I am elbowing my way down the corridors of MSG with everyone else leaving to go home. Flights for tomorrow morning are already cancelled and a few friends of mine will have to spend an extra day in New York!

James won again!! What a dog!! And Kelly Fitzgerald won again. She piloted Samantha another English Springer Spaniel a few years back to the same exciting win! I had to drop off a friend's attire across the street and the parties have already started.

I wish you all could have been here! I thank Westminster Kennel Club for the opportunity to be your eyes on the floor! I had a blast!

Sincerely,
Anna Stromberg

My favorite organisation Angel On a Leash had a special feature after the Hound group. The first halo award was handed out to a very special dog that constantly does good things in therapy work.

The bouvier from California was the lucky one!

For all of you who do not have TV of this.. Fairchild won! She does belong to good friends of mine and to add to the story, Fairchild's father is Bailey. Pam Helmer one of her breeders is Zack's grandmother! So there you go - what a family affair!

The temperature in the building rose with each lap they took. The weather did not scare any spectators, the house is full to the ceiling!

James the english springer spaniel just ran away with the sporting group. Judge Jeanette McGuinnes looked stunning. But you probably found that out on TV.

We are waiting on the hound group and it has started to snow.. Ikes..

Love these BlackBerrys. I can blog in the seats!!

Oh I have to share this with you all because very good freind of mine Zack Helmer just won juniors with another good freind of mine "Bailey" the PBGV. Long story how I know these "boys" but I am so happy for this talented young man and his dog!

Just left hotel Pennsylvania and this is really grand Central for this show. In the lobby you run into everyone and everybody!

I hear its being closed for renovations next year? True?

A very unusual, if not first ever, scenario is going on right now. Due to weather - I swear I will get blamed for this one-the benching area is allowed to leave at 6pm. The announcement came around 5 and complete mayhem broke loose. It must be a catastrophic storm coming if they let us go early?! I am listening to the weather right now and it will be flurries later but nothing horrifying until after midnight and it COULD be ice. I will ride this one out and enjoy the groups and Best in show later.

Dogs are currently on line with attached owners and not very many are left on the benches. If I was to leave I would wait until 6.30 and then take my stuff towards the exit.

My recommendation to each and everyone that will do the show for the first time next year is to watch at least the first group and then leave for an easy and smooth exit.

Another first is also going on! We are sitting in the stands watching the transformation from day rings to the evening's group ring. What an antfarm of people needed for this change. Looks like a well oiled machine to say the least.

Hello everyone,

Due to some technical difficulties I think this will be a little behind. My apologies to everyone. Here are my experiences from today!

We made it back to the city in time for the whippet judging this morning! It was a bit rough to get up at 4 again but we did it and got on the road with time to spare! That is unheard of in our household.

No results to brag about personally but two favorite whippet bitches of mine (aside from my own girl naturally!) did really good and you will see one of them in the group later. Her handler is such a doll and right now very pegnant. I asked her how she is doing and she said just fine. She looks great. Way to go girls!

The groupwinners of last night are now resting on their own bench downstairs and spectators that watched the competition on TV are oohing and aahing when recognizing the dogs. They get back to action later this evening in Best in show joined by the winners from hound, sporting and the herding groups that are judged today.

The activity level is as high today in the grooming area and I do notice that the aisles are just as crowded today as yesterday.

Heading to Afghans!

I did mention the fantastic vendors here at the show. I have to give credit to the organizers because I remembers in the past being on of the things I would have loved to have improved! Wish granted! I picked up a belt, a few dog grooming items and another few things that I absolutely did not need but truly had to have! Let's not mention that to my husband. I picked up the Westminster Poster again this year - I just love them and they are very pretty on the wall at home. I think that I have over 50 lbs of dog literature with me home. Every dog related magazine available is on my bench at this point. The one place where it got really crowded today was the vending area, but that can only mean that they had a very successful day!

The weather is cooperating but they are promising some snow - I know I jinxed everyone....

Oh what a busy afternoon. I helped a lot of friends with their dogs and was moral support! It was a very nice afternoon with wins and excitement naturally some heartbreaks too. Running all over the Garden with spray bottles, combs and icebuckets I honestly did not have a chance to chat with too many people. Just sat down to eat something after socializing in the benching area I felt how sore my legs really are.A couple of the top dogs of last year lost in the first round this weekend. A couple of up and coming dogs went to top honors on the other hand.

I have to say a few words about the greatness of benching. Very few shows are benched nowadays, among them are Westminster and Philadelphia. I love both shows. I like the fact that its easy to find people, to see and talk to the spectators and the fact that you have an assigned spot for your dog.

There are right now small parties going on in the benching area were people and dogs are hanging out chatting with each other. Again I am heading down to cheer on the next generation of handlers in Junior showmanship.

Standing ringside on the green carpet with the Star Spangled Banner playing you just get goose bumps. The dogs in the ready area excitedly jumping around avoiding more primping wanting to get to action, the handlers taking deep breaths settling their nerves and then they are off! The evening's first winner was an Akita bitch - yes correct term for female for all of you who are new to the dog terms. I happen to personally know the owners and I can guarantee you - the family is excited!! Their ten year old son has off school tomorrow so he could be here watching the dog compete! The last I saw of him he was running down to hug the lucky winner.

The memorial for Annie Rogers Clark is going on right now. I mentioned it before and it's been said during the day - you are greatly missed.

I am going down to watch the terrier group and then pack all our stuff - head out later and drive home! Still no snow - I know I sound paranoid - you should only try the streets of New York in snow!

Have a good evening!