Breed Notes for March 2003

Reproduced with kind permission of Dog World & Our Dogs

March 2003
Dog World	Crufts turned out to be quite eventful for a number of reasons. Firstly to the results, Dog CC and BOB went to Am Ch Cadaga Civil Action, an American bred dog brought over for the show under the new relaxed rules and the first American dog to be shown over here in our breed. Owned by Linda Sohn and Kyoko Ozeki and bred and handled by John Oulton, Civil Action is sired by the well known Am Ch Loteki Supernatural being out of Ch Clearlake Prima At Cadaga. Civil Action does have some UK breeding behind him in that his dam is I believe a grand daughter of Am Ch Burghbridge Go For Gold at Bonifee, bred of course by our own Liz Bartam and exported to the USA by Josie Mann. Bitch CC went to Mrs M Osborne's Simply Sophia At Serenglade a ten and a half year old bitch from the Veteran Class and by Serenglade Silvanus out of Sherivale Chamois. I am not sure if this is Sophia's first CC. Reserves went to Rosemary Ayris Ch Ibstock Marksman (Ch Ibstock Mark of Distinction out of Tussalud Miss Terrie Belle) in dogs and Ringlands Tell Tale (Ch Tussalud Storyteller out of Ch Ringlands Cover Girl) in bitches. Best Puppy was Philip Shirley's Cordonrouge Ciara (Glasafon Welsh Gold at Cordonrouge out of Cordonrouge Classic Minx). As I am sure everyone will know by now Civil Action was unable to compete in the Group due to the fact that the breed judging was not completed until after the Group was over and understandably many folk have expressed concern that this should happen. Clearly it is something which is going to have to be looked at as it really is not acceptable for any BOB to miss the Group (our Breed was not alone in this I understand one particular breed did not finish judging until 8.30 in the evening!!!) Civil Action's owner, Linda Sohn, must have been bitterly disappointed although I have to say from subsequent comments she has made she accepted the position with much good grace and expressed understanding for it. Something has to be done to ensure such a situation does not happen again, as I say it is not acceptable and given the amount of planning etc that supposedly goes into Crufts it is clearly, or should be, an embarrassment to them. Since I was not present on the day I cannot comment as to any reasons as to why this happened, various comments have been made to me about things which may have contributed to this. One thing that is perhaps surprising is that having originally scheduled the Breed to comment at 9.00am apparently Crufts made an announcement through the Dog Press that judging would be brought forward to 8.30am, however in fact judging did not commence until 9.00am. It is doubtful this extra half hour would have allowed the BOB to make the Group, even so an indication that things were not run quite as professionally as we have come to expect from Crufts. Some have suggested that perhaps the time has now come to split the sexes and have two judges, although I am told the magic entry figure for splitting sexes is 275 and we still fall a little way short of this. Given that space at Crufts is at a premium one wonders whether this would be accepted with the numbers being short of 275. Others have suggested that judging commence earlier and/or Groups later (and one wonders what impact the television schedules would have on that!!!), which of course would make it a much longer day so no doubt some would be unhappy with this. It was apparently quite clear that our judge was in considerable discomfort during the day and I understand had had a fall and it maybe this impeded her somewhat. Whatever let's be fair 250 dogs at Crufts with the pressures that brings is a huge entry and tiring for any of us. As I say it needs looking at and whatever action necessary is taken to ensure this does not happen again and it would be interesting to hear what exhibitors feel is the best way forward. In all the excitement Linda was unable to get any photographs of Civil Action with his rosettes etc and has asked me to ask if anyone who may have taken suitable photos would be kind enough to let her have copies, I believe she is looking to having something suitable to use in her advertisement which will include dog and handler with rosette if possible. If anyone has perhaps they would let me know and I will pass the information on to Linda. I understand that a number of people expressed some concern over the fact that this year our ring seemed to be besieged by television cameras. Whether these were from the BBC or from Animal Planet, who I am told were doing a documentary about the BOB winner as he is one of the first American dogs to exhibit at