Zelienople collie earns honors at Westminster
ZELIENOPLE — Ron Luster Jr. has made a habit of returning from the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show with a ribbon in hand.
This year, Luster and his rough collie, GCH Heatherfield Legacy of Love, earned Grand Champion Select honors at the 143rd Westminster show in New York City, in February capping an eventful year for the duo that included three Best in Show awards at various shows around the region.
Those competitions set the stage for Westminster, where Luster said all of the top dogs in the country were in attendance. It included the number-one ranked collies on the show circuit as well as past recipients of that distinction.
“It was quite a lineup, and to come out of that ring with a placement was thrilling to say the least,” Luster said.
The title of Grand Champion Select means Legacy of Love was the judge's second overall pick in the ring. He said while he was disappointed not to advance to the main event of the two-day show, he was particularly proud to have beaten last year's national winner.
“That is quite the accomplishment,” he said.
Luster — who along with his mother, Heather Luster, run L&L Kennels in Zelienople and show rough collies under the Heatherfield Collies name — said while he prepares for every event the same way, Westminster brings out the best. Adding to the pressure, the team that mentored Luster was also in attendance, and he said he always feels like they're watching his every move.
“You're more conscious of everything you do whenever the stakes are that high,” he said. “It definitely brings your A game, that's for sure. Plus, its Westminster, so everybody does everything the best they possibly can for that show.”
The win also continued the legacy for the family of dogs. In 2013, GCH Heatherfield Marilyn Monroe received Select Bitch award in the rough collie breed/variety judging at the Westminster show. She is the mother of Legacy Of Love and Wait A Cotton Pickin' Minute, who has also competed at Westminster. He said the dogs all got special treats after the competition, but didn't get much time to celebrate as they competed in another competition the following weekend. Unsurprisingly, Legacy of Love performed well, winning best in breed and an owner handler's award.
Still, Luster said he's relishing the Westminster win.
“The other day I received a picture of the win, and it brought everything back,” he said. “It definitely fills you with a sense of a job well done that sticks with you for a while.”
