NEWSLETTER NUMBER 2

NEWSLETTER NUMBER 2

DECEMBER 1989

Nettle Cottage

Dear Members,

Well, our numbers are continuing to rise, and increased interest is being shown all over the country. Many people in other clubs have offered us support, and we have got several activities arranged in the next few months. Adverts will be put in the dog papers about these events, so do try and support them and bring your friends.

I have just been reading my dog papers and am horrified to read that the Kennel Club have issued statistics in which we are told that out of 15,244 litters recorded, there are 12 bitches who have had seven or more litters, one bitch with 10 or more litters, and the worst case is a 10 litter/30 puppy recording. This is a very bad state of affairs, and I do hope that breeders will, in future, have more consideration and love for their bitches. I have been known to have four litters out of one bitch, but I normally aim for three litters (one a year) providing that the bitch is a healthy, self-whelping bitch, and I have a waiting list for puppies. We really must try to be more responsible owners and breeders.

Ann Gatenby

CRUFTS 1991

Exhibitors will probably have noticed that, for the 1991 Crufts at the NEC, the qualifier is considerably better. Places down to third in Minor Puppy, Puppy, Junior, Post Graduate, Limit and Open will qualify and you can count your qualifying wins as from October 29th 1989! Hence congratulations are in order to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gatenby from Southsea as their bitch DEBUTANTE AT GATEHORN won second in Junior and First in Maiden at the East Midlands Championship Show on November 5th. Well done! There will also be classes for puppies from 9-12 months and there will be veteran classes as well. The date for the 1991 Crufts is January 9th-12th, and the closing date will be October 29th 1990. Of course, if you have a K.C. Stud book number, you will be qualified for life.

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I recently went to a show and was talking to Topsy Bull, who many of you will know as a breeder of Pointers and also as a Field Officer of the Kennel Club. I have known Topsy for quite a long time, but haven't seen her lately as she has moved to Devon. However, she invited me to go to a Secretary's Seminar she was organising with the speakers being Bill Edmonds who is the Public Relations Officer at the Kennel Club (and incidentally who lives very near me) and Ian Hampton, who is on the Judges Committee at the Kennel Club and whose wife Olga, is the Secretary of W.E.L.K.S. Elaine Russell and I went off to Cheltenham Racecourse, where the seminar was to be held, and I must say it was extremely informative, and we made some very useful contacts. Hopefully it will be of some help in our next application for recognition. Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

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Well, I've just crawled home after our highly successful Christmas match and party. We had a great time, and all thanks are due to our western region show manager, Elaine Russell. The atmosphere was very Christmassy, and all the classes were well filled. Laurie Ford put in some very hard work judging us, and modesty forbids me to say who the Best Handler in Show was! The best opposite sex handler was Gail Flack from Southampton and the best puppy handler was Kevin Woodage from Bracknell. Laurie Ford and his wife very kindly presented the club with a magnificent perpetual trophy, which was presented to the Best Handler in the Match, and also brought many items for the raffle. Many thanks to both of them. Also a beautiful cup for best puppy handler was presented by Cliff and Barbara Smart who also deserve our sincere thanks.

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COMPETITION

We are looking for a good "logo" to adopt for the club for use on badges, letter headings etc., and we are asking members to submit suitable logos to be judged by the committee. The winner will receive a handsome prize, and entries should be in by the end of March 1990.

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NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGION

Basingstoke Staffords

Steve Tawton from Basingstoke write - "The club was started 10 months ago, and there are now 30 members. We meet every Monday from 7.30 - 9.30 at Dummer village hall (Junction 7 on M3) when we have many social activities such as matches between other training clubs and where there is close competition and lots of fun. Also some serious training in the art of showing and handling your dogs. There are several top winners in the club such as Brenda and Dennis Cornwall, Sandy and Joan Boyd, and Ron and Rebecca Cox. Of course the members are all hoping that the Downlands club will "take off" as the travelling to and rom shows is quite hard going, hence the need for something more local.

Portsmouth and District Bull Breeds Handling

Elaine Russell tells us - "The past year has been very successful, and our Stafford membership continues to grow. The are 19 finalists for the Bull Breed (handler) of the Year, to be held on December 7th at Kings Kennels, Bartons Road, Havant at 8 o'clock, and the week after, it is our Christmas Party (whoopee!). Finances are healthy, and we hope to hold an exemption show in the new year in aid of the anti-dog fighting fund. We meet first and third Thursdays in the month at the above venue. Incidentally we have two honorary Stafford, which are 1) Holly (Bull Terrier) owned by Tina Bloomfield, and 2) two bull mastiffs owned by Joy Robinson, both of whom are very loyal members of our club. Several people have qualified for 1990 Crufts, and two have qualified for 1991! (and two have qualified for life). The P.& D.B.B. Handling club wish all club members are very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."

Sussex Bull Breeds (Crawley)

Steve Dickenson tells me that his club, although only a few months old, has really taken off. At one meeting there were 35 dogs and handlers and, although only a small minority who come are show dogs, the social side is very active, and he encourages people to bring dogs along for the "fun" side of the evening, and not only for serious show training, although this is a very important side of this club. All bull breeds are welcome providing that their intentions are honourable.

Archivist's note: This was a six page A5 booklet, without covers. All details have been reproduced here except for the competition address. The remainder of the newsletter consisted of Christmas Greetings, Puppies for sale, 'At Stud' and other classified advertisements.