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Quite a lot has gone on since I last wrote these notes, my apologies for the long gap, but puppies do take up a lot of one’s time. Firstly, the Club AGM was held via zoom again this year. There has been quite a debate about the way these meetings should be held in a small club covering the whole of Great Britain. Inevitably, especially in these days of high fuel costs, a physical AGM limits the number of potential attendees, whereas a zoom meeting loses the inter-personal reactions and disenfranchises those without internet access. The third choice, a postal AGM, does not allow debate or argument, but does cover every member. Perhaps we should let figures speak for themselves. I think the last time we had an unrestricted physical AGM, there were 20 members present. This year’s zoom meeting had 35. No doubt the new committee will have an opportunity to debate this at length, as well as the voting method used, which also came into question, particularly over the validity of proxies, not allowed at present under the club rules. I believe that the KC will also have views on these matters.

As a result of this year’s voting, the club has a new chair in Janet Pearce, with Paula Foakes joining the committee with the two re-elected members, Nick Boisseau and Maggie Spencer. The Tia Trophy was won by Brumbi, owned by Eugenie Barron & Boris Bettini, for predicting his master’s impending heart attack, narrowly from Ann Travis’ Tully for his work promoting the sport of mantrailing. What a versatile breed we have!! The Tobias Trophy for top winning Hovawart went to Caron & John McLure’s Tiggy (Kanukalos Burletta) for the third year in a row….she is leading again this year, so far!!

Nick Boisseau reported on the recent IHF centenary conference and celebrations, held at Fulda in central Germany. The conference itself had all 15 member nations represented for the first time, but there was not a great deal of time for debate, as there were two major events during the weekend, firstly an exhibition of stud dogs, with an amazing number of 90 entrants, all of which were critiqued aloud, and their breeding credentials gone over. I can’t see stud dog owners in UK allowing that to happen here. On the Sunday there was a show put on by the German breed clubs, with a total entry of an amazing 405 dogs, coming from all over Europe…and I believe even one from North America… necessitating the deployment of 10 judges, as the FCI system of grading and critiquing each dog was in force. Both events were held in the grounds of an old schloss. Very much an “I was there” moment, so lucky Nick and John, who tells me it was well worth the thirteen hours each way journeys.

Our puppies are nearly due to be off to their new homes, and we are very excited to say that one will be joining the team at Medical Detection Dogs. They have promised us regular updates on her progress. The selection process was interesting, because the puppies were tested on various things, some of the normal tests, but also their ability to sniff out things, and their persistence in doing so. It is amazing how much aptitude six-week-old puppies show. Talking of puppies, good news from both Maggie Spencer and Becky Harrison, both expecting litters next month. Let us hope for a safe delivery in both cases, and maybe some new owners interested in doing activities with their dogs. They are so capable it always seems a pity when their talents are hidden under bushels.

With all the activity going on, I almost forgot that Border Union show had six entries, and judge Keith Nathan found his BoB in Jan Wolfe’s Ozzy Aldeon, a first for him, with Ellen and Thomas Gutjahr’s veteran Zwartsbos Arreton taking best bitch. Next up is National Working and Pastoral at Malvern with Craig Hosie in the hot seat.

Elaine Sharpe
01743 891310 pineshovawarts@gmail.com