The Durban July weekend started the new semester:

Durban & Districts KC - 2 July:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mr Karl-Erik Johansson (Sweden): ROTTWEILER - CH MIPRET DUUK SECOND OF VONGERSHAN (MARX)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mr Karl-Erik Johansson (Sweden): WHIPPET - AILESBURY STORM RIDER (KELLY)

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

Hochland Dog Club - 23 July
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Rose-Marie Cabion: SHIH TZU - CH WINTERHOLME'S LOVE STORY AT DUNSTARS (AUCAMP)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mrs Rose-Marie Cabion: SHIH TZU - WINTERHOLME'S ALL FOR LOVE AT DUNSTARS (AUCAMP)

Windhoek Dog Club - 23 July
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Fran Browning-Cristina: SHIH TZU - CH WINTERHOLME'S LOVE STORY AT DUNSTARS (AUCAMP)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mrs Fran Browning-Christina: AFGHAN HOUND - KONPARA ITALIAN KISSES (VAN NIEKERK)

The KZN Junior KC held their first championship show during the end-July Durban weekend:

KZN Junior KC - 29 July
~ Best in Show: Judge Ms Ana Beatriz Knoll (Brazil): AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD - CH STAVROS B'LEVE IT OR NOT (GRAY)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Ms Ana Beatriz Knoll (Brazil): STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER - ROSSWAR DANCE JESSIE (LOVE / ROSSOUW)

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. Judges, Mr S & Mrs C Delmar (Ire), selected the following winners:

The following week saw the start of the KUSA Classic Cluster, once again held in Bloemfontein.

Northern Free State KC - 25 August:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Shirley Bloomfield: MALTESE - CH LIBRA SWEET SENSATION (GOUWS)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mr Max Winch (Australia): POODLE (TOY) - STELIZANE DIAMONDINTHESKY (DALEN / KIEFER)

The KUSA Nationals followed on Saturday afternoon:

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

Queenstown & Dist KC - 3 September:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs Lois Wilson: SIBERIAN HUSKY - CH DENALIBELAY NRTHPOLE R'BEAR (MELVILL)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mr Jack Peden: SHIH TZU - MIDNIGHTDREAM THRIL'F VICTORY (ERWEE)

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

Hibiscus KC- 24 September:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mr Greg Eva: SAMOYED - CH ANNAN BURNINGAMBITION (EDMONDSON)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mr Greg Eva: RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK - YAW ADYUBA ROYALTY BY FLAIR FOR GONDWANA (JACOBS)

Traditionally-busy October began with the Sasolburg shows:

Sasolburg KC- 2 October :
~ Best in Show: Judge Mr Mike Landsberg: POODLE (STANDARD) - CH STELIZANE ELIZABETH SWAN (KIEFER / MacQUARRIE)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mr Trevor Hiscock: SHIH TZU - MIDNIGHTDREAM THRIL'F VICTORY (ERWEE)

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

Breede Rivier Vallei KC - 15 October:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs J O'Connor (Ire): SHIH TZU - CH. WINTERHOLME'S LOVE STORY AT DUNSTARS (AUCAMP)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mrs J O'Connor (Ire): DALMATIAN - DALLMALLI FAME 'N FORTUNE (IMMELMAN)

The second weekend in the Cape closed the championship show season for 2011:

Hottentots Holland KC - 22 October:
~ Best in Show: Judge Mrs P Cruz (Mex): OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG - CH KERJALEE MAGICAL MOMENTS (MEYER)
~ Best Puppy in Show: Judge Mrs L Perez (Col): BULL TERRIER - SUNRAIGE SKOLLIE BOY (SLABBERT)

The American Kennel Club (AKC), the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and Eukanuba teamed together to stage the 5th Eukanuba World Challenge, this time in Orlando, Florida. The dog selected by KUSA for this event was the KUSA National Dog, KUSA NAT DOG '11 CH. ROARINGWATER STORM WARNING (Storm), a Saluki bred by Trevor Hiscock, owned by Elsabe Bekker, and handled by Nico Meyer. Back home in South Africa, the dog community was able to watch live-streaming of all the major events on the Internet, enjoying the thrill of watching our representatives in action, superbly presented. Hearty congratulations to Nico, Elsabe and Ian!

Winner at the Eukanuba / FCI World Challenge 2011 was the USA's Australian Shepherd, CH. PROPWASH RECKON (Frank / Harrington)

Announced on New Year's Eve, the winners of the SHOWDOGS Puppy of the Year 2011 were:

Also announced at that time were the winners of the SHOWDOGS Veteran of the Year 2011:

~ Congratulations to Richard Cristina, son of Fran Browning-Cristina, who married his lovely bride, Tina, in the Kruger National Park on 10 December.

OBITUARIES

~ The Smooth Fox Terrier Club of Transvaal reported the passing of its Founder and first Chairman, Arnold Raath, on 27 July, aged 91. Arnold was the founder of the Club and was a familiar figure in the Terrier ring during the 1980s and 1990s. On arriving in South Africa from the then Rhodesia in the 1960s Arnold was shocked to discover that among the breeders registering Smooth Fox Terriers with KUSA, 21 were breeding dogs that bore little or no resemblance to the breed standard and the majority were not even aware of this. Arnold travelled South Africa, taking with him his champion dog as an correct example of the breed. He visited many breeders and due to his efforts, all but one breeder stopped registering their atypical dogs. Fox Terriers in South Africa owe much to Arnold for the great improvement in the breed and his enthusiasm for establishing the club and publicizing what a Smooth Fox Terrier should look like.

~ Myrtle Bornman (Avalon Dachshunds) passed away on Thursday, 28 July. Myrtle was a remarkable asset to the breed and one of KUSA's longest standing members. She was always eager to share her wisdom and readily gave valuable advice on breeding and showmanship. A true inspiration and font of information, Myrtle bred many a champion and made an invaluable contribution to the lines of several noteworthy  breeders, especially in the Western Cape. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her and Dachshund lovers all over the world.

~ Maxwell Tyumbu, a Junior Handler in 2004 died suddenly after surgery on Sunday afternoon, 21 August . He is fondly remembered for his success in the Junior Handling ring and showed several dogs to Best in Show. In 2006, Maxwell joined the SA Police Dog Section in Pretoria and consequently fell away from the show side, but went from strength to strength in the Police and achieved well in many exams.

~ Milan Anteglievic passed away during the afternoon of 29 October 2011. Milan was involved with  his Nas Dom Afghan Hounds almost all of his life, having started showing at a very early age.  Currently, Milan was Vice President of AHASA. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and his passion for his beloved breed.

~ Janet Lainis, (Janlans Corgis) Secretary of the Cape Welsh Corgi Club and Liesbeek Kennel Club for many years, passed away on Saturday 5 November 2011. Janet, who had a heart of gold and loved her Corgis, will be missed by all who knew her. We send thoughts and sympathy to her family.

~ Lori Kasselman lost her mother to a stroke on the morning of 14 November. Condolences to Lori, Kassie and the family.

~ Tom Gould, husband of Heather (Darzet Irish Wolfhounds), passed away peacefully on New Year's day after a long illness bravely borne. Tom was a retired committee member of the Cape Hound Club and took great delight nin watching his beloved dogs perform well in the ring, attending every show with great enjoyment.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS