Page 120 - K9 News Digital - Issue 11 May2020

The Chihuahua

sPoTlighT on shelda hornBy (BrameriTa) career; what were her other notable wins?
She won over 30 group places, two Reserve Best in
Shelda has been involved in Chihuahuas since she
Show at all breed championship shows and Best in
was a young child, is a well-known face around the
Show at Birmingham National. She was Best of Breed 4
Chihuahua show ring, awards CCs in the breed and has
times at Crufts, two of those with a Group 2 and a Group
kindly agreed to answer some questions about her time
3 placing. She had 26 Best in Show wins at breed club
in the breed.
shows.
Tell us about how you started out in the breed.
When did she win her first CC?
Both of my parents, Rita and Bob Hampton, bred and
She won her first CC at the age of 10 months old at
showed Chihuahuas. My dad was a very well-known
Windsor Championship Show.
group judge and judged extensively overseas, awarding
CCs in 12 breeds, and my mum also awarded CCs in the When was your first judging appointment?
breed. When it comes to breeding and whelping, I learnt In 1975 at Wealdstone and Northolt open show. I still
from my mum. have the original letter inviting me to judge!
Who was your first home bred champion? What is your biggest achievement in the show ring?
My first champion was Ch Bramerita Easter Bunny, a I am particularly proud of ‘doing the double’ in both
black and tan Longcoat and I think that’s where my love coats at Crufts. In 2018 in the Longcoats Ch Bramerita
for black and tans began. Mr Holmes won the Dog CC and Ch Torre Del Pilar
Shelda’s at Bramerita won the Bitch CC. In 2009 in the
How many champions have you bred/owned?
Smoothcoats Ch Bramerita Flamin Elle won the Bitch
I think about 16 UK champions that I have bred, two that
CC and her son Ch Bramerita Small and Mighty won
I own but didn’t breed and a large number of overseas
the Dog CC.
champions that I have bred and have gone to overseas
exhibitors. What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the breed?
I think temperament and soundness are much improved
Ch Bramerita Naughty But Nice is a well-known
from when I was a child. More bitches are able to self-
champion in the UK. Was she ever shown abroad?
whelp now as people have learnt not to breed from the
Yes, we took her to America where she won Best of Breed
very tiny 2lb bitches. I remember many years ago the
at the Eukanuba Championships. We also took her to
open classes would be full of champions who were super
Europe where she won the European Championship.
stars.
She achieved 101 Challenge Certificates in her
influenTial ChamPions Ch Copymear Celebration
There are many champions who have excelled in the With the pet name of Carla,
show ring over the long and rich history of the Chihuahua. she won 53 Challenge
These are just a few of them! Certificates, 6 toy groups and
Best in Show at the all breed
championship show Border
Union in 2012. Carla was
bred, owned and handled by
David Reece, another breeder
with a distinguished history
in the breed and a number of
champions bred in his kennel.

Ch Donami Limelight
Charlye was bred by Christine Minton and owned and handled
by Steve Rooney. She was top Longcoat in 2019, having
won 8 Challenge Certificates and 8 Reserve Challenge
Certificates in
2019 alone,
with a total
of 22 CCs.
Ch Bramerita Naughty But Nice
She is ever
Also known as Doughnut, this little girl just had to be the show
included as she achieved 101 Challenge Certificates dog, always
and remains to this day the only dog in all breeds to wanting an
have achieved this record. She was bred, owned and opportunity to
handled by Shelda Hornby who has a long history in the get into the
breed, having bred and made up a significant number of show ring and
champions. She passed away peacefully at the age of 14. show off!

120 - K9 NEWS DIGITAL