Page 24 - Chow LIfe - 2019 Summer

from Toronto. By 1980 the Southern Chow Chow successful regionals were at that site. The 110
Club was a large and significant regional club. In entries (between Sweeps and Breed) for judge
1978 the Club began a long and successful run of Richard Glendinning remains as a modern-day
having our Specialty shows in conjunction with the high number for a Regional Specialty not connected
Old Dominion Kennel Club all-breed fall shows. to the National. Two years later the venue shifted
to Morven Park near Leesburg, VA, but the times

And dog shows and regional clubs were once again were already changing. It became more difficult
for our Club to make money; the shift to Loudoun
thriving. There were clubs in New England, New County brought new challenges as the County raised
York, Pennsylvania and Atlanta. Remember that permitting costs for Old Dominion to hold their
there weren’t as many all-breed clubs or dog shows shows, and Old Dominion passed those costs on to
at that time (many clubs would have just one show), the specialty clubs. The SCCC Specialty in 1998 was
so exhibitors showed up in numbers whenever there held in late morning in 104-degree heat – incredible
was a show. Large entries of Chow Chows became heat for late September – but that was the last straw.
commonplace, and the breed was once again in The Middleburg Kennel Club was looking for
the American Kennel Club’s top ten breeds during specialty clubs to come to their site at Oatlands on
the 1980’s. During the 1970’s through the 1990’s, the south side of Leesburg, VA in late October, and
SCCC members were again working their Chows SCCC made the move.
in obedience. Helen Skeels was active in obedience
from the 1960’s into the 1970’s, Margot Woods did
obedience in the 1970’s. Later after 1990 Dr. Joyce Among all of this, SCCC hosted National Specialties
Dandridge, Madeline and Cindy Muir, and Tom in New Carrollton, MD in 1997 and 2001. At this
Masog and Dan Strachan placed obedience titles on point, the dog show world was changing further.
Chows. All-breed clubs and shows were suddenly more
numerous. In the Mid-

Our Club’s involvement in Atlantic area, one could
show every weekend most
the National Specialties has of the year. Dog magazines
been very strong through What Makes SCCC and the internet became
the years. The first National Interesting, Part 3 more ubiquitous; now one
in the Mid-Atlantic area could track judges and their
was in 1959 at Pikesville, What is the real story of the 2011 placements at shows and
MD, followed seven years SCCC Specialty? The back-to-back potentially show under a
later by a National Specialty Specialty and Supported Entries judge several times a year.
in Annapolis, MD in 1966. were planned at Oatlands for the Anybody who wanted to
The 1970’s saw SCCC as last weekend of October 2011. An “special” a dog could do
a host club in Reston, VA unexpected snowstorm hit Northern so – while amassing greater
with National Specialties Virginia on Friday October 28, statistics in the process.
in 1971, 1975 and 1978. dropping 2-3 inches of snow on the Regional breed clubs had
One of the great all-time show grounds. The snow would not always been a venue of
National Specialties was completely melt until Sunday, and friendly competition, but by
held in Richmond, VA in the AKC and Middleburg Kennel 2000 the competitive nature
1990 with an entry of 280. Club agreed to cancel the Saturday had an edge. Members who
President Paul Davis and and Sunday shows. Sadly, longtime remembered “specialing”
co-show chairs Marlin Middleburg show chair Virginia Grefe from 30 years prior often
Spencer and David Durman passed away suddenly at her home two deemed many contemporary
led a Regional Specialty for weekends after the cancellations. Ms. specials “less worthy.” SCCC
Southern that featured 212 Grefe had worked closely with Gerry saw its levels of activity wane
entries. The Club’s hospitality Roberts and Judy Loratto to ensure the after 2001. Much of this was
for that show was led by continued success of our shows, and burnout from hosting two
Judy and Chester Webb and SCCC was greatly hurt by this news. Nationals in four years. But
Julie Woodcock, and was the Chow Chow was steadily
a catered affair that rivaled declining in popularity
the shows 60 years previous. and the “tech bust” of 2001 had shaken peoples’
The Southern Chow Chow Club had truly come full abilities to spend on dog show entries and travel. The
circle! competitive edge between Club members was subtle
By the late 1980’s the Old Dominion Kennel - but it existed, and it affected how members wanted
Club had shifted its shows to Bull Run Park near to work with each other.
Centreville, VA, and some of the Club’s most