January 2007
The start of the year saw the formal introduction of the new Provincial Council, the Northern Areas Provincial Council (NAPC), to cover a group of clubs that operate in the northern regions of Gauteng. During the year, these Clubs held successful shows under their new administration, under the chairmanship of Case van Hattem.
Following an enthusiastically-participated evaluation system, the winners of the SHOWDOGS Shows of 2006 were announced: ALL BREEDS SHOW OF THE YEAR 2006: SA Ladies Kennel Association RUNNER-UP: Western Province Kennel Club SHOW WEEKEND OF THE YEAR 2006: George & Outeniqua Kennel Clubs RUNNER-UP: Uitenhage, Port Elizabeth & Walmer Kennel Clubs GROUP SHOW OF THE YEAR 2006: Cape Hound Club RUNNER-UP: Jubliee Toy Dog Club SPECIALTY OF THE YEAR 2006: Irish Wolfhound Club of Gauteng RUNNER-UP: Northern Transvaal Dobermann Club
During the course of 2006, puppies earned points towards the brand new Eukanuba / SHOWDOGS Puppy Points System by winning Puppy Group Placings and Best Puppy or Reserve Best Puppy in Show awards. Puppy owners were kept waiting anxiously as the count-down began towards the end of the year, culminating in the final announcement in early January. The winners were: PUPPY OF THE YEAR 2006: Pekingese - Seawind Jack Daniels (Ryrie) FIRST RUNNER-UP: Chow Chow - Kimekai Son of Samuri (Nicolau) SECOND RUNNER-UP: Dobermann - Dolcoed Auri of Southernbell (Griffith)			Seawind Jack Daniels
At the AnimalTalk Top 100 Awards Ceremony in Johannesburg early January, the black Standard Poodle, Ch. Le Pommier The Gladiator, bred, owned and presented to perfection by Theresa Swanepoel, was announced the AnimalTalk Top Dog for 2006. "Armand" finished 2006 in tremendous style winning not only this highly sought-after title, but also the KUSA Showdog 2006 to cap a year of superlative performance.			Ch. Le Pommier The Gladiator
On a more serious note, Ray Clark, Chairman of the Highveld Belgian Shepherd Dog Club, was brutally attacked by robbers in his home. Ray sustained serious injuries and recuperation was long and painful.
Paul Breytenbach, well-loved Committee Member of the Rottweiler Working and Breeding Association (RWBA), lost the battle for his life after a brutal attack on the committee at a meeting in Bredell. Paul had been seriously wounded in the ensuing gunfire, along with the other committee members who were roughed up and robbed of personal effects. Paul was laid to rest on 5 January.
The glamorous, Supa 7 Spectacular took place at Carnival City on 20 January. The judge, kept secret until the last minute, was Mr Bill Browne-Cole from the UK. Competition for this evening event is by invitation only for the Top 7 adult dogs in each group plus all Best Puppy in Show winners during the previous year. BEST IN SHOW: American Akita - Ch. Melodor Golden Bear of Montala (Streak)  BEST PUPPY IN SHOW: Newfoundland - Duramti For I Am Titan (Bedier / Bezuidenhout)			Ch. Melodor Golden Bear of Montala
February 2007
February started tragically with the passing of Stephanie Hogg, daughter of Ken and Edith Hogg, after a long struggle with cancer. Stephanie was a tireless worker on the Durban & Districts KC Committee, and owned and showed the young Whippet, Cottoncove Mystic River, that ended the year winning Top Hound Puppy in the Eukanuba / SHOWDOGS Puppy Points.			Stephanie Hogg
Later that month saw another loss for the KwaZulul Natal community with the traumatic passing of Rita Burdette (84), who was found murdered in her abandoned car after it had been stolen. In her time, Rita bred and showed Pembroke Welsh Corgis.
On the other side of the world, the Westminster Kennel Club Show was held on 12 & 13 February. This magnificent showcase of American champions attracts huge interest from fanciers around the world, enhanced in modern times with streaming videos available online within two hours of each event - almost like being there! This year's Best in Show winner was the English Springer Spaniel, Ch. Felicity's Diamond Jim (Patton, Hadsell)			Ch. Felicity's Diamond Jim
Locally, as the country sweltered under climate-changing heatwaves, ringcraft classes and open shows were well under way in preparation for the start of the new championship show season.
