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This week I will start these notes with a message from David Hartley, Chairman of the Northern Saluki Club: “Just to wish all our NSC membership and Committee a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR and to thank you for all you do for the Club. Hopefully at some point in 2021 the vaccinations will be completed and we will be able to meet up in person. Meanwhile stay safe it wouldn't be good to have come this far and then get infected.” January means renewal of subscription time, so please remember that the Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club and the Northern Saluki Club dues are due this month. SGHV membership dues need to be paid to Mrs C McCormick Smith, The Old Vicarage, Grove Road, Portland, Dorset DT5 1DB. Costs are single membership £14.00 (Overseas £16.00), joint membership £22.00 (Overseas £24.00) which means two adults living at the same address, Members without Salukis £9.00. Junior membership is available to person under 21 in full-education. The Northern is still in discussion about their subs and are planning to discuss it at their next Committee meeting. I have received a copy of The Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club newsletter winter 2020 with Season’s greeting and Best Wishes for a Healthy & Happy New Year to all our Members from the Committee. It states that the Club’s shows are still scheduled for 2021- The Championship Show on 17thOctober at Stoneleigh with Denise Rogers judging, the Open Show on 20thJune at Digswell with Carolyn McCormick Smith judging and the Limited Show on the 11thApril at Steventon Village Hall with Susan Rhodes judging. After the judging at the Limited show the 2021, the Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held. It is noted that this is subject to change. Information goes on to say that special business items for the Agenda should be sent to the Secretary, (see above address) to arrive no later than 28thFebruary 2021, but if it is not possible to hold the traditional AGM, then the Agenda will contain no special business items for discussion. I have written to the secretary, Carolyn McCormick Smith regarding a clarification of the last statemen, she has kindly sent me the following: “ The ordinary business of the AGM is to receive the accounts for the previous year, the results of the ballots for committee and judges at Club shows, reports of Club activities and to appoint auditors to certify the accounts. Anything else such as rule changes or items that members wish to have discussed is ‘Special Business’. While we might be able to approve the formal items at a show, as has been done before, unless we can hold a sit-down meeting that people will actually attend and be prepared to discuss motions put forward by members or the Committee, there is no point having such motions on the agenda. The restrictions of Covid have disrupted much of our lives and the SGHC is no exception. I’m sure that everything will return to something like ‘normal’ eventually. “ The Kennel Club has issued a statement that “Cancellation of licensed events until at least 28thFebruary 2021”. Let us hope that by April we can see the backend of the lockdowns and we are racing towards ‘normal’. There have been few highlights of 2020 dog showing season but I will try and review the information I have thanks to The KC Breed Supplements. In the first quarter which is January to March 2020 we had 30 puppies registered from five litters. There were three importations, one from Netherland, one from Germany and one from Ireland. There were two Junior Warrants, which were Alishamar Rozane (IMP BEL), and Jay JPSea Bird El Panjsher (IMP JPN). One Show Certificate of Excellence to Vadana Amira S Berega Turi (IMP ROS) and one Veteran Warrant to Ch Ulmarra Tropical Ice at Winton. There were three Salukis confirmed clear of NCL, no failures. The second Quarter was from April to June. There were 9 puppies registered from two litters. One Export Pedigree issued to USA. Two Salukis were confirmed clear of NCL, no failures. The third supplement was shorter because of the difficulties of lockdown putting together the document, as most KC employees are working from home, so they include just July and August 2020. There were 19 puppies registered from 2 litters. One Importation. Five Salukis were confirmed clear of NCL and no failures. So, comparing, 2019 had a registration of 78 and 2020 for the same period had 62 registrations. Finally, the secretary of the SGHC and I am sure the same goes for the secretary of the NSC, if anyone is planning on breeding a Saluki litter to please let the secretaries know as they do receives enquiries from time to time. Helen Williams Kasaque565@gmail.com edit.
