CONNECTING
CAVALIER LOVERS

Editors/Publishers:
Per Wallentin
Lena Svalling-Ekdahl
 

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

Breeder Portrait - Apricot Cavaliers, Sweden

We proudly present our third "Breeder Portrait" This time we went to Apricot Cavaliers
and Anja Szyszkiewicz. We hade our pencil and notebook ready - with meny hard
and different questions. So we put the breeder Anja Szyszkiewicz gainst the wall.

Anja Szyszkiewicz – Apricot Cavaliers

Apricot Glen Miller
 

Ch. Panda´s Coco Lady
 

Ch. Apricot Hannah
 

Ch. Apricot Yasmine Flower

Ch. Apricot Marmelad

Ch. Apricot Pacific

My absolutely first meeting with the cavalier was in the late 60's when I was visiting my classmate Annukka Kankaanpääs (Paloheimo) home for the first time and met their family dog Lucy, a much to overweight little girl with curly fur and not a charming temper. My thought then was- it was the ugliest dog I ever met.

A few years later did I got a dog of my own Sami, which was a Flat coat Retriver without pedigree? Annukka and I started to take long walks together and Lucy went true a massive diet. The little dog became a beauty and I fell in “love”.

When Annukka later had her first litter with her first import dog Cocklehill Para, mated with Orvokki Moilanens dog Ch. Alansmere Made to Measure, did I absolutely want a bitch from the litter. That’s how my first cavalier came home to me the summer of 1973. Her name was Amica after Amica Pitt (kennel Ttiweh) she was called Mica. She was a charming little bitch with wonderful big eyes and a great bone structure. Pity did she have a set of bite and could not been shown because dogs with set of bite received a zero those days.

Before I had my Mica hade I all ready been involved with the Cavalier King Charles spaniel breed clubs developing. In October -72 did the finish kennel club arrange a meeting for all cavalier breeders/owner so even though I didn’t have my own cavalier so was I there. We were round 20 persons that with interest listened when Ritva Raita told us the history of the breed and the breed standard. From that moment started an own section for cavaliers under FKK. A half year later in May -73 did we start a breed society for cavaliers that received the name “The Finish Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed society”, where I was a part of the board in different positions until I moved to Sweden 1980.

Mica had her first litter 1974 with Ch. Alansmere Moonstar that was sired after Ch. Alansmere Aqvarius, the first and only cavalier that has won BIS at Crufts (in that time was it in order to mate at 1 years of age). In Micas second litter with Ch. Highstone Qvality Fair “King”, was my first champion born Apricot Daniela. She was grandma to Annukka Paloheimos wonderful veteran bitch Ch. Anncourt Parasoll that won several veteran classes in UK. Daniela’s litter brother was father to kennel Stonehills tribe bitches. “King” was after Ch. Rose Mullion of Ottermouth, one of my biggest favourites that has characterize him self in his litter. He was well constructed dog with a beautiful head with big eyes. With Daniela was I doing my first show trips in Sweden and she received her first CC in a age of 9month. She was also one of the first cavaliers in Finland that won the toy group on an international show. Judge was K-G Fredriksson from Sweden, which was a day I never forget.

The Mica & King combinations was shown to be a good one even true Daniela’s litter sister Diana. She had a litter on 6puppys after Hilka Laitamos dog Ch. Poplicorn Georgie Boy, grandson after Rose Mullion of Ottermouth.

I saved a bitch and a dog after that litter, namely Eddie-Surprice & Elfin-Sunbeam. Both of them received their Champion titles in 3 shows in a row.

At that point was I moving to Sweden in early 1980's Elfin-Sunbeam became in time mother to the most successful dog from Apricot ever, Ch. Apricot Fortune that was born in September 1980. Sire to the litter was Ch. Homerbrent Limelight Fortune owner Lolan Dahlin & Elin Nyby, kennel Sperringgården. His qualifications are 1982: dog of the year, 1983 4^th best dog,1984 second best dog, breed dog of the year -85 -86 -87, second -88. His litter was also a success, at least 12 became SUCH, some NUCH at least 5 became Nordic champions and 4 of them became Intuch.

