144 Westies All in One Place…

A Trip to the 2004 Roving

by Nancy Berger

 

When the West Highland White Terrier Club of America’s (WHWTCA) publication, the Westie Imprint, arrives in my mailbox every quarter, I eagerly grab it and then set it aside for later reading, a reward after doing a particularly challenging chore.  I love all the photos in the Westie Imprint of the handsome and beautiful Westies groomed and posed to perfection.

 

When news came in the Westie Imprint announcing the WHWTCA’s 2004 Roving dog show was going to be hosted by the West Highland White Terrier Club of Greater Washington (WHWTCGW) in a town nearby Washington, DC, (offering some interesting side trips for my husband, Walt), I thought, yes, let’s go and see all these beautiful Westie winners in person!

 

I called club members Jim and Sandy Gilmer and told them how much fun it would be to attend the Roving together. The next thing we knew we were all calling United Airlines and booking our frequent flyer flights.  The four of us met at SFO on Thursday April 15^th, taxes done and bags packed ready to spend the weekend with 144 Westies.

 

After an easy flight and a movie, we landed at Dulles airport, picked up our rental cars and headed off to Frederick, Maryland and the Roving’s headquarters hotel.  Boy, did we know we were in the right place!  Westies were everywhere...outside in ex-pens, in the lobby, in the halls and barking behind closed doors (alas).  We even saw special Westie license plates and decals in the parking lot.   It was a Westie Wonderland.

 

The host club immediately gifted us with bottles of Westie wine and the cutest insulated hospitality bags packed with treats including a chocolate CD with a Westie logo. It was fairly late now so we made our way to dinner where we ran into club member Pam Evans as well as Westie friends we had met at previous special events.

 

On Friday morning we were off to the Fairgrounds to find the Westies at the WHWTCGW’s Specialty Show.  We sort of drove by it once and then figured out that, yes, they were there behind the large sheep pen.  It was a nice building, full of Westies being groomed on their tables, looking ready to perform. The puppy classes had already started so no playing with the little ones.

 

In fact, the only tough part about these show is there isn’t much playing, touching or romping around with the cute white ones.  Have to save that for home.  Unless, you are my husband who can find an available Westie most anywhere and gladly give them some “exercise”.  We walked around a bit, looking for lattes and silent auction offerings.  We then settled in to watch the show trying our best to choose the winners.  The Westies all looked so good.  Being a judge must be a tough job!

 

The show on Friday concluded with a “Bark-B-Que” dinner and the WHWTCGW’s very touching Parade of Rescues consisting of recently rescued Westies and their new families.

 

Saturday was the day the four of us decided to do some sightseeing in Washington DC.   Our first stop was the White House and then we explored some great museums at the Smithsonian, toured some of the Presidential monuments and saw some of Washington’s beautiful cherry blossoms.  A highlight was finding a statue of FDR’s little Scottie, Fala.  There is so much to see and do in Washington that another trip is definitely necessary.

 

We returned to the hotel and got all gussied up for the BIG banquet on Saturday evening.  The hotel ballroom was enormous with at least 30 tables of 8 persons each.   Every table had the cutest centerpiece of a large stuffed Westie in a basket wearing a plaid kilt and red tam o’shanter.  We were all trying to figure out the “formula” for winning him!

 

We were forced to walk by the many tables holding the silent auction items on our way to the bar.  The Westie-themed temptations included banners, painted brushes, statues, prints, wallets, clothing, Christmas items, fancy charm bracelets and much more.  Sandy and I did some modest bidding in the silent auction and we did pretty well.  The temptations continued after dinner during the live auction but Walt and Jim held our bidding paddles.  Smart move! 

 

At the end of the evening, members of the WHWTCGW hand-delivered to each of us the lovely table favor -- a specially commissioned Westie statue holding an American flag.  And, the “formula” to win the darling Westie centerpiece was announced…it was the person at each table who owned the oldest Westie.  Thanks to our wonderful Piper (who is 15 years young) Walt and I were the lucky winners at our table.

 

Sunday morning was the start of the main event…the WHWTCA Roving show.  All 144 of those perfect Westies were shown right in the same hotel ballroom where we had dinner the night before.   The tables were removed and the area was transformed with plastic tarp on the floor and two show rings…it was busy, noisy and full of energy.  There was white hair, chalk and hairspray flying everywhere.  Exhibitors were running to be at the rings on time...it is best to stay out of their way.  Pam Evans was showing a Westie for a friend from Connecticut.   We also found club member Gail Krieger and rooted for the Bay Area favorite, her Westie “Buddy” (Ch. Gailaurie’s Vagabond Venture).

 

The early arrival spectators got the chairs ringside, but actually it was easier to see standing up as we chose our favorite Westie.  What a shout rings out when the judge points to the winner.  Then time for congratulations, hugs, photos and a beautiful blue ribbon.  Meanwhile, several vendors were set up in the lobby ready to accommodate everyone’s Westie shopping needs. If, by chance, there was any room left in the suitcases!

 

It was a fun weekend and we had a great time…we saw old friends, made some new friends, won some prizes, visited a beautiful part of the country and saw some of the very best Westies in the country.  The WHWTCGW has applied to host the Roving again in 2009…if they are the hosts, we are already looking forward to doing this all again.

 

But, despite the fun and the great hospitality of the WHWTCGW, we were anxious to get back home and be with our own Westies.  We all agreed we missed our Westie kids, the ones you can hug and kiss and take on walks and give cookies to at precisely 12 o’clock noon.

If you would like to subscribe to the Westie Imprint, go to the WHWTCA website at: http://www.westieclubamerica.com/imprint/