2022 Clumber Spaniel Breed Notes

18^th December 2022

Apologies for the delay in the results from LKA, the past week has been a nightmare. Tony had a suspected DVT so Monday we were at Urgent Care in Stockton, followed by the specialist DVT Clinic at Hartlepool Hospital. Tuesday, saw us back again at Hartlepool - no DVT but another infection was noted so he was put back on strong antibiotics. Fast Forward to Saturday and Tony was feeling rough and tested positive for Covid. Unlike Tony, I am still testing negative, but will no doubt go down with it at some stage, so it looks like Christmas at Maursett is cancelled. Meanwhile I had a second head scan with dye to see if they can find a brain and am due another urgent appointment on Tuesday, so fingers crossed I stay negative until after that.

We were late starting at LKA, so the bench party started early. Loads of food and drinks, so a big thank you to all who contributed. Peter Sheppard was awarding CCs for the first time in Clumbers and found his DCC (his all important 3^rd) and BOB in Lee Cox’s Vanitonia Soloist, handled by Adam Gardner; I must admit, Bruin did try it on a little, but a patient Adam convinced him to be good. Paul and Sue Whitehouse collected the Res CC with Sh Ch Maursett Mallachie at Molvonia, while his litter sister - our Maursett Marnie - gained her 2^nd CC to go with her string of Res CCs. At her first show, Vanitonia Secret Episode belonging to the Crocker, Frost and Cahill partnership picked up a Res CC out of junior. Best Puppy went to another attending his very first show, by way of Maursett Mordecai at Rocabec (Elvis to his friends) belonging to Julie and Peter Cummings.  Julie shows and judges Bedlington Terriers, so a bit of a change for her. Best Veteran was Sue and Lauren Wilson’s Winhampton Oops a Daisy.

Clumber registrations for the first three quarters of this year are down, but we have more registrations than the other minority spaniels, with only Cockers, English Springers way ahead and Welsh Springers just slightly ahead of us.

Finally may I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and successful New Year.

Do keep the news coming in.

Maureen Taylor

5^th December 2022

The latest edition of the Kennel Gazette is out and the number of show societies that have de registered is awful. It seems many of the younger generation are not prepared to take on these shows and many - like me - are too old now, having done our stint in years gone by. I was a club secretary and treasurer for two different societies for nearly 20 years.

The Lancashire Heeler Association have come up with a great idea. They have successfully applied to the Kennel Club to have one of their Open Shows purely for vulnerable native breeds. The proposed date is Sunday 18^th June at Stoneleigh. Hopefully the Clumber Club will back this and it will hopefully give a nice entry for someone in the breed to judge. Mentoring could also take place at the show.

We spent an afternoon at the vets last weekend as Marnie had a fight with some barbed wire whilst out on a walk and lost, 6 stitches later she is recovering, but my bank account isn’t!

The Kennel Club have just announced that as of 1^st January 2023, for a two year trial period, general and group championship shows can apply to be exempt from benching. Crufts will remain fully benched. I know that many societies were worried at the cost of benching and how to keep costs down.  There has been a debate for years now with many wanting benching and many, including myself, who if at all possible, do not use it. My dogs are caged either next to me ringside, so I can enjoy watching the judging or - if absolutely necessary - on their bench in a cage. How often are benches too far away from the ring? As a minority breed, I fear we do tend to get pushed to one side.

Congratulations to Paul and Sue Whitehouse who went Reserve Best in Show at Coventry Gundog with Sh Ch Maursett Malachie at Molvonia (Garfield to his friends). Terry Pearson (Lanspar) was the judge for Clumbers and Jane Howarth was the Best in Show judge; she must have been impressed with Garfield as she also gave him the CC and Best of Breed at Gundog Society of Wales in October.

Linda Thorogood also had a good day at Crystal Palace Canine Association where Anbrook Don’t Stop Me Now at Harrifield (Stoker) was BOB and Best AV Vulnerable Breeds under Gavin Robertson and Gundog Group 2 under Paul Carpenter. I must give a little mention to Ruth Antieul who is a new Clumber exhibitor and went Res BOB and BPIB at the same show with Maursett Marceline. It is good to see that we are attracting exhibitors from other breeds into ours - Ruth also shows a Vallhund. 

Do keep the news coming in.

