Crufts 2005

More than 21,000 dogs competing over four days at the NEC in Birmingham. 39 Pharaohs was entered under judge Mrs Bernadette Stoneham, with only a few absent.

Each day there is a TV coverage from Crufts on BBC. Thanks to Mrs Pam Ayling we found out that BBC used a photo of Glimma from last year to announce this year's Crufts coverage!

Glimma at Crufts 2004


As usual Madelene and Peder drove all the way from Sweden to England with two dogs, this time Tage and Vega. They were also accompanied by Tage's owner Ingrid Paulsson. Her husband Anders and myself flew over and met up with the others on Wednesday in England. Kate and Roy Harbinson and their two dogs Slaine and his daughter Layla (Gnejna Nashira of Actolia) also stayed at the same lovely bed and breakfast as we did.

The B & B was actually a horse farm only half an hour from the NEC and they had beautiful horses, well kept stables and a very nice paddock where we could let the dogs have a good run after the long trip! The pub was only a couple of minutes up the road and there we had our dinners with good appetite!
We went to the show grounds early as we wanted to get the dogs settled in and also be able to watch some of the basenji judging. When the Pharaoh judging started I was quite nervous which is unusual to be me, but that was nothing compared to Ingrid who was sitting at ringside this time as she had given me the honour of handling Tage. Today Tage was very happy and lively and showed his heart out which paid off! First he went on to win the very competitive Open Dog class and then also Best Dog!


The judge is writing Tage's critique after his win.


Kate and Slaine did great as well finishing with Reserv CC just beaten by his litter brother! We are so proud of you!

Tage 1st and Slaine 2nd in Open Dogs
Tage and Slaine in Open dogs.

Right after best dog was finished I had to concentrate on getting Vega ready for the ring. In the meantime Kate showed Layla to a first place in special junior class. I want to add that I think all five of Slaine's sons and daughters who was shown looked very nice and we want to wish their owners good luck with them!

Tyra has been shown very few times in all her life and this was her first time at Crufts. She was entered in Limit bitch and she performed nicely and actually won despite her little experience in the show ring. She was handled by owner Mr Johnny Davies. It was great seeing her again and she sure remembered us and greeted us with a big smile!

Finally it was Vega's turn to enter the ring to be shown in Open bitch class which was the class that had the most entries. She really showed well! The judge took a long time deciding between Vega and another bitch from Sweden. They had to run several laps alone and together and the judge also seemed to be very thorough on head and expression. This time Vega pulled it off and the feeling when the judge finally pointed at us was unbelievable.

Then we just waited for best bitch competition and Vega had some water to drink and said hello to some of the spectators who was cheering for her. Best bitch went quite fast and Vega won!

Vega best bitch at Crufts 2005

We really had not expected to have both best male and best bitch again this year as it seemed just too good to be true, but there we were and I needed handling help for Best Of Breed competition! Ingrid said she was feeling up to it and took Tage into the ring and I stayed on Vega. After careful consideration the judge finally gave the best of breed rosett to Vega! Just like last year it was a hectic time right after BOB with people from different companies asking what brand of food we use, if we want to be sponsored and so on and also a person from BBC asking questions about Vega.

Tage BOS and Vega BOB


Lots to do! Getting the dogs out, collecting our prizes, BOB photographing and getting some rest before the group! Vega was really tired when it was time for the Hound Group and it turned out she also came into her first season a day later as well. She didn't get a group placement this time but still I am so happy. She did more than we ever expected of her because she really isn't just more than a baby still!

Afterwards we went home to get the dogs in bed just in time to see the Hound group on BBC. Vega was on TV!! :) Then we went to the restaurant to celebrate together with friends.

On Friday morning it was time to start our trip back home but first we went to visit Dr Jeanne Druce, one of the Merymut ladies, who now only has one dog. We had a lovely lunch at her place, thank you Jeanne! Her 12-year-old Nef (Merymut Nefermaya) was such a gentleman and welcomed all of us into their home. He is a good looking male and despite his age still in great condition.

A couple of hours later I was dropped off at the airport while Madelene, Peder and Ingrid went to take the ferry to Holland. On Saturday they went to visit Argo in Belgium. He was a happy, good looking puppy!

It was very nice seeing all the British dogs and people again, and just being at Crufts is great in itself. I sure will be back!

Tage and Vega arrive home from their very successful trip to Crufts 2005!


All our dogs got lovely critiques by Mrs Stoneham and we are very thankful for her appreciation.

Open Dog:(5) This class was headed by two outstandingexamples of the breed. 1 Paulsson's Ch. Enigma Lone Star, super dog of obvious quality & type, he has excellent conformation all through with correct blunt wedge shaped head, oval eyes & good earset, balanced moderate angulation front & back, oozes Pharaoh Hound & presented a super picture both standing & on the move, handled to perfection & on a loose lead, loved him. CC.
2 Harbinson's Ch. Enigma Score The Lot With Actolia, very close up to 1 & many of the same comments apply, not surprised to learn they are litter brothers. Smaller than 1 but still within the standard, he too possessed excellent type, balance & construction. An extreamly difficult decision between these two dogs & I was really splitting hairs, the first just hadthat bit more sparkle & ring presence.

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Limit bitch (6). 1 Davies' Enigma Significant Legacy to Beayncara, liked this bitch for her size & type, head OK with good earset, fair construction all through & was sound enough on the move. Won this class with ease.

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Open bitch (9,3) Another difficult decision & I found myself faced with three quality bitches. 1 Lonn's Enigma Surprise Me, what can I say apart from this is a Pharaoh Hound, everything I was looking for, she has a wonderful head & expression with good earset, superb conformation all through & this coupled with her overall balance & quality showed in her movement which was far reaching & sound as a bell coming and going, a Pharaoh Hound should be moderate in every way & this bitch was just that with nothing extreme about her. CC & BOB.

The full show report by the judge can be read here!

Full results can be found here!

Text: Sofie Lonn. All photos by Anders Paulsson or Madelene Lonn