News & Views

SALUKI NEWS

1/16/2026

Sunday 15th February 2026
Janet Steel has posted that: "The Saluki Magazine 2026 is almost here!! The final checks have been done and it's
now in the hands of the printers. If you want to order one to collect at Crufts or be posted please
message me at [email protected]

Sunday 8th February 2026
Crufts entries have now been posted. Salukis are being judged on Friday 6th March at 9am. As usual we are in Hall
5 ring 25. There are 50 males entered with 44 bitches making 94 total dogs. Interestingly in class entries there are
53 males, 49 bitches making 102. That works out to nearly 5 hours of judging.
Lots to do on the day, of course, the usual shopping, Discover Dogs, Please contact Anji Jackson Main or David Steel if you
would like to help. Their addresses are [email protected] or [email protected]"The Saluki" the magazine
of the SGHC is now at the printers so the plan is it will be available on the day. Janet Steel
editor in chief will be manning the stand beside having magazines, she will have Gingerberry jewellery. I believe there will
be other breeds besides Salukis available, this year Magazine sales, it would help if you could pre order before the
show as the stand is quite small. We plan to deliver pre paid magazines to people's benches when ever possible.

Thanks to a note by Jillian Knight Messenger in her Breed Notes mentioning that many of our. judges for 2026
are Afghan judges or have owned Afghans. I have been playing with figures. We have 25 championship judges for this year
that have been announced and approved by the RKC. One yet to be approved. Using those figures there are 18 non-
breed specialist with the remaining 7 breed specialist. 69% are therefore non breed with 28% breed specialists.
Time will tell which side the missing 3% will go.

Sunday 1st February 2026
The weather seems to be becoming a little warmer but certainly
not dryer. Daffodils are raising their heads in the garden so hopefully spring will not
be far off.
A reminder to all those that have not paid their Club subscriptions!!!Your Clubs need you to carry on their
work
A few new judges have been posted by the RKC for 2026
Mark Ord (1st time giving CCs) Leeds
David Cavill LKA
Ms Haapaniemi Paignton
Colin Ashmore Midland Counties
Denise Rogers Blackpool (Breed Specialist)

Westminster Dog show is being held on Monday 2nd February. There is a good entry of 19 for the judge to
asses. Judging will commence at 9.45 EST. Judge is David Miller. It is most unfortunate that many of the entries to
Westminster will be unable to attend as the temperatures are too low for dogs that will travel on airplanes. Little dogs
maybe ok as they can fly , with their chaperones on the flight decks
RESULTS OF WESTMINSTER.
BOB Eric Steel & Frank Ledda's GCHS Ch Haefen Phaeton Kaspian
BOS GCHS Allihan Takara Total Eclipse

I had hoped to post the entry for Crufts 2026 on todays notes but Cruft's management had extended the submission of entries until the
2nd February. I should imagine that we will have a lot of overseas entries as the judge is from Norway.

Magazine 2026 has sent the following:
We have reached the final stages of the production of 2026 edition of ‘The Saluki’ – the proof reading – there’s a lot to do but it’s
exciting seeing it all come together. The issue is packed full of interesting content and fabulous photos of Salukis from our
members and people with an interest in the breed.
The magazine will be available to buy at Crufts on 6th March but is subject to availability. If you’d like to pre-order, it is £10 for collection at Crufts; £14.20 with UK postage. We do post overseas so please contact the Editor for details.
Payment by BACs (Please note these are not the same as the SGHC club payment details)
Account no. 82766533
Sort Code. 51-81-01
The Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club Magazine
Please put your surname as payment referencePayment by cheque
Please make payable to The Saluki Magazine and send to the Magazine Treasurer:
Ms L Aldous
18 Hazel Grove
Bexhill on Sea
East Sussex
TN39 5JW
Payment by PayPal
[email protected]
Please use the Friends & Family option to avoid fees and your surname as reference.

Sunday 25th January 2026The Saluki Magazine 2026
Little news available this week. Entries have closed for Crufts so all are waiting to see
what they are. I assume they will be published during this week so I will include them
in next week's notes. Behind the scenes, work has progressed with the upcoming Saluki
Club magazine. Janet Steel, the editor, will have one more year, 2027 with her editorship.
In accord with SGHC rules the new editor from 2028 is requested that they work with the
on-going editor from 2027. If you would liked to know what the editorship entails please
contact Janet at [email protected].
The 'magazine' will have a stand at Crufts where people can pick up their prepaid copies and
others can be purchased. We will have a few back copies of the magazine from previous
years. Gingerberry jewellery pieces, when they are gone, they are gone. Cards and a few
books. In the summer we will have some beautiful glassware gifted to the Club.

This Year again Salukis will be featured at Discover Dogs at Crufts. Anji Jackson Main has posted the following:
"  One of the objectives of the clubs is to help the public understand just why the breed is so special. To help with that last year Salukis were at Discover Dogs , a part of Crufts …and a lot of people came to the stand to find out more about our remarkable breed and meet the dogs.
We want to make sure the breed is represented again this year... but to do that we need to have some helpers – both people
and dogs. The challenge will be the days when Salukis are not in the ring Friday 6th March. So, can you do Thursday, Saturday or Sunday ? - maybe ideal if you're not showing but would like to go to Crufts this year with your Saluki! Free passes for people, dogs and car parking for the day will be provided. If enough people can help, we can share the time we spend on the stand with comfort breaks for people and dogs and then you can also have half the day free to explore Crufts with your Saluki. If you think you could help on any of the days for however long, or want more details of what it involves, please get in touch via FB messenger or contact se
[email protected] or [email protected]
For those that are interested Gavin Robertson has posted his Saluki critique from Manchester
Championship Show on the RKC critique site.