Maureen Taylor

5^th October 2022

Sunday saw the Clumber Spaniel Club hold it’s Championship show at North Muskham with Karin Brostam Berglund from Sweden judging. It was a fine day with plenty of sunshine with a cool wind so we were able to enjoy having the judging outside. There was a fairly high absentee rate with 23 dogs and 28 bitches present;  it was nice to see a good number of dogs that do not usually grace the Championship show rings entered.  I know Peter and Jackie  Sheppard were taken ill with Covid hence their tribe was missing. I do hope that Jackie feels better soon as I understand that Covid has been worse for her than for Peter. Talking of Peter, he has asked me to remind folk that he still has a few calendars left.

The dog CC and Best in Show went to the winner of Limit - Maja Bubalo’s Hrothgar’s Hop Skip’n’Jump, with Dave and Sue Boden’s Sh Ch Tweedsmuir Just Cruzin Among Suelynda, handled as usual by Hilda, getting the Reserve CC from Open. In the bitches, it was again Sue and Dave collecting the bitch CC, Reserve Best in Show and Best Opposite sex, from Novice with Suelynda Kreme Della Kreme.  This is her first CC and she also won in the Special classes, gaining a first in the Special Post Graduate Dog or Bitch class. Best Puppy in Show was Ricky Furnell’s Vanitonia Rio Sonara of Bebecova (who also won the Special puppy class under judge Mr Ken Bartlett). The Special classes were well supported and Junior Dog or Bitch was won by Maursett Melwyn, handled by Lucy Wareham for her mum Rachel. Open was won by Marjorie Charlesworth Ironside’s Tavirosh Sugar Plum Fairy who is now being handled by James Taylor. There is, of course, no overall award for the special classes.

A nice gesture from Paul and Susanne Whitehouse who donated a piece of crystal for both the Best in Show and Best Puppy in show, something the winners will no doubt treasure.

The kitchen seemed to be doing a roaring trade and everyone seemed pleased with the food.  I can vouch for the Red Velvet cake which was yummy! All in all, the show was a hit with all and it was especially pleasing to see the children encouraged by having junior handling and with everyone getting a rosette. It did seem that we have reverted back to the shows of old, where all were encouraged and the atmosphere was really good.  Well done to the new committee who certainly seemed to work hard to make the show such a success. Eunice King, Secretary of the Clumber Spaniel Club, has asked if anyone picked up her coat by mistake as it is missing - it is navy blue with a red motive on it. Talking of Eunice, her granddaughter Kirsha was stewarding at the show and she did an absolutely sterling job in the ring.

I am at present shovelling food in one end of the puppies and cleaning it up coming out of the other end.  It is hard work trying to clean up before they stand in it and tread it all over - the joys of breeding! I must give a thumbs up to the Kennel Club. We recently opted to join the Assured Breeders Scheme after much deliberation. Tony applied for the puppy registrations on Thursday afternoon online; these were approved and showing on our account by 6pm the same day.  Not only that, but the printed registration pack also containing the documentation landed on our doormat yesterday morning - just five days after we hit the ‘send’ button online. The Kennel Club certainly gets and deserves our praise for this.

Do keep the news coming in.

Maureen Taylor

26th September 2022

We are now heading towards the shortest day with the Autumn equinox having been and gone - so days are now shorter than nights Where has the year gone? Oh and him indoors is already playing Christmas songs!

Darlington saw Carol Page judging and unfortunately there was a number of absentees.  The dog CC, his second at consecutive shows, and Best Puppy was Lee Cox’s Vanitonia Soloist who had a fabulous day going on to win the Gundog Puppy Group, then Reserve Best Puppy in Show under Patsy Hollings. In the bitches, it was another CC and Best of Breed for Paul and Hilda Monaghan with Sh Ch Tweedsmuir She’s so Sheek and a Reserve CC for Maursett Mimi, who is owned by Ryan Ennis Holden and was handled by our daughter Hannah. This was Mimi’s first show so you can imagine how overjoyed Ryan was and how proud we were.

The entry for Gundog Breeds Association of Scotland is 10 - no CCs here, so not a bad entry for Colm Beattie.

The entry for the CSC Championship show is 67 dogs making 77 entries which is a fabulous entry for Karin Brostam Bergland. The Specials have 23 dogs entries for Ken Bartlett.  I am told that there is still time to book your lunch of pies and peas and that raffle prizes will be gratefully received.  

We have a hectic run of shows coming up with four shows in under two weeks.  It seemed a good idea at the time, but now I am not so sure!

Do keep the news coming in.

Maureen Taylor