The Affenpinscher Club UK

Hilton Village Hall proved to be a very pleasant venue for the Affenpinscher Club AGM and annual competitons. About 40 members attended and the Chairman, Suzanne Pirrie thanked those who were not on the committee but had worked hard for the Club in various ways; flowers were presented in appreciation of their services during the year. The meeting finished in good time for us to have a relaxing lunch, as usual prepared by Christine and Ken McFarlane, before the start of the afternoon programme.

The first event after lunch was the Veterans Parade. This year there were more veterans than before and it was lovely to see the oldies, some of whom had been shown in their younger days and others who had fulfilled the task of much loved companions to their owners including one who had attended school regularly to show children a real ‘Hairy McClary’.

Howard Ogden judged the Champflower Trophy competition for CC winners throughout 2007. There were several absentees - out of the 22 qualified only 9 were present. His dog winner was Jeni Wiggins’ Ch. Kilbarchan’s Xtra Copy for Scapafield JW Sh.CM and the bitch winner was his litter sister, Carole Mumby’s Kilbarchan’s Exclusive Copy for Carmichan whom Howard declared the overall winner. Sadly, the trophy, a portrait in pastels of the late Miriam Dickinson’s favourite Affenpinscher Shelbor Schwarz Spinne von Champflower had not been returned. The President’s Sash for the Best Opposite Sex was presented to Jeni with Xtra Copy. Both these dogs were eligible to compete for the Puppy Award as they had been declared Best Puppy at a Club Show or Ch. Show where CCs were on offer for the breed, so the results were repeated in that competition. Exclusive Copy won the Best Puppy Award with Xtra Copy as Best Opposite Sex again. Overall 12 Affenpinschers qualified for this award and 8 were present on the day. The winners were both bred by Helen Moffatt, sired by Ch. Carmichan Jazzy Jet JW ex Ch. Kilbarchan’s Final Copy.

Later Howard expressed his views about Affenpinschers being allowed to compete in both competitions suggesting that perhaps the winners should have withdrawn. However, these two dogs have done extremely well throughout the year one qualifying more times for the Champflower Trophy and the other for the Puppy Award as well as gaining their Junior Warrants and the first ShCM in the breed. It is not the first time that the awards have gone to the same dog but it is not often that dogs qualify on both counts; those that have done so have been top winners in the breed. In 1997 Wendy Boorer’s Kilbarchan’s First Edition won both and as a Ch. went on to win the Champlower for a second time the following year. Two years ago Suzanne Pirrie’s Ch. Riogaioch Illusion JW won both competitions so this year was only the third occasion since the inception in 1993 of the Puppy Award. To me it seems a shame to deny dogs the chance to compete when they have qualified but I would be interested to hear your views on the subject.

The Annual Trophies were then presented – The Scapafield Shield for Dog of the Year to Ch. Roxilyn Just for Jo JW owned by Karen Edwards; The Sir Toad Trophy to Sarah McGill’s Ch./Am/Ch. Uncle Urkle at Cransbere JW for Best Opposite Sex to the Scapafield Shield winner; Avantgarde Trophy for Puppy of the Year to Sophie Todhunter’s Pennington Prince Michael; Schwarz Sarah Brood Bitch Trophy for Top Brood Bitch to Helen Moffatt’s Ch. Kilbarchan’s Final Copy; Wilhelm Stud Dog Trophy for Top Stud Dog to Jessica Gruninger’s Ch. Darkle Devil May Care; The Jetstone Memorial Trophy for Top Breeder to Carole Mumby and the Trophy in Honour of Joanne Edwards for Crufts Best of Breed to Jessica’s Ch. Downsbank Tattiebogle with Marchog.

Janet Beale sent me details of Pippin’s latest achievement. Pippin owned by Ingunn and Irmelin Axelsen of Norway was recently shown in Lithuania under Israeli judge Avi Marshak and became Lithuanian Winner 2008 and won the CACIB in his fourth country. He is now able to add International Champion to his string of titles subject to FCI confirmation. He won another CACIB the following day where he was also Vilnius Cup Show 2008 Winner under Tibor Havelka from Slovakia. So now officially he is Int./Nordic/Norwegian/Danish/Swedish and Lithuanian Ch. Jarube Sir Perceval. His parents are Ch. Ingerdorm Pickpocket JW ex Jarube Love Me Tender – bred by Janet, of course.

The Affenpinscher is the breed selected for the Judges Choice feature in the May edition of the Kennel Gazette. Advertisement details were on a flyer put on everyone’s bench at Crufts. This is a reminder that copy has to be in by April 2nd . Contact details are 01536 747333.

TONI TEASDALE