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Click here SALUKI BREED NOTES WEEKENDING 7th January 2021
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I go cap in hand as I have missed a couple of weeks Breed Notes due to other commitments in our life. Now we are in lockdown tier 4, and the business of Christmas has all but passed, I will endeavour to make sure there are notes every week. I would like to take the opportunity at this time to thank all those who have contributed to these notes so that I could keep going during these darkest of times. My biggest thanks to Jillian Knight Messenger, who has allowed me to collaborate with her brilliant Afghan notes. We have both tried to give the readership something either historical or topical. Who could of ever predicted that the world would be in the position it is in now. Unfortunately, it looks like we are not out of the woods yet but with the vaccination program already underway and ramping up, we soldier on waiting for normal. Our dogs have not suffered from the pandemic, they have enjoyed having us home more. This reminds me of a cartoon I saw of a dog hiding on top of a kitchen cupboard with his paws over his eyes. As the rules stated, we could take the dog out for a walk, this poor dog had so many walks with each family member that he was hiding just in case someone else wanted him to go out for yet another walk. Now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, there are changes in how we can travel with our pets. Pet Passports will be required for travel between GB and Northern Ireland. (It appears that is all Uk issued ones are good for) The government rules say for those travelling from England. Scotland and Wales to the EU the following applies : 1.You must have your dog, cat or ferret microchipped. 2.Vaccinate your dog, cat or ferret against rabies – your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before it can be vaccinated. 3.Wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel. 4.Visit your vet to get an AHC for your pet, no more than 10 days before travel to the EU. Reading further it says that the certificate required for entry to the UK will be valid for four months but for only a single journey. This seems a tad bureaucratic The government guidance also says 'For UK nationals living in the EU:- If you’re living in the EU and plan to travel with your pet using a UK-issued pet passport, you should speak to your vet. They’ll help to ensure you’re compliant with EU Pet Travel Regulations. If you have a pet passport issued by an EU member state, you can use it to bring your pet to GB.' For anyone that is interested, the German Sighthound Festival, Donaueschingen will be held on Saturday 31st July and Sunday 1st August. Judging Salukis will be Per Lundstrom (hound specialist) from Sweden and Paula Bockman-Chato (Baghdad Salukis) from Australia. It is really a fun event to attend with two very interesting judges. So for "this week on the soap box” There have been many postings on the social network sites regarding concerns about their once most sacred veterinary surgeries being gobbled up by equity companies and large corporations. Results of these purchases has not necessarily meant that the general quality of treatment has reduced but has had an effect in other factors. One of the resulting factors is that the vets have quotas of how many clients they need to see, as there are now bottom lines with investors who want decent returns. Especially now with lockdown, the vets need to get the pets in as fast as they can and on to the next. It is quite sad to see the young vets, who are at the bottom of the pyramid working under immense pressure, to see as many patients as they can in the shortest amount of time. Looking at one large corporation, which is probably the largest single own corporation in the world, which has rapid growth in animal care is Mars Inc. They are the owners of Snickers, Mars Bars, Pedigree, Royal Canin and James Wellbeloved. To name a few. Under their Linnaeus umbrella they have bought five veterinary referral practices. They are Anderson Moores, Dick White Referrals, Northwest Veterinary Specialists, Eye Vet, Veterinary Specialist Scotland. Another group is IVC Evidensia which has over 380 practices in the UK and circa 180 on the continent. So how does this affect us, the owners, exhibitors and breeders of dogs? Well, with the knowledge of this first paragraph put aside, we need to look at pet insurance. As we have never had insurance for our dogs, I will keep this very rudimentary. Basically, when a person buys a dog from a breeder they are given a form allowing them so many weeks free insurance on their puppy and if they care to carry on with this, the insurance company is more than pleased to take their money. Every insurance company, under the sun, now seems to offer some kind of ‘pet insurance’. Pet insurance is to cover any accident, illness or most mishaps your dog might encounter. With the vet practices being taken over by these large corporations looking for a good return for their investments, the cost of veterinarian procedures has escalated, and the insurance is covering these additional costs. The positive side of this is that the surgeries now have more up-to-date equipment, be it for x-rays, scanning, endoscopy blood tests and operations. Meanwhile the costs of the canine health insurance is escalating along with the costs of treatments. I have checked one insurance company and the cost per month for insuring a pure-bred dog is £68.35. If we insured our five dogs we would be looking at £341.75 per month or £4,101 per annum. These costs start to creep up every year, in some breeds at an alarming rate. The insurance companies do not seem to quibble about the costs of the individual surgical charge for their procedures though there is always an agreed excess, which as an animal gets to old age, generally, is the stated excess plus an additional excess of up to 20% of each total claim. On top of costs for the services the vets provide, in the last few years, the vets have come up with a new 'pet care plan’, for their clients. A typical ‘plan’ costs about £17.00 per month which is £204.00 per annum which includes : annual health check and vaccinations with a vet, six-month health check with a vet, 12 monthly supply flea and tick prevention, 12 monthly supply of worm prevention, a free microchip, free nail clips with a nurse, free anal gland expressing by a nurse (dogs only), 50% off the cost of kennel cough vaccination, 10% off the cost of neutering, 10% off the cost of all pet foods. This totals up so that including the health insurance and health plan to £85.35 per month or £1,024,20 per dog per year excluding food and insurance excesses. As a well seasoned dog owner I do not think the £17.00 per month would be of value to me. It seems as if everyone wants a bite of the apple. If you tell someone with a 10 year old chihuahua that you do not think they need an annual vaccination, unless they are going into kennels, the reply would be that the vet’s offer the service as they think it is necessary. Also why are the vets offering microchips when all puppies are legally required to be chipped before leaving their birth place? So, no wonder the new cash cows are the veterinarian surgeries which are either still independent or being bought up by the large corporations, who expect clients to spend more than ever before, and often guilt trip them if they don't agree to their latest money spinning plans for their beloved pets care. Once again, if you have any interesting thoughts, observations or stories to share, I would be most appreciative if you could send them to me. Helen Williams Kasaque565@gmail.com edit. Well, there is good news in England. We can now go out shopping which at this time of the year is often Christmas orientated. We can meet up in a somewhat limited fashion. With the news of the new vaccines, hope is on the horizon that we might find ‘normal again. With the theme of ‘normal’ in mind The Kennel Club has announced the criteria for entering Crufts 2021. It will be a little different but it sounds like we can have a great day. The statement from The Kennel Club regarding Crufts is as follows: “ The Kennel Club will be reviewing many aspects of the show in line with government advice and the evolving health situation, however, some decisions have needed to be made in advance to ensure it would be able to go ahead in a Covid secure way. The qualification is open to those who qualified for Crufts 2020 apart from the 3rdplacing in class. It should be noted no puppy classes will be scheduled at the 2021 show due to lack of opportunity to qualify. Further to a review of the floor space and the number of exhibitors and attendees, the decision has had to be made that entries will be capped for all breeds. Entries are due to open at the end of March and will be online only. Entries will close on 31 May 2021 or when numbers have been reached.” Terriers and Hounds will be exhibited at Crufts on Thursday 15thJuly 2021 followed by the Houndshow and the Northern Saluki Club Championship show on Saturday 17thJuly 2021. The Saturday event does clash with ‘Gundog Day’ at Crufts which unfortunately was unavoidable. For those dogs coming from outside the UK which includes Ireland if the United Kingdom does not manage to secure an agreement with the EU then we will be listed as an ‘Unlisted Country’ The rules will be as follows: Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.
