Top left : Select Dog was GCh . B Maja In It To Win It . Top right : Select Bitch was GCh . Sunlit ’ s Queen Of Everything . Bottom : Sura Spring Fever was Best Puppy .
PHOTOS THIS PAGE : TEDDY LEI PHOTOGRAPHY ed outstanding skill at parting attendees from their funds . Kudos must also go to Toni Richmond , who compiled a beautiful glossy catalog of the items on auction , and had also posted them online earlier to whet exhibitors ’ appetites while they were still home and packing for the National .
Day Five
As in all things , the best is saved for last . In keeping with this practice , the last day was the grand finale , Best of Breed . Leading up to the final competition was the Parade of Rescue Dogs and the Parade of Veterans . These events paid tribute to the senior citizens of the breed and honored the ones that have found their forever homes . As their biographies were read and each did a turn around the ring , there was enthusiastic applause and cheers from ringside . Both conformation judges , Stephen Fisher and Jerry Klein , presided as the medallions and rosettes were presented to the owners .
It was then time for the main event , Best of Breed . The judge , Stephen Fisher , brought the dogs in the ring one by one , and each took a lap around . Once they were all assembled , the ring was filled with more than 50 exhibits , each vying for the coveted award . As the entry was winnowed down , the excitement became palpable . In the final lineup , Best of Breed was GCh . Agha Djari ’ s Fifth Dimension Of Sura , bred by Stefan Boieck and owned by Suzanne Neill , Jamie Souza Bartlett and Christine
O ’ Connor . He was shown to the win by Alicia Morrison Jones .
The Best of Winners was Winners Dog , Lafara ’ s Rockin On The River , and the Best of Opposite Sex went to Ch . Coupd ’ E ’ Tat Throwing Shade , owned by Gaspare Cassarino , and bred by him and Christina Farrar . The Select Dog was GCh . B Maja In It To Win It , and the Select Bitch was GCh . Sunlit ’ s Queen Of Everything . There were five Awards of Merit , which went to GCh . Xandali Bon Vivant , Ch . Genesis Debutante Of Spice Hill , GCh . Pahlavi Itz Not My First Rodeo , Ch . Zircus Of Dega Afghans , and GCh . Exquisite Beaujon ’ s Stellar Night .
The Best in the Owner Handled Series was Jaime Ganoza ’ s Ch . Zircus Of Dega Afghans . The Best Bred-by Exhibitor award went to Klacic Fast And Furious O Rustic , with the Best Puppy being Sura Spring Fever , who was sired by the Best of Breed winner . The final two awards of the day were given to the Best Stud Dog , GCh . B Kamy Heir To Poseidon Of Spice Hill , and Best Brood Bitch , GCh . Komar ’ s Wild Violette Skye .
With the awards having been bestowed and the pictures taken to document the wins , it was party time and the Annual Awards Dinner . Exhibitors , spectators , fanciers and friends gathered to celebrate and socialize for the evening . Barb Bornstein presided as Mistress of Ceremonies . The top Afghan Hounds in conformation , performance and companion events , Breeders and the Junior Showmanship winner of 2015 were honored and medallions presented . Lifetime Membership ( Helen Stein ), Good Sportsmanship ( Becky Morisette ) and Board member ( Linda Jackson ) awards were presented to those members who had made significant contributions to the AHCA over the years . Show Chair Amy Mero and her Assistant , Erica Jantos , received a well-deserved standing ovation as their awards were presented . They had seen to it that the “ Return to the Sea ” in 2016 was a celebration of the breed and an affair to remember .
As the evening came to a close , it was time to say goodbye , extend safe travel and all good wishes to friends and offer congratulations again to the winners . The 80th annual National Specialty was in the history books , and it was time to pack up , exercise dogs and begin planning for the 81st event September 11-14 , 2017 , to be held at Purina Farms , Gray Summit , Mo . This will also be a return engagement , as in 1999 the 63rd National Specialty was held at that venue . It seems we are going back to the future once more . DIR
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