March 2007
Howling gales and torrential rain greeted the start of the 2007 championship show season in Cape Town. First up, the Kennel Association's 100th Championship Show - a two-day event with a panel of overseas judges for all groups - a fiscally wise move on the part of the KA Committee, facilitating a doubling-up of resources, but met with mixed feelings amongst exhibitors who travelled far. The show also hosts the annual Vet's Choice Supreme Puppy Invitational, a prestigious competition for all Best Puppy in Show Winners of the previous Year. SUPREME PUPPY OF THE YEAR: American Akita - Montala Kami Nari (Streak) RUNNER-UP: Newfoundland - Duramti For I Am Titan (Bedier / Bezuidenhout)			Montala Kami Nari
Kennel Association: ~ Best in Show - Judge Mr P. John (India): Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Ch. Sylon Bliksem of Niccyn (van Niekerk) ~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mrs L. Dorr (Australia): Shar Pei - Waggitail Jus The Way UR (Vorster / Zetler) Liesbeek KC: ~ Best in Show - Judge Mr D. Ramahlo (Portugal): Rottweiler - Sputnix Excallibur (Lewis) ~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mr P. John (India): Pomeranian - Calmady Why Not A Rose (Prior)		Ch. Sylon Bliksem of Niccyn	Sputnix Excallibur
Miles Young - stalwart as a KUSA Representative, Ring Steward, Show Organiser and remarkable character of the dog community - suffered a stroke in the early hours of Sunday morning 4 March and passed away shortly thereafter. His fun-loving manner of herding recalcitrant exhibitors into manageable order will be fondly remembered and missed by many.
The day after the Cape Shows saw Helen Theron - National Handler for the second time - jetting off to Birmingham to attend the 2007 International Junior Handlers Competition at Crufts. This experiential event was followed, shortly thereafter, by trip to the continent where she had the good fortune of handling several dogs in the classes and competed in and won several Junior Handling titles: ~ Goes Dog Show (Holland) - Judge: Mr W. Schrijver ~ Amiens Dog Show (France) - Judge: Mr Dessene ~ Haspengouwse Kynologen v.z.w in Genk (Belgium) - Judge: Mrs J. Papp			Helen Theron - National Junior Handler
The biggest dog show in the world, Crufts (Birmingham, UK), attracted an entry of 20,000 dogs from the UK and many countries participating in the Pet Passport Scheme. Under Best in Show Judge, Mrs Zena Thorn-Andrews, the winner was the Tibetan Terrier, Ch. & Ch. (USA) Araki Fabulous Willy, owned by Smith & Shaw. In second place was the Wire Fox Terrier, Ch. Travella Show Stopper, owned by Browne-Cole & Allen.			Ch. & Ch. (USA) Araki Fabulous Willy
The Roodepoort & Districts Kennel Club Show, at Goldfields on 25 March, found the following winners under Judge, Jacki Jackson: ~ Best in Show: Basenji - Kitokumbwa Kizitu (Meyer / Knight) ~ Best Puppy in Show: Pomeranian - Calmady Why Not A Rose (Prior)			Kitokumbwa Kizitu
The final weekend of March belonged to 'Wits and Midlands', with the following results: Transvaal Midlands KC, under Judge, Mr R. Stoate (Australia): ~ Best in Show: Rottweiler - Mipret Duuk Second (Pretorius) ~ Best Puppy in Show: Dalmatian - Dallmalli Gotta Hand It To Labyrinth (Dyker) Witwatersrand KC, under Judge, Mr Tony Syme (Australia): ~ Best in Show: Irish Wolfhound- Swordstone Faolan (Lawson) ~ Best Puppy in Show: Pomeranian - Calmady Why Not A Rose (Prior)		Mipret Duuk Second	Swordstone Faolan
April 2007
April 1st, and it was time to pull some legs. SHOWDOGS published an article proclaiming the imminent arrival of the first Australian Dingo in South Africa, scheduled to make its first appearance at Goldfields pending KUSA's acceptance of the FCI breed standard. Within 24 hours, the outroar was almost palpable! Gullible bunny-huggers and a few why-didn't-I-think-of-that-first jealous types literally attacked SHOWDOGS telephonically and via email. Highly indignant emails by the dozen were received from various Australian Wildlife Conservation Groups and the prank became a hot topic on four public forums (one local and the rest Australian!) None of these indignant complainers checked the date of the article and none had the foresight to question or challenge an obviously suspect story. The word 'gullible' springs to mind.....
