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Two more quickly followed and by the He was happy to remain at the Manor
end of that year he had won his House, Houghton in Hampshire and
crown. enjoy the steady stream of young
bitches who came to visit him. It was
as a stud dog rather than a great
showman that Surprise will be
remembered as he sired nine English
champions to a variety of lines.

Not only did Surprise produce winning
offspring for the Ven kennel but also
famous dogs for other exhibitors. The
first two Gavimir champion bitches
came from his litters to Rhinevale
Roitelet of Gavimir and helped found
the Gavimir line.
Ch. Surprise of Ven as a young dog.
His daughter Gelderland Aurelia
was the dam of Ch. Clipper of
Swashway, who went on to sire
twelve English champions and four
overseas champions.
Champion Ledwell Heidi produced
the famous Ledwell “L” litter,
including Jean Sharp-Bale’s Ch.
Ledwell Lysander, winner of 26 CCs,
and Ch. Ledwell Lustre, the
foundation bitch of the Keesland
kennel and dam of four English
champions in one litter.
Ch. Surprise of Ven mature.
As a result, there are few of today's
His show career was sadly cut short dogs which do not have Surprise
when the car in which he had been
somewhere in their past. I remember
transported was involved in an him for being one of those dogs
accident. Mr and Mrs Collins and who repeatedly produced beautiful
Barbara Glover were leaving the daughters.
North of England Club’sChampionship
show with four dogs when the car was In the late 1970s the Ven kennel was
struck and the side badly damaged. to be responsible for another great
The only casualties were Barbara dog, Dutch Oven of Ven, another
Glover, who sustained concussion and Surprise daughter, out of McDonald's
Surprise, who had a damaged leg and Hanovarian Twilight. The result was
was lame. Mrs Woodiwiss and her the beautiful Ch. Hanoverian Zeus of
sister Miss James offered everyone Ven who did so much winning for his
hospitality for the night and they had owner. Zeus was made up in 1979
to return home minus their car. and was to be the last Ven bred dog
Surprise suffered a stiffness in the leg to receive his crown.
as a result and was not shown again.
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