Going back to the Crufts qualifications, I remember the 1980s when we needed to have a 1stto qualify for Crufts. It was extremely difficult as there were some very beautiful Salukis around and less championship shows to qualify. Not to mention the entries, Windsor, for example, one year there were as many as 25 bitches in Post. Graduate. At most shows we were thrilled to even have a placement, but we needed that ever elusive first to qualify. Once we achieved the 1stthe heat was off and we could relax for the rest of the year. Many a good dog could not qualify as perhaps they only managed a 2ndin that year. Conversely, I was told this story of the Poodles in the 60s, which were the rage to own. Everyone in London had one and wanted to be seen with their poodle as they were all gorgeous, of course. Crufts at that time was held at Earl’s Court with no qualifications. just could you afford to enter? They ended up with a Poodle puppy classes of 50 plus. Paul Singleton, secretary of the Hound Association has sent the following update regarding the Houndshow: We are delighted to confirm that the following clubs have supported us by continuing to be hosted on Saturday July 17th at Houndshow 2021. The Irish Wolf Hound Club, The Basenji Club of Great Britain, The Midland Dachshund Club, The Southern Afghan Club, The Borzois Club, The Cirneco Dell’Etna Club, The Cirneco Dell’Etna Club, The Norwegian Elkhound Club, The Northern Saluki Club, The Midland Basset Hound Club. We can also announce that the Camping Site at The County Showground will be open from Wednesday 14th July until Monday 19th July and we are just 45 minutes from the NEC so a perfect base for Crufts and Houndshow. Camping fees will be announced ASAP. We will also need additional Stewards for Houndshow this time so if you can help please email our Chief Steward Colin Makey at gairside@btinternet.com We are pleased to offer free camping for our Stewards We look forward to welcoming all hound friends at the UK Houndshow”. Stay safe here to edit. SALUKI BREED NOTES WEEK ENDING 4THDECEMBER 2020
Very pleased to have received a call from David Hartley, Chairman of the Northern Saluki Club. He told me that John Owen secretary of the NSC has had a knee operation. All is going well with his recovery so by the time you read these notes he should be back at home. David has also given me an update on the Club’s plans for 2021. As the Club could not hold a show in 2020, they have been given permission to hold two championship shows in 2021. This should be ample opportunity for exhibitors to show their youngsters. So, in last week’s notes I stated that Crufts has been announced as being held on Thursday 15thJuly 2021 at the NEC in Birmingham, judging will be Adele Walton Haddon. That will be a big weekend for shows as on the following Saturday, 17thJuly, The Hound Association will be holding their show at the Stafford Show Grounds with the judge Jerry Robinson. In addition, the NSC will be holding their Championship Show at the Stafford Show ground. The judge for that show will be Dr. John Hudson. The second championship show will be held in conjunction with Darlington Championship show on Sunday 19thSeptember 2021. Both judges at this show are to be confirmed. Helena Haywood has posted a quick reminder that the SGHC 2021 calendar is down to the last box. If you want one before Christmas pleas order now to save her standing in the Post Office queues. For further information e:mail: helenahaywood 191@btinternet.com or tel. 07771662303 k here to edit. SALUKI BREED NOTES WEEKENDING 27THNOVEMBER 2020
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American compatriots. We cannot meet with friends and family this year but we can celebrate never the less. Normally, we have a few of our friends over for the big day, one friend had offered to host Thanksgiving dinner, one year, so I asked her if she knew how it was done, answer was “Christmas but early”. Hopefully we may be able to have some sort of ‘normal Christmas’. Crufts has been announced as being held on Thursday 15thJuly 2021 at the NEC in Birmingham. Our judge will be Adele Walton Haddon. That will be a big weekend for shows as on the following Saturday, 17thJuly, The Hound Association will be holding their show at the Stafford Show Grounds. I have Jerry Robertson listed as the judge but if there is any change to this I will post in the notes. This will be very convenient for competitors coming from abroad as they will be able to attend two shows instead of the usual one. Brian Duggan, has posted in social media that the American Kennel Club Gazette’s Saluki column, this month, is devoted to six children’s books about or with Salukis. They are Danielle Caro’sA Home for Sydney, Julia Johnson’s Saluki, Hound of the Bedouin, Barbara Lindgren’s Rosa Goes to Day Care, Linda Armstrong’s Tanya’s Desert Star, Royr Gerrard’s Rosie and the Rustlersand Lynn Hall’s FLASH Dog of Old Egypt. With our experience with Salukis and children, they make excellent companions. In last week’s ‘Our Dogs’ in Jane Lilley’s column she wrote about ‘Our extraordinary and unusual dogs.’ She featured Harvey owned by Jimmi Johnston -White, a Saluki, of course. Back to the article, Jimmi has kindly sent me his original copy: “A bit of background for you first, I saw my first Saluki aged 4 when living in Algiers, owned by a couple originally from Qatar. I had grown up with Mum's Great Danes and Dad's gundogs, but this Saluki to me was the most beautiful dog I had ever seen, it was however quite wild. I wanted one though and kept pestering Mum and Dad, eventually they got me an Afghan who was beautiful but mad and maddening. Move forward 33 year from my first meeting with a Saluki and having a household of Mini Wire Dachshunds and Italian Greyhounds, at Southern Counties Championship Show, Mini Wires were due in the ring following Salukis, I sat thinking if only. Then a rather handsome male came and joined me and my Mini Wire Dhanka, they fell in love, and his owner and I struck up a friendship. Two years later he was used, in house, on the owner’s bitch and I was given the last born of litter Harvey or Anasazi Late Harvest as The Kennel Club know him. It is worth noting that when Dhanka was very ill Harvey gave her a direct dog to dog transfusion (she had another 2 and a half years of life). Everyone I knew in dogs kept telling me I had lost the plot, that I couldn't have a Saluki with small breeds that run, cats and guinea pigs, I was certain I could though. Ten years on and I am so pleased I took the plunge. From the very start he had utmost respect for my very elderly alpha male Italian, he very quickly got used to the fact that all the other pack members thought that when he laid in a bed he was just additional bedding for them and would lay on top of him. He ignored the cats completely and just wanted to kiss the guinea pigs through the bars of their hutches or runs. I knew from day one that I had to work hard on his training, to be honest it was a doddle, he just wanted to please. Harvey has the very best recall of all the 9 dogs we currently have in residence. The one shame was that he wasn't keen on showing, he saw no point in getting in a ring with a load of other Salukis when you could lay down at the Dachsie ring and have them climbing and sleeping on you. He has come into his own in other ways though, as well as living with so many other smaller animals and dogs, he has been used by me to go into school and work with children who were afraid of dogs or wary because of their culture, he has helped with the training of a great many rescue dogs, his first was the tiniest blue Italian Greyhound who was terrified of us, in came big Harvey and laid beside her. Mostly he has worked alongside me and my other half (known to the masses as TKH, The Kennel Hand) in the rehabilitation of aggressive and nervous Border Terriers. He works instinctively understanding what they need and how to behave, one dog, Taz, gets very aggressive around other dogs yet with Harvey he just copies behaviour and can run around with them and even mix within my pack. Working away from home kennel sitting I miss him greatly, though he was always my dog and shadow he has learnt that in my absence he needs to supervise and help TKH and become his shadow. Ten and a half years on from getting him I can honestly say I don't regret a moment, how many dogs can you leave in a room with your dinner on a coffee table, come back and it isn't touched? How many dogs have instant recall? How many dogs have helped so many other dogs take their first steps towards a new life? People do ask if I will have another Saluki and the answer is no, it was my long held dream and it came true in so many ways, it wouldn't be fair to the next one, it would be like asking someone to sing like Callas, act like Olivier, or run like Farrah. It just wouldn't be possible, so I shall just go on enjoying my dream dog for as long as possible and remember all the fun we have had. ” As a matter of interest Jimmi will be judging the Northern Saluki Club Open Show on Sunday 26thSeptember 2021. I received a copy of the ‘Kennel Club Gazette’ for December 2020 today. A welcomed surprise. Gay Robertson has written an article “Sighthounds gather in the Cotswolds”. This refers to the lure coursing meeting which was held in October under the auspices of UK Sighthound Sport. It was a Covid secure event. By the fact that this article appeared in the KC’s monthly magazine we hope in the near future they will recognize lure coursing as a legitimate KC activity. There was a small photograph of two Salukis taking off after the lure. They are Natasha Hamilton’s Alishamar Roxane and our own Kasaque Salaama. Stay safe SALUKI BREED NOTES WEEKENDING 20THNOVEMBER 2020.
