The site was last updated on

24 Aug 2000

A minute before entering the ring, all the juniors are excited, some nervous. Most of the juniors knew what they were doing; all dressed up, brushing the dogs, cleaning them selves from the dogs' hair... then it started. All the juniors were asked to wait by the ring in the order we were told. Big dogs first, small ones last. *G*, yesterday the juniors were really good but there were only 24, today there are 45 juniors and they all look so good!
I'm looking for my mom, making sure she is taking pictures... "Excuse me?", oh, it's my turn; I'm going into the ring, last breath before I need to smile even if I don't feel like it, oh and the dog! must make sure she feels well. There I go, I'm in... there is the judge, smile... and more... now I mustn't hide the dog... good, she smiled back. We are all standing together. One after the other  she asked us to come and show the dogs. A triangle. That's easy, dog is on the left side, turning... smile to the judge and turning back. Wow, I did it good, I think. Now, the judge is going around, so do I.

Okay, I'm now going back to my place and another junior is showing it's dog. How good it is to feel that the hard part is over. Now we are asked to move together, the judge is about to choose the best juniors now and then the final three. Looking at the judge, smiling... 'telling' her without words that I have the best looking dog... hoping it would work. She told us to stop and show the dogs. Looking at us one by one... the light were so bright and white, it felt like they were cooking us, I felt the warmth of my body from the run and lights, the dog was warm too. The judge is looking at us, head slightly to the side, having what's called "Cocker Spaniel puppy face", hoping she'd chose us, Bonny and I. She passed on, I didn't know if I should be glad she didn't ask us to go in, or disappointed. Wait, she is coming back, the girl beside me... she chose her. Then another boy from the other side, then me!

Now she is looking at us all, all the best juniors out of the 45 competitors were chosen and now are competing for the final three, heading to the Best World Junior. You could feel the fear in every each and one of us, I had one friend on one side, and another on the other side. Wanting so much to win, and yet, wanting so much for your friends to win. The judge is moving to the other side, all the juniors, like cats that spotted a dog running after them, all moved to the other side of the dogs, trying to do so as fast as they can and still without hiding the dog. They are really good, I can't believe I managed to get to the top 9 out of the 45 juniors. I had the only Terrier, maybe that will help, Bonny was tired and didn't want to work any more - I hope it will end soon, we are in the ring for too long, I am used to being in the Jr. ring for usually 15-30 minutes, but not more! It felt like forever...

Finally, seems like she made up her mind. We are all very excited, we all want to win and continue to the finals. I could hear the crowd saying the countdown, I felt the judge looking at all of us, trying to decide which one will win, I felt my heat's beat in every part of my body, the dog felt I was nervous, but she was very good, didn't even move an inch! Here, the judge is coming near me, she is looking - like in a 'slow motion' movie I see her touch her glasses, and start pointing at me with her hand, I wait to make sure it is really me and not another junior beside me I wait, so slow... yes! it is me! I am one of the three! I'm heading for the finals!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love your dog!

Let's go to the Finals!