BIRTHDAYS, BEST IN SHOWS,
BYGONES and beyond...
CH 'BRANWELL' BIDS US
FAREWELL
It is indeed a sad day that I write CH KEYINGHAM BRANWELL is no longer with us. One of my favourites of all times and I, together with my co judge George Donaldson, had the pleasure to award him BEST OF BREED at CRUFTS in 2006.
Gill Baker wrote on the Cavalier Club website....
"It is with great sadness that I have to report that my beloved and gentle soulmate Branwell was peacefully put to sleep to save further suffering. He was 12¾ and had started refusing to eat, a blood test showed that his kidneys were starting to fail. The Vets and myself tried everything but to no avail and the decision was taken. He made his show debut at 6½ months old after 2 days of show training and retired at 10; during that time he amassed 42 CCs and 25 RCCs with many group placings. He was awarded BOB at Crufts in 2006. I would like to thank the late Colin Park and his wife Mary for breeding Branwell and giving us the opportunity to love and cherish this once in a lifetime dog. I would also like to thank all the judges for all Branwell’s merits and all his supporters over the years; I have kept every congratulatory card that was sent, they were so appreciated. Thank you also to Steve who drove us the length and breadth of the country. We are all devastated here and need some time so please no phone calls for a few days."
AtCrufts 2006 he was the jewel in the Crown for me (and George) and my report read "Sparkling Blenheim on exceptional form. Judging should always be done from a positive perspective and a judge should look for dogs with the most good points so that they can be utilised to further the breed's progress. Here was a dog that was easy to assess. What's not to like? Great size, good coat, sound mover, excellent topline and tail carriage, pretty head type, eyes and pigment deeply pigmented, ultimate showman. Worthy winner of the CC and my co judge shared the opinion that he deserved BOB. Like the energizer bunny, he just keeps going!"
And he did just that, winning high awards well into the Veteran classes. . One of the Breed's GREATS....it was such a privilege to have judged him, exhibited alongside him and to simply have been in his presence. RIP sweet boy and condolences to his owner Gill Baker...they were a formidable team.
CAVALIER GIANTS
Two of the most famous Cavalier breeders in the world had birthdays recently. Everyone on the Cavalier planet knows the Alansmere affix and the charismatic breeders Alan Hall and John Evanswho have graced our breed for over 4 decades. Their unique legendary Best in Show win with Ch Alansmere Aquarius at Crufts in 1973 is what most of us can only dream of. So a belated happy birthday guys....I know they were both thrilled to be remembered by friends, including Mary Forrester and Gordon and Christine Meek, who organised celebrations for the events.
John, who turned 80 in March is seen here recently with good friend Evan Ryan (Cavalli)from Ireland. Thanks for the pic, Evan.
....and below, courtesy of Mary Forrester (Salbrie) is Alan, a few days ago, cutting the cake celebrating his 87th birthday .
SCORING 50 NOT OUT....
Karen Bacon (Timbric)celebrated a milestone birthday recently and at WELKS Ch show she laid on yummy cake and drinks for friends who joined in the occasion....wearing well, Missus!
Ground breaking results....
from Belgium.....
and his Cavalier"My Little Poppy of Maesllyn" went Best in Show at the International Dog show in Antwerp where over 2,400 dogs were entered. Arnold thinks that this is the first time that a Cavalier has won this honour. She is a 2 year old blenheim bitch. Arnold writes "Bred and owned by myself, "Poppy" is a very proud little girl and steals the show when entering the ring."
and in France..
Another good win for Ch Holmes of Contemplations who with his owner Guillaume Tytgat went BEST IN SHOW at the Exposition Internationale d'Amiensbeating around 2000 dogs.
and Down Under in Australia....
Aust Ch Spennithorne Dream Thyme (Imp UK)was BEST IN SHOW at the 2015 South Australian Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club Ch Specialty Showunder UK judge Diane Searle (Stonepit).
"Woody" bred by Dawn Hunter is on an extended holiday in Australia with Barbara Martin.
Ch Cobbets Cockney Rebel winning Best in Show under West Australian judge Robbie Carnegie at The New South Wales Easter Cavalier Specialty. "Morse" is owned by Sally Paterson and was bred in the UK by Sue Shrimpton.
STUNNING STONE
Above is a wonderful memorial stone in the Staglieno cemetery in Genoa, Italy. The Cimitero monumentale di Staglieno is an extensive cemetery located on a hillside in the district of Staglieno of Genoa. Covering an area of more than a square kilometre, it is one of the largest cemeteries in Europe. This piece, marking the grave of his wife Giuditta, was made and erected by sculptor Santo Varni (1807-1885) whose work in the graveyard is represented by over 40 pieces. Thank you to Davidina Novara for this.
THE LUCK OF THE IRISH
Not being content with one new Irish Champion, Philip Carthy from County Wexford has made up two on the same day. And brother and sister to boot! Champion Orinico Golden Ruler at Ardgrove and his sisterChampion Orinoco So You Think at Ardgrove got their final Green Stars at the South Tipparary and Fermoy shows under breed specialists Evan Ryan (Cavalli) and Hans Boelaars (Lamslag). "Jamie" and "Connie"were bred by Denis McEeon. Irish eyes are smiling!
CAVALIERS STILL WORK
THEIR CHARM....
from Elsa Marie Kitching (Ixions) who lives in Wiltshire.