Glad to hear good news during week one of our ‘lockdown’. Let us all hope that the vaccines, which have been proven quite successful up to this moment in time, remain so. With the weather becoming more miserable as winter progresses it is more depressing to be stuck at home, not being able to meet up this year for Christmas get togethers. Optimistically, I am posting a list of judges for 2021. I shall start with Crufts as we know that Manchester and Boston are cancelled. 11/3 Crufts, Adele Walton Haddon; 10/4 Hound Assoc of Scotland, Dr RM James; 11/4 A.M. SGHC Limited Show, Susan Rhodes, P.M. SGHC AGM; 18/ 4 Northern Saluki Club Championship Show, Dr John Hudson; 24/4 WELKS, Margaret Fulcher; 6/5 Birmingham National, Avril Davies; 21/5 SKC, Jonathan Horswell; 28/5 Bath, Claire Boggia; 4/6 Southern Counties Championship Show, Bernard Barjot; 10/6 3-Counties Championship Show, Jenny Dove; 20/6 SGHC Open Show, Carolyn McCormick Smith; 25/6 Blackpool, Dr. AP Sergerseven; 2/7 Windsor. Maggie Holder; 9/7 East of England, Ben Reynolds-Frost; 17/7 Hound Association, TBA; 24/7 Leeds Rachel Wray; 8/8 Paignton, Jill Peak; 14/8 Bournemouth, Espen Engh; 20/8 Welsh KC, Karin Hedberg; 28/8 Driffield, Gavin Robertson; 3/9 City of Birmingham, Mike Caple;10/9 Richmond TBA; 19/9 Darlington TBA; 26/9 Northern Saluki Club Open Show, Jimmi Johnston White; 8/10 South Wales, Karen Fisher; 17/10 SGHC Championship Show, Denise Rogers; 28/10 Midland Counties, Kathy Webb; 11/12 Ladies Kennel Association, Elizabeth McKnight. Mary Parker has kindly sent me through an update from The Kennel Club: “New breed judges will need to register with the KC, they will be able to once the computer system is up and running- they will be able to add their detail to ‘Find A Judge’, but can still just be on a breed club list. However, not many societies will use them so it will be in their interest to sign up from next year” In last week’s ‘Our Dogs’ in the section entitled ‘;50 Years in Dogs’ highlighted was Linda Aldous. For 50 years it was Afghans until recently when she jumped ship, importing a young Saluki male which she has been doing quite well with. Continuing with my review of “The Saluki” Championship Show edition 2020. Masha Shaverneva has written an article entitle ‘Salukis and agility’. Altai is her first Saluki previously she was an Afghan person. She purchased Qazal Sarbaz Har Kala Rachi, a black tri smooth male with intention of showing him. This did not work out for various reason which she explains., so she tried something new, agility, which has completely taken over both of their lives. The article goes into great depth explaining the progress Altai has in the sport. The article is assisted by beautiful photographs. I will continue to review the articles on a weekly basis. How disappointing to be in another lockdown. This one is supposed to end on a certain date so hopefully the virus will have taken notice and we can have a period of freedom of movement. Dog shows will probably not start up again until the outdoor shows. Meanwhile the show societies, by then, will have figured a plan of how to run them safely. Crufts as we know it, I doubt it, but maybe there will be a different type of show, outdoors in a beautiful estate. As there is no agreement with the UK and the EU, as of yet, on the status of animal movements, the concept of dogs coming from the Continent is still in the balance. To compound all the doom and gloom, buy your summer garden and veggie seeds now. If the UK exits the EU without a deal, seeds may be unavailable as they mostly come from Holland. Just a couple of updates from last week’s Breed Notes. Dianne Merchant Giles passed away in 2003. The year Kharaz won the Hound Group at Crufts under Terry Thorn it was 1986 and the breed judge was Catherine Sutton, not as I printed. Our Dogs is now working on their ‘Annual 2021’. As we have not had the opportunity to exhibit our dogs this year, this is an opportunity for owners, breeders, exhibitors to show their dogs off in the UK and all over the world. It is a truly unique publication of quality, the layout of the adverts are dazzling to view. For further. Information please contact Kerry on 0161 709 4566 or email kerry@ourdogs.co.uk. This week I was delighted to receive a copy of ‘The Saluki’ the magazine of the Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club. As one would expect from the publication it is beautifully presented and of the highest quality. Filled with interest articles and adverts. The first article was written by Anna Freegard, archivist for the Club. With the Club’s Centennial in 2023 not far off, she looks back at an earlier milestone of the Club, it’s 75thanniversary. One of the interesting points she makes is that many of the owners of the dogs are still around and showing. I will continue my review of the magazine in the weeks that follow. For obtaining a copy contact the editor Diana Klein on email editorsalukimagazine@gmail.comor tel. 07751 061719 here to edit. First notes in a new month. No one is going to be sad to see the end of 2020. Somehow, we automatically think 2021 will be better. Southern Counties Championship Show has posted “A clarification on an optimistic note! We are planning our 2021 Show and are raring to go ahead all things being equal. The dates will be June 4th, 5th, and 6th. Group splits will not be rotating as announced previously, we are keeping to our arrangement of June 4thHounds/Toys, June 5th Pastoral/Working/Terriers, June 6thGundogs/Utility. The reason for this is that after a bit of a jigsaw puzzle, we have managed to move all our 2020 judges (who were still free) on to 2021. This means that our 1sttime judges will not have to wait 2 or 3 more years for their eagerly anticipated appointments. If we had rotated the Group splits this would not have been possible. We would like to thank all the previously invited 2021 judges who agreed to move their appointment to 2022. All we hope now is that a) it goes ahead and b) we get the wonderful weather we would have had this year. We wish all our friends, stewards, exhibitors, judges and everyone connected with the show all the very best until we see you again. Stay safe. Oh-and please if you have any questions on this post ask them here rather than speculation on some other post that I may not see and therefore cannot clarify.’ Carolyn McCormick Smith has posted on the SGHC members page that the judge for the Club’s 2022 show will be Denise Garratt. Diana Klein editor of ‘The Saluki’ has posted that the magazine is now available for sale. This issue only £10.00 UK, £12.50 Europe, £15.00 for the rest of the World. Digital copy now available for £6.00. To purchase a copy contact Diana Klein editor at editorsalukimagazine@gmail.comor telephone 07751 061719. Jillian Knight Messenger in her Afghan Breed notes has asked her readers for embarrassing incidents which have occurred while showing dogs. Jill Cross sent her the following and has not only allowed us to reprint it, but has also sent an interview with the late Dianne Merchant Giles: Jill writes“ Some years ago we went to SKC and were staying the weekend in a hotel as you do, and when we went for dinner that evening, we were joined by Christian Gardiner, Kenny Wright (Gardwright) and Di Merchant-Giles (of Saluki fame). We were having a great conversation and it eventually drifted into tales of Di’s own stage career - stories which were illustrated by her standing up and bursting into an operatic aria in the restaurant. The whole place - including Christian - was spellbound and at the end of it, everyone stood up and applauded!” The interview follows: What breeds are you interested in? There are not many breeds of dogs that I don’t like. My grandparents bred Pomeranians in the early 1920s and kept them for many years. My father bred racing greyhounds for about 20 year and as far as I can remember my family have bred and owned breeds from every group. At the moment my main interest must be Papillons which my husband and I are currently showing and breeding, and although we don’t breed them anymore, I must include Salukis as I think they will always be dear to my heart. What dogs have you owned? I have owned so many dogs over the years, mainly as pets, but I have shown Sealyham, Cocker Spaniel, Old English Sheepdog, Dachshund, Saluki and now Papillions. I have bred a champion Sealyham -not made up by me I hasten to add-not carrying our present affix. My old English Sheepdog was shown briefly in this country and then sold to Canada to become a champion in double quick time. The most famous must be the Saluki CH SHAMAL KHARAZ a legend in his own lifetime owned and bred by us. He won virtually every accolade in his time and although tragically lost him in 1989 he has been top Saluki stud dog every year since except one. How did you become involved in the world of show dogs? I have always been interested I showing anything, even flowers; but mainly horses and dogs I dabbled in showing dogs on and off for many years when my career would allow it, but it was my late Mother-in-law who really made it an obsession. She was showing two beautiful Salukis, one belonging to my husband. I took over the handling of this one and he became CH SEDEKI HAJ. Did you begin your working life as an artist? No, definitely not! I was as an opera singer and worked in London with Sadlers Wells Opera Company and then went on to sing in West End Musicals such as Hallo Dolly, Funny Girl, Robert and Elizabeth, Camelot, The Ambassadors and Trelawney to name a few. I also appeared the films of Oliver and Half a Sixpence among others. However, I had drawn and painted since I was a very young child (drawing only dogs and horses horses-I might add)and at the age of 15 won a scholarship to the Royal West of England College of Art; unfortunately due to family crisis I was unable to take up the scholarship-something I have always regretted. Did you come from an artistic background? Not as far as I know. Although I remember my mother telling me once that my grandmother’s brother was both musical and artistic. What is your greatest achievement in showing dogs? I think this must be winning the Hound group at Crufts in 1986 with a home bred dog namely CH SHAMAL KHARAZ – surely this must be the dream of everyone who shows dogs. Champion Shamal Kharaz’s sire was Ch Jeddah Al Caliph and dam Sedeki Tamineh of Shamal. He was born on the 14thApril 1982 and died in 1989. He was from a littler of 5. His brother, Shamal Khamoun also became a champion. He was owned by Diane Duckenfield. Kharaz had 6 mating partners producing 21 off springs. Five of his children became champions. Kharaz won BOB at Crufts twice, first time in 1987 under judge Catherine Sutton and the second time in 1986 under judge Valerie Stringer where he went on to win the Hound Group under Terry Thorn. Kharaz won A total of 10 CCS also going Best in Show at the SGHC Open Show and the Club’s championship show. Kharaz’s champions get were Pennyworth Katiya. Pennyworth Riaz, Kasaque Eve, Kasaque Ezekiel and Bishr of Kasra. If anyone would like to pass on their embarrassing/interesting episodes at shows I would be most grateful. here to edit. SALUKI BREED NOTES WEEKENDING 30THOCTOBER 2020
