Well, those early bank holiday deadlines did for me again and I missed last week. I can now officially still blame covid on my brain fog, along with being asleep by tea time most days. I think the thing that has hit the headlines most in my showing world this week, was the declaration from the Scottish Kennel Club that all who want to enter the showground must have a certificate and be double vaccinated against Covid19. Sadly, this means we will very likely be short one exhibitor as we had a discussion at great length about this subject at Paignton and he was adamant that he wouldn’t be vaccinated as he was not prepared to have a vaccine as he had never had even a cold so didn’t feel at risk. I am sure that many other exhibitors have similar beliefs but in a small breed like ours it will half the numbers there to exhibit. I hope that other breeds fare better but can’t see a way round it for those who are against the vaccine and with the SKC having to adhere to government policy in Scotland. Maybe policies will change before then.
I have been trying out my new and improved ankle. Having had a few steroid injections in it to relieve the pain, I ventured out after the two weeks ‘rest’ period to Horley & District Open Show at Ardingly on the 29th September. We had a change of judge for the AVNSC Utility Classes (as did others), from Britt-Marie Young to Barry Blunden (Licassa). It is sometimes in the lap of the gods that we have at open shows a judge who is on the Canaan Dog judges list and has a deep working knowledge of the breed but this is how it worked out. This is not in any way detrimental to anyone else who judges AVNSC. So, after a ring change and a little longer waiting than anticipated (it was a lovely day and its always easy to walk the dogs around the show ground not an issue) Sulu (Micha De Solemel at Nizzana) and I went into the ring alongside some very successful dogs. We were delighted with a second in open behind a super Japanese Spitz which went on to Best of Breed and after returning for the challenge Sulu was awarded Res Best of Breed, it was a wonderful moment. I can’t thank Mr Barry Blunden enough for appreciating Sulu and his attributes (and the ankle held up well in very long grass on a slightly uneven surface – thank you NHS as well).
The Canaan Dog has a busy few months ahead with a number of Championship and Open shows giving us classes. Next will be Darlington exhibiting on 19th September in ring C after 11 Akita Inu, our judge is Mr Mike Gilcrest who has 6 entries. Sept 25th is The National at Stafford and our judge of the day is Mr Stephen Minogue followed by SKC with two shows at the same time. The May show has Canaans exhibiting on Friday 1st October for those eligible our judge will be Mr Keith Nathan. We have no classes in the October show. We have a break then until the Nordic on Saturday 27th November at Ryton on Dunsmore with our judge being Mr Joe Smith and concluding the shortened year with BUBA on Saturday 4th Dec at Stafford. Our BUBA rep Mrs Barbara Gold informs us that we have Mr Chris Quantrill adjudicating. We have much to look forward to unless any of the requirements change again due to another rise in Covid19. I hope we have gone passed that now but who can tell.
Alison Byrne