"Here is a promo shot from the Spring/Summer Kleenezee Catalogue. Thus proving that our breed is still in favour where Branding Architects are concerned. We were recently on holiday in Wengen, a ski resort in the Swiss Alps. Very quiet, no cars and only reached by funicular railway. Some of the hotels are dog friendly. Way up the mountains, on the pistes where the Apres Ski Set sip their lagers and lattes in front of the Eiger and the Jungfrau, relaxing in deck chairs in the bright sunshine, were dogs.
We saw, Berenese Mountain dogs – the local dog of the Berenese Oberland. West Highland Whites, Rough-Coated Collies, Shi Tzus and....... a much admired , very beautiful Tricolour Cavalier with a stunning coat. No dogs on skis though and none wearing pom pom hats! The Saint Bernard’s have been replaced by’ Saint Helicopter’. The surface of the snow was smoothed over by ‘Piste Maintenance’ preventing it from sticking onto the feet of the dogs making their pads sore. That is why we don’t take ours out when there is heavy snowfall. Sadly, three days after we came back, Inca, our little B/Tan bitch (going back to Ch. Culverhill Pickpocket ) went down with an open pyometra. I was grateful it had happened once back home and not whilst staying with our friends who also have a cavalier. We rushed her off to our vet where she had an emergency radical hysterectomy. Aged seven and a half , it was her first ever visit to a vet. Thankfully she has made a full recovery and will soon be doing that which she loves - casting around the army ranges over Warminster putting up the Meadow Pippits, Skylarks and Snipe. We have only two cavaliers these days – it’s not enough!" Thanks Elsa, for that interesting snippet. Many of us have always known that Cavaliers are not the unhealthy breed they are painted!
OUR VERY OWN STAR OF
THE SMALL SCREEN
Kelly Lee from Manchester loves her film extra work and one of her Cavaliers "Poppy" has even had a non speaking part in the soap 'Coronation Street'! Here is what Kelly has been up to of late.....she appears in the UK drama "Home Fires" on ITV which is about the Women's Institute and how they kept the home fires burning while the men were away at war - it stars Samantha Bond from Downtown Abbey. Kelly seen below (far right) is one of the WI ladies. She is also featured soon as a solicitor in the TV soap Hollyoaks and is currently filming a new Stephen Poliakoff drama called Close to the Enemy which will be on TV early next year. It is set in 1946 at the start of the Cold War. Also look out for her in Coronation Street. We will be watching, Kelly!
"On 18 April 2015 The Slovak Cavalier and King Charles Spaniel cluborganised their show. We were very glad and thankful thatDiane Whitfield (Bevelmount)accepted the invitation to judge. Best in Show was awarded to a young blenheim bitch, Guinevra Magnolia PassCo, owned and bred by Mrs Domanikova. Best Opposite went to the blenheim male, Interchampion Etar Prokopska Hvezda, owned by Mrs Buciova-Kasanova. Best Ruby was Ruby Xytta van Cavino owned by Mrs Vetesnikova, Best Puppy went to Feerie Nini Biely Demon, owned/bred by Mrs Mikulasova, Best Minor Puppy went to the blenheim, Samba Love me, owned by Mrs Polakova. Best Veteran was Interchampion Donna Mary from Range of Colours,The atmosphere was very nice and welcoming. Every year, the members try to improve the show a bit, so that it is even better than the previous year. We are very lucky that the Slovak club has so many active and committed members and as usual, the show organisers did a great job. Please find some pictures taken at the show."
BEST IN SHOW
BEST DOG/BEST OPPOSITE
BEST RUBY BITCH
BEST PUPPY
BEST MINOR PUPPY
BEST VETERAN
A WINNING LINE UP
Ich Etar Prokopska hvezda, Guinevra Magnolia PassCo, Ruby Xytta van Cavino, Ich. Donna Mary From Range of Colours
When I served on the Cavalier KCS Club Committee I became Editor of the Club magazine "Expressions". Incidentally, "Expressions" name was suggested by Mark Sedgwick (Pascavale) and chosen (out of 62) as the most appropriate in a competition to find a new name for the magazine which up until then had always been titled The CKCS Club magazine. I was even fortunate enough that world famous artist Deidre Hunt from Australia agreed to do the front cover. I sold raffle tickets for Deidre's original artwork which we had framed and this was won by Brenda Turnbull (Peakdowns)and proudly hangs in Brenda and Colin's house.
I edited "EXPRESSIONS" for 5 years from 1994 - 1998 and interest has been shown in resurrecting some of the articles that I put together. They gave a lot of enjoyment then and I am sure many will find them fun to read now 20 years on.
Seems only fitting, as it was his birthday the other week, that we start with Alan Hall (Alansmere). I ran a series of interviews over the 5 years with well known names in the breed, on the theme "Have you ever felt like talking to the BIG NAMES in the Breed but somehow never had the nerve. Well no need to worry, as Editor I have done it for you! Here follows an interview with Alan Hall who has reached the top and is a leading authority in Cavaliers. The questions are a mixture of facts and light hearted fun."
so here goes ....
"THINGS YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW BUT DIDN'T DARE ASK"
....bear in mind this was done in 1994, so Alan's answers might be somewhat different today...maybe I will get him to do it again!
...coming up in future issues of Chatterbox....
Northern Super match,
Good Citizen winners,
German Cavalier Club show,
and if pics are received
TasmaniaandCanterbury successes....
11th MAY 2015