Crufts, I do not know but presumably whoever they were they had permission form the Crufts organisers. Some have suggested that their presence rather impinged upon some of the other exhibits and at times was rather off putting with lights going on and off and camera men and photographers invading the ring space. Whether that was so or not I do not know but if it were the case then clearly something needs to be looked at here. Of course as we all know Crufts is more of a media event than a dog show, and the intrusion and paparazzi style of coverage is something other breeds have had to put up with for some time, and perhaps in view of the increasing popularity of our breed, particularly in some overseas countries whose exhibitors are now able to take part in Crufts, it is something we shall see more and more. Whatever I hope we can at least ensure that such coverage does not interfere with what should be the focus of the day, the judging of the dogs, as well as ensuring that no undue advantage is given. I am sure the debate about the events of the day will continue for some time and no doubt more will be heard. As if that was not enough excitement for the day there was the added interest of the Papillon (Butterfly Dog) Clubs new Handbook being launched. Understandably there was a great deal of interest in this and the feedback I have received is that the book has been a great success. Personally I think it is a superb production, from the front cover which is in my view artistically wonderful, through the contents of the book it has success written all over it. Following the success a few years ago of the Millennium Book of the Papillon it was clear, at least to me and some others, that colour was the only way to go for our handbooks. No longer would black and white alone be acceptable and whilst the black and white pages in the book are of clarity and good production I think it true to say that the colour pages simply stand out. I would suggest that anyone who has not yet had a copy, or wants additional copies, get them quickly as I can see it being sold out very quickly. Contact the Club Stall Holder, Stuart Cotton, for copies which are priced at £10 with postage and packing in the UK of £2.25. Congratulations must go to the Handbook sub committee, Liz and Alan Bartram and Sue Morrell for their efforts and achievement. I am sure they have learnt a great deal from this exercise and that this experience will prove extremely useful when the next one is planned. Two exhibitors who had perhaps more excitement than most were John and Josie Mann, who on their way to the show managed to hit a pheasant on the road which smashed through their radiator grill and badly damaged the radiator, not the best of starts to any show. They did not even have the satisfaction of being able to keep the pheasant to dine on, as Josie said had they thought about it the pheasant would have probably been well cooked by the time it hit the radiator!!! Fortunately only the car was damaged (and of course the poor pheasant)
Our Dogs	You will all know by now of the tragedy of the Papillon BOB winner not making the Group Judging. Ever since I judged Crufts in 1999 I have been saying that this would happen. The Breed needs two judges - it is unfair on Judges, Dogs and exhibitors to subject them to such a Marathon. For the first time a visitor from USA took DCC and BOB Sohn& Ozeki's Cadaga Civil Action. I have had the privilege of meeting Mrs Gauss the original holder of this famous affix during her frequent visits to this country and how very proud she would have been to see her old affix on such a prestigious win. John Oulton handled and congratulations and commiserations should go to all Nemo's supporters. RDCC was David & Rosemary Ayris Ch Ibstock Marksman. BCC went to the Veteran Simply Sophia of Serenglade owned by Mrs Osborne and RBCC was Norma Staff and Pat Munn's Ringlands Tell Tale. Best Puppy was Philip Shirley's Cordonrouge Ciara. Congratulations to all the winners. The new Handbook was available at Crufts and reports are very good and many words of appreciation have appeared on the Internet. I am eagerly awaiting my copy and next week I will tell you how to get yours. Philip Shirley writes" The South of England Papillon Club (proposed) would like to announce they will be holding a Papillon Fun Day/Garden Party on Saturday 19th July at Chieveley Village Hall Nr Newbury Berks(5 mins off M4 Junction 15), many fun events are planned along with great food and refreshments, all members will receive further details in the next newsheet but all Papillon owners and their dogs are welcome and if interested in receiving more details contact Anne Borg on 01865 762201.
