June 21st, 2026

 21st June 2025

SGHC has posted that Open Show which is being held in conjunction with the Hound Assoc. Championship Show, entries close this week. The committee are
pleased the entry is looking good so far.  A reminder that we will be
having a raffle on the day and Cathy Harding will be selling raffle tickets,
items for this raffle will be greatly appreciated. Please support your club
and breed specialist judge Elaine Sydney.  Suggestions to bring for
the raffle, suggested by Cathy( Chief Raffle ticket Seller) are:
A car
Gold Jewellery....only 18 ct will be acceptable
Rolex watch...a pair would be nice
Designer bags...new, no used rubbish
Motorhome...np older than 1 yr
John Walton Haddon and Adele Haddon have posted the following :
"Anyone who is attending Houndshow is invited to come along for
nibbles and fizz or other beverage. Hopefully with good weather
we will be around the Saluki ring. Adele and I are celebrating our Golden Wedding anniversary this year and Houndshow is an opportune time to celebrate it.
All are welcome whether a salukiphile or not.'


In this week's 'Our Dogs' The Jane Lilley Column is entitled Is this the beginning of the end? I am reprinting an excerpt with permission from Jane as this is a subject that was discussed at the recent SGHC AGM and in Committee of the Club.  Jane starts off with: " It is so very sad to realise that no longer do breed clubs have any power whatsoever in the selection of judges other than with their own breed shows. Surely individual clubs are more likely to contain a good selection of those who
breed and know the most experienced and dedicated of judges who can guarateed
to not only judge to type but then explain clearly in writing why they have made
their placings?  As it is now, show secretaries can so easily be misled by inviting those who tick boxes as to numbers judged but will attract few entries.  After all, would you go under a judge who took on a large good quality entry of a toy breed, with consequently little reason for his placings, walking off for
lunch, with  his parter, while commenting in a loud voice within clear earshot
of a number of exhibitors "I hate this breed"? So, the question is, why judge?
Another question: is this the beginning of the end of dog show and the results of hundred of years of breeding and health testingas we still know and appreciate it or are some of the best dogs simply staying at home? ​ Jane goes on to ask "What do you think about the the removal of power from the Breed Clubs?" 


​The future of the dog showing, in this country lies very much now in the hand's of the Royal Kennel
Club, here is the UK.  Breed clubs, in the case of the Salukis, do offer training, education
​between the two Clubs, The Northern Saluki Club and the Saluki or Gazelle Hound.  It is
an opportunity for aspiring judges whether they judge other
breeds or just starting up to learn and understand the Saluki.  It seems that to 
qualify to ​judge breeds, the prospective judges are not now required to attend or prove they are capable of understanding what the standard of each individual breed is,
what is a Saluki?   In the past the breed clubs would have had the opportunity to asses a prospective judge's readiness  to judge our breed. 

A couple of weeks a go the FCI held their World Show in Bologna, Italy.   Pulling judges
together for the show must of been very challenging as the FCI has quite a few breeds
​that we are not familiar with.  Breeds that are regional from different countries that 
have been bred for specific purposes. In the case of the  Salukis, we are a
well recognised breed with all countries in the World, all using basically  the Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club 1923 Standard.
The honour of judging the ENCI show in Bologna was Michael Forte from Ireland .
 He had entry of 44, which was considered a good entry.   I have
​looked up Mr Forte's CV, it said his family had Cocker Spaniels, Rough Collies
and German Shepherd Dogs.  Over the years he has breed Old English Sheepdogs, 
Tibetan Spaniels, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Bernese Mountain Dogs.  No
where in the list was mention of any hound.  I would think with the responsibility of
judging Salukis, accessing for the future of our breed he  attended the
                    recent Group 10 training session in Ireland, where he would of learned the unique characteristics  of the breed, a very old breed, not a man made breed,   It
would be interesting to read his critique regarding his entry but that be impossible
 as the only go to those competing at FCI Shows.  


Regarding the judging, Monte Casino (pen name) has written  
"What is happening to the top line of the Saluki? The top line defines the Saluki just as it does the Afghan,Borzoi, Deerhound and the Whippet. Looking at the results for the recent show in Italy the backline has disappeared because of the method of showing and sometimes one wonders if one is judging the hound or
the antics of the handler!  In the little booklet prepared for the SGHC and NSC Breed Appreciation Days the hound on the front is Ch Nal Janzi stood naturally of a loose lead and if you look at the dress of the
handler and her shoes she certainly could not run out as fast as some of
today's handlers so making for bad movement.  The judge should have known better but if that is all they get to see all the time
the show Saluki becomes the norm.  Whether it is the presentation of the handler, or not
but it all comes down to approval by the judge.  Judges have responsibilities to 
know and understand the Standards of the breeds they are judging, at the very least.

Blackpool Championship Show was held this weekend.  Judging
Salukis was Afghan Specialist, 
Liz Millward.  DCC, BOB went to Cathy Harding and Naomi Cowley's Ch Classicus
Odysseus at Ashahni with RDCC to Mary Sanders Parker's Heart & Soul JP
Northern Dancer at Classicus (IMP JPN).  BCC & Best Junior went to Mary Sanders Parker's Heart and Soul JP Nashwa Classicus (IMP JPN) JW.
RBCC was Liana Phillps' ChLuachmhar Jamilah  ShCEx.
Best Puppy was Denise Garratt & Sharon Oakey's Caryna Deva by Design Best Veteran
was Roslie Brady's Ch Classicus Aziz for Bodercot.  Best Special Beginner & 3rd in Group was Ms J & Ms JS
Svobodova  & Judith Ayrton's Allievo Faa Lg Rajaa