OODLESOF POODLES Story and Photos by Leslie Newing
The Poodle Club of America was welcomed by the town of Salisbury, Maryland, for the sixth year for its National Specialty. Signs adorned the entire town with welcome messages. Many restaurants even had drinks named for Poodles, or discounts on meals for attendees. The town in so many ways welcomed us with its outstanding hospitality. Our show was again chaired by Glenna Carlson , assisted by Arthur Foran, a remarkable team that makes things run like clock work. Flowers ere placed around the rings, with no details left to the imagination. The ring was the image of a well-manicured estate, with a touch of class for the Poodles to compete in performance or conformation events. Missy Galloway handled the landscaping on real grass, again outdoing herself. For the ďŹ rst time, PCA offered, for a fee, live streaming video so that people around the world could watch the National on line as it happened. With these advances in technology, the rings had TV screens around the arena allowing people grooming dogs to see what was happening in the rings. This permitted groomers readying for the next class as well as those unable to attend the event this year to watch the Poodles in the conformation events.
Our National began with tracking on Friday April 23. Tracking Dog Excellent tests were held in Elkton, Maryland, chaired by Mrs. Joan Scott. This was the second year that PCA held a tracking event at our National. On Saturday and Sunday the Retriever Hunting Test took place in Rhodesdale, Maryland. Dana Stewart, Linda Miller and Joyce Carelli chaired the PCA Working tests. A lovely Purina-sponsored Hunt Dinner followed these on Saturday. After two days in the elements, exhibitors and Hunt fanciers could relax and enjoy themselves after another successful weekend. Monday we began with Agility at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland, chaired by Debbie West,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 86
54 Dog News