March 2003
Dog World	The events of Crufts continue to echo around and it will be interesting to see what the outcome will be especially as there were it seems a number of breeds unable to make the Groups. I was delighted to hear the other day from Linda Phillips and exchanged some pleasant messages with her remembering the 'old days'. I remember with affection her lovely Ch Motylek Moonwings who was in the ring at the same time as our Ch Nouveau Le Grand. Lynda's husband John has not been too well lately and I was glad to hear from that the prognosis was good although as many of us who have been through that position will know it would have been a time of great worry for her. Although no longer showing her paps Linda still manages to get to the odd show showing her Guinea Pigs, mostly Rex and Texels. I was interested to hear her views on the breed as she had attended a couple of shows last year and she tells me she was a little surprised at the fluffy teddy bears she saw. Her overall impressions were that the breed was losing its elegance and reach of neck, as regards the emphasis that appeared to be given to coat alone as she says surely the cake is more important than the icing. John Edson, Secretary of the Northern and Eastern Counties Papillon Club has asked me to mention that the Snaith & District Community & Sports Hall, where the Club had been holding its Championship Shows is no longer available. This year, November 2, their Championship Show will be at a new venue of the Goole Leisure centre which is in the centre of Goole, East Yorkshire and is 2 miles off the M62 at J36. The Open Show remains at Thorpe Willoughby Village Hall, the next Show will be 27th July 2003. Always an enjoyable and friendly show and well worth attending. Two new Junior Warrant winners in the breed, both aged 15 months. Eileen Roberts & Caroline Smith's Inixia French Resistance bred by C Smith and by Inixia Party Pooper out of Inixia French Lace and Chris Pougher's Rayol Jasmena of Chriskadu again bred by Eileen and Caroline and by Glenscot Happy Welcome ay Rayol out of Rayol Clover at Harilovon. At the Scottish Papillon Club Open Show Best Dog & Best in Show went to Joan Savage's Abbeyton Silver Rain, BPIS was Elizabeth Cochrane's Tutyak Line Navigator. Best Junior Handler went to Neil Leiper. Across the sea to Ireland where at the St Patrick's Day Show Dog GS, CACIB and BOB went to Jo Davidson Poston's Ibstock Bright Spark for Spinillions with the Bitch GS and CACIB going to Dolly Kavanagh's Snowlord Swiss Maid For Serenglade. Bright Spark's 10 month old daughter Spinillions Touch of Heather also took 3rd in the Junior Stakes from a large. Philip Shirley writes The (proposed) South of England Papillon Club will be holding a Papillon Fun Day/ Garden Party on Saturday 19th July at Chieveley Village Hall, Nr. Newbury Berks (5 mins off M4 junction 15), many fun events are planned along with great food and refreshments, all members will receive further details in the next newssheet but all papillon owners and their dogs are welcome and if interested in receiving more details please contact Anne Borg on 01865 762201. A reminder that those folk who have trophies to bring back for the Papillon (Butterfly Dog) Club Championship Show that if you are unable to be present on the day you should ensure these are returned before the Show. These should go to John Mann at 7 Patrick's Close, North Kelsey, Nr Market Rasen Lincs LN7 6LH, John has very kindly agreed to step into the breach at short notice and take over the position of Acting Cup Steward. As I am sure everyone will have seen Dog World has kindly agreed to include a Special Feature on our forthcoming 80th Anniversary Championship Show and will have a photographer at the show to take pictures for anyone wishing to be included in the feature. I am sure we will all look forward to seeing this pictorial record of the show and I know there has been a lot in interest from around the world in this. I must say that when the committee started making plans for this show I am sure none of us imagined for one moment we would be so generously supported by so many people with donations of special trophies especially from our overseas friends, the list really is unbelievable. I have been delighted, as I am sure have the sub committee, with the response to the new Papillon (Butterfly Dog) Club Handbook and have received many messages of congratulations from folk. I think it more than fair to say that this has been an outstanding success in all aspects. The AGM for the Club will of course take place on 4 May and members will shortly be getting details of something being organised to take place before the Meeting. I hope as many members as possible will be able to attend, I know it is difficult often to get away for the day for shows let alone AGM's, but it is an opportunity for everyone to take part in the running of their Club and to make their views known.