Sunday 18th January. 2026
South West Hound Club Premier Open Show is now available to enter at Higham Press.
The show will be held at Thornbury Leisure Centre Thornbury, South Gloms, Bristol
BS35 3JB on Monday 6th April 2026. . Online entries close 23rd March 2026 at 12
Noon. Judging Salukis will be Ms Heidi Woodgate.

Manchester Championship Show, first show of 2026 was held on Sunday 18th
January. Judging Salukis was Gavin Robertson. DCC, BOB was Sharon Littlechild &
Olivi Danks-Kemish's Ch Ravensett Musarra with RDCC to Linda Aldous &
Jeannette Glaister's Ch Jay Jp Sea Bird El Panjsher JW IMP. BCC went to DCC's litter
  sister, Sharon & Graham's Littlechild"s Ch Ravensett Mehrasa with RBCC to
   Anna Bryla's Ravensett La Duquesa. Best Puppy was Mary Sanders Parkers'
Heart & Soul jp Nashwa Classicjus (IMP JPN). Best Veteran was Lynn Ward's Lux,
Ch BeI Int Ch Nicolefarhi Del Borghino (Imp I). After the judging there was a celebration
    with cake as it was Sharon Oakey's Birthday. Happy Birthday, Sharon.

Judge for Hound Assoc of Scotland has now been posted. It is Maggie Holder

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January 2026

1/16/2026

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We have received a very sad note from Tessa Abbott letting us know of the passing of her husband Tim on the 20th December 2025. Tim was a quietly reserved man with a smile on his face at all times. Tim's parents Lance & Barbara Abbott were well known Saluki enthusiasts in the 1960s. Lance was Secretary of the Coursing section of the SGHC. As it happens Tessa (Hope & David Waters' Daughter) and Tim started their relationship on the coursing field. I suppose their parents insisted that they join them for coursing meetings, not wanting to leave their teenage children at home. So you might say with the marriage of the Abbotts and the Waters, Tim's life has always revolved one way or another with the Saluki Club.

In Tim's business life he was a printer. Until he retired from Trendell's Ltd. his company printed "The Saluki Book of British Champions.

Recently we met up with him for a 'listening project' session with Tessa, Chris Ormsby and David Steel. It was interesting listening to them reflecting on the past. Tim related about the deep rivalry between the Abbotts and the Waters. The Abbotts championed the smooth Saluki while the Waters the feathered variety. I would not be surprised to find out that Tessa and Tim may of found this slightly amusing.

Tim and Tessa have been fortunate to have have a long and full life. I know until recently they were keen campers, oft travelling Our sympathy goes out to Tessa and their two adult children at this very difficult time. Tim, may you Rest in Peace. Funeral will be family only.

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DEc 2025

1/16/2026

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CONGRATULATIONS to Darren & Monique Thomas on their Sincerity Kalimantan Cashar (IMP FIN) JW on having a great trip to Belgium. Uuno was a shinning star winning BOB at the Brussels Dog Show 2025 Christmas show but went on to be shortlisted in Group 10.

Just an update on the new rulings regarding importation of dogs, not, before 6 months of age.  I spoke to DEFRA who advised me to email the ‘Animal & Plant Health Agency’ which is located in Weybridge. Supposedly they would come back with an answer.  As no acknowledgement of any sort arrived, I went back to DEFRA, again with my concerns.  It seems we have a law which was ratified on 2nd December 2025 but there is no management plan at this time from APHA. So, until a plan has been put together puppies are still allowed to come in as they were.  Interestingly, when DEFRA spoke they were a little vague on the rules for breeds that need genetic diversity but did not mention that they have not set up any guidance.

This country is heading back to the years pre 2000 with the enactment
Of the ‘Import of Dogs Bill”. It has made its way through Parliament, House of Lords just waiting for Royal Assent. I can not image what was going through the mind of Danny Chambers, a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament, supposedly a veterinarian when he brough this ‘bill’ to his peers. Truly this was a man that was pulling on heart strings, thinking by making a law for puppies to only be able to enter this country from 6 months, this would stop any illegal importing. I can not verify this by fact but knowing my own personal experience of bringing puppies in, we work very hard to satisfy the spirit and letter of the law, we also know that the earlier the puppies are settled into their new environment, psychologically they have a better chance of integrating positively. What will change regarding animals that are being brought into the UK illegally? Trucks, boats, and planes will be still be bringing them in from unscrupulous breeders where ever they are. The other issue that is included in the act is ear and tail cropping, which is already illegal here. No one is naïve enough to think dogs can be only docked outside of the UK. As far as FCI countries, docking tails has been illegal longer then here. Just to give an example of the new law, you have a five-month-old puppy you want to take on holiday to France. You can take it but you can not return with it for a month.

The Royal Kennel Club has shot itself in the foot again. (I will keep to this subject for now). Breeding registrations have gone down, certainly in the case of Salukis. We used to breed but now have reached an age where we do not see ourself out lasting puppies so for our last three puppies we have ‘bought’ puppies. One from France, second one from Scotland and the final one from Germany. Many other breeders have either passed away or decided like us that it is time to call it a day. If we want a new puppy we have been forced to buy from abroad as litters here have been few and far between. These imports have gone through the rigorous procedures of registration with the RKC plus some will form the future of our breed. The RKC has been considered a spokesman for pedigree dogs so why were they not lobbying to the public/MPS the pitfall of this newish law? This law has closed the door for imports so people will be forced to go out to find puppies elsewhere. First place will be internet. We all read about the different breeds on offer on the net. Puppy farmers will be inundated with the lucrative market becoming even larger.

My final question is ‘Why was the Royal Kennel Club’ not there doing what should be their job, standing up fighting for the future of our DOGS as lobbyists.

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