Page 63 - Chow Life - 2016 Winter

United Kingdom

Diana Phillips, Correspondent

Our Summer Shows have given us 2 new Champions. The first In addition to the Championship shows we have another very
to gain her coveted 3rd. & qualifying Challenge Certificate was important show ……. The Chow of the Year Show. This is an
Pam & Stef Godber’s Ch. Lechan I’m Adele (Jun. Ch.). Adele is Open show hosted annually by each breed club in rotation. In
home-bred in the well known Lechan kennels. Although Adele this country the Kennel Club allows champions to be exhibited
has never been enthusiastic about the show ring she did a lot at Open shows, but, over many years, it has been an accepted
of winning as a puppy until she decided that showing was not “unofficial rule” in Chows that we do not show champions at
really for her. She competed in Southern Ireland and achieved Open shows, despite the KC ruling. For chowists the Chow of
her Junior title under the FCI system plus 2 Green Stars. At just the Year show is an exception. Champions are shown at that
2 years old she won her first 2 UK challenge certificates but, Open show as the honour of becoming “Chow of the Year” is
shortly afterwards, Adele decided not to co-operate in the show such a high one.
ring. She has to be in the right mood to show and if she decides Our “Chow of
it is not to her liking then that is it. No amount of baiting or the Year” is not
persuading will change her mind…. a typical chow. based on a points
At home she is a real rascal ……… she loves to empty the system but is the
kitchen cupboards. Often in the night you can hear a crash winner of Best
and Adele has emptied the stainless steel dog bowls out of a in Show at that
cupboard. Once all out on the floor she is happy and leaves hotly contested
them alone. Her other tricks are tipping up water buckets and show.
throwing hide chews about which land in strange places and are
found much later.
Pam & Stef continued to try in the ring with her & gained a
couple of Reserve CCs, but they were beginning to think that
the very important 3rd. CC would never come. Their patience Ch. Maixing Moonwalker at Kweichow
was rewarded 2 years later in September when Adele suddenly
decided that she This year the honour of hosting the Chow of the Year show fell
would behave to the Chow Club of Wales. Coincidentally it was also the club’s
in exemplary 90th. Anniversary year. There was the usual high entry for this
fashion in the event. The eventual Best in Show, so becoming “Chow of the
ring & gained Year 2016” was Multi Ch. Heart Mind Fire dei Leoni Imperiali,
her long- who had travelled all the way from Italy with his owner Signora
awaited 3rd. Stefania Bettini and his handler Saverio Faccitondo. Once before,
CC. When in 2014, he had competed at the Chow of the Year show but on
Adele decided that occasion he was Reserve Best in Show. This time he went
she is a career one better as Best in Show. The Reserve Best in Show this year
girl she has went to Winston & Chris Clucas’ junior home bred bitch Hiswin
succeeded. Star Dream.
The Chow Club of Wales had decorated the hall in the colours
of their national flag & had used these colours also for their
Ch. Lechan I’m Adele (Jun. Ch.)
top winners’ sashes and large rosettes. How very appropriate it
looked, not only
The other new champion is Ch. Maixing Moonwalker at for Wales but also
Kweichow (call name “Chester”) belonging to Mrs. Janet for the eventual
King. He was not home bred but was one of a litter bred in the winner, as the
successful Maixing kennels of Mr. & Mrs. Jeffcott. Janet had seen colours of the
photos of a litter on Facebook & decided to see them in real life. Italian flag are the
Amongst this litter was a very tiny red male, which the breeders same as Wales
worried about and didn’t expect to survive. This pup was referred ……… red, white
to as “Little Red”. Janet also looked at another litter whilst she was & green!
there & liked the look of one of those. Two weeks later she visited
again. The breeder brought “Little Red” in, who was now thriving
& growing, although still small. By now he had a new name ..
“Chester”. Chester’s antics won Janet’s heart & so he became her
“puppy of choice” & went home with her to join her other chows.
Chester has progressed & grown to a good, normal male height
and is certainly no longer “little” in any way. He loves to go to
shows, behaves beautifully and is very much the friendly family
dog who loves cuddles both at home & at shows.
Multi Ch. Heart Mind Fire Dei Leoni Imperiali
61