The Durban July weekend was an ideal show venue to escape the winter cold in other regions.

Durban & Districts KC - 4 July:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Ros Bacich (Australia): AFGHAN HOUND - KUSA NAT DOG '08 CH AGHA DJARI'S QUESTION OF HONOUR OF ACCOLADES (WESSELS)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mrs Ros Bacich (Australia): WHIPPET - SMITHVALE SIMPLY SPLENDID (SMITH)

Pietermaritzburg KC - 5 July:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs S. Shrigley (Australia): IRISH WOLFHOUND - CH SWORDSTONE FAOLAN (LAWSON)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mr R. Rotner (Slovenia): FRENCH BULLDOG - KASSINJA BRING IT ON AT MONTALA (STREAK)

At the Mashonaland Ladies Kennel Club, held in Zimbabwe, Best in Show went to a Great Dane, ANVIN ZERAGE AT REBASHKIE, owned by Mrs C G Jennings, with Res Best in Show going to a Veteran Long-coat Chihuahua, CH. (ZIM / ZAM) XELA AMARANTOS NASTASSJA, owned by Mrs P A Mackinlay. Judge was Mrs H S Impey (WC).

And at the Hatfield Kennel Club, Zimbabwe, Best in Show was awarded to a Doberman, HYSAND QUAESTA VON COLENETAL , owned by Ms G M McLaughlan. Res Best in Show went to an Irish Setter, SHAMWARI PRINCESS OF KRUGER, owned by Mrs  H E R Clarke. Judge was Mrs T A Manduell-Carkeek (KZN).

The newly-formed Junior KC, based in Johannesburg, qualified to hold their first championship show this year. This was the first all-breeds club to be formed in more than thirty years.

Junior KC - 11 July:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mr R. Rotner (Slovenia): AMERICAN AKITA - CH MELODOR GOLDEN BEAR AT MONTALA (STREAK)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Ms Francesca Browning-Cristina (SA): SIBERIAN HUSKY - BEDARRA ACQUIRE THE FIRE (BATTEY)

Following the Junior KC's first championship show, a number of disgruntled exhibitors hit the forums with a barrage of criticism and abuse against their administration of the show.

Ken Hogg judged at the East of England Show in the UK, where he awarded BIS to a Flat-coat Retriever, CH. VBOS THE KENTUCKIAN, owned by D. Irvine.

The Nambian committees presented two outstanding shows with their legendary warm-hearted hospitality.

Hochland Dog Club - 25 July
~ Best in Show: Judge Mr Ronnie Ryrie (SA): SPANIEL (AMERICAN COCKER) - CH DENOVA QUASAR TAPESTRY (ARCHULETA / BROOKES)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mr Ronnie Ryrie (SA): BORZOI - ITALIAN DANCER STEPONY GONIEC (VAN WYNGAARDEN)

Windhoek Dog Club - 25 July
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Sue Carter (SA): SPANIEL (AMERICAN COCKER) - CH DENOVA QUASAR TAPESTRY (ARCHULETA / BROOKES)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mrs Sue Carter (SA): STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER - ZERACIOUS BOLD BROLLUX (ERASMUS)

August started with another weekend on the warmer coast.

Zululand KC - 2 August:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Rosemarie Cabion (SA): CORGI (PEMBROKE WELSH) - CH & CH ( USA) LLANDIANS STORM CATCHER OF HIGHLEIGH (DARROLL/COLE)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mrs Rosemarie Cabion (SA): PEKINGESE - KI LULU CHEGE OF SEAWIND (RYRIE)

Northern Natal KC - 3 August:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Gael Morison (SA): MALTESE - CH LIBRA DARE TO DREAM (GOUWS)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Ms C. Immelman (SA): SPANIEL (COCKER) - BRAGANZA BLUES FOR YOU (BROWNING)

Goldfields KC hosts the annual Dog of the Year Competition for dogs and bitches with the most number of Best of Breed awards gained during the previous year. A duo of judges selected the following winners:

For the first time, Goldfields was coupled with the FCI Africa International Show in one weekend.

Goldfields KC - 22 August:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Keri Nichols (Aus): POMERANIAN - CH XANTAH ACE THE MATCH (FOURIE)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mrs Keri Nichols (Aus): RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK - GONDWANA RUNNING COPPER (JACOBS/PRICE)

FCI Africa International Show - 23 August:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Lois Wilson (SA): KERRY BLUE TERRIER - ROSHEEN RYAN HEIR (FIELD)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mrs Liz Megginson (SA): POODLE (STANDARD - WHITE/BLACK) - POLAR EXPRESS TO SUNBRILLIANT (JAFFE)

Critics have it that the organising and running of FCI International shows still seems to mystify some club officials, exhibitors and judges. So when a major dispute arose about awards made and not made in an FCI breed class, it seemed that confusion reigned supreme.

