CRUFTS 2017 – the green carpet

Wow… the green carpet! What an impressive arena, what an impressive show, what an impressive atmosphere! Never experienced anything comparable like standing, running, and winning in the arena of CRUFTS.

The day I got the envelope with that UK airmail stamp on it was so electrifying. Holding those tickets in my hand, the tickets for the green carpet! A dream cam true… But this meant on the other side I had to postpone one of my agility seminars (folks, I’m still sorry for that!) and I have to train with Cute at 65cm (KC standard for large). Things said, we started our training 3 weeks before Crufts, once a week. I was happy to see Cute handle those extra 5cm very well. And so we started our journey towards England with confidence.

It is a looong, damn long journey to drive to Birmingham. It brought me along France to Luxemburg (for a cheap refuelling stop 😉 yayyy… ), along Belgium back to France, Calais where we had to catch the Eurotunnel Shuttle on time. On our way to Calais, things looked to get rough, as I got an email from the hotel which said they didn’t take pets anymore. FFS! Really?! This just came them in mind a couple hours before I’d like to check-in? Oukey… driving (we had to catch the 11 o’clock train!) and searching TripAdvisor for a new hotel for the first night.

Friday I got there for the first time – the NEC Birmingham. It’s huge and spacious. The main arena of the National Exhibition Center is at the far end, right after the benching area. Glad I had Friday to get familiar with the surrounding area, while watching and cheering some of the UK’s top handlers. For me it was a fun day with friends and it was the calm before the storm.

Finally Saturday and the big moment has arrived. We had to get up early (2 hour drive to NEC) to be there in time. You never know how the traffic looks like in the UK. Even I got up at 7am, 3.5 hours before the event was expected to start, I arrived to the minute 🙂 It was enough time left to study the course map and get us installed.

First was the jumping qualifier judged by Alan Bray. It was a fast and fluid course, with nice european-like distances. I knew if I want to go to the final, this would be our run. Then I had this funny but stupid thought in my mind, to which I saw me and Cute as a sort of dinosaur with our 2o2o 😀 Preparing backstage behind the Crufts curtain made it even more exciting, hearing the other handlers running, and the audience cheering. At a time the hostess called us, as we run as 12th, to stand ready. I entered with Cute for the first time the arena. Moving lights everywhere, almost each single seat taken, the speaker announcing us over the loudspeakers, the audience cheering… what a great atmosphere. Too bad I haven’t receive much of it, as I was too busy being nervous anyway 😀
Cute showed a phenomenal run and run straight to the 1st place! Woohoooo!!! I was so happy, seeing “Rank 1” light up at the big cube.

Well, the day wasn’t over yet. And we had to get another clear round. At least no DIS! After lunch it was the agility qualifier’s turn. It was judged by Bill Glover. While studying again the new course map, we had time to enjoy “Heelwork to Music – Freestyle” in the main arena. Meanwhile every last seat was taken in the main arena and in front of it a long line.

This time again Cute and I had a starting place in the middle of the starter field. We both did our job. After jump 13, Cute made a much wider turn than expected, thus the line to the seesaw got a bit messy. Just in the very last moment I managed it with her very great support to get right on the seesaw. The judge Bill Glover has had a real eagle eye seeing it correctly. Hats off! And so we got our second 1st place! What a dream! Tremendous performance from Cute. I was already at that time the happiest man… but things would get even better.

In the evening the final took place. The line in front of the arena got even longer (it went through 1.5 exhibition halls) Crazy! But I liked it 🙂 The final, a agility run, was judged again by Alan Bray. Since the long jump is wider and higher in the UK and we had to do a sharp turn so the dog won’t go into the wrong tunnel entry, I was a bit concerned. As we know now, I hadn’t to 🙂 It was so special to run as the last competitor, leading the board at the time. The crowed cheering and all eyes on Cute and the time. I had to do one last wrap and then 3 jumps straight to the finish. “Don’t mess it up Simon!”, I thought. Cute jumped into my arms I had a look back to the big cube and couldn’t believe my eyes. I needed a second look, but it was the truth and the speaker confirmed it loud and clearly. RANK 1 light up again for the third time today. Cute won the CRUFTS International! Happy, happy, haaaappy!!!

It’s a bit of Agility history, since we’re the first Swiss Team winning this trophy and even better winning both heats (jumping & agility qualifier) and the final! Now I was really (and I’m still be) the happiest man on earth!

Crufts is a tremendous event, having more than 22’000 dogs and more than 160’000 visitor in its 4 days. The main arena fully sold out with its 6000 seats! And it is even more tremendous to compete and to win at a such spectacular and meaningful event.

I say thanks to all and each made this possible and supported me before and throughout the event and celebrated with us. BUT the biggest and loveliest thanks and the warmest hug goes to my very special once in a live time dog CUTE!

Watch our runs and more…