David Crane, Hon Sec of the Saluki Welfare has sent me the following: “Just to let you know that Saluki Welfare will be holding their delayed AGM via Zoom at 12 noon on Saturday 21st November 2020. Any items for the agenda, which will be published in advance, should be sent to me. David’s contact details are tel. 01725 518790 or email:davidcrane@salukiwelfare.org.uk I am most thankful to the Irish Wolfhound Breed Notes writer Maggie Holder for the following article which appeared in her Breed Notes of the 16thOctober 2020. It is a most moving and interesting obituary of Cynthia Boissevain, one of the early people in our breed. Her first Saluki litter was in 1958 when she produced Branwen Alyf from Sakkara Arabesque and Air Capital Azaranta. Sakkara Arabesque was a daughter of Burydow Uki who I have written previously about in these notes. The dam was an American bred bitch and the litter was whelped in the States. In all she bred 27 Saluki litters between 1958 and 1982. Her last Saluki, she owned ,was Knightellington Oleanda which she obtained from Helen Baker. Cynthia last judged Salukis at Crufts in 1993. Maggie writes “Cynthia Boissevain has passed away. Thank you to Marion Finney for providing me with so much information about her friend.” “Cynthia left her beautiful home in Wales about a month ago to live with her cousins in Mexico, sadly she didn’t live long enough to enjoy it there. She hadn’t had any dogs for a couple of years but had a wonderful cat called Liam who is still enjoying life in Wales with friends. Cynthia is survived by her daughter Sheila, Her other sons Tom and Tony pre-deceased her. Cynthia bred, owned and exhibited Wolfhounds, her first litter was in 1954 born in the US by US Ch Timeer o Amberside X Warbonnet of Amberside. She was breeding well into the 70’s and when she came to Europe (Spain and France) she continued with the Wolfhounds and also Salukis, Afghans, Greyhounds and Italian Greyhounds, bringing the first blacks to Europe.” When she moved to the UK nearly 50 years ago, she exhibited Wolfhounds, Salukis and Italians for some years. An obituary follows from Nick Madigan (One of her twin sons). My mother, Cynthia Anne Boisssevain a former actress, ballet dancer and breeder of champion hounds, who lived in half a dozen countries and travelled the world as an ornithologist and botanist, died last weekend in Guadalajara, Mexico. She was 96. Her death followed by less than three months that of my eldest brother, Tony in Madrid. I was still in Spain, dealing with the aftermath of his passing, when I received word that my mother’s eyesight had begun to fail as the result of a detached retina and other issues. She had lived alone in a stone farmhouse on 43 acres near Cardigan, Wales overlooking the Irish Sea, her home for more than 4 decades. I flew up and after years of protestations, she acknowledged that she could no longer stay in that big old place with it’s uneven slate floors and steep staircases, and that it was time to move back to Mexico, where she had spent a good part of her childhood and where our cousins were always happy to see her. Two weeks later, after finding a home for Liam, her ginger cat, she and I were on a plane. It was in the home of Teresa de Oyarzabal Carroll and Humberto Saldana that my mother, her intellectual acuity intact, spent her last 25 days, happy in the embrace of her extended family and responding well to treatment for diabetes and a heart condition. On Saturday morning, Teresa, told me, my mother ate a hearty breakfast and the sat quietly with her legs in the sun, near her two feline friends, Cooper and Estrellita. When Teresa went to check on her, a few minutes later, she was gone. Later, as her body was beginning to be removed for cremation Teresa started up Rachmaninov 2ndpiano concerto on the CD player, in honour of my mother’s fondness for the Russian composter. Born in San Francisco on July 26,1924, Cynthia Boissevain was taken as an infant to live in Paris by her parents John Magee Boissevain and Estrella Braniff Carroll. The couple divorced soon thereafter and the young Cynthia was supervised by a succession of governesses, none of whose company she enjoyed. After her mother’s wedding in London to Lorenzo “Chato” Elizaga, a nephew of the former president of Mexico, they moved to Mexico city and subsequently to a large ranch called Pasteje where they raised bulls, cattle and horses. Later as a teenager in the 1940s the heyday of the Mexican film industry she was cast in several movies “Albur de Amor”, “Bugambilia” and “Las Cinco Advertencians de Satanas” under the stage name of Ana Bronte because she explained the name Boissevain, a legacy of our French forebears was too hard to pronounce. In New York City, Cynthia studied ballet under the Russian choreographer George Balanchine, who co-founded the New York City Ballet Company. She also modelled for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and other magazines as did her mother, often wearing the designs of courtiers like Coco Chanel, Jean Patou and Cristobal Balenciaga, the later a close friend who later became my godfather. Cynthia and her mother travelled in a social circle that included Marlene Dietrich, Ava Gardner, Cary Grant, Frida Kahlo, Arthur Rubinstein, Claudette Colbert, Pablo Picasso and Douglas Fairbanks. While performing in a play on Long Island, Cynthia met Thomas Madigan, a young writer of radio plays who was working as a stage manager. They married in New York City in 1947 and had five children: Anthony, Thomas III, Sheila, Kevin and me. (Tom died in 2003) a year before our father and as you’ve learned, Tony left us in July this year. My mother’s survivors include six grandchildren, two great grandchildren. My parent’s marriage did not last and Cynthia moved the children in 1961 to San Sebastian in Spain’s Basque country, a city she had visited as a child when her mother rented houses for the summer in the south of France. All of us kids attended schools in Spain and later in England where my mother acquired a country place in Dorset and later in London’s Kensington district. In 1977 after buying the property in Wales she sold the houses in London and Spain and moved to the coast of the Irish Sea for good. All the while my mother was influential as a breeder of Afghans, Salukis, Greyhounds and