European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 20, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                And the Winner is Airedale terrier Ginger Xmas Carol called Emma at biome with co owner Mary Swash. Emma lives in Italy with co owner Alexandra Luraghi. London puts on the dog Byj. Kinc Cruces . Bureau the British Are a bit potty about pets and have a total dog population estimated to be approaching 6 million at least half of them recognizable Breeds. For dogs and dog people crufts dog show is the Climax of the year. One Hundred years ago Charles Cruft a dog biscuit Salesman started London s first great terrier show. During the next few years Cruft though still running a terrier show added More and More Breeds until by 1891 he had entries in 473 classes. This year s Centenary crufts the apostrophe Long since dropped now run by the Kennel club Drew 11,829 of the most pampered and prize pedigreed pooches in Britain to its three Day weekend run in Early february at London s cavernous Earls court exhibition Center. The Champion dogs All of them winners in prior dog shows were divided into 1,521 classes and were scrutinized by 143 judges. Public and press regard crufts As the biggest dog show in the world. It in t. A dozen other shows have considerably larger entries and the ladies Kennel association show held at Birmingham England last december Drew 22,000 dogs making it the biggest dog show Ever. But crufts is arguably the most prestigious dog show on Earth. It has leaped in popularity in recent years and More than 73,000 members of the Public passed through the turnstiles at the 1986 show. Some 200 stands at crufts offered everything for the indulgent dog owner. Portrait painters Ana sculptors were kept Busy taking orders and owners could have a chess set modelled in their dog s likeness. Also on offer were electric Doggie bed warmers canine hair dryers herbal dog laxatives Pearl studded hair bows raincoats dog insurance plans dog travel agents and dog dating services. At the end of it All the crufts supreme Champion picked from one of the six group winners turned out to be an Airedale terrier bred in Italy. But while Ginger Xmas Carol otherwise known As Emma basked in her heyday the runner up an uncouth English bulldog named Cuthbert grabbed the limelight by Ealing his Rosette. Evidently even at the Pinnacle of Pooch Dom it s still dog eat dog s. 10 stripes Magazine february 20,1986