An overview of the Year 2000

Y2K was certainly a watershed year, being the first time in over a century dogs and cats have been able to pass relatively freely across Europe and back. Although slow to start, we will, I think see more foreign competition and vice versa. The highlight of the year was the World Congress which saw a contingent of British exhibitors taking their dogs to show in Europe for the first time. They acquitted themselves very well. Winning BIS at Garderen was a marvellous achievement for Gill Regler with her Dutch bred Vizara Schemesh of Shabani. Few realised that when she moved him, which was obviously causing her distress that the difficulty she was having breathing whilst trotting around the ring was the symptom of something serious.

However Schemesh continued to be campaigned mostly by handler, Daniel. During the year Shemesh knocked up 4 CCs which made him top winning dog bringing his total to 17 in all including BOB Crufts, BIS at the SRRA Ch Show and BOS Midland and Northern Club Ch Show.

The last time I saw Gill at a show was at Welsh KC where she was delighted to see Schemesh go BOB and Group 4. Gill continued to follow the show scene and apparently stating her intention of attending Midland Counties, sadly she died shortly before the show.

Early in the year there was the Interclub Match, hosted by the Scottish club and judged by Bruno Hachet of France. Best in Match was won by Ousebay Mungo Magic who represented the RR Club of GB with won the match overall.

The SRRA had an excellent year being granted CC Status after five years of campaigning. There Patron, Leonard Pagleiro judged and show and give BIS to Schemesh.

Top winning Rhodesian Ridgeback was John Baldwin’s bitch Ch. Mangwe Limited Edition who won 7 CCs throughout the year including BIS at the Midland & Northern Ch Show bringing her total to 12. There were 3 new Champions in 2000, all dogs Julie Bates’ Ch. Gunthwaite Action Man, John Balwin’s M Special Edition and Sharon Rossiter’s Ch. Sonstraal Somali who won all his CCs last year. The Top winning puppy was Mangwe Lily-Lion winning 4 BP including the CC at the RR Club of GB. There were, unfortunately no new Bitch Champions and judging from the young bitches coming into the ring competition will get stronger.

For the first time we faced competition from abroad when Int. Sw. Dn. Nor. Fin. Aakemba King Astor Gi-Fumo travelled from Sweden to pick up CC and BIS at RR Club of GB and CC at Midland Counties from his two raids on England. Ch.Ir. Ch. Tombezi Gypsy Girl who became the first International Ch using the FCI system in Ireland travelled to Midland Counties and was rewarded with CC and BOB.

Lindsey Barnes©

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