Crufts 2021 delayed until summer due to pandemic
Crufts 2021 has been delayed until summertime.
Crufts 2021 has been delayed until summertime due to uncertainty over the pandemic, which is very understandable, but the Great Britain’s most popular breeds will still be on display, it will just take a little longer.
This news is not very surprising, as the Westminster Kennel Club is moving from its normal February date in Madison Square Garden to an outdoor location in June. Here at Dog O’Day, we learned of this news through the Canine Chronicle magazine.
The main draw at Crufts is the main conformation show at the weekend’s end, though it’s overall the biggest dog show event in England overseen by The Kennel Club of England, with associated agility and flyball events that are operated by the British dog sport associations for those sports.
The winner of Crufts 2020 was a female Wire-Haired Dachshund named CH Silvae Trademark, while Focus claimed the title in the flyball tournament.
Crufts 2021 will be held Thursday, July 15 through Sunday, July 18, staying at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. It was originally supposed to take place from March 11-14. Depending on the situation of how the pandemic status is at the time, these plans could change, but for now that is the rescheduled timeframe.
Presumably it will be shown on British TV, with highlights uploaded onto YouTube for viewers around the world to be able to tune in as well.
“We know there are going to be many challenges and will need to remain adaptable to how the show will look as our priority is to not only the dogs, but our exhibitors and visitors whose welfare will always be at the forefront,” Crufts Show Manager Vanessa McAlpine said in a press release.
For now, Crufts 2022 is tentatively scheduled to return to its traditional March timeframe.
Crufts 2021 should be a great event, even if it does take a little longer until it gets here, it will be better to make sure that it’s safe to do so.