9th February 2018

 
Little in way of news coming through, it feels a bit like the excitement of the night before Christmas though in this case it is the weeks before Crufts.  We should be finding out what the entries are in the next week or so. 
 
Caroline Pickering has sent the following: “On Wednesday 24th January the Northern Saluki Club held a seminar to explain and discuss the New Judges Competency Framework Guide to being a Dog Show Judge. Jeff Horswell spent well over 2 hours explaining the different entry stages of judging and how the new system will work. The event was very well attended by both judges and exhibitors from all different breeds from many parts of the country. Huge thanks to Jeff Horswell for taking the time out to go through this with everyone, and also to Denise Garratt for organising the event.”
 
John Owen Hon Sec on the Northern Saluki Club has sent the following “The AGM will be held at 1:30pm: in Shirland Village Hall, Shirland, Nr Alfreton, Derbyshire, on Sunday 25th March 2018. If you have been a member of the club for three or more years and would like to become more actively involved, you would be very welcome to stand for possible election to the committee.
If you have any nominations for members of the committee or items for the agenda they should be recieved by the secretary 30 days prior to the meeting. Anyone nominated must have agreed to stand.
Even if you do not wish to be on the committee, you would be very welcome and we would be pleased to see you at the meeting.
The agenda for the AGM will be circulated approximately 2 weeks before the meeting.”
 
A couple of weeks ago I published an article by Mr Bill Bunce on the “new champions classes” that are now being introduced at Breed Club shows.  Nicola Warner has sent the following comment regarding this: “I am in complete agreement with the opinions expressed by Bill Bunce shared in your column of Jan 9th 2018. I feel that in light of falling entries in so many breeds for the reasons that Mr Bunce put forward that it is the most sensible and logical step forward. I have heard the argument for many years that the reason that the system in this country is the best is that only the best get through so no cheap champions but I think that that is an argument long out of date. The time has come for a champions class where the winner does not compete for the ticket. I am in favour of the American system and feel it is long overdue in this country.”
 
Jeannette Glaister has organized a mini-coach trip to the World Show which will be held in Amsterdam this year.  I understand that this coach is all pre-booked so there will be a good contingency of Saluki people attending either to exhibit or just to be part of the circus The schedule is a follows, Thursday 9th August the Benelux Winner Show with judge Graham Hill (UK).  Friday is the Group 10 Specialty with judge Willem Buitenkamp (NDL) and the World Show is on Saturdya  with judge Stelios Makaritis (GRE) judging.
 
In past years, World Dog Show organisers have taken a trade stand at Crufts, with schedules and more information. Entries Fees info came with the flyer, the cost in Euros of course, with increasing costs, depending on when entries are made. Entry fees from now until 03-05-2018:- 1st dog 80.00€, 2nd and subsequent dogs 70.00€ each dog. From 04-05 2018:- 1st dog 90.00€, 2nd and subsequent dogs 80.00€ each dog. From 01-06-2018:- 1st dog 100.00€, 2nd and subsequent dogs 90.00€ each dog. From 29-06-2018:- 1st dog 120.00€, 2nd and subsequent dogs 110.00€ each dog. And some people moaned when Crufts put prices up.
 
If planning on attending the Amsterdam weekend, please be aware that you will not be missing the Hound Association Championship Show.  It is being held on the 14th July 2018 at their usual venue of the Stafford Show Grounds.
 
Congratulations to Josh Duddell and Barry Mansell on their Ch Jorjenjo Mirzam of Fernlark JW  winning Top Saluki Stud Dog 2017. 
 
The SGHC will be holding their first Open Lure Coursing Competition under the proposed regulations of the UKSS.  Karen Fisher will be emailing schedules but in case you do not receive one and would like one, contact Karen of 01279 833855 or email ruweis.salukis@ntlworld.com. The trial is open to all Kennel Club registered Salukis.  The date of the trial is Sunday 25th March and entries close on Monday 12th March 2018.
 
Helen Williams
Kasaque565@gmail.comn