the irrepressible Mary Martin which won the reserve CC from Junior and was best locally bred Shepherd.
The principal winners were: Dog CC Middross Fedor, Bitch CC Kingstown Ola. Elation all round. Best in Show (The Beagle Frueworth Kinsman of Dialynne) was completed to tumultuous applause - retire quickly to the bar!!
That evening an after show barbecue, which I must say we enjoyed immensely with some fine performances from our hosts whose hospitality was second to none.
The next day we had to depart Barbados for Jamaica, and although we were sad to be leaving we were looking forward to visiting all our friends there.
On the way across the Caribbean we had to stop at Antigua. This is where I would like to claim an addition to the Seven Wonders of the World . . . How do they stop that jet from continuing on into the sea at the end of the runway?
When we arrived at Kingston Jamaica some order was made of the chaos there by Mr Mark (Azan) who instantly took control and organized a minibus to take us to his home the foot of the Blue Mountains. A beautiful spot where all the dogs run free together. I counted 16 dogs and bitches all without a care in the world and co-existing perfectly. An amazing sight to see and one which I suggest you wouldn't try at home!
In Kingston there was a show on Saturday with an American judge judging all breeds, including the Shepherd which are numerically the strongest on the Island. Here I seemed to handle in every Shepherd class whether I wanted to or not. My averages were very good with Dog CC Chanask Spelbinda at Frenden, Bitch CC Jutones Roxy. Not only was Spelbinda Best of Breed, Best Import and Best in Show but I managed to fluke my way into Best Handler in Show (I didn't let on that I was completely knackered but I think some of the wiser heads could see through me!)
Next day it was out onto the training field with the youngsters and all the mad keen would be trainees. It took me all my time to encourage them from under the fig trees and when they did it was hilarious. All these so called enthusiasts who usually shout instructions to the handlers as they go about their business in the ring couldn't run more than 40 yards before collapsing in a heap! Having said that there were some that were quite good and managed maybe twice that distance . . . little wonder I looked good the day before!! A always we had a great time taking the 'mickey' out of each other which is most of the fun and as always we retired swiftly to the bar!
The next day we had to leave for home. Again we were sad to leave but looked forward getting home to the real world. Everything had gone so quickly. One thing is certain, I will always remember our Caribbean trip, the beaches, the sea, the weather, the dogs, but most of all the wonderful people that we met who showed us nothing but kindness and friendship. It is to them that this piece is dedicated. For one West Indian once said to me "Sean, when we are all old and grey we may not have dogs like we once did but we still have our friendship which will endure long after everything else has gone."
The dogs were just a catalyst . . .
Sean Kinsella
PS Next stop Kenya, East Africa, November 1996
