Written by Paul Britza - This story includes experiences of both Paul & Lyn judging at the Nutmeg Afghan Hound Specialty in Connecticut, USA

. . . . disappointment soon turned to elation at the sight of the beginning of some very heavy snow
falling in Boston (little did I know that this elation would turn to dismay later in the week) . . . .

After I had spent the previous few weeks in the tropics and then a couple of summer days back in Sydney on the way to the USA, Lyn and I arrived in Boston to below freezing temperatures. Having rarely experienced snow in my life before I was quite disappointed to see only little evidence of recent snow in the streets with the weather being freezing but clear. The next day my disappointment turned to elation at the sight of the beginning of some very heavy snow falling in Boston (little did I know that this elation would turn to dismay later in the week).

For the next few days we did all the tourist type of things that could be done walking around in up to 2 feet deep snow. Shopping around Boston and Cambridge, a tour of a very white Harvard University, a trip to nearby Salem (the scene of the 17th century witch trials and executions) as well as eating at many of Boston's old and famous seafood restaurants (the clam chowder and lobster are incredible). The heavy snow and freezing conditions were a novelty to us and did not stop us being tourists.

After a welcoming phone call from the Nutmeg Afghan Hound Club Show Manager, Margarete Stanski, earlier in the week, it was determined that a 3 hour Greyhound bus ride on Friday morning from Boston to Danbury (where the specialty show was being held) was our best means of transport. We were then to meet Margartete for lunch, view the judging areas, and then have a quiet and relaxing afternoon and evening before the show.

Friday morning arrived and the heavy snows in Boston had cleared and it looked like good fortune was on our side. Our bus left Boston at 9.00 am along the Massachusetts turnpike and then across the middle of Connecticut through Hartford and then on to Danbury, some 50 miles from New York City. Snow had recommenced falling not long after we left Boston and continued to fall quite heavily making driving conditions hazardous. On arrival in Hartford, Connecticut, two hours later and less than 1 hour from Danbury, we were informed that the last leg of the trip to Danbury was being cancelled and that all other buses were cancelled due to the hazardous conditions on the highways.

My earlier elation at the heavy snowfalls now turned to despair. We were now stranded in the middle of the worst snow blizzard in the area since the 1960's, in a strange city, less than 24 hours prior to commencement of judging with no idea what to do. At this stage my thoughts turned to wondering who the reserve judge might be. After much discussion with other stranded travellers we decided to catch a New York City train due in a couple of hours. Even though it did not go directly to Danbury we were advised that we could change to the commuter rail line at New Haven, then change again at South Norwalk for another train to Danbury. This was of course assuming that all these trains were still running in the blizzard and we were able to manage this with all of our luggage.

Eventually with a lot of luck, three rail connections, and a car ride from a complete stranger over snow covered roads we arrived at the Hilton in Danbury at about 7.30 pm to a warm welcome from a very relieved show manager.

It was a great honour for Lyn and I to judge the Nutmeg Afghan Hound Club Specialty. The total entry of 202 (148 in the breed classes for myself (including 37 specials) and 54 sweepstakes for Lyn) gave us the opportunity to view a good cross-section of the afghan population. Considering the weather conditions the absentee rate was quite low. As in Australia and other parts of the world it is amazing what dog people will go through to get to a dog show. There were a number of entries from Canada and even one from Switzerland whose flight was diverted from New York to Chicago as a result of the weather, and missed the show.

The specialty show itself was held indoors at a great location. The actual judging ring was of good size and took up most of the ballroom in the Danbury Hilton Hotel and there was plenty of adjacent grooming area. The surface is all carpet and the dogs seemed to move well with only an occasional slip when cornering too fast.

Lyn and I were both impressed with the quality of our entry. I still found lovely refined heads, long necks and incredible show attitudes that I enjoyed so much on my last visit. Presentation and handling is also of very high standard. Sometimes the handlers try to move the dogs too fast and I occasionally found myself requesting exhibitors to take their dogs at a more steady pace.

