CONNECTING
CAVALIER LOVERS

Editors/Publishers:
Per Wallentin
Lena Svalling-Ekdahl
 

Independent, non-profit Magazine covering news
and information about
Cavaliers & Charlies

News from United Kingdom

What happens in the origin country of Cavaliers, which discussions and who is the winning Cavalier for
the moment. All this, and a lot more, you may now be able to follow. Unique reports every week...

We are very proud to present our reporter from United Kingdom, a reporter who really lives with this
wonderful breed. Successful breeder, also a judge and will judge at Crufts 2006 och writes every
week in the famous dog magazine DogWorld.

The Daniville cavaliers were recently invited to the BBC Television Centre to be on Blue Peter. As part of the programme they where promoting "Bark in the Park" a nationwide event in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Paula took along their 5 month ruby and also a blenheim and a tricolour. Daughter Danielle took part in a mock sponsored walk with the presenters.

Josh, a 5 year old ruby Cavalier has been missing from Stableford, Stoke on Trent since 15th January 2006. There is a £cash reward for his safe return. It is believed that there has been a sighting of Josh at Derby Horse Fair. Please phone 07811 352191 if you can help.

Tina Homes found a stainless steel drinking bowl around the Cavalier bitch ring at WELKS. Can the owner please contact Tina or Dennis on 0208 5508517

Bath saw a new champion emerge in the form of Tina and Dennis Homes' blenheim Leogem Minuet. She is homebred, almost 2 years old and is sired by Ch Miletree Nijinsky out of Leogem Pavane. She was awarded her crowning CC by Maryann Hogan and went BOB and I understand 4th in the Toy Group. Annukka Paloheimo and Lorraine Gillhespy gave her CCs 1 and 2 at Manchester and Eastern Cavalier earlier this year. Lymrey Hi Command was winning his 1st CC for Sylvia Lymer under Jeanne Boyd. The reserves went to Ch Lorankas Celebration Time and Ch Keyingham Branwell with Best Puppy to Ready For Love at Hurleaze.

Julie Hutka from Thunder Bay, Ontario is very proud of her blenheim cavalier Winrob's Sleepy Hollow (sired by Craigowl Ghillie). "Austen" is one of the few cavaliers to earn a Tracking title in Canada. The purpose of tracking tests is to determine the dog's willingness to work with its handler under a variety of conditions and to follow a defined track, to discriminate scent and to locate and indicate articles.

The pass rate is usually somewhere between 30-50%. Usually 2 days previous the judge and a tracklayer plot out tracks and make maps on the test fields.

The course is marked with flags so that on test day the tracklayer knows where he is to walk. The tracklayer puts a stake at a start point in the field and then walks the prepared course, picking up his marking flags and drops a glove at the end. At the level we just achieved the course must be 450 meters in length and up to 2 hours old. The dog and handler are shown the start and the rest is up to them. The dog and handler must not go more then 20 meters off track or they are disqualified.

The Judge and tracklayer follow the team throughout the run. As the tracklayer is an unknown to the dog, the dog must be trained to follow a stranger's scent. Due to the covert nature of how a trial is run, it is also imperative that the dog be able to do this in the face of his owner's anxiety. Participants will meet a 06:00hrs and pull numbers from a hat that will give them their run number. The vehicles will then follow the tracking secretary to the fields as the exact location is never disclosed. It can get quite complicated at times, especially as participants sometimes must double as tracklayers for other tracking levels. There are now 4 titles to be earned for a Tracking Championship. Tracking Dog, Tracking Dog Excellent, Urban tracking Dog and Urban Tracking Dog Excellent.

Canada's first ever Tracking champion was celebrated last month, a 9 year old Golden Retriever. I do believe that Austen is almost ready for his tracking Dog Excellent attempt. The challenge of training a small dog I believe is to keep the experience fun for the dog. I always carry my dog back through the field wrapped in a blanket. I cannot believe that he would find running a doggie marathon and being crated soaking wet a particularly pleasurable experience. This has earned him the nickname "Austen Precious" among my fellow trackers .

Although times do not count, Field people take pride in the speed of their track completion by their working, herding and sporting dogs. Yesterday the Toys ruled, coming in 1st in 6 minutes flat. That, I'm quite certain was a first!!"


Norma & Gordon Inglis

After a break for a couple of weeks, we are now home and back in the real world. As nice as travelling is, it is so true that coming home is the best feeling. Leaving dogs behind can be worrie
some but we were glad to see ours were all fit and well and apart from a frenzied few minutes of welcome they all carried on as if we had only been down the shops for an hour!