Hardly an April Fools' prank, the early part of this month also saw a crisis hitting the pet food industry worldwide. South Africa did not remain unaffected and tons of pet food was recalled after it was found to be the cause of several pet deaths and serious illness. After exhaustive testing, it was found that one of the raw materials had been deliberately contaminated with the plastic substance, melamine, by the manufacturers in China to elevate protein content as cheaply as possible. Because melamine is plastic-based, it escaped routine testing. Following the successful recall of all contaminated product, subsequent supplies were declared safe and healthy and there were no further problems.
The Port Elizabeth weekend was missing an important person - Miles Young. Flags flew half mast and special commemorative rosettes were issued. But the show had to go on, as Mile would have said, and the weekend was another outstanding success with willing helpers rallying to Ring Steward service. Uitenhage KC: ~ Best in Show - Judge Mr F. M. MacDonald (Canada): Irish Wolfhound- Swordstone Faolan (Lawson) ~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mrs C. Ringstrom (Canada): Pomeranian - Calmady Why Not A Rose (Prior) Port Elizabeth KC: ~ Best in Show - Judge Ms J. Browning (Gauteng): Rottweiler - Sputnix Excallibur (Lewis) ~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mr F. M. MacDonald (Canada): Pomeranian - Calmady Why Not A Rose (Prior) Walmer & Sub KC: ~ Best in Show - Judge Mr G. Bidder (WC): American Akita - Montala Kami Nari (Streak) ~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Ms F. Browning-Cristina (Gauteng): Lhasa Apso- Rosibel Apsolootly Gold of Clanmacmer (McKechnie)
	Swordstone Faolan	Sputnix Excallibur	Montala Kami Nari
One of the country's most respected All-breeds Judges, KUSA Representatives and Boxer enthusiasts, Jim Lankenau, passed away on his 87th birthday on 23 April. Although Jim's health had been failing him for some time, he continued to show great interest in the dog scene as long as he was able.			Jim Lankenau
Pretoria and Eastern Disticts Kennel Clubs shared a weekend at the end of April. Hosted by Pretoria KC, the Premium Puppy Competition finds a winner from all group-winning puppies during the previous year and the Champion of Champions Challenge is for champion dogs gazetted during the previous year. PREMIUM PUPPY OF THE YEAR: Poodle (Toy) - Nyanja Wild Genes (Alberts) CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS: Dalmatian - Ch. Dallmalli Have Your Say (Immelman)			Nyanja Wild Genes
			Ch. Dallmalli Have Your Say
Pretoria KC: ~ Best in Show - Judge Mr B. Gregory (UK): Bearded Collie - Ch. Scottsdale Ocean Drive for Ashvale (Ashton) ~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Ms J. Browning: Dachshund (Standard Smooth-haired) - Waydack Without Doubt (Jenkins) Eastern Dist. KC under Judge Mr R. Baker (Australia): ~ Best in Show: Corgi (Pembroke Welsh Corgi) - Ch. Highleigh Ready Teddy Go of Yakutat (Brewer & McGregor) ~ Best Puppy in Show: Dalmatian - Dallmalli Gotta Hand It To Labyrinth (Dyker)		Ch. Scottsdale Ocean Drive for Ashvale	Ch. Highleigh Ready Teddy Go of Yakutat
May 2007
The country was thrust suddenly into the icy grips of winter as excessive rainfall and electric storms led to flooding in many parts of the country and a miserable time experienced by many.
The May weekend in Durban found the following results: Highway KC under Judge Mrs M. McKenzie (Australia): ~ Best in Show: Poodle (Standard) - Ch. Marechal Positive Accent (Kiefer & McQuarrie) ~ Best Puppy in Show: Australian Shepherd - Stavros Devil Wears Prada (Gray) Natal Coast KC under Judge Mrs S. Crozier (Australia): ~ Best in Show: Australian Shepherd - KUSA Nat Pup '05 Ch. Strathaven Just Perfect (Colborne) ~ Best Puppy in Show: Scottish Terrier - Arabella's Newcomer of Gelitaru (Loocke)		Ch. Marechal Positive Accent	KUSA Nat Pup '05 Ch. Strathaven Just Perfect
Further north, the following Gauteng shows were held. Western Gauteng KC hosts the annual Golden Paw Challenge for Group Winners. There is a handsome cash prize for the winner: GOLDEN PAW WINNER: Ch. Kazval Classic Example for Chalcopyrite (Elliott)			Ch. Kazval Classic Example for Chalcopyrite
Northern Tshwane KC, under Judge Ms P Guild: ~ Best in Show: Poodle (Standard)- Ch. Le Pommier The Gladiator (Swanepoel) ~ Best Puppy in Show: Dobermann - Vom Illerdamm Hugo Boss (Lucas) Western Gauteng KC: ~ Best in Show - Judge Mr G. Spagnolo (Australia): Maltese - Ch. Libra Dare To Dream (Gouws) ~ Best Puppy in Show: English Springer Spaniel - Barecho Jazz Dancer (Burger)		Ch. Le Pommier The Gladiator	Ch. Libra Dare To Dream
Towards the end of the month, Dave Harris (German Shepherd Dogs) was attacked in his home and shot in the shoulder. He underwent surgery and recuperated successfully.
