Article 1

SCRAPS

Pauline Roberts (Pauroi) was having a bit of a clean out and asked if I would like her Cavalier collection of cuttings, scraps etc that she has accumulated over her many years in the Breed. How could I refuse! I am not sure if they will all reproduce well, but will give it a go. Here is one of the earliest..taken I assume from a dog publication. Some super images of yesteryear Cavaliers. Thank you Pauline, we are indebted to you.

The Eastern Counties Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Society will be offering you a warm welcome to their hosting of the Joint CKCS Clubs Championship Show on Sunday 7th July 2013 which is being held back to back with the East of England All Breeds Championship Show. The Club has some new ideas, including an exhibitor’s goody bag and special prizes for all Class Winners. They are also scheduling Junior and Adult handling during the lunch hour which can be entered on the day. As well as a Mega Tombola there will be a Super Prize Draw for the Framed Original Oil Painting of Four Cavaliers by Emma Black, specially commissioned for this show.  Other prizes include a Mini Dog Show Trolley donated by Paul and Jill Allitt, a 14ct Gold Necklace donated by Monique Tyler, a unique vase hand painted and donated by Jennifer Barajas. and several other prizes. Raffle tickets for the painting are available now and if anyone in the UK or abroad wants to buy one, then please email steve@honeybet.co.uk and you can pay by PayPal and he will scan in your numbered ticket and send it to you by email. With people from the UK judging all over the world the Club will find a way of getting your winning prize to you. Tickets cost £5.

The ECCKCSS look forward to meeting you over the weekend. Check out www.easterncavalier.co.uk for all the latest news.

 MORNING CAMPERS

Cavalier (and others) campers at Top Barn site in Worcestershire are regulars in April and August and there are always lots of organised activities whether the weather is cruel or kind. One such activity was a Match judged by Mary Forrester (Salbrie) and she can be seen here with her winners.

Best in Match, Jean with Millie the Tricolour Cavalier
Reserve Best in Match, Ann with Marcie the Affenpinscher
Best Puppy, David with Pauline Roberts' Aero the Blenheim Cavalier

  The Willows Primary School on Manchester’s deprived Wythenshawe estate - which is used as a backdrop for the Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless, had a Royal visitor this week. Among those greeting the Duchess of Cambridge was 'Henry' the Cavalier, who is the school's 'executive dog'. He was wearing a glittering union flag bow and presented a gift hamper for William and Kate's dog, Lupo.  

COME FLY WITH ME

 Lottie and George on the runway...sent in by Lucy Dawson

JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

Dr Bruce and Shirley Henry from Texas had a lot to smile about in these two photos. Their GCh Miletree Northern Star at Shirmont went Best of Breed on April 11th at the AKC National Specialty in Scotsdale, Arizona under judge Frank Kane. He is seen here with his handler Clint, Shirley, Bruce and breeders Ruta and Peter Towse who were visiting from the UK.   

Only 4 weeks earlier Ch Pinecrest Shirmont Moonlight Madness J.W. won Best in Show at Cavaliers of the South show in Williamsburg, Virginia with UK judge Sheena Maclaine.

....good medicine, me thinks.

SWEET AS SUGAR

Winners at the West of England Cavalier Open Show.

Jolainey Sugar Babe - Best in Show, Jolainey Love Heart - RBIS,

Judge Dawn Hunter(Spennithorne)

Loranka's Make a Wish with Embeth - Best Puppy, Loranka's Stardom - Best Veteran and Cinderlace Arabis of Aldachell - BOS.

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO.....WE CAN DO BETTER!

Photo sent by Jo Ann Mittelman shows that US Cavalier exhibitors can party just like those in the UK! Taken at the Chief Solano Kennel Club show in Northern California.

 FOENIX RISING

At the Eastern Counties Cavalier show on 13th April, Dilys Jackson's FRONDIL FOENIX who was born on 9th April 2001 was the oldest Vintage Cavalier. At 12 years of age he won his class and also the £20 award put up by Maryann Hogan and Steve Mynott on behalf of the Cavalier Forum for the oldest Cavalier exhibited at the show.

DOUBLE DELIGHT

Svena Nite Lite also known as 'Sophie' ....

...and this is her litter brother 'Robbie' ....Svena Dee Lite. 

These siblings celebrate their 14th birthday next week. They were bred by Bridgette Evans. Sire - Picardy's Corbin and Dam-Svena High Lite

Black and Tans rule!! Have a happy day.

