18th January 2019

 
For those of us that drive up and down the M25 and the M1, with thoughts of missing classes or just a heavy foot, a warning.  I understand that the cameras on those roads are now fully functional, and if you drive above 70 miles per hour you will receive a ticket through the post.  It probably will not be long before the rest of the motorway is up to ‘speed’.  Maybe that is why they call it a ‘smart road. 
If we drive slower we use less petrol, less taxes will be received by central governments so the price of petrol goes up.  Not to mention all the extra income attained from dog show people rushing to shows, ticketed, giving more money into the system. 
 
Now we have started 2019, I can give you some of the name of judges for 2020 that were posted in the KC Gazette. WELKS, Ann Macdonald. Birmingham L.M. Pinto Teixeira from Portugal.  This will his first time judging Salukis in this Country.  Checking on the Kennel Club site it looks like he is an all-rounder.  Bath will be judged by Diane Cook and Blackpool by Mrs C Hoier.  Mrs Hoier is from Denmark.  She is a collie specialist but has been judging Saluki for a while.  This is her first time giving tickets in our breed, in this country.  She has kindly forwarded me her CV which I will post closer to the date.    
 
John Hudson has kindly sent some more of his ‘bean counting’ information;”In his column in Our Dogs, Ronnie Irving states that the number one consideration for exhibitors when deciding whether to enter a show is the judge. David Cavill’s recent survey showed that 67% of respondents preferred UK breed specialists. So show Secretaries should schedule breed specialists to optimise entries. Is this true for Salukis? I checked. The average show entry over the last eight years for breed specialists is 50.5 (I left out Crufts and the breed club shows because their large entries lead to a strong bias - towards breed specialists). The equivalent figure for all-rounders is 45.9 . So a show Secretary would hope to gain at least four entries by using a breed specialist - worth at least £100. However this is pretty small beer for a Champ Show. Different for a numerous breed like Ronnie Irving’s Border Terriers.”  Please keep sending it in John, this is most helpful.  
 
I had a look on the Kennel Club site for mentors.  I note we do not have any mentors for Salukis or they have not been posted yet.  I personally throw my hands up as I am as guilty as anyone not offering my services.  With the first BAD coming up in Salukis, there will be attendees that need mentoring after taking their MCE.  Just a reminder the BAD will be held 23rdMarch 2019 at Roade Village Hall, Bailey Brooks Lane, Roade, Northants NN7 2LS.  For booking a place or if you would like anymore information on the Breed Appreciation Day please contact Nicola Warner on email savukawhippets@hotmail.co.ukor telephone number 01582 593881. 
The Boston & District Canine Society held their championship show.  There were classes for Salukis but no allocation for challenge certificates. Judging Salukis was Mrs. Martine Smithson
Best of Breed, Best Puppy and 1stin Puppy Hound Group went to Mary Sanders Parker’s Classicus Antiigone with the RBB to Al Nafiseh Flowering Sage owned  Dr. O Woolmer.  Best Dog went to Olga Blecher’s Barleymoon Zaurak with the RBD to Buzz Faber’s Sufeina Kismet.  Well done all!