Down south, in the beautifully shady James Pearce Park, the East London shows took part in glorious weather. East London KC: ~ Best in Show - Judge Mrs L. Wilson: Italian Greyhound - Ch. (USA) Bo-Bett's Red Buttons at Canta Libre (Parkhouse) ~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mrs R-M Cabion: Bearded Collie - Westmilwunda Ocean Dream for Ashvale (Ashton) Port Rex KC: ~ Best in Show - Judge Mrs R-M Cabion: Shih Tzu - Ch. (USA, Can) Wenrick's One Man Band (Erwee) ~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mrs L. Wilson: Collie (Rough) - Mirriyuula Juz Outa Oz (Guild)		Ch. (USA) Bo-Bett's Red Buttons at Canta Libre	Ch. (USA, Can) Wenrick's One Man Band
June 2007
Chilly June started with the KUSA Classic at Goldfields, Johannesburg. Dominating the lower field, was a rather large marquee to accommodate the evening event - the KUSA National Finals. A panel of international judges officiated at the Championship Show and KUSA Nationals. The following day, the FCI Africa International was held according to FCI rules, following FCI standards, meeting mixed feelings from many exhibitors. Helen Theron won the title of National Junior Handler for the third time, which will once again entitle her to compete at Crufts in the International Junior Handlers Competition. The winner of KUSA National Dog may carry this prestigious title in its official name. KUSA NATIONAL DOG 2007: Poodle (Standard) - Ch. Marechal Positive Accent (Kiefer & McQuarrie) RUNNER-UP: Whippet - Ch. Teltrishka Cassie Cassandra (Courtney) KUSA NATIONAL PUPPY 2007: Pomeranian - Calmady Why Not A Rose at Xantah (Fourie & Prior) KUSA NATIONAL JUNIOR HANDLER: Helen Theron			KUSA Nat. Dog '07 Ch. Marechal Positive Accent
			Calmady Why Not A Rose at Xantah
KUSA Championship Show: ~ Best in Show - Judge Mr C. Sudarson (India): Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Ch. Sylon Leo (van Niekerk) ~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mr N. Molin (Sweden): Great Dane - Saxony Goody Too Shoes (McKay) FCI Africa International Show: ~ Best in Show - Judge Mr M. Duarte (Brazil): Poodle (Standard) - KUSA Nat. Dog '07 Ch. Marechal Positive Accent (Kiefer & McQuarrie) ~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mr S. Tripoli (Italy): Great Dane - Saxony Goody Too Shoes (McKay)		Helen Theron - National Junior Handler	Ch. Sylon Leo
The usual early morning winter frost greeted exhibitors at the Oudtshoorn weekend shows, which this year celebrated their election as the SHOWDOGS Show Weekend of the Year. Outeniqua KC: ~ Best in Show - Judge Mr M. Simpson: Italian Greyhound - Ch. (USA) Bo-Bett's Red Buttons at Canta Libre (Parkhouse) ~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mr M. Herholdt: Pekingese - Calmady The Wizard of Seawind (Ryrie) George KC: ~ Best in Show - Judge Mr M. Herholdt: Dobermann - Fenris Sing Solo (De Broglio) ~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mr G. Bidder : Dachshund (Miniature Smooth haired) - Bojo (Balona)		Ch. (USA) Bo-Bett's Red Buttons at Canta Libre	Fenris Sing Solo
The dog community was shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Alan Ventress on 20 June. An experienced All-breeds judge, Alan was very active in judging, ring stewarding and show administration. His knowledge was substantial and frequently sought and respected. He is sorely missed.			Alan Ventress
While snow is a common occurrence in certain parts of sunny South Africa during winter, Johannesburg has not seen snow for 19 years. A brief snowfall over the city during the night of the 27th caused much excitement and exclamation.
		Chapter 2 >
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