SNOHOMISH — Westminster came to the Snohomish Valley this weekend.
A purebred pooch parade in the heart of local farm country was no imitation of the mother-of-all dog shows. Yet spectators would have found something familiar at the Sammamish Kennel Club’s annual event.
“If they’re used to watching Westminster on TV, they can come out here and watch it in the flesh,” said Rusty Kingery, of Issaquah, the club president. “All shows are run in the same order.”
Canines competed in nine rings. They represented seven groups and 100 breeds: Irish wolfhounds, Norwegian elkhounds and Scottish deerhounds, borzoi, beagles and St. Bernards. There were toy dogs and working dogs, herding dogs and sporting dogs. And many others.
This weekend’s event was the Sammamish club’s 43rd summer show and its third since moving to Snohomish. Judging is set to continue Sunday morning and wrap up in the late afternoon. More than 600 competitors were registered that day.
The club moved to the property three years ago after its former spot at Marymoor Park in Redmond became too expensive, treasurer Jan Leikam said.
Bryan Martin traveled to the show from Portland as an executive field representative for the American Kennel Club, which sanctions thousands of events nationally every year. About 40 weeks of the year, there’s one to be found somewhere in the Northwest, he said.
Martin explained how judges look for the ideal characteristics of a particular breed: the shape of the ears or body, the way the dog walks, even the color of its nose.
“It’s not so much the prettiest one, but the one that conforms the best to the standard,” he said.
Some put more emphasis on one area over another.
“It’s much like the Constitution — there’s so many ways you can interpret it,” Martin said.
Earlier this summer, the field where the show took place was growing hay. Driving Old Snohomish-Monroe Road, it’s easy to miss. The property lies down a long gravel road. The grounds emerge after the road dips and crosses under a railroad bridge.
The kennel club leases the land from Mark Hanson, who bought the property 30 years ago.
Hanson formerly used it as an airstrip and flew stunt planes there. Now, most of the aerobatics are done by remote.
“The big thing right now is the drone races,” Hanson said. “It’s really taken off.”
DieHard RC uses the property for racing radio-controlled cars as well as drone competitions.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
Competition
The Sammamish Kennel Club’s August dog show continues on Sunday, starting at 9 a.m.
It’s at the Cascade Family Airpark near the city of Snohomish. Admission for spectators is free, but parking costs $5.
Address: 11921 Old Snohomish-Monroe Road, Snohomish
More info: www.sammamish kennelclub.net
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