FIRE, ICE AND CAVALIERS

IN ICELAND

 It was a pleasure to be asked to travel to Iceland to judge at their Cavalier Club show. I had never been before but had heard the country was spectacular and I was not disappointed. The flight on Friday to Reykjavik was 2 hours thirty minutes from Manchester and when I landed I could see from the plane that heavy, horizontal rain and gale force winds awaited me! The landscape was so different to anywhere I had seen and it was a fascinating drive from the airport to the Grand Hotel. 

When I awoke on Saturday morning, the rain had been replaced by falling snow, so I began to believe what they say, that in Iceland all kinds of weather can be experienced in the one day! By the end of the day the sun was out. The show venue was ideal for judging. A Pet Store with a large adjoining hall. Roomy and light. I met my three stewards Sophia, Soley and Brynja who made my day all the easier by speaking and writing perfect English. The Club was formed in 1995 and since then they have organised several Cavalier shows with breed judges such as Leni Louise Nyby from Sweden and Fiona Bunce, Molly Coaker, Anne Reddaway and Caroline Ackroyd Gibson from England with entries ranging from 50 – 90. In 2005, the clubs 10th anniversary, there was a two day show with the judges Annukka Paloheimo and Marja Kurittu from Finland with a record entry of 105 cavaliers on Saturday and 94 on Sunday. Caroline judged in 2008, (before the bank crisis) with an entry of 92 cavaliers. The judge at the show in 2011 with 51 Cavaliers, was a Schnauzer specialist from Germany, Giza Schicker. The Schnauzer club had a Speciality Show and offered the Cavalier Club to join them. The first two cavaliers imported to Iceland from Scandinavia was 1991.

There were 81 Cavaliers entered for me to assess and considering that there is approx only 200 Cavaliers registered with the Icelandic Kennel Club this was a good turn out. With 5 absentees, there were 5 puppies, 28 males and 43 bitches waiting for me. I had to grade all the 71 adults present and the break down was 41 Excellent, 26 Very Good and 4 Good. 

For those interested in statistics

Dogs 28

Excellent   19

Very Good  9

Good   0

Bitches 43

Excellent 22

Very Good  17

Good   4

At a Club show such as this, there are always a number of family dogs who come along for the day, as they want to be part of the event, but most had no great expectations for their pets in regard to show potential. But it was nice to see them enjoying the day. I had a Student judge who assessed the dogs after I had finished with them and she also wrote critiques.  Rapturous applause met the appearance and walk round of the oldest Cavalier in the Club. She was born in Iceland and is called Hlinar Beatrice (by Leelyn Freebie out of Leelyn Mon Amia). So parents were bred in the UK by Mick and Lil Shinnck.The proud owner is Gretar Freyr Gretarsson who I am told was just a child when his mother bought her for him, so they grew up together. Breeders are Edda Hlin Hallsdottir and Finnbogi Gustavsson. She is a very pretty Ruby girl who at 15 years young looked adorable and received a lovely bouquet from the Club. 

With the economy and strict quarantine laws in Iceland I quickly realised just how many difficulties breeders face in their breeding programmes and I drew the conclusion that they should be commended in utilising their limited resources so well. 4 weeks quarantine and no bitches in whelp allowed in the quarantine station.

I thought the males on the day had more quality than the females, and my general impression was

1…. there is a small number of top quality Cavaliers in the Club

2…..there is a majority of decent, but average dogs

and

3….there is a small percentage that were pet quality.

I did a report giving my general impressions for the club's website http://www.cavalier.is

and also for their FB page 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/294287447257231/

My Principal Winners

 Best Puppy Dog and Best Puppy in Show….DRAUMA BONO

Best Puppy Bitch….SOLLILJU KATIA

Best Junior …..LORANKAS EDGE OF GLORY

Best Bitch….LJUFLINGS CZABRINA

Best Dog and Best in Show…ICELANDIC CHAMPION LJUFLINGS DYRI

Here are some more photos from the trip. 

A hand knitted Islandic sweater was a lovely judge's gift

Best in Show and Best Opposite Sex both bred and owned by Maria Tomasdottir (on left)

relaxing at the Club dinner on the 19th floor restaurant with all of Reykjavik and the surrounding area on display below us

snow covered volcano...behaving itself thank goodness

 'Strokkur' geyser in the geothermal area east of Reykjavik. It erupts about every 10 minutes reaching 15 – 20 m high, sometimes up to 40 m high.

no horse imports are allowed in Iceland and if a horse leaves the country it can never return...so these Icelandic horses are pure bred.

Golden Falls

hot boilingsprings ....

 It was a wonderful weekend and the Club committee did a great job and worked hard to make the show the success it was. Taking time out of their busy schedules to show me the sights on the Sunday was much appreciated. The people I met were warm and welcoming and the country is both beautiful and memorable. 

 28th APRIL 2013