Reserves
(l to r), Sp/Port/Eng Ch Shiawandi Ga Ga, Ragoosa Curium Princess
and Lisimo I Love to Boogie, pictured with Terry Poole, one
of the judges
and Cheryl Holmes, Secretary of the event.
The Lhasa Apso Inter-Club’s Challenge Competitions and
Gala have, over the years, grown to be a highlight in the
calendar of breed enthusiasts. Whether or not one has qualified
a dog, it is a great social event, so many come along just
for the interest and fun of the occasion.
The management of the well-chosen venue of the Honiley Court
Hotel in the Warwickshire countryside must surely rub their
hands in glee when a high proportion of the participants book
in for an overnight stay, to enjoy the weekend to its full.
This event has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989,
when it was a much more casual affair, with home-made ‘eats’
in an informal venue. I remember one year a black mat was
laid out on the grass area outside, because the weather was
good, but the grass a little long! This is a jointly organised
event, but I know that Cheryl Holmes has done much of the
organising for several years now, assisted by many pairs of
helpful and enthusiastic hands.
Everyone meets around lunch-time and as always there is much
speculation as to which people milling around the hotel without
dogs might be the team of three judges, for, except for the
odd occasion in the past, this has always been a closely kept
secret. This year it was Wendy Cain, Josie Richardson and
Terry Poole who had the honours, their names and those of
the dogs paired being pulled out of a ‘hat’ (actually
it was a very pretty waste-paper basket!) as the day progressed.
However, before all this happened all the exhibits were paraded
with their details so that they could have their moment of
glory out of the judges’ earshot.
Highly reputed
Unfortunately
there was no microphone system operating this year so Sally
Pointon, who was commentating, had to exercise her vocal chords
to the full.
The first competition, for the Thelma Morgan Trophy, was for
those dogs and bitches that had been declared Best and Reserve
Best of Sex at all breed club shows during 2002. Thelma was
highly reputed in our breed, and was Our Dogs’ Breed
Note Correspondent until I took over from her following her
death, shortly before these competitions commenced. There
were 31 Apsos entered and 24 were present, these finally whittled
down to the last three, from which the judges jointly decided
on the winner and reserve. The winner was Gillian Holland’s
Deelayne Ever Decent, handled by Claire Bloomfield, and this
was quite a family affair for Claire is the sister of Madaleine
Lewis whose Sp/Port/Eng Ch Shiawandi Ga Ga, co-owned with
Vicki Noble, took the Reserve award. Madaleine was also the
breeder of the winner.
The second competition was for the Brackenbury Memorial Trophy,
in memory of the late Beryl Prince, breeder of the first champion
to gain his crown after CC’s were re-allocated for Apsos
in 1965. This competition was for dogs and bitches having
won a first prize in a Veteran class at breed shows during
the prior year and 8 were present on the day. The winner,
for the second year running was Mr and Mrs Church’s Tirkane
Daffy Duck, handled by son, Shane. Runner up was Jo House’s
Ragoosa Curium Princess.
Tasteful
To
close the afternoon, which was a very full one, the Puppy
and Minor Puppy winners competed for the Daphne-Hesketh Williams
Memorial Salver. Like the other ladies, Daphne will be long
remembered, not least for the many years she served as Hon
Secretary of the Lhasa Apso Club and for the fact that is
was she who owned and campaigned Ch Brakenbury Gunga Din of
Verles to that first post-war title.
Ten puppies competed for this trophy on the day, though some
were already looking like mature young adults, having won
their qualifying classes around a year ago. The judges selected
Julie Hazelhurst’s Patarch Prim and Proper as the winner,
with Teresa and Alan Wiehe’s Lisimo I Love to Boogie
in Reserve.
And ‘boogie’ was certainly to be the theme for the
evening when, following a tastefully selected meal with equally
tasteful table decorations, the Apso fraternity let its hair
down once again at this annual event and partied until the
early hours of the morning.
At
breakfast the following day I enquired how long the post-disco
‘drinks’ had gone on and Joan Scarll announced that
she had been talking fish (she and husband John have a fish
farm) until well into the morning. All I can ask myself, is
how on earth everyone looked so bright at breakfast? Though
there were just a few exceptions, as you can appreciate, but
nothing to do with fish!
Competition
winners (l to r), Deelayne Ever Decent, Tirkane Daffy Duck
and Patarch Prim And Proper at Corrols, pictured with judges,
Wendy Cain, Terry Poole and Josie Richardson.
