Page 132 - K9News_Issue13_October2020_download_Neat

annual puppy competition. We were absolutely
overjoyed and totally hooked on showing
bulldogs from then on.

Showing the dogs opened many new paths, Bill
spent many a pleasant evening after attending
the local Ring Craft classes in the pub with other
like minded novice show people during the early
1980’s. Swapping knowledge, discussing the
dogs and which shows to go to or which they
had attended, while I, Sheila, was at home with
our three young sons. After all this time, we
have maintained these friendships and made
friends for life thanks to the dogs.

We repeated the mating and in this litter was a
beautiful brindle bitch, Ch Isgraig Looby Lou,
who won six Challenge Certificates.

Looby Lou went on to produce Ch Isgraig
Red Baron sired by Aldridge Aristcrat of
Brandywell and who was owned by Bill and
Ch Isgraig Red Baron
Jean Cartwright.
Our next Champion was Ch Isgraig Wonderful
Ch Isgraig Red Baron (Fred) still holds the Walter who was sired by Ch Willesmere Solid
breed record for siring ten UK Champions. He Silver owned by Viv and Graham Williams.
won 10 CC’s despite not enjoying showing at all!
He was a hugely stubborn dog and if he didn’t Living where we are in Anglesey you have to
feel like walking up and down the ring there was be really dedicated to show dogs. The travelling
no way you could bribe him in any way to get is not easy as it is a 100 mile drive before you
him to move at all. This was so frustrating (and get to the motorway so we would leave home
embarrassing) especially as when we arrived in the early hours of the morning and not arrive
home he would be so happy and run at break home until late in the evening. Sometimes I can’t
neck speed around our fields. It is said that believe that we set off on our adventures with
dogs are colour blind but Fred would prove that our three sons, two dogs and a picnic in a small
he could spot a red car from afar! At that time Renault 5 – those were the days!
we were running a red estate car and walking
back from the shows he would sit down next Ch Isgraig Red Baron was the sire of our next
any red estate car and not move hoping to get Ch Isgraig Bella Vega who won 10 Challenge
in it to go home as soon as possible. This often Certificates
resulted in Bill have to physically carry a 50lb
dog to our car! He would be sulking all the way We deliberately and consciously kept our litters
to shows making himself as small as possible few and far between so the next Champion we
in the back of the cage but when we would get bred was Ch Isgraig The Squire who we sold
to about 2 miles from home, he would become as a puppy to the Sealaville Kennel.
animated and get excited, somehow he would
know we were nearly home. He put years on We have enjoyed judging in the UK and
Bill but was such a special dog and well worth have been extremely lucky in having had the
the hard work that it was to show him. opportunity to judge abroad over the years and

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