The Gossip Column: May 2, 2025

It’s that time again: Tickets are now available on Ticketmaster for the WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB evening group and Best in Show judging at Madison Square Garden on Monday and Tuesday evenings, February 2 and 3, respectively. Keep in mind “THE GARDEN” is a week earlier, and it won’t be long before the judging panel is released. ...

Big news from across the pond: TONY ALLCOCK, OBE, is stepping down as chairman of the ROYAL KENNEL CLUB following the annual general meeting on June 24. He is also stepping away from sitting on the general committee. He has been a director for 10 years, serving as chairman for six of them. TONY, a world champion bowler, came into the sport with an interest in Toy breeds — Chins and King Charles Spaniels, if I remember correctly. I’m sure now that he will be relieved of his kennel-club responsibilities he will no doubt pursue his popular judging career. ...

This weekend JOSE LUIS PAYRO and members of the FEDERACION CANOFILA MEXICANA, A.C., are hosting the NATIONAL WEEK 2025 in Mexico City with a decidedly American judging panel that includes GAY GLAZBROOK, CYNTHIA WOODWARD, JERRY KLEIN, DONALD STURZ, CHARLOTTE PATTERSON, HAL BIERMANN, LEONARD GARCINI, ERNEST LARA and JUDY WADE. ...

The turnout of friends and relatives to the celebration the life of DOUGIE HOLLOWAY was worthy of this man’s popularity and respect within our purebred dog community. Held last weekend at the dog shows in Delaware, friend reminisced about DOUGIE and the large part he played in their lives. Among the attendees with RITA HOLLOWAY was rarely seen retired professional handler and instructor GEORGE ALSTON, where DOUGIE worked for five years, JOHN CONSTANTINE, JAN RITCHIE GLADSTONE, HARRY & LISA MILLER  and the mighty men of SITE CONTROL, DAVID FITZPATRICK, BETH SWEIGART, PETER GREEN, MICHAEL & MARTI PAWASARAT, AMY & ANDREW GREEN, CHRIS BERG, ERNEST LARA, RENEE GALLIZZO, MICHAEL & MICHELLE SCOTT, KEN MURRAY, DAVID KIRKLAND, KELLY SCHUPP, MARGERY GOOD, HAILEY & RC CARUSI, TODD & APRIL CLYDE and JIMMY DIXON. ...

Happy Anniversary to MARIE & TOM NUTTING and SARAH & RICHARD LAWRENCE. ...

Celebrating Birthdays … RANDY GARREN, TIM LEHMAN, DYLAN KIPP KEITH, BARBARA MILLER, HEATHER JOHNSON, CHERIE VIRDEN, ELAINE PAQUETTE, NANCY SPELKE, PAM LAMBIE, BETH FINK, LESLIE NEWING, BARBARA WALDKIRCH, MELISSA BRUCKER and TORIE STEELE.