The sudden death of Yvonne Lyons will have shocked the Belgian Shepherd community and also her many dog friends in the Cumbria area where she was based for many years, writes Deborah Peniston Fleming
Yvonne got her first groenendael, Seahart Peggy Sue, in 1977 and was persuaded to show. She quickly became a familiar figure in the North West of England and based in Flimby, near Maryport, started travelling far including regular trips to Europe. Her interest in the breed saw her as a founder member and first secretary of the Northern Belgian Shepherd Dog Club, a position she held for many years.
On the first day of their honeymoon Yvonne brought David to Leeds Ch show and the other exhibitors on discovering this decorated her bench and gave them a rousing send off from the show. Peggy Sue was a tremendous foundation bitch for the Alycon kennel, producing Mo Glentons Ch Alcyon Comet CDex, UDex, WD, Ch Alycon Shooting star, Ch Alycon Khamsin, Ch Alcyon Thira and Ch Alycon Irresistible.
In 1987 Alcyon Thira, who was co-owned with Roz Timperon, took reserve in the working group at Crufts – a huge win for the breed as in those days there were only two group places. Her interest took her abroad and in 1987 she also imported the Tervueren Joy Van de Hoge Laer of Alcyon and the groenendael Zantha Zarka V’t Belgish Schoon. Zarka later did her second spell in quarantine in 1989 when she was mated for Fr Ch Vulcain du Chateau des Mousseaux producing Ch Alcyon Parisienne Prince at Vanistica who is behind most of the Vanistica kennel today. She also imported a male Ch Kadok de la Maison du Bois of Alcyon who was not extensively used, but did produce Ch Vanistica Moondust who was top puppy in 1998 and also features heavily in the Vanistica pedigree.
Yvonne had kept a promising youngster from her quarantine born litter, Alcyon Gaie Parisienne who sadly did not come round from anaesthetic after a routine x-ray for hip scoring. This really demoralised Yvonne and at this time she started an interest in horses which eventually overtook her dog hobby.
She awarded CCs in the breed and last judged at the BSDA Ch show in 2007 judging Tervueren.
Yvonne had recently had a heart bypass and died following complications.
Our thoughts go to David at this time.
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