(Updated 3/5/01)

Newfie wins back-to-back Best In Shows in Port Elizabeth

Adrian Battey with SA Ch Tableview Aces High and judge Sheila Baker

A Newfoundland from top UK bloodlines - SA Ch Tableview Aces High - won back-to-back best in shows when the South African show circuit moved to the Eastern Cape for the very popular three show Port Elizabeth weekend on April 6-8, writes Jacqueline Mackenzie.

Port Elizabeth was living up to its reputation as “the windy city”, but thankfully the wind died down for the start of the show weekend. These shows are always well attended, as exhibitors have the chance to win three CCs over the weekend.

Uitenhage Kennel Club started the ball rolling on Friday with the Newfoundland SA Ch Tableview Aces High - owned and bred by Adrian Battey and Josie Rowley, formerly from the UK and now based in Cape Town - taking his first Best In Show of the weekend.

Aces High was bred in South Africa from two imported Merrybear dogs - from the highly successful UK kennel of Cutts & Galvin. His sire Ch SA & Ch UK Merrybear Einar won Best In Show at SKC in 1997 prior to his departure to South Africa with his owners. He went on to win eight Best In Shows in South Africa.

Aces High was awarded the top spot in the Working Group by Sheila Baker, going on to win Best In Show under Sheila’s husband Maurice. The Bakers, formerly Shetland Sheepdog breeders in the UK, emigrated to South Africa with their dogs several years ago.

Reserve BIS was the winner of the gundog group, the black American Cocker Spaniel High Roller, owned by Mrs Snow. High Roller was bred from a New Zealand import - SA/Zimbabwe Ch Parkavon Rock On Roller.

Best Puppy went to the van der Merwe’s South African bred Bulldog Mervander Flashing Rock, judged by Sheila Baker.

Aces High made it a double at Walmer Kennel Club on Saturday where he again took the top spot, this time under Sheila Baker, having won the Working group under Maurice. Reserve BIS was awarded to the Hound group winner, the Whippet Ch Cottoncove High Society. High Society, owned and bred by Brian Kelly out of a UK imported sire SA Ch Barnsmore Soldier Blue of Glenbervie, also won the Hound Group at the Sunday show.

Australian judge Maurice Le Cussan’s choice for Best Puppy was the South African bred Dobermann Donnehaus Blue Route, owner bred by Donne Lucas.

Although the rain came down on Sunday for Port Elizabeth Kennel Club, the sun was shining for the dogs in the big ring at the end of the day. BIS, under Belgian judge Liliane De Ridder, was the winner of the Working Group - the Siberian Husky Ch Snowdrift’s Alpher Child, locally owned and bred by Mrs van der Merwe.

Reserve was the terrier group winner, the locally bred Staffordshire Bull Terrier Kanon Mishkaay’s Dan of Vengershire, owned by van Rooyen. The choice of John Thompson for Best Puppy was the Boxer Tracey’s Dawkendale Arsonist.

The Herding group at all three shows was won by the Border Collie SA Ch Cinlock Country Boy of Venron, owned by Ron and Vanessa Juckes. Country Boy was bred from a UK imported dam SA Ch Wizaland Sewing Susan at Cinlock.
It was also a successful weekend for the big winning Canadian imported Shih Tzu Ch SA/Am/Can Symaruns Bite the Bullet of Midnightdream owned by Erwee and the Pekingese, Ch Riebeeland Born Tovey, owner bred by Mrs Stroebel, who won two out of three Utility and Toy groups respectively.