16 Breed Notes – SUBC 2025

Last weekend it was Scottish Utility Breeds Clubs’ second Ch show, which this year was held at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) at Glascow. I think that the change of date and venue (from Kelso in July) was reflected in the lower number of entries.

Our judge was Jeff Luscott (who last just us at Leeds in 2023 for which there was no critique) and he had drawn an entry of just 7 dogs and 1 absentee, so let’s hope he can manage to write a critique this time.

Keesies were first in the ring with a 9.00am start and with only 6 Keesies present, judging was soon over and done with. There were no entries in Puppy, Junior and Post Graduate Dog, Limit & Veteran Bitch and both the Junior and Special Beginners classes. The rest of the classes had just one dog entered in each.

From Limit, winning his first CC with Best of Breed was the Gate’s Winklestar Alnair via Lacetrom (Vivids Majestic Prince of Winklestar (imp USA) x Winklestar Serendipity). The RDCC went to the Veteran winner, Hickson’s Ch Only The Lonley (Bert von Ricara (imp Den) x Kichigai Special Edition)

‘Doing the double’ and winning the BCC was Max’ sister Abbie, Ch Winklestar Alsephina via Lacetrom JW also handled by Michelle; with the RBCC going to the winner of Post Graduate, a delighted Ann Parker with Peeddiepies Heidi Fara (Flatmeer Flightberry x Joy Mag Force)

Best Puppy was Caron Bell’s Allforus Miracle of Love (Torrikees Crazy Love x Allforus Game Set N’Match)

I have gone on for years about the perceived ‘value for money’ and is a subject that General Championship Show Societies appear to be oblivious to, despite entries constantly falling year after year. The Ch show season has started and with entries now costing £32+ per dog; exhibitors are choosing carefully how they spend their hard-earned pennies. The choice of judge is usually the main deciding factor, followed by the venue and travelling involved and what facilities the show offers or not as is increasingly the case.

Whilst the Kennel Club seems to think that increasing a breed’s CC allocation and allowing Champion classes to be held at any show for any breed is the solution. What planet are these people on?? I really can’t see that ‘cheap tickets’ and judges, (especially inexperienced ‘all-rounders’) taking the easy/safe option will do anything to ameliorate the current state of affairs.

Anji Marfleet