More news from Crufts, Danish and Swedish Sh Champion Doonbeg Rare Flair  who came 2nd in the Open Dog Class was the highest placed Danish dog at the show, he was handled by Katherine Jepssen who is the top junior handler in Denmark and was in the last eight in the International Junior Handling Competition at Crufts, where she handled an American Cocker Spaniel.

I posted the 2008 edition of the Year Book to all fully paid up members last Wednesday, so you all should have received them by now. Although I am named as the Editor, I would like to thank the Year Book sub-committee for all their hard work, without them I could not have produced the book. Thanks must also go to all who took the time to write articles and also the members who placed adverts. I hope you all enjoy this edition and I would appreciate your comments   if you think anything can be done to improve future editions of the Year Book. Can you all check that your name, address and telephone number is correct in the members section, if not let me know.

Last Saturday was West Torrington Open Show   IWS’s were judged by Sharon Pinkerton Best of Breed was Antdela Oleander owned by Ant Andrews he went on to win the Gundog Group under Eunice King and then was Reserve Best In Show under the Best in Show Judge, Marion Sergeant. I understand there were a few new puppies being shown but I am not sure of their names so I will find out for next weeks blog.

On Sunday  the IWSA AGM took place, for the first time in over twenty years I was unable to attend, the attendance was up on previous years and I understand that Roger Taylor was re-elected as Chairman and all the committee members who were standing for re-election were approved by the members, we have one new elected member who is Judith Carruthers and the committee co-opted two more members to serve, they are Chris Hinch and Alison McNaught. I am sure all of them will be valued members of your committee. As is usual the members voted for the Judges for the Championship and Open Shows  the successful candidates for the 2011 shows are Mrs Pam Blay for the Championship Show and Mrs Judith Carruthers for the Open Show. All the proposals that were on the agenda were discussed at length before they were voted on by the members present, but none of them were accepted. A small presentation was made by our Chairman Roger Taylor of a painting by Alan Spinks to Chris Attwood who has been Secretary of the IWSA for over twenty five years, the painting was of two dogs, one an IWS and the other a Chinese Crested, I am sure you would all like me to thank her on your behalf for all the work she has done over the years.

From the comments I have received from you, I know that you like receiving the news as soon as it happens, indeed even before it is published in the two dog papers this would not be possible without your help and the help of Jaki Porter, who although she is not a committee member, she is our webmaster and updates the blog as soon as I send it to her. (Thankyou Jean - its a pleasure! Jaki)

Jean
01494783599/07941830666
E-mail jean.gomm@ntlworld.com