Cunninghams Antonov, Judge: Mr. M. James

One thing was absolutely clear to us beforehand: Crufts means “being there is everything”, getting to know people and dogs or seeing them again, and simply experiencing a lot.
But we hadn’t expected a day like this.

Three dogs from our kennel were registered at Crufts. The results:

Cunninghams Buena Vista at Pokitaru – Puppy-class: 1. Prize, best Puppy bitch

Cunninghams Aveline for Trailtracker – Limit-Class: 1. Prize, Res. Best Bitch

Cunninghams Antonov – Open Class: 1. Prize, Best Dog, Best of Breed

We were also delighted to receive the following titles and awards for our kennel.

Top Puppy in Breed 2025 for Cunningham’s Aveline (Antonio Skaboullos) and Cunningham’s Buena Vista (Jessica Whitlam & Karl Barber)

Top Dog in Breed 2025 for Cunningham’s Aveline (Antonio Skaboullos)

Top Breeder in Breed Coonhound 2025 (for the Cunninghams kennel)

Top Brood Bitch in Breed 2025 for our Halloween, the mum of Aveline and Antonov

Our Toni (Antonov) won first prize in the Open Dogs group, in which 10 dogs were entered. Afterwards, all the first-placed males from the other classes entered the ring, and Toni took first place here too, becoming “Best Dog”.

In the female category, Buena Vista and Aveline also took first place in their classes, and Aveline became Reserve Best Bitch.
Finally, Antonov and Hibeck Ginny avec Jayanel, a Griffon Fauve De Bretagne bitch, competed for BOB, or in other words, for the winner of the “Any Variety Imported Breed Register (Hound)” group, in which various breeds compete together in the rings in Great Britain and not just Coonhounds, for example. A total of 50 dogs were registered, 46 of which competed. When Toni won here too and was awarded BOB, our joy was naturally immense.

According to our information, Toni was the second Coonhound to make it into the Crufts ring of honour.
After the long journey and especially after this long day, Toni was now visibly tired. Despite the spectacle and the many dogs and people around him, he preferred to lie down on his side in the ring of honour, sleep soundly and even dream. Jolted awake, he ended up running quite well after all.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Antonio (and Eric, who unfortunately could not be here), for their hospitality, and especially to Antonio for his tireless help and support at Crufts.
A big thank you also goes to Nadine as co-pilot and supporter during the long journey.
Many thanks, of course, to the judge, Mr M James!

Then, many thanks to Priscilla van Oosten and Sylvia Altrogge for their support and lots of good advice.

It was great to finally meet so many people in person whom I had previously only known through Facebook.

…and, of course, none of this would have been possible without the three main players:
Rocky (Chuck Blossoming Meadow) as the father of Antonov, Aveline and Vista
Oween (Halloween from Charming Shadow) as the mother of Antonov and Aveline
Ixi (Xtreme Kindness v.d. Mergelhoeve) as dam of Buena Vista