TRACEY WITCH OF WARE
Llegamos al último de los tres cockers míticos de H. S.
Lloyd, la hembra azul ruano Tracey Wich of Ware. Ganó en 1948 y 1950, y como
veremos, estuvo a punto de hacerlo en 1952 y 1953.
Fue criada por Denise Weldon, sus padres fueron Falconers
Padlock of Ware y Whist, siendo descendiente directa del anterior ganador de
Crufts, Luckystar of Ware y del reserva de Bis Whoopee of Ware. Tracey fue
comprada por H.S. Lloyd.
Pasada la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Crufts se reanudó en 1948.
Por aquel entonces se elegía el mejor ejemplar del primer día y se enfrentaba
al mejor del segundo. De aquí salía el Best in Show. Tracey ganó el segundo día
y se enfrentó al fox terrier de pelo duro Drakehall Dairymaid, con los jueces
May Pacey y Arthur Coxton, que otorgaron el triunfo al cocker. Tal fue su éxito
entre el público que perro y amo necesitaron escolta policial para no ser
arrollados por la entusiasta muchedumbre.
En 1949, no se celebró Crufts, ya que se cambió la fecha de
octubre a febrero de 1950. Tracey gano la clase y el grupo y volvió a ganar el
Bis, El año siguiente 1951, perdió la raza frente a otro “of Ware”, Joywins
Blueboy of Ware.
En 1952 nuevamente gano la raza, pero los juicios del grupo,
que ganó, se retrasaron tanto, que para cuando acabaron ya se había elegido simultáneamente
el BIS, otorgado al bulldog Noways Chuckles. Esto provocó múltiples protestas
del público asistente, pero los esfuerzos de la organización por enfrentar al
bulldog y a Tracey en una final improvisada, no tuvieron fruto.
En 1953, ya con ocho años, volvió a Crufts ganando la raza y
el grupo, siendo elegida mejor perro del primer día. En su enfrentamiento con
el gran danes Elch Elder of Ouborough, esta vez perdió la final, quedando como
reserva.
Durante su carrera en los rings Tracey ganó 52 C.C.s y fue
Bis en trece, siendo el perro más premiado de “of Ware”.
El escultor Frederick Thomas Daws, realizó una estatuilla de
Tracey que le fue entregada a H. S. Lloyd en 1951 para conmemorar su segundo
triunfo en Crufts.
Tracey Witch of Ware
Tracey Witch of Ware, was a female English Cocker Spaniel who won the title of Best In Show at Cruft's in both 1948 and 1950. She missed out on the Best in Show judging in 1952 because of a delay in breed judging, and also became Reserve Best in Show in 1953. She was a descendent of a previous Cruft's Best in Show winner, Luckystar of Ware.
Show career
Tracey Witch was bred by Denise Weldon from the sire Falconers Padlock of Ware and the dam Whist. She was a descendent of the previous Cruft's Best in Show winner Luckystar of Ware and Reserve Best in Show winner Whoopee of Ware. Tracey Witch was subsequently purchased by H. S. Lloyd, owner of the "of Ware" kennels.
Following the Second World War, Cruft's resumed in 1948. At the time there was a Reserve Best in Show named for each of the two days of competition with the winner of the first day going forward to compete once more on the second day. Tracey Witch was named the best of the dogs shown on the second day and faced the Wire Fox Terrier Drakehall Dairymaid for the title of Best in Show. Judges May Pacey and Arthur Coxton Smith awarded the title to Tracey Witch. Such was the rush of the crowds to congratulate owner Bert Lloyd, that Tracey Witch was given a police escort.
There had been no event run in 1949 as the date changed from October to February in 1950. In 1950, she again won the breed class and the Sporting Group, and was once more named Best in Show. In 1951, she lost in the Best of Breed, defeated by fellow "of Ware" dog, Joywyns Blueboy of Ware. The following year she won the Best of Breed title once again, but by the time the judging was completed for the English Cocker Spaniels, Best in Show had already been judged and awarded to the Bulldog, Ch. Noways Chuckles.This resulted in several protests from the spectators, and the Cruft's officials attempted to find a solution but couldn't find a way for Tracey Witch to face Noways Chuckles in the ring.
In 1953, she returned to Cruft's once more at the age of eight. She again won Best of Breed, and the Gundog Group. Tracey Witch was awarded reserve overall for the first day, with the Great Dane Ch. Elch Elder of Ouborough named as the victor on each of the two days and awarded the title of Best in Show. During the course of her career, Tracey Witch of Ware won a total of 52 challenge certificates. She was H. S. Lloyds' most successful dog, having won Best in Show on thirteen occasions at all-breed championship shows.
Legacy
A statuette was created of Tracey Witch by sculptor Frederick Thomas Daws. The original was presented to Lloyd in 1951 to commemorate Tracey Witch's second Cruft's victory. Copies were made and used by Spratt's for promotional purposes.