Firstly some snippets of news.
"As Spring is here and all wild animals are starting to get a bit busy on the mating front we have had an incident with a young dog finding out the hard way that frogs are not nice! I spent last night washing out eyes that were closed becase of a frog "defending" itself with spray. The worst time for this to happen is at night when the dogs go out for their last run around before bed.To add to this my vet has advised caution as he tells me Adders are also very grumpy at this time of year as they are very hungry and out hunting for frogs! So in all I advise that people wrap their dogs up in cotton wool or just be aware and keep an eye out for the monsters in the garden!" Thanks to Mark Gilbert for sharing this experience.

Howard Williams writes with some results from South and West Wales Open show. "BIS was Carol Butler’s Tamyse Delecia JW. We had a new venue at Caerwent Community Hall and the feedback from exhibitors was very positive.  8 year old Harley Morgan signed our visitors' book and said "how nice and big the hall was and that she wanted her dog to win all his classes". He duly obliged and Cleocath Careddu at Sohanastar went BD and RBIS. Harley and her sister Ella May have just begun a successful start to their junior handling careers and mum, Rachel, only began showing Cavaliers 18 months ago"

Rob Dix is running a KC approved training course for Rules, Regulations and Judging Procedures with the KC examination on Sunday 2 July at Windsor. The couse is being organised by the Southern Bichon Frise Association. If anyone would like details they can contact Rob on 020 8397 2432. These are very popular and I would urge any interested party to take up this opportunity

Lindsay Gow and Pauline Sidgwick gives us the sad news that Barbara Wall has died, at the age of 86, in a nursing home in Lanarkshire where she had been for a few years. The funeral was held in Holywood Church near Thornhill, a little country church not far from Cowhill, Dumfries where Barbara looked after the Pargeter Cavaliers for the Keswicks. It was a lovely sunny afternoon and the service was held at the graveside with about 20 of Barbara's family and friends. From the Cavalier world these included Caroline Gatheral, Lindsay Gow, Nancy Anderson, the Miss Beatties, Margaret Workman, Ken Town, Elspeth Glen and Pauline Sidgwick. Representing
King Charles, Barbara's good friend Jean Coupland
(Tucherish) and Mrs Martin's daughter. Mrs Martin cared for the remaining King Charles Spaniels from the Pargeter kennels when Mrs Keswick died. Also present were Sophie Wetheral (nee Keswick) Percy and Bernard Wetheral with their families. Making the long journey from Gloucestershire was Anna Scott's daughter in law. Anna retains the "Pargeter" affix. We sang 'All things bright and beautiful' to the sound of pheasants and some Cavaliers in the distance and it seemed a very fitting tribute to Barbara.

During the war Barbara was in the Land Army. She attended College to train as a Canine Nurse and when qualified she found employment with the Keswick family in Essex, eventually moving to Dumfriesshire. At that time the Keswicks had one of the top Cavalier kennels in the country, the "Pargeters". Barbara was in charge of the dogs, a role which she carried out extremely diligently, on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In 1959 Barbara became one of the founder members of the Scottish Cavalier Club, giving her full support until ill health prevented her from doing so.Barbara remained at Cowhill until she retired and moved into Dumfries. This gave her the opportunity to travel around the country "dog sitting" at the homes of various friends, always travelling by bus or train, everywhere she went. Barbara frequently went to Nova Scotia to visit and look after the dogs of her good friend, Flora McKenzie who she met, through their shared interest in dogs. Laterly she even undertook a trip down memory lane to Sri Lanka, a country she had visited on several occasions in her youth. Barbara had led a very interesting a full life, devoted to her love of dogs. Her remaining Cavalier, a black and tan called Poppy, is with her good friend Nancy Anderson, and was a regular visitor to Bankhouse nursing home and was with her when she died peacefully in her sleep.

Derrick Verrett has reviewed a new film set in the period of Charles 2nd. It stars Johnny Depp and is called" The Libertine" Derrick thinks "It is rather good though probably not to everyones' taste. There are a group of Cavaliers in the film and true to form one relieved itself on set in a interior scene. I am surprised they did not cut it out but pleased they left it in!"

Frank and Jean Ballantyne's young blenheim, Middleshot Emma,  has attained her Show Certificate of Merit.

Quite a few Ch show results to post. Julie Potter (Rheinvelt) judged her first entry (146) at this level at the Northern Ireland Cavalier show. Ch Keyingham Branwell took his CC level to 18 and went BIS. Reserve went to Lyndabelle Louis at Turretbank. The younger bitches had a field day. While Maxine Fox-Shone's tricolour Pamedna Touch of Fan TC won the CC and BP at the tender age of 10 months , Pascavale Sugar Babe, who is 13 months, took the Reserve. The society had moved to a new venue after a long and happy time at the Half Way House. The Six Mile Leisure Centre had lots to offer. Car parking, location, size and lighting were all first rate. As many make the annual trip "over the water" it is important that the show continues to make itself attractive to the long distance travellers as well as the locals. The show atmosphere is never a problem and the Committee work hard to see that everyone is made welcome. The only talking point on the down side was the price of the catering and I am sure this will be looked at well before next year. Many thought that £5 for a bacon roll and a cup of tea was a little steep! I think we may well have been spoilt in the past by the excellent catering at Ballygally. Great to see Amy Nugent there. After an enforced abscence due to ill health it was lovely to see her looking so well and obviously enjoying the day.  The P & O special prize was won this year by Heather Lamont who will find good use for it, I am certain. Heather and Robert are frequent visitors to our shows on the mainland. After the show a group of revellers joined the Committee for an after show meal at a nearby restaurant. This was a great success with excellent fare very reasonably priced (can you tell I'm Scottish!) and brought a fitting close to a successful show.

