AKC dog shows moved to April 10-11
Held outdoors at Ag Center.
Asheville Kennel Club (AKC) has rescheduled and reconfigured its annual two all-breed conformance competitions to comply with pandemic-related health safety regulations. As in the past, the shows, usually held in late May or early June, are sanctioned by the parent American Kennel Club.
Because the popular shows are categorized as sporting events under North Carolina pandemic regulations, they will be closed to the general public. Only participants will be admitted.
The 2021 shows will be held on Saturday, April 10, and Sunday, April 11, 2021, on the grass and under tents in front of the Virginia C. Boone building in the Ag Center complex. The shows will run from 7 am
to 8 pm each day in 14 rings under canvas. Compared to past years, hours have been extended both morning and night and rings and judges added to accommodate the expected large number of entries within just two days of completion.
Recent AKC conformation competitions at the WNC Ag Center had drawn up to 800 daily entrants. But the 2021 shows have established a limit of 2000 entrants per day! That’s because other clubs in the southeast have canceled their shows for this year, as the AKC did in 2020. With fewer venues available in which dogs, handlers, and owners can compete for championship points, the number of entrants at each available site grows dramatically.
The Blue Ridge Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club will host a concurrent Specialty competition on both Saturday and Sunday, as will the Dalmatian Club of the Piedmont. In addition, the Sandlapper Golden Retriever Club will host a Specialty Show including Sweepstakes, Veteran Sweepstakes and Gun Dog Sweepstakes on Sunday. There will also be puppy competitions on Sunday.
Show participants will enter the Ag Center through Gate 7, off Airport Road. Volunteers from local Boy Scout troops and the general public will direct them to appropriate parking areas. All human participants must wear masks at all times. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available for those without them. All entrants must sign a COVID waiver each day and wear the bracelet they will be given after doing so.
Show chairperson Moshe Reshef, a breeder himself, will not be participating as a competitor in the shows. “I will have enough to do without showing,” he said. Then he added that he was proud of the efforts the Asheville Kennel Club has made with outreach to the Asheville community. He pointed out that all proceeds from the sales of the show catalogs would be contributed to the AKC Outreach fund used to help dogs and dog owners in need.
To reduce the chances of spreading the COVID-19 virus, judges will award ribbons to winning dogs, owners, and handlers as they exit, in place of the traditional photographing of winners on a platform.
“The 2021 shows have a limit of 2,000 entrants per day!”