Saluki Breed Notes Weekending 12th February 2016

Sue Oakley has recently undergone surgery and at the time of this writing is still in Guy’s Hospital. We wish her a positive outcome to her treatment and hopefully by the next time I write these notes will be able to say she is on the road to recovery. Sue Bounds has also been poorly and is now receiving treatment. She had hoped to attend and show her new champion at Crufts but now feels this will be impossibility. We wish both these ladies a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing Sue, later this year, in the ring.
The Kennel Club Gazette has published some more judge’s names for 2016 Bournemouth will be judged by Robin Searle, Welsh Kennel Club, Jane Pyatt and Richmond by Dr A Paloheimo. This will be Dr Paloheimo’s first assignment judging Salukis in this country. Her specialty is Cavalier King Charles Spaniels but I assume she will be wearing her all-rounders hat when judging our breed. I know little about her except that she hails from Finland. Closer to the closing date I will request a Saluki CV from either Ron James, Hon. Sec. Richmond, or herself.
Headlines this week in “Our Dogs” states: ’Crufts entry highest for six years.” This may be so overall, but in Salukis we have seen a decline. We are actually 19% down in actual dogs entered. We have seen the Saluki entry at Crufts quite consistent for the last six years with an increase in 2014 then reducing back to between 120 to 130, which seems to be the norm for our breed. I note in last year’s entry, which was judged by an hound specialist, not a breed specialist, that 17% of the entry was from dogs using the *ATC system. *(Authority to Compete, for dogs not registered in the UK). After the publication of the Crufts catalogue I will be able to calculate the percentage of ATC dogs for this year. Interesting stuff.
Congratulations to Caryna Neferti owned by Denise Garratt and Sue Oakey for qualifying for her Junior Warrant.