Our Dogs	The Scottish Papillon Club Open Show took place on 15th with Sue Terry judging. BOB & BIS was Joan Savages Abbeyton Silver Rain with RD &RBIS going to the Leiper's Graycaz Give It Up for Thello. BB was the Skelton's Adnamashan As Cute Asa and RBB was Anne Mc Donald's Dohmnull Copy Deadline. Best Puppy went to Elizabeth Cochrane's Tutylak Line Navigator. JH 6-11 was won by Neil Leiper and 12-16 by Claire Mills, Best JH was Neil Leiper. I only have a note of the Green Star winners at the St Patricks Day Show probably because my server is refusing to forward my mail! this happens sometimes and is most frustrating. BOB, DGS and CACIB was Jo Davidson-Postons Ibstock Bright Spark for Spinillions and BGS and CACIB was Dolly Kavanagh's Snowlord Swiss Maid for Serenglade.
March 2003
Dog World	I am sorry that my notes did not appear on time for the edition with the Crufts Results. I had sent this by e-mail at noon Thursday morning, apparently Dog World did not receive these until late after noon and whilst normally the notes are required by Thursday apparently this was too late for that edition. One of the youngest competitors at Crufts must have been young Adam Hiscocks aged 8 years old who certainly had a very busy time showing in many events. In the Y.K.C. he came 14th out of 38 in obedience (where he was the youngest competitor with the smallest dog!!), he came a creditable 2nd in the 8-11 year old agility, 30th in the Triathlon and another creditable 3rd in the 8-11 year old ABC (anything but a collie!!) Both he and his dog Happypappy Copper Junior must have been exhausted at the end but I am sure extremely pleased with himself. Eileen Roberts has asked me to mention that she would very much like to hear from anyone in the London Area who would be prepared to act on behalf of the Welfare/Rescue in assessing available homes. Placing any dog is a worry, more so when it is one that has come through the hands of Rescue so obviously everything possible must be done to ensure that this time the dog gets the right home. It's not easy for the Rescue folk, obviously they cannot travel all over the country and London in particular is not an easy place in which to make assessments. If anyone can help or has suggestions please contact Eileen on 0116 278 1976. Another good win for Jo Davidson-Poston with her Ibstock Bright Spark of Spinillions taking BOB. Toy Group and ending up BIS at Wembley and District C.A Open Show, a fourth BIS to date for Zebedee. I know I keep going on about the Special Trophies that have been awarded for the Club Show next month, but I have really been taken aback by the generosity of people particularly our overseas members. As well as those whose pictures have been put up on the Club web site, I have recently received pictures of the two trophies donated by Tiia & Mika Koskinen of the Whitefairies Kennels in Finland and Vesa Toivanen of the Connection Kennels also in Finland. The Whitefairies Trophies are hand made Finnish Design plates with butterflies made of 24 carat gold, one plate in blue and the other in green and they really are delightful. Vesa has presented a more traditional silver cup which again is most attractive. Pictures of these too have been put up on the club's web site and if you have not yet seen them its worth a visit, the address of course is http://www.papillonclub.co.uk . Eileen and Neville Bates from S Africa have donated two cash awards of £25 each to go to the Reserve in Post Graduate dog and Post Graduate Bitch. Eileen says the class is always one of her favourites and she wanted to try and let someone other than the winners of the classes get something. We do of course have prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in all classes anyway.
Our Dogs	I wonder how many people realised that the winner of Open Bitch at Crufts was Lynda Woodrow's Lynflyer Perfect Lady - the Emmerdale Papillon 'Tootsie'. As Alex Foreman always says Papillons have both Beauty and Brains!! Jo Davidson-Poston has been having a successful time, as well as winning BOB at St Patricks Day in Ireland with Ibstock Bright Spark for Spinillions his daughter S Touch of Heather (10mths old) was 3rd in the J Stakes from a large entry. Then back in England Zebedee won his 4th BIS at Wembley & Dist under Jane Lilley and BIS judge Chris Wyatt. Again his daughter this time S A Touch Of Hope went RBOB and was PG4. To add to a wonderful day her Spinone also won BOB and was G2 I have now learnt that the RBGS at St Patricks Day was Irene Waters Ch Vella Ennis. A bichon lady from somewhere in the Lancashire region has told of seeing a rather dirty caged B/W Papillon bitch with a group of travellers now moved to the Preston region. The children told her that they also had her puppy and she asks if anyone has lost a bitch. I am sorry not to be able to give more information but perhaps it is worth enquiring at travellers sites in the Preston area.