The following week saw the start of the Bloemfontein Cluster Show and KUSA Classic.

Northern Free State KC - 27 August:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Carolyn Alexander (USA): POMERANIAN - CH XANTAH ACE THE MATCH (FOURIE)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mrs Carolyn Alexander (USA): PEKINGESE - KI LULU CHEGE OF SEAWIND (RYRIE)

Bloemfontein KC - 28 August:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mr Oscar Valeverde (Costa Rica): GREAT DANE - CH AULDMOOR'S A CORNISH LASS AT FAIRMOOR (BECKMANN/FOXWELL)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mrs Yana Gavrilova (Russia): STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER - WHITESTAFF THE NEXT CRUSADER OF MANKOKO (HOEBEN)

KUSA Championship Show - 29 August:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Yana Gavrilova (Russia): DALMATIAN - CH CHARIZELLE PERMISSION TO LAND AT DALLMALLI (SCHEEPERS / IMMELMAN)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mr Oscar Valeverde (Costa Rica): PEKINGESE - KI LULU CHEGE OF SEAWIND (RYRIE)

Kimberley KC - 30 August:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mr Cesar Moscosocaso (Brazil): POMERANIAN - CH XANTAH ACE THE MATCH (FOURIE)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mr Hiroshi Kamisato (Japan): DACHSHUND (MINIATURE LONG HAIR) - SCHUSBORG RUSSIAN STORM (SCHULTZ)

Following judging during the afternoon, short-listed dogs from each group went forward to the finals of the KUSA Nationals - a formal event held that evening in an indoor venue.

Glen Julius had a serious road accident just outside Beaufort West on his way back to Cape Town after the Bloemfontein Cluster and wrote off his trailer and damaged the back of his car seriously. Luckily no one was injured and four of his five dogs (including his multiple winning top puppy) were fine. Tragically, his red dog, Captain (AVONJUL GREAT COMMISSION) apparently ran from the scene of the accident into the Karroo veld, where he could not be found in the dark. Glen found his white pup about 500m from the scene but the red boy was found dead 22km from Beaufort West.

Following hard on the heels of the exhausting Bloemfontein Cluster, the Grahamstown and Queenstown KCs presented a fine weekend's shows.

Queenstown & Dist KC -5 September:
~ Best in Show - Judge Mrs Pat de Coning (SA): GREAT DANE - CH FAIRMOORS ALIAS MR FINDLAY (BECKMANN/FOXWELL)
~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Ms Jackie Jackson (SA): BULLDOG - MERVANDER MOON DAZZLE (VAN DER MERWE)

Grahamstown & Dist KC - 6 September:
~ Best in Show - Judge Ms Jackie Jackson (SA): BULL TERRIER - LUBJAN GRAVURE DEROCHE OF RION (VAN DER LINDE)
~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mr Percy Green (SA): DACHSHUND (MINIATURE LONG HAIR) - SCHUSBORG RUSSIAN STORM (SCHULTZ)

Karen Furk and Heidi Rolfes judged for the Zimbabwe Kennel Club Championship show. Heidi's BIS was a Scottish Terrier, CH. (ZIM) CROCVALLEY KELVIN OF RUSTCOT (Imp SA) and RBIS was the Rhodesian Ridgeback SUMBATSVUKU KUMALO.

On Sunday 13 September, Karen gave BIS to a Bearded Collie ASHVALE IMPERSONATION owned by Lindsay Dunsmore out of Ch. Scottsdale Indigo (Imp Ger) and Ch. Scottsdale Highlight for Ashvale (Imp Ger), and awarded RBIS to a Doberman CH. (ZIM) HYSAND QUAESTA owned by Geraldine McLaughlan.

Back on the eastern shores, the Port Shepstone shows got under way:

Hibiscus KC- 26 September:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mr Mark Simpson (SA): GREAT DANE - CH AULDMOOR'S A CORNISH LASS AT FAIRMOOR (BECKMANN/FOXWELL)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mr Mark Simpson (SA): PEKINGESE - KUSA NATIONAL PUP '09 KI LULU CHEGE OF SEAWIND (RYRIE)

Margate KC - 27 September:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Bridgit Simpson (SA): CHOW CHOW - CH. KIMEKAI SON OF SAMURI (NICOLAU)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mrs Bridgit Simpson (SA): PEKINGESE - KUSA NATIONAL PUP '09 KI LULU CHEGE OF SEAWIND (RYRIE)

Another FCI International show, another really late ending, unfortunately repeated through the weekend. Exhibitors wondered if time management had been mentioned on the show-planning agenda.