My best in show winner was the black masked red dog CH. PAHLAVI PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ - the absolute showman, dignified and aloof, beautiful head and eye, everything else in the right place, and moving on the day (at an incredible 10 1/2 years old) with his effortless extension and drive owned the showring. My opposite sex in show winner was the black masked red bitch CH. APPLAUSE MAGIC SHOW (a Ch. Journey Judgment Day daughter) - a truly feminine well constructed bitch with lovely extension and drive on the move. Winners dog and best of winners went to the self masked cream DRAGONFIRES ST. NICK (a Ch. Casbar Snow Blast son) - long refined cream head with very black pigmentation and very nice moving. Winners bitch went to a lovely black and tan bitch IMAGE OF ROYAL BENELUX (a Ch. Pahlavi Puttin' on the Ritz daughter) - beautiful head and type and very nice on the move but gave up a little in the best of breed class, this award finished her American Championship title.

Sometimes it is a pity that there can only be one winner and under the USA system there is not even an opportunity to place the best of breed class dogs that on the day just missed out. My best of breed class was absolutely stunning with a number of dogs left in to the end that would have made worthy winners.

I guess no-one likes second place but some of those warranting special mention were (in no particular order); the black masked red CH. PAHLAVI PYROMANIA ADDIS ABABA (a Ch. Pahlavi Puttin' on the Ritz son), the blue CH. SABRA CANDASIA, the brindle CH. QAMARI'S FLYING COLORS, the black and tan veteran class winner CH. JAJEMA'S DRIVING FORCE, another black and tan CH. SEBRING SIMPATICO.

Other notable winners throughout the classes on the day were the very stylish black and tan 12-18 month dog class winner KASHARA-DIZA JORGI-G-JAZZ (a Ch. Qamari's Flying Colors son) and the self masked cream 9-12 month dog class and puppy in show winner GERTAN WITHOUT SCRUPLE PAHLAVI and the black masked gold 9-12 month bitch class winner PAHLAVI ZIANNA TATIANA (both of these puppies sired by Ch. Pahlavi Puttin' on the Ritz). The stud dog class looked a sight with my best in show winner leading a number of his children who were class winners or high placings on the day.

Lyn's best in sweepstakes winner went to the 9-12 month puppy bitch PAHLAVI ZIANNA TATIANA and opposite in sweepstakes to the 12-18 month dog KASHARA-DIZA JORGI-G-JAZZ.

The after show dinner was held that night at the Hilton Hotel. It was an enjoyable night and the club presented Lyn and I with a couple of lovely Marcia Van Woert prints. The next morning we managed to get a ride with one of the exhibitors to the venue for the Afghan Hound Association of Long Island Specialty in New York City. The entry for this show was much smaller and quite different to that of the previous day.

Over the next 2 days we attended the Westminister Kennel Club Show at Madison Square Garden. This show was an incredible experience to witness. During each of the 2 days all breed judging is completed in numerous small rings and then group judging in one large ring during the evening. The atmosphere during the evening group judging was electric. We had the opportunity to witness the performances of some of the biggest winners in various breeds in the USA. The "Garden" as the show is affectionately known is more than just a dog show - with its many cocktail parties and after show functions, its direct television coverage with Dave Frei of Stormhill Kennels as the lead commentator, it is a major sporting and social event to be remembered. We had the opportunity to catch up with many older friends as well as making many more new acquaintances.

At its best New York City is a harassing experience but with the recent blizzard and snow heaped up 6-8 feet high on the sides of the streets it was pandemonium. It was good to leave the big apple for slower and quieter surroundings. After a couple of days in Providence, Rhode Island, (still cold and under snow - the maximum temperature here reached 2 degrees celsius and we thought we had struck a heatwave) we then travelled to Seattle (cold but no snow) and spent a fantastic 4 days with Dave and Sandy Frei of Stormhill Kennels. Following this we went on to Los Angeles for Disneyland, Hollywood and Universal Studios adventures prior to returning to Sydney.