The show circuit moved on to WELKS where John Evans and Sheelagh Allerton judged. Two new winners emerged in Caroline Ackroyd-Gibson's Acewall Enigma from Toraylac and the two Peter's (Hill and Webber) Montcolly Liccy winning their first CCs. The Reserves went to Barsac Sadlers Wells and Ch Kaishmar Cara Mia Mine. Best Puppy was Leelyn Black Diamond.

Next Birmingham. Maxine Fox-Shone found her CC winner in Brymarden Moon River JW and gave Reserve to Ch Lanola Salsa. "Moonriver" won BOB and had further success in the Group winning 4th place under Alicia Pennington.  Dick Terry awarded Ch Keyingham Branwell his 19th CC and Ch Wandris Entertainer the Reserve. Charwelton Tate  was BP. "Regrettably due to lack of merit in the exhibits present in the Post Grad bitch class"  Maxine felt she had no choice other than to withhold 1st and 2nd placings. This is not an option that would have been taken lightly and I believe more judges should seriously consider the merit of the exhibits they are assessing before handling out the cards just as a matter of course. Witholding is never popular with the exhibitors but it should encourage people to look at what they are showing and consider if it is good enough.

Finally SKC which emerged wet, cold and miserable. Tom Mather judge both sexes. Ch Keyingham Branwell left the "teens" behind and earned his 20th CC. Of the 10 CCs available since the start of the season in January he has won 7. Bitch CC was a first for Linda Flynn and Drene Lucas' Alberica Midnight Velvet. The Reserves went to Ricksbury Royal Escape and Homerbrent Bliss. Best puppy was a repeat of Birmingham, Charwelton Tate.

Jean Grant (Granasil) is producing another cavalier calendar in aid of Humberside Cavalier rescue. You can submit as many photos as you like for consideration at 50p each, but please no photos with names, kennels or advertising.  If possible the photos should be originals and approx post card size or slightly larger. Voting will take place at the Humberside show on 11th June 2006 .Put your name and address on the back of each photo and send together with your cheque, made payable to Jean Grant, to 26, Murham Ave, Goole. East Riding. DN14 6PB. Look out your pictures now as this is fun and in aid of a good cause.

Jackie Ward's 11 month old blenheim puppy Charalier Cheek to Cheek went BPIS at Devon County Open show under judges Anne Hall (breed), Mervyn Hall (Toy Group) and Grahame Hill (BIS).

Norma & Gordon Inglis

There are several husband and wife partnerships in our breed. One of them, Audrey and Brian Townsend (Alderleigh) from Warrington have something to be proud of that on 31st March 2006 they celebrated 50 years of marriage. A "Golden Wedding" celebration was held at home with friends and family. They have been active in most aspects of the dog game for many years showing, breeding, judging, and Brian served on the Committee of the Northern Cavalier Society for a long time which culminated in the the post of chairman until a couple of years ago. Please join us in wishing them many more happy years together. Hopefully we will still be around to record their Emerald and Diamond Anniversaries!

The Northern Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Society is holding a BREED JUDGING SEMINAR on Sunday 25th June, 2006 in the Victoria Hall, Keighley. Tickets for the full day are £15.00 (Includes lunch) and for the morning session £5.00 (talk only, does not include lunch).The program for the day is as follows:-

Morning Session

10.00 a.m. Tea/Coffee and Registration

10.30 a.m. Talk on the Breed Standard by Norma Inglis (Craigowl)

11.45 a.m. Multiple-choice Test on the Breed Standard (Optional)

12.00 p.m. 3 course Buffet Lunch with Tea/Coffee

Afternoon Session

13.30 p.m. “Hands on” tuition in groups of 5-6 people. Involves judging 5 dogs with a written critique on each.

15.30 p.m. Tea/Coffee.

16.00 p.m. Results and Presentation of Certificates

16.30 p.m. Close.

In addition to the above programme there is a limited number of 10 places for those wishing to be appraised under the Judging Assessment scheme.

