Twenty rows from the floor at the world’s most famous arena, 18,000 people around her, Coldstream’s Joy Viel had her eyes and cell phone glued to the Madison Square Gardens jumbotron.
Viel’s four-year-old Irish terrier, D’Art (short for GCH Red Branch D’Artagnan of the Ring), was being led out into the ring Tuesday night by handler Adam Bernardin – a Canadian now living in Connecticut – in the group stage of the 140th annual, world-renowned Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City, hoping to advance to the final Best in Show group.
“It was just awesome,” said Viel, who co-owns D’Art with breeders Joe and Elena Metz of California. “We sat up in the stands, the ambiance and whole sound of the crowd and everything was just phenomenal. It gave you shivers that you’re actually there watching and doing this.
“Eventually there was my boy in the ring, representing the breed I absolutely love.”
It was a bucket item list for Viel to attend the world’s most famous dog show at the world’s most famous arena.
D’Art is a show dog veteran. He loves shows, said Viel, and has a great attitude.
Earlier Tuesday, D’Art, competing at Pier 92, had defeated East Coast rival GCH Sugarbush’s Made in America to win the Best of Breed title.
“We were thrilled,” said Viel. “With our breed, there are very few that actually show in competition. We were up against GCH Sugarbush’s Made in America and it was good to get them together. Both are wonderful examples of the breed. It just happened to be D’Art’s day. We’re thrilled with that.”
D’Art, as Irish terrier champion, would join about 30 different breeds of terriers for the Best in Group show at Madison Square Garden looking to get a top-four group placing. Only No. 1, though, advances to Best in Show.
“It’s just awesome to see an Irish terrier out there,” said Viel. “He performed well. He didn’t go further, but that’s not rare. It’s not often you get an Irish terrier in the group placing.
“He did well in California last year with me handling at the Great Western Terrier Specialty. You dream and hope of a group placing but it was just wonderful to see him out there.”
In addition to being a member of the Vernon Kennel Club, Viel is also a member of the Shuswap Kennel Club and trains her terriers for the obedience ring in Salmon Arm.
The Metzes plan to keep D’Art on the show circuit. Viel returns to the North Okanagan today but D’Art is with handlers in Santa Clara, Cal. for a show this weekend. D’Art will likely show every other weekend leading up to a big event in Sacramento in April.
The Irish terrier is one of the oldest terrier breed. The temperament of the breed, according to the Westminster Kennel Club website, “is game and aggressive towards his quarry and adversaries, yet gentle and forbearing with those he loves...patience and a sense of humour are a necessity for owners.”
GCH Cragsmoor Good Time Charlie, a Skye terrier, won the Best in Group at Westminster.
C.J., a three-year-old male German shorthaired pointer, won Best in Show.