12th October 2018

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Sunday 14thOctober the Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club will be holding their Championship Show at the Kennel Club Building, Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire CV8 2LZ.  We have a good entry of 70 dogs for Zola Rawson (Mumtaz Saluki) to assess.  It will be Zola’s last appointment for judging Salukis, so we are pleased that there is a good entry.  Besides the judging there will be the 2019 Saluki Calendar available for purchase.  The latest edition of “The Saluki” the official magazine of the Saluki club should be there.  Welfare will have their stand and trade stands; Claire Jowitt with beautiful Saluki collars and leads, Sue Rabey-Wilkinson with her original art work and Nikki Mulvale with dog bedding and lovely knitted snoods.  Food will be available all day from the caterers. During the lunch break Lena, Ch Al Zubeyda Lena at Kasaque (IMP) JW, joined by the newly crowned Hisilome’s Kareef (IMP) Sh CM would like to invite everyone to celebrate their momentous feat of becoming crowned champions. 
 
As a special feature of this show, Gladys Lance and Brigadier Lance will be in attendance, for the first time in many years. The Club has been most fortunate in having been gifted their portraits, which were in Australia with one of their relatives. Gladys was the first secretary of the SGHC in 1923, (Lady Amherst was President) and the Brigadier was the first Vice-President. Nicola Warner, Berni Hetherington and Annette Buckley have collaborated in presented the Sarona Story, which was the kennel name of the Lance’s Salukis.  We hope you take time out to enjoy the exhibition.    
 
Befitting that this will be Zola’s last judging assignment for Salukis after the judging we would like everyone to stay and toast Zola for all her years of commitment to our breed.
 
On a sadder note Phyllida Cooke has had to say goodbye to her lovely Ch Kasaque Lydia.  She was many things, most importantly was that she was a great companion for the Cooke family and is missed very much.  She had a long life as she was born 1stMarch 2004 and passed away on the 1stOctober 2018, but there is never enough time.  On a personal note our thanks to Phyllida and her family for fulfilling all our dreams for Lydia. 
 
Claire Jowitt confirmed the date and venue for Liz Metcalfe's funeral. It will be held at 11.30 on Wednesday 24th October at Bedford Crematorium. 
The family have asked that donations be made in her memory to The Dogs Trust.  This can be done directly to: Freepost Plus RTHJ-XZGU-LCYE.
 
Last Sunday the Northern Saluki Club held their Open Show with an excellent entry.  Judging was Rachel Wray (Perrault) (sighthound specialist). Best Dog, Best in Show went to the Goulden’s Ch Fernlark By Design.  Best Bitch and Reserve Best in Show went to Hilary Davies and Christine Harrison’s Charrioak Sheerzam.  Best Puppy was Mary Sanders Parker’s Classicus Antigone and Best Veteran to Denise Garratt & Sue Oakey’s Caryna Meilisha.
Also taking place on Sunday the UK Sighthound Sport held their National Championships 2018.  Rules of UKSS state that they run in the same manner as the FCI. Hopefully in the near future the Kennel Club will approve the lure coursing and we will be able to have lure coursing titles for our dogs. Attending was an entry of 8 for Salukis. We were quite thrilled when our newly crowned champion, Ch Al Zubeyda Lena at Kasaque(IMP) JW won the Best of Breed. I believe you need three top scores including one Best of Breed to become a lure coursing champion.  The dogs and the owners thoroughly enjoyed they day and a big thank you to the organizers of UKSS for their attention to detail in putting together such a mammoth event.
 
South Wales Championship show was held this past weekend.  Judging Saluki for her last time was Marie Bryce-Smith.  It is a very sad time as so many judges have decided to call it a day. We were the generation that had the good fortune to be educated by the likes of Terry Thorn and Hope Waters.  I hope the next generation can fulfil the legacy which those famous names of the past left behind.  BCC, BOB went to Denise Garratt & Sue Oakey’s Ch Caryna Neferti JW with the RBCC to Mary Sanders Parker’s Classicus Britannia JW Sh CM. DCC for his third and qualify CC went to Annette and Brian Buckley’s Hislome’s Kareef (IMP  SWE).He was born on 22ndSeptember 2012 and his breeder is Mrs. M-A Axelisson.  His sire if Al-Shen Raadin Al Rafiq and his dam is Nord  UCH No-V-10 C I B Hisilome’s Halawa.  Best puppy was Mary Parker Sanders Classicus Antigone. Well done to you all.