Southside Entry 512!!

By Fleurette Workman

Southside All-Breed Dog Training Club Inc. held their 24^th Annual Obedience Trial on October 31^st, 1971, on the main floor of the spacious Amphitheatre in Chicago Illinois.

There was no witchcraft involved, but we were bewitched with an entry of 512, comprised of 420 dogs.  Entries represented the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Iowa participated with 69 different breeds of dogs entered.  Tied for first place for the largest entry were German Shepherd Dogs and Poodles with 76 dogs each.  Next were 30 Doberman Pinschers, followed by 29 Shetland Sheepdogs.  Breeds that were entered but not too often seen co0mpeting in this area were Saluki, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Giant Schnauzer, Affenpinscher, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Bulldog and Bichon Frise.  Exceptionally large entries for their breeds were 17 Irish Setters and 11 Great Danes.

Winning High in Trial was no easy task for it required being victorious in a five-way run-off.  Youth succeeded over all when popular run-off judge Max McCannon declared fourteen-year-old Melba Gibson from Indianapolis, IN and her Shetland Sheepdog, Indian Summer CD the winner.  The winner came from the Open “A” class with a score of 198½.  It was a most gratifying sight to see the embrace of joy Melba gave Mr. McCannon after being declared the winner.

Second High was Norma Currier from Oxford, Michigan and Doberman Pinscher, Our Own Dark Secret UD from the Utility “B” class.  Third High was Dianne McDonnell, from Chicago, Illinois with a Shetland Sheepdog, Westwood’s Miss Patricia, from the Novice “A” class.  Fourth High was Barbara Goodman also from Chicago, Illinois with her Golden Retriever, Malagold’s Red Rouzer, CDX from the Open “B” class.  Fifth High was Bill Casey, from Crystal Lake, Illinois, with Dalmatian, Running Iron Sweet N Sassy, from the Novice “B” class.

Highest Scoring Dog with a combined score in Open “A” and Graduate Novice was the teenager with personality plus, Melba Gibson, and her Sheltie, Indian Summer CD with a combined score of 3951/2 .  Highest scoring Dog with a combined score in Open “B” and Utility “A” was LaVerne Albrecht, from Minneapolis, Minn., and her Poodle, Pierrot de Marce-A-Lane, CDX with a combined score of 396.  Winning the trophy for the Highest Scoring Dog with a combined score in Open “B”: and Utility “B”, also with a score of 396, was Barbara Goodman and her Golden Retriever, Malagold’s Red Rouzer CDX.

Winning the award for the Highest Scoring A.K.C. Champion of Record with 20 A.K.C. Champions entered was a Belgian Tervuren, Ch. Sansig’s Joquette of Geor-June owned by John Konrad with a score of 196½.  The Veteran’s class was won by a Golden Retriever, Krisan’s Dapper Dan, UD owned by John and Rose Weiss scoring 196.  Versatility was won by Elizabeth Glick and Miniature Poodle, Glick Fanny Akona, UD scoring 198½.  The

Brace class was won by two Doberman Pinschers Jiminy Cricket and Our Own Dark Secret scoring 196.  From an entry of 10 Teams, a Team of German Shepherd Dogs from the Lincolnwood Training Club for German Shepherd Dogs was the victors with a score of 196.

With twelve rings in operation simultaneously beginning at 9:00 AM, the last trophy was awarded after 6:00 PM.  The show ran very smoothly with only legitimate complaint that the building was too cold.  There were however no comments from our friends at heel.

To stimulate a little Halloween atmosphere there were pumpkins and hanging skeletons in various places around the room as well as trick or treat packages, containing dog and people treats, that were given to each exhibitor. 

One coincidence that may have been caused by a little witchcraft was last year’s High in Trial was won by a Shetland Sheepdog from Indianapolis, Indiana.

Although there was no trick to entering Southside’s trial, it is hoped that it was a treat for all those who attended.