Page 140