Rose City Cluster photos by Eugene Zaphiris and Matthew Stander

This was our first visit to the Portland shows in a number of years, and I am happy to say the site improvements were most noticeable and welcomed, too! Combined with the upgraded Portland Airport completions, the new (for me) building at the Expo Center provides an ideal dog show location. True, parking can be a pain, particularly on the Saturday, when over 7,000 spectators jammed the arena to watch not only the conformation show but also to enjoy the Agility, Rally, and Obedience competitions. Parking problems notwithstanding, it had to be obvious to any observer that this venue, for the entire four days of all-breeds plus the Thursday of specialties, is way above average and is one which would be coveted by virtually any other urban cluster event.
Entries were 3,000 or more with the Monday show drawing over 2,700 entries. I suspect someone will challenge me on the following statement, but to the best of my recollection, I cannot remember any Monday regular all-breed drawing that large an entry, excepting Westminster, of course, before it was limited. Amazingly, there were few absentees, as the majors in most classes seemed to have held. One thing the numbers of dogs being shown during the cluster seemed to confirm is that most dog competitors care very little about the competency or ability of judges to perform their duties. This was as uneven a panel of judges, as I have ever seen. From some of the most respected people to some of the least; from some of the best known to some of the totally unknown, this was a total mish-mash of judging talents. Sorry to say that the “Rose City” panels were not unique in that area, as certainly the two other clusters or sets of shows I have attended so far this year—Brooksville, Florida, and Palm Springs, California—have held similar type panels. The years of the “60 Points of Light” are truly showing the unhappy results, insofar as I am concerned, at any rate.
I will add, however, that from an administrative angle, it is hard to beat the manner in which Rod and Patti Strand and Louise Van Alstyne run the cluster. I cite these three people only, as they were the only ones I knew who were involved with the shows. If there are others to name—and I’m sure there are—I can only apologize for not having named them in what can only be labeled a masterful presentation.
Although the bichon frisé did not win a Best, Paul Flores’ exhibit was the only dog to sweep all four Group competitions. Best on Monday night was the number two exhibit all-breed in 2007, the Akita bitch. Sunday night was an East Coast top competitor, the Gordon setter, whilst TV night (with the attendant $5,000 check) was the Scottie, which also won the terrier show on Thursday. Friday night’s winner was the very successful West Coast Giant schnauzer.
There was a large contingency of dogs from the North East competing here, which in one sense was surprising, and in another sense not so surprising. It’s unusual to see many of these people travel so far, particularly with Florida shows going on. There were no shows, however, in the Northeast going on. Most of these exhibits amassed group placements every night, if not winning several groups outright. I did see several new dogs—a Saint Bernard (which won the Bred-By Group at the Invitational) was particularly outstanding; a Boston terrier which I saw for the first time in Palm Springs and forgot to write about; a young white bull terrier (which I also saw in Palm Springs) reminiscent of Dick Cooper’s old WBT; and a toy fox terrier I wanted to take home. Also a young Pekingese and two bulldog pups Desi took from the classes to the Breed and BOS respectively. Seeing these new dogs truly made the trip more than totally worthwhile.
Of course there was a major negative, as far as I was concerned, which was the charging for grooming space. Now then, let me first say that I have the greatest respect for the Onofrio people as show supers. Indeed, were I to be a show chair again (which is a job I wouldn’t want), I would strongly consider using their services. Furthermore, I think of Terry and Tim as more than acquaintances. They are friends. We just disagree on this point (and others too, I may add). As for the grooming space issue, I believe it is the obligation of the show-giving club to provide this service as part of the entry fee. Charging the exhibitor is a gouging charge which is unfair to most exhibitors. If the professional handler wants or needs this rented space, then rope off an area for these people to set-up in. Then to take those people who do not buy spaces and put them in outer Siberia is just unfair and discriminatory. AKC should not condone this practice at its licensed shows. Yet another example of AKC’s selective involvement in the shows it licenses.
Another pet peeve of mine is permitting the collecting of dogs on the premises. This, to my mind, is a definite violation of the show rules. Nonetheless, on a scale of 10, I rate this event a high 9 and urge you all to attend next year.