Champion Raglan Rose Maiden At Brio

Reserve Best In Show

Crufts 2004

Our grateful Thanks  to Miss Jane Miller for letting us reproduce this piece written by Jane.

 

The thought of one day winning BIS at Crufts has always been a dream and last year that dream came so close to reality when 'Puzzle' was awarded RBIS.

Was it a case of so near and yet so far? In theory I suppose it was but this was at the world's greatest dog show and with 22,622 dogs entered to have been placed above all but one of them was to me very satisfying indeed.

Puzzle was bred in Sweden by Dan Ericsson (Raglan) and came over to me once her passport was complete towards the end of 2002. Although she was bred overseas her pedigree contains a large number of British dogs including several of my own Brios. At her first show she won a RCC. At her next show, Manchester 2003, she got her first CC and BOB over my dog, Ch Brio Chief Inspector, who took his fortieth CC that day.

The year carried on with many top wins for Puzzle and she was also Top Terrier in 2003.

Champion Raglan Rose Maiden At Brio
Reserve Best In Show Crufts 2004
Pictured with owner Miss Jane Miller and her breeder Mr Dan Ericsson

Last year began well with best bitch in show at Manchester and BIS at a breed club championship show and then came Crufts. Did I think she might win the breed? I did think that she could, but then I was not the one judging! Certainly I did not expect that she would be placed above those thousands of other exhibits.

Anyway she won the CC and BOB which delighted me as her breeder had come over to Crufts.

Crufts is really quite a different show from the other all-breeds championship shows. Not only is it such a vast size but it is a very high-profile event particularly when it comes to the groups and BIS.

BBC TV covers the event and as I entered the spacious ring for the terrier group I was fearful that Puzzle would decide that she did not like the spotlight on her. Would I have a problem getting her to show with so many people watching? But no - once in the ring she took over and I began to think that she had a good chance of winning. To my joy she did take the terrier group.

Finally the time arrived for the finals to begin and this was hailed by several trumpeters, "Oh goodness," I thought, "she won't like this," but after waiting she was eager to go and so in we went and once again I prayed that she would show off her many virtues. She knew exactly how she had to respond and respond she did, showing herself to the full.

I don't know who was most delighted, Dan, me or Puzzle, when she was brought forward for RBIS. We were up in the clouds celebrating afterwards.

Following Crufts she went to just a few more shows and added some more top wins to her credit bringing her total to date to 20 CC's, 11 groups, three BIS including two breed clubs, four RBIS, two best bitch in show and top terrier 2003.

Halfway through last year she went back to Sweden to be mated to Dan's Champion wheaten dog.

As I said at the beginning, perhaps so near and yet so far, but for me Puzzle gave of her best, didn't flag and never put a foot wrong.

Who could ask for more, other than Puzzle that is!

Written by Jane Miller