Irish Wolfhounds under the banner of Branwen Kennels an enterprise she began on Long Island, NY and continued in Spain and later in Wales. Any dog you find online that bares the name Branwen in its pedigree is a descendant of my mother’s genetic efforts in the realm of thoroughbred sight hounds. We spent many hours as children helping to care for the dogs and grooming them for shows. It was fun when there were puppies. My mother was also a judge at shows, not only in Spain but in France, Sweden, Britain, The Netherlands, the United States and elsewhere and her passing has reverberated in dog breeding circles in those countries. She is also being mourned by her surviving friends (Some years ago she said to me ”who knew I’d live so long?” I’ve spent the last few days in long conversations with some of them and invariably they recall her deep knowledge of wildlife, flora and other matters of nature, her profound literary background and her strong views on political issues and the state of the world, which in her view is rapidly heading towards cataclysm. “She was a great lady and a great friend” David Bailey who lived near her in Wales said to me today by phone. Aled Davies, another Cardigan figure, wrote in an email “Your mother was a real character…she enjoyed life, cared for the environment and stuck to her beliefs with conviction.” There is much more to be said about her, but it will have to wait for the book. In the meantime, I will always be grateful that I had such a close relationship with her for so many years, despite some of the difficult family dynamics. In our last conversation just over three weeks ago, as I was about to leave the house in Guadalajara for the airport, she asked me to sit down and holding my hand and looking in my eyes thanked me for escorting her to Mexico, where she and I and everyone else knew she had come to die. “I couldn’t have done it without you,” she said. And then we both said “te quiero” at the same time. Rest in Peace, Cynthia here to edit. After the lockdown last spring and summer we were all hoping that next year would be better and that we would all be able to get out with our dogs again. As has been well reported Manchester and Boston shows, which were to be held early in 2021, have both been cancelled. My own personal prediction is we will probably not be able to attend a show until the ‘outside shows’ resume. Neither the SGHC nor the NSC have held their 2020 AGMS so I am assuming they will have to find a way to holding one in 2021. Some clubs have held theirs on Zoom, which has been successful. I have been informed that people, not on computers, can join in by dialling into a certain telephone number, they then can hear everything and participate in the discussions. Perhaps this is an option the Clubs could look into. As the NSC championship show is usually in April, I hope they find a way to either have their show then, or later in the year. We can but hope. This weekend should have been the SGHC Championship Show. Even if the Club had had all the social distancing in place with the COVID cases escalating the show would have had to be cancelled. Good news is the calendar is still available from Helena Haywood tel. number 01494 874587 or email: helenahaywood191@btinternet.comand the magazine from Diana Klein on tel. number 07751 061719 or email: editorsalukimagazine@gmail.com. The Welfare will miss the funds they make at the show, which is regrettable, but if you go to their web site: salukiwelfare.org.uk, they have some lovely packs of cards. The KC Breed Record Supplement has arrived earlier than usual. It is normally for three months but this time it is just for July and August. This was explained by the KC that they are in the process of setting up a new database. For Salukis there were 19 new registered puppies from two litter. Neither of these litters was bred by or are dogs known to the showring. There was one importation, Garamiyas Meridiana Mahzad (IMP SWE). She was born on 7thMarch 2020. Thankfully five more Salukis have passed the NCL clear. They are Amal Hayati Ohdedar El Azizi Fuadi Of Ilsham, Badavie Don Peppino At Ilsham, Kasaque Raissa, Merenptah Precious Dream and Merenptah Ziba. Stands good for our future so we can totally eliminate this dreadful disease. Salukis around the world are fortunate to have an up to date well-functioning datable called ‘The Breed Archive Saluki. To join this site you must first set up a membership which allows you free access to your dogs and any other dogs on the site. Some of the items you can view or amend are ownership, health, breeding; both siblings and Progeny. Show and working titles are also included. This site works very much on the honour system with terms you must accept when you initially join the site. One of those terms is that you agree to respect others accounts. In the past week I have been contacted by three people concerned that someone from this country in going into other people’s accounts and altering information. The affected people are very concerned and feel their status on SA has been violated, and have contacted the ‘host’ of SA giving details of who the offending person is. Here is a plea - Please respect the rules of Saluki Archives, therefore; do not tamper with other people’s dog’s information on SA, however well meant, unless you have their permission. Simply imagine how aggrieved you would feel if someone altered your Saluki’s details or added/amended photographs without your knowledge or permission, let alone the issue that by adding/amending information, you could make it incorrect by your actions. The action of this person concerns us all. For those of you who are not familiar with The Breed Archives, google the name and it will come up. You will probably find details of your Saluki there. here to edit. |
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