1985 did his son Int. Nord Ch. Sperringgårdens Cylvester, The cavalier of the year in Sweden, and the daughter from same litter became SUCH. Sperringgårdens Cylvia became best bitch. The same year won Cylvester SKK-cup & and became dog of the year -85. 1986 became his sons Int. Nord Ch. Sperringgårdens Cylvester & Int. Nord Ch. Sperringgårdens Cegovia the years second and third best dog.

My self was an unknown name in Sweden amongst cavalier people, but thanks to Lolan & Fortune did everybody have to know the name Szyszkiewicz (that they not even could spell our pronounce).

I did a combination Elfin-Sunbeam X Limelight and kept a bitch named Gossip. She was nothing like her brother, but a well structured dog and an amazing mover, but she was 2 numbers to big to exhibition. Apart of that she was a sound dog and that was the main course for me.

Her movement and bone structure went in inheritance to her litter. I hade her daughter “Liina” that was one of the absolutely best breeder bitch I ever have had. She her self became SUCH; FINUCH and FW-85. She left extremely well structured litter pretty puppies in all her five litters with different dogs. Of them became several champions. My sweet Marmelad hum was one of the most winning bitches during the 90^th and still as a veteran places her self in “the top” was daughter to Hanna. Other I wane meshes is Int, Nord Ch Apricot Komando & Nord Ch. Apricot Jeremy Mc Center, both owned of Anneli Ek, Kennel Corbona.

True Gossips daughter Nickolina, that later moved to Finland did I received two valuable lines from Finland. Nickolina was mated with Homeranne Polperro & and i kept an bitch puppy from the litter, namely Ch. Apricot Sweet Scarlet.

I took her to Sweden and mated her with Ch. Space Mission via Chantiz. And from that litter I have kept little Watson that soon is turning 10 year and has a healthy heart.

The lines after Hanna could I bring along to Penny-Lane & pacific, siblings after Marmelad & Rytonian Oliver Twist. Both became champions and stud high in the cavalier list of their years.

Pacific was even nominee best veteran 2000 like his mother did, a few years earlier. Unfortunately he past away some week before the contest. Penny-Lane is grandmother to Ch. Apricot Yasmine-Flowethat has been a joy the last years. She is today 8years whit a healthy heart and just as happy and outgoing as ever just like in her younger years.

In the mid 90^th did I buy two dogs from Finland, from Kirsti Määttänen, kennel Panda´s. Ch. Panda´s Don Dylan, sire of Ch. Apricot Yasmine-Flower, today nearly 10years old & Panda´s Coco Lady, a amazing lady whit a true show temper. And today I have 3bitches that has her in their pedigrees.

If I look back on the siredogs that has had the biggest meaning in my breeding it most have been Highstone Qvality Fair, Poplicorn Georgie Boy and Homerbrent Limelight. Whiteout does dog wouldn’t Apricot cavaliers been looking like they looking today. Do’s lines has fitted so well with my bitches. And every combination has had a value.

For me the dog’s appearance, health was the most impotent thing in the breeding. In the early 90^th did I have the opportunity to help Clarence Kvart & Jens Häggström in their research in the cavalier heart buy lending out my dogs when they needed material in their research. Plenty of blood test, x-rays and ultrasounds of both healthy and sick dogs. This work has roll on during the years and I’m happy if my effort has been good for Clarence & Jens in their work in the cavalier’s future. And at the same time I have learned a lot from them.

As a spur after 30 years hard work did I 2001 receive the Swedish breeders reward, whit the short resume “Small quantity, high quality. Well qualified dogs with a ambition to keep life long lines”. This was the best of proof in my breeding that I had succeeded.

Ch. Apricot Pacific at Veterans Of Veterans year 2000
 

Ch. Loranka´s Celebration

Ch. Maibee Delicious  

Ch. Homeranne Polperro

Ch. Crawford Countess

Ch. Corbona´s Alexander

Ch. Cavamirs Modesty Blaise
 
Ch. Sorata Frank

Ch. Chamanic Lucasta

A hole lot of things but nothing to take up here!