10th September 2021

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Unfortunately, these notes should have been posted last week.  They are probably swirling around in cyberspace. 
Well summer is coming to an end; it certainly has not been a summer to rave about.  
 Raining June became raining July into raining August.  Maybe we will have an ‘Indian Summer’ with a warm autumn.  Children will be going back to school soon, let us hope we keep the plague at bay.  
 
Sadly, I report the passing of one of the doyennes of our breed, Mrs Ann Birrell (Tazi).  She died peacefully on the 16th August just three days before her 90th birthday.   Her last judging appointment in Salukis was Windsor 2014.  We saw her the day after, where she was very tired and at that time, she said it was time to call it a day.  Her first champion was Classicus Baccylides of Tazi born on the 21st Sept 1981.  His dam was the most beautiful Ch Burydown Iphigenia.  Her second champion, Ch Yazid Isabella Of Tazi born 29th September 1986, was a daughter of her Ch Classicus Baccylides of Tazi.  Ann was very involved with The Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club where she was a member of the Committee for many years.   She also was a member and coursed her Salukis with the Club’s coursing section.  Her most important contribution to our breed is “The SALUKI Book of British Champions”.  The first two books she compiled with Hope Waters.  Books 3,4,5, and 6 were compiled on her own.  The last “The SALUKI Book of British Champions” was compiled by Mary Parker as she has handed over the copyright to her.  Our condolences to her children, Fiona, Mark and Ian and her grandchildren.  Donations in her name can be made to Cancer Research UK or Arundawn Dog Rescue.
 
John Walton Haddon has contacted saying that the NSC Championship Show which is being held in conjunction with Darlington Championship Show on Sunday 19th September, will commence judging at 9am. Entries can still be made for the NSC through Higham Press but unfortunately entries have closed for Darlington. As Fran Mitchell, our judge for Darlington, will be starting with another breed at 9am, hopefully by the time she is ready for Salukis, the Saluki dog judging will be completed.
 
Last Saturday Blackpool Championship Show was held in difficult weather conditions.  Judging Salukis was veteran all-round judge Frank Kane.  It has been a difficult year for the all-rounders as they have had to jump in and judge extra classes as the previously booked judges, whom were mainly from outside the UK, had to relinquish their appointments because of Covid travel restrictions.  To repeat my comments from a year ago, let us hope for better next year.   Frank was very busy at Blackpool but from comments I have heard he gave all the dogs the respect and attention they deserved.  
DCC, BOB short listed in the Hound Group for his first CC was Micattura All For Me owned by Jane Stenson.  He was born on 27th February 2017 and his breeder is Vicky-ann McNab.  His sire is Ch Jorjenjo Mirzam of Fernlark and his dam, Galifa Sivendra Al Djiibaajah (IMP).  RDCC went to Sharon & Graham Littlechild’s Ch Classicus Baroque at Ravensett.  BCC for her third and qualifying CC went to Classicus Alchemy for Charrioak owned by the Davies, Harrison and Sanders Parker partnership.  She was born on the 20th February 2018 and her breeder is Mrs M E Sanders Parker.  Her sire is Int Ch Elamir Amar and her dam is Ch Khalils Allegra-Classicus (IMP SWE) JW Sh CM.  RBCC went to Mary Sanders Parker’s Ch Classicus Britannia JW.  Best Puppy and Best Junior was Jeannette Glaister’s Impala Zia Dexter the Gamble.  Well done all!!
 
I noted on a couple entries at Blackpool that the designation (IMP) has not been put with a couple of dog’s names.  Unless rules have changed to this affect, the (IMP) is part of the dog’s name.  If one fails to include it, the KC can refuse to accept any wins by that dog.  This brings to mind the new ruling that is being debated by the government to stop illegal importation of dogs.  The ruling states “raising the minimum age for importing a puppy from 15 weeks to six months. banning the import of heavily pregnant dams to help protect puppy and mother welfare. prohibiting the commercial and non-commercial movement into Great Britain of dogs with cropped ears and docked tails.  I am sure this paper will be covering this with great detail.
 
Last Sunday the UK Sighthound Sport held their summer championships.  Salukis had an entry of 9, which is the highest we have had.  Another young hound has now qualified for her ‘licence’ so she shall be joining us. Some of the dogs that were running had had a busy weekend, as the day before, they attended Blackpool Champ Show. In days of old, I remember the week preceding Crufts was one of the important coursing meeting of the season.  More often than not the coursing dogs were also entered at Crufts.  When they placed at Crufts a laud cheer would erupt from the audience in support of the significance that they were not only beautiful but functional.  One of those wonderful coursing dog/show dogs was the lovely Ch Burydown Quabillah owned by Marilyn Evill. Coursing field one day then on to BOB at Crufts.  Hopefully, more people will bring their hounds along for a fun/working day . All dogs behaved impeccable, none keeping us waiting when we went to pick them up.  BOB was Nicola Hamilton’s Alishamar Roxane winning her first lure coursing CC. Second was our own Ch Al Zubeyda Lena At Kasaque(IMP FRA) JW
Winning a CC which made her up as a Lure Coursing Champion.  The first in our breed.  We are very proud of our dual function hound (as they should be).  Third place was Karen Fisher’s Ruweis Mahnisa.  Fourth place went to Oxana Grigorenko’s Imhotep Rears Natural Jasmine.  The sun was shining, a great day out for all and a big thank you to UKSS for organizing such an enjoyable well-run event.  
 
 
 
 
New notes:  Last Saturday Driffield Championship Dog Show was held.  Judging Salukis was Hound Specialist Gavin Robertson.  DCC, BOB and Hound Group 3 was Rosalie Brady’s Classicus Azim for Bodercot.  He also became a Champion on the day.  He was born on the 20th February 2018.  His breeder is is Mrs ME Sanders Parker.  His sire is Int Ch Elamir Amar and his dam is Ch Khalils Allegra-Classicus (M) SWE) JW Sh CM.  RDCC went to Adele Haddon’s Badavie Don Peppino At Ilsham.  BCC for her first CC went to Denise Garratt, Sue Oakey, and John & Caroline Owen’s Glenoak Lunah from Caryna. She was born on 22nd May 2016 and her breeders are Dr J & Mrs E Hudson.  Her sire is Caryna Khepri and dam Ch Glenoak Kamala JW.
 
RBCC went to Mary Sanders Parker’s Ch Classicus Britannia JW SH CM Best Veteran was Mr G Lydon’s Sirtanome Sakia.
 
The SGHC have announced the results of their ballot for judges for 2022.  Limited Show will be judged by Nicola Warner and Open Show judge will be Simon Burton.  Cecilia Andersson will be judging the Championship show in 2023.   The Club has posted that Ann Shimmin has stepped down from the role of Club President.  The Post is now combined with that of Vice-President until the next ballot for Club officers and Committee in 2022. 
 
The Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club will be holding their 2021 Championship Show on Sunday 17th October 2021 at the Kennel Club Building Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LX.  Postal entries close Saturday 18thSeptember (1st Class postmark) on-line entries can be made up until midnight on Sunday 26th September 2021.  Judging will be Mrs Denise Rogers (Labakan).