For further details and to purchase tickets to reserve your place please contact Lorraine Gillhespy (0191) 4604495 lmg@lorphil.freeserve.co.uk  Sheila Hindle (01325) 256539 sheilaellisiana@ntlworld.com  Elaine Waddington (01768) 840603 spindlepoi@aol.com
Susan Wake (0191) 5202930 samsuedave@wake0.freeserve.co.uk
 

Peggy Mickelson from the USA sends the following food for thought!

"IF I DIDN'T HAVE CAVALIERS... I could walk around the garden barefoot in safety. My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated. All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair. When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like the kennels and I could get to the door without wading through furry bodies who beat me there.
 

I could sit on the couch the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several Cavaliers would need to get comfortable. I would not have strange presents under my Christmas tree -- dog bones, stuffed animals, nor would I have to answer to people why I wrap them.I would not be on a first-name basis with three veterinarians. The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: oy, out, down, come, no, stay, and leave it. My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.My pockets would not contain things like treats and an extra leash. I would no longer have to spell the words BISCUIT, WALK, BALL etc. I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog ties them down too much.I'd look forward to spring and the melting of snow instead of dreading mud season.I would not have to answer the question "Why do you have so many dogs?" from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by something as close to an angel as they will ever get". 

Toshini Louisa won BP in breed for owner Gina Barnard at Newcastle (Staffs) & District Canine Society Open show under Lynda Read (Heronsbridge). She went on to win the Toy Group and then BPIS under Mrs. Dee Milligan-Bott (Thendara).

Barbara Keswick (Pargeter) wrote in a bulletin in 1952 "There has recently been quite a lot of argument in the dog papers on the pet versus kennel dog as a show specimen. My own experience is that they show quite differently. The kennel dog is having a great day out away from the boredom of the kennel, the pet dog on the other hand is being frustrated and caged and tied to a lead. There are exceptions that come to mind when one thinks in this strain. For instance that new Challenge Certificate winner, Lt Col Laird's dainty little Lucinda, is a pet but again there is a distinction between pets. There are those that have the run of the house and garden and hunting and chasing, they are the most difficult at shows. Col Laird I think lives in a flat, so Lucinda will not have the same freedom as the dogs with gardens and her owner tells me he takes her everywhere with him. All over the town, into Woolworths etc. so she will be quite used to the restriction of the lead and used also to standing about. That is to my mind why she shows so nicely. My own dogs on the contrary rarely go out on leads. They race about the house and garden and get lots of excercise and I am afraid their lead restriction is of a very short duration. At Manchester show Miss Turner was benched next to me and said her dogs were bored at shows because they hated the penning and restrictions as they were used to the freedom of a large garden and were always longing to get back there. She was of the opinion that kennel dogs showed better as to them the show was a charge and an adventure"

Does anybody have any thoughts?

Norma & Gordon Inglis

The Scottish Cavalier Club have a few items available that may be of interest to our readers, namely, Kennel Club Stud books covering 1993-199, Kennel Gazettes for all of the 90s, Kennel Club Year Books for 1990/1991 and 1999/2000, a couple of Cavalier Club Year books for 1996, "Expressions" magazines for 1995 and 1997 and a Swedish Cavalier Club bulletin. For any collectors out there, these may be what you are missing. If anyone wants more information please contact Isla Craig on 0131 654 0831, email isla.craig@fsmail.net  It will be on a strictly first come, first served basis and all proceeds will go as a donation to Scottish Cavalier Rescue.

The UK Toydog show is a popular one as it gives the chance to see all the Toy breeds under one roof. The entry is normally a good one with Stafford being centrally situated for travelling. This year saw a couple of newish faces on the judging circuit.Marion Wiggins (Whyteplace) doing dogs and Pam Jarrett (Harrowood) doing bitches. Both judges have been around for some time and their successes include Crufts 1990 where Whyteplace Apollo won the breed under Joan Winters and went on to win the Toy Group under Tom Horner and in the  same year Ch Harrowood Halloween Crystal, bred by Pam, gained her title for her owners David and Carolyn Moger.

Following on from his win at Crufts, Ch Keyingham Branwell won his 16th CC and BOB and the Junior class winner, Lyncraeg Dream Angus took RCC. In bitches Ch Kaishmar Cara Mia Mine won CC number 4 with Ch Lorankas Celebration Time winning RCC. Best puppy was Pascavale Jamie. All winners were blenheims.  It was to be a day where Cavaliers swept the boards. A group of us stayed on to cheer Gill and Branwell and Mark and Jamie in the big ring and the roof almost lifted when Branwell won BIS under Albert Wight.

Having previously awarded Pam Lewis' CH Daraste Reflection of Love the Toy Group at Three Counties in 2004 we had hoped it might happen again. When he also chose the young Cavalier for BPIS we were beside ourselves. Cavaliers can sometimes get overlooked at this level against the smaller participants, like the Pomeranian and the Chihuahua, and it was wonderful to see them recognised in this way.

Norma & Gordon Inglis