Kennel Notes.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 25, 3 September 1920, Page 11

Kennel Notes.

(By "Spaniel.")

At the recent Wellington Keamrf Clufa Show, there were 162 exhibitors. This speaks well for the fancy as a whole. The building known as the 'J ' sLod, adjcuning the wharf, was very rcoir.y, but its close proximity to the briny waves was a doubtful asset. One dog of the smaller variety got overboard and was rescued with great difficulty, but ano her one was not so fortunate and made bis way to the bottom. It was hard luek (oi the owner, It might be wise for future exhih.to-s at the above show to see that their dogs Jhave a litle swimming practice before rompeting at the waterside show. English setters made a very stro.ng c.'ass, seventeen of the breed facing the judge. In the North Island, the breed is very popular amongst gunshots. Tlieir great scenting power makes them a necessary part of a day's bird-shooting eqtr.pmcnt. Amongst the exnibits was the wellItnown veteran "Bay Richmond" sh >',«n by 0. F. Angell. Another of the older brigade was charcpion "Silver Rock." He is a half-brother to "Bay Richmond," each claim 'Bay Rock" as their sire(. "Silver Rock" is not seven years old and is wearing weil. Irish setters were not so numerous as the English, although there was also a cballenge class. Messrs Morton and Dawson, who" .'have recently entered into partnership, were in scoring mood with a strong team. Mr F. Daines was also a. keen exliibitor and several of his breeds were amongst the winners. The Gordon setter is fast losing his popularity. Only two dogs and one bitch were benched. Retrievers also made a poor entry . only two com'ng forward. Airedales made a fine show, there being nineteen competitors. The quality in this breed was excellent and that is only what one might expect after having a glance at the pedigree of the majority of the exhibits. Since the show, one of the winning bitches, namely "Wairiki Wise Wench," has gone west. Her death was sudden : about forty or so of tlie motormen may kuow but are not likely to squeak. Mrs Biltcliff is a heavy loser and we extend to her our sympathy in her loss. Bull terriers received a challenge class. We say that challenges are simply wasted on many brecds, only two being benched, one of each sex. In black cockers, the quantity of exhibits was poor, six in all compeUng. "Edenvale Billy" had things all his own way and won with ea,se. In bitches "Edenvale Zoe" a half-sister to "Billy" had no trouble winning -ovcr "Karaka Bonnie," who, by tlie way, is a daughter of "Edenvale Billy." The coloured classes found eleven competitors, the winning dog being "Omuia Bang," who was placed over "Milhvood Surprise," the crack lemon-roan dog. The latter was a trifle on the big side for Mr Soler. "Millwood Surprise," later gained thirl place in the challenge stafees under Mr J. D. Graham, so evidently the latter fancied him a great deal. "Rocklyn Blossom" (Imp). was tlie oaly bitch benched in the open class. She is now seven years old, but what a wonder she has been. Perhaps she is the best' cocker spaniel bitch ever imported into N.Z. For terriers were a particularly fine lot and the judge hada fairly difficult task set him in making the award. In the North Island the\fox-terrier has always been a popular dog and the bighclass quality shovvn at Wellington gives one the impression that at the present time he occupies a very high pinnacle in the fancy. Ihe wires have never been so popular as the smoothes ; it is not the lot jf ari fanciers to be first class barbers. The wires require a lot of trimming. Eveiy fancier knows that. the right +hing to do is just to take off what you don t v vnt left on. It sounds easy enouqh, hut just there we fmd would-be wire fan 'ers giving the fancy the toss. Only five dogs came forward in the Irish tcrrier section and they were a fair sarnple of the quality prevailing 'ti N.Z. at present. No bitches were benched. C'an we take this to mean that the quality of ihe l itches is below the form of the dogs? Let n.; hope not, as that would spell disaster for the breed. There is at present a rare opening for a fancier to import a really first class pair of Irish terriers to N.Z. Many of the worst faults were noticeable amongst the winning dogs, bad colour, over size, long backs and loaded shoulders. The Irish terrier is a most desirable dqg, and we sliould like to see him brought into line with the fox terrier and Airedales.