RAY SULLIVAN
My interest in the showing of dogs began when in the late 50s Beryl and I would take the children to the local county shows held at British Timken and Overstone Park. We used to go and watch the judging of the 'Alsatian', as they were known then. We had a large bi-coloured female GSD as a pet, hence the interest.
We went to many shows and clubs for the next couple of years as spectators to learn as much as we could about the breed. We then purchased a Sparkey of Aronbel daughter, and mated her to Letton Cordo of Brittas. We were now into the breeding and exhibiting of GSDs.
I got into the handling side of the show scene more by perseverance than anything. I was often told in the early days that we had some good stock which were well presented, but we were not known and needed a pro-handler. I ignored this advice and carried on. I steadily got more bookings and then was asked to campaign Vosta Crusader of Rika by Irish Ch Dunmonaidh Drummond of Charavigne out of Ch Candella of AnsviIIe bred by Eric Gerrard and owned by Mr & Mrs D Poster. He was awarded the CC at Belle Vue under Philip Dufty and so gave me my first ticket winner, as a handler. He gained his title at the league show at Doddington Hall under Len Charles.
It is difficult in a short article to cover a long period with so many animals involved but if I may I will list some of the class males and the 'Highlights' of handling some of them.
Bill 'Wild Man' Nicholson had a trio of good males:
1st Hendrawens Argonaut of Tramella, excellent male but his pasterns were weak and forelegs could have been cleaner - good show record.
2nd Mandarin of Coolree, a large robust male 1CC Barbara Lines R/CC BAA, CC CH Joll.
3rd Glenteal Caesar a very correct male by Mandarin who gained his title in good company.
Mr Tony Hornsby's Glentaff Facinator middle size ex mover won some good middle classes at CH level.
Lloyd Johns Brinton Viscount a very firm dry male by Kenmils Valiant ex Brinton Jemmima, good show record CH Cedersdean Montana, had gained his title before I handled him but was awarded another 6 or 7 CCs.
Margaret Lee's Delridge Erhard. I only handled this male on two occasions, firstly, under Mrs Beck, 3rd in Limit, Bath - and then much to my delight, at Leicester All Breeds under Frau Danielson. In torrential rain he towed me around in the open class like a water skier behind a boat, won the class and was awarded his third CC - great moment for a fine male.
I then went to the wet weather tent where Mr Wilson was judging females, and notched up another CC with Ch Sadira Francine.
The two Premonition sons Jacnel Philados and Shootersway Urbanus gave me some highs in the handling game. Urbanus was out of Europa from the good producing Euridice. He was very firm with an excellent gait, his foreface was a shade narrow and he was a shade stretched as was his grand-sire Ch Philanderer. He won minor puppy at his first show at Granby Halls, Leicester, had a run of 17 wins. He won 2 CCs - first Dorothy Stanley, second Mollie Hunter and the reserve CC behind his father under Mrs Beck. He won an excellent yearling class at the BAA in 1972 and I got the impression the SV judge was rather taken with him. Challenge time arrived and down the line came the judge, got to me - "Age please?" "18 months and 2 days" I replied. Down to the junior winner Emmevale Majestic, handler 'Main Man' Stokes. "How old?" In his wonderful accent came the reply, "Ee's in is secund year" - up to second place and reserve CC. Clever man that Stokie.
Urbanus went to Australia which stopped him getting his title here, but his new owner flew over to Crufts 1973 and saw his new acquisition win a good limit class under Brian Lindsay at his last British Show. He made Australian Champion.
Jacnel Philados was a real rugged male of good colour and great power, bred by Nellie Wright, owned by Stan Hopps, always very alert and attentive to his surroundings, powerful gait and bomb proof character. He was awarded his first CC from the yearling class by Frau Danielson at Birmingham All Breeds Show, his second CC at the BAA 1975 gave me a day I shall never forget. I will try to set the scene. The show, as usual, had a special atmosphere due to the fact that this was the one occasion each year when the Germans were judging (a bit different now!!)
Miss Moncreiffe had her import Elan in limit dog and had flown over a young German handler to handle him. Limit Dog class began: individuals completed, call out order, 1st Elan, 2nd Philados and so on. Around we go-Stokie, Gillie and the boys shouting me on-a few laps later Philados goes to the front- more punching of air!
The class finishes in that order. We then have Open Dog, a 'first class' dog Vornhill Vigilante is up in open I think for the first time and wins the class.Time for the challenge. Around we go in class order, after what seemed an eternity Herr
Wieser pointed at me and directed me into First Position, CC Philados, reserve CC
Vigilante, my deerstalker hat was elevated to about 20 feet. Great day for a great dog and
owner, his third CC came at Leicester Club Show under Miss Moncreiffe.
I'll complete the males with a favourite of mine, CH Vonjen Nijinsky, bred and owned by a great Welsh lady, Mrs Jenkins, who used to bring me baskets of goodies from Wales. He was a stretched male with ex head and angles. He had a very long stride but was a little lazy and you had to work with him on the gait (no outside help then lads!)
His finest hour was at the League Show of 1973. The Bennets were over with all the top males of the day entered and present. He was BOB over one of my all time greats, CH Novem Bolero a real class act.
Mrs Jenkins and the dog were big news on the Welsh local TV programme on their return and I still have copy pictures of the dog surrounded by all his trophies won on the day, taken by the local Press.
I was privileged to handle some ex females a few are listed as follows:
Jordan Beatrice ultra feminine ex mover
Melony Yakima strong female 1 Reserve CC
Ch Kelowna Winged Feet - some 15 firsts and reserve CC by 14 mths, owners changed handlers to give her a better chance.
Kelowna Wild Rice 1 CC
Ch Tramella's Hondou Bechan
Ch Patraliza's Bronte - early part of show career
Ch Kingsmens Mere Magic of Greenveldt (First CC)
Amethyst of Furstenkrone 1 CC 1 RCC
Hendrawens Icon of Rothick
Valrok Belle Etoile
My top two would have to be the late Roy Winfrow's Ch Sadira Francine, equal top
female winner in 1976 with Cellie. She was a very firm free moving female of good colour. To Delridge Erhard, she produced two female puppies, Sadira Paulette who I
handled as a youngster and Sadira Petite Fleur. Both were ex females who got their titles:
Fleur had a more pronounced wither and longer forelegs than Paulette.
Secondly, Harry and Rose Emmett's Ch Emmevale Natasha a golden sable with keen outlook, and great ring presence. She was very firm with ex overline and a powerful far reaching gait, a real joy to handle. In 5 shows she was awarded 3 CCs and 2 RCCs. Finally, a mention of Beryl's and my pride and joy, Ch Elaina's Kingsmens Ransome, our own 'Champion' in all aspects.
The day she won her first CC at Bolton in 1972 under AC Cook was something to remember, after beating all the ex females in Open Bitch, the ring seemed to be full of people all offering their congratulations. During the challenge I looked behind me and all the class winners looked world beaters. We held on and she was awarded the CC to a great ovation. She won her second CC under Gwen Barrington in Cardiff and gained her title under Margaret Baron at Southern Counties. She was 4 and a half years old when she got her first CC and just 6 years old when gaining her title (now there's food for thought).
Some early favourite females, Ch Shootersway Persephone, Ch Empress of Peardon, and
later Ch Novem Bolero, Ch Ronet Nina and the flying Gailsmore Carousel. In males: Ch
Gorsefield Granite, Ch Cherroos Fine Fellow. Later 3 very correct males: Ch Voirlich
Amigus, Ch Voirlich Justice and Ch Muscava's Flint. 'Abroad' males: Odin and Mark.
Females: Pishca and Vanta.
Finally, a male I would have loved to handle. He was shown sparingly. He was a son of Int Ch Condor V Schiefen Giebel out of a Gorsefield Bitch. Back to Granite, he being Timbervale Secret Alien, a middle size dog with ex forehand and hind quarters, firm back, the dog gaiting was a joy to see. His head was in the correct forward position, the backline parallel to the ground, hocks getting well under the body and transmitting the power forward with the forelegs reaching to their maximum, not a hint of upward movement on the back. I would dearly love to see the likes of this movement today.
I had some good years handling dogs with some good hearted banter whilst competing with the likes of John Stokes, the late Stan Gillon, Marjorie Williams, Walter Ginter, Edwin White, etc. We were asked to pass on any tips or advice. I would say, let the dogs gait freely with a natural gait, and have some fun. The fact that a handful of people appear to want to run the breed worries me, so make sure the teachers have more knowledge than the pupils.
R A Sullivan