For many looking forward to a Cape holiday, almost the rest of the month was spent at the Cape shows:

Breede Rivier Vallei KC - 17 October:
~ Best in Show - Judge Mr Gerald Bidder (SA): PEKINGESE - CH CALMADY THE WIZARD OF SEAWIND (RYRIE)
~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mr Neil Kay (SA): PEKINGESE - KUSA NATIONAL PUP '09 KI LULU CHEGE OF SEAWIND (RYRIE)


Cape Town KC - 18 October:
~ Best in Show - Judge Mrs Jackie Perry (Thailand): AFGHAN HOUND - KUSA NAT DOG '08 CH AGHA DJARI'S QUESTION OF HONOUR OF ACCOLADES (WESSELS)
~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mr Jack Ireland (Canada): SHAR PEI - WAGGITAIL TIME FOR ROLEX (AUCAMP)

The second weekend in the Cape closed the championship show season for 2008:

Hottentots Holland KC - 24 October:
~ Best in Show - Judge Mr Jack Ireland (Canada): POODLE (MINIATURE) - CH WARMING BLACK TROUBADOR (BROWNING)
~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mrs C Ringstrom (Canada): PEKINGESE - KUSA NATIONAL PUP '09 KI LULU CHEGE OF SEAWIND (RYRIE)

Western Province KC - 25 October:
~ Best in Show - Judge Mr Jeff Luscott (UK): AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD - CH ROSEMERE I'M A FIREFLY FOR STAVROS - GRAY/VILJOEN/KENNEDY
~ Best Puppy in Show - Judge Mrs Jackie Perry (Thailand): PEKINGESE - KUSA NATIONAL PUP '09 KI LULU CHEGE OF SEAWIND (RYRIE)

The American Kennel Club (AKC), the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and Eukanuba teamed together to stage the 3rd Eukanuba World Challenge in Long Beach California, USA. The dog selected by KUSA for this event was the KUSA National Dog, KUSA NAT DOG '09 CH. SYLON LEO AT MONET ROUGE (Leo), owned by Duane & Melissa Matthys and handled by Clinton Hoeben. Prior to the competition, Leo had the opportunity to compete in a few local shows in the US, where he won Winners Dog and BOB at Long Beach KC, plus Winners Dog and RBOB at AKC Eukanuba National Championships. Both were majors. Hearty congratulations to Duane, Melissa and Clinton!

The winner of the Eukanuba / FCI World Challenge 2009, judged by Mr. Frank Sabella, was CH. AXEL DEL MONTE ALAGO - Section 4: Bracco Italiano (Matteuzzi) from Italy

Judging Group 2, Greg Eva (President of KUSA) found his winner in a Hungarian Puli from Australia, CH. CORDMAKER TOPSY TURVEY (Huebner & Kelly)

Gael Morison judged at the RKF Golden Collar Show in Russia on 19 December. Here she is in familiar thoughtful pose.

OBITUARIES

~ On 2 July, Les Sexton (Hon Life member of Zululand and Northern Natal Kennel Clubs), aged 92, was attacked by thieves who broke into his home, where he lived with his blind wife, Peggy. He did not recover from the beating.

~ Bruce Jenkins (Waydack Dachshunds) lost his mother, Jessica, on 14 July.

~ Pieter de Waal (Conchetti Chihuahuas) passed away early on Monday morning, 20 July.

~ Margaret Bell (Ailsacraig Labradors) tragically lost her son, Ed, on 17 September after a devastating accident.

~ Louise Ward (Rottweilers) passed away 28 September. 

~ Tracy Martins (Amberlite Dachshunds) lost her father, Alan, to cancer on Saturday 11 October.

~ At the start of December, Dougie Edwards of Port Elizabeth - a well-liked and respected judge, passed away.

~ Valarie Fincham, well known in the German Shepherd club and the Cape Welsh Corgi Club, was brutally and senselessly murdered in her home on Monday 30 November at the age of 78.

~ Vivienne Pettigrew (Argwinlan Irish Wolfhounds) passed away on Wednesday 2 December.

~ Tony Williams passed away in the early morning of Wednesday 9 December after a long battle with cancer. Tony's active involvement with dogs included breeding and exhibiting, and many years as all-breeds judge and club administrator.

The dog community lost way too many well-loved people again this year. They were all important in their particular ways and they all played a vital role in the nurturing of our sport and interest. Their passion for dogs made them special people and their expertise will be missed by many. SHOWDOGS expresses warmest condolences to the friends and family of all these wonderful people with the wish that the good memories will soon replace the pain of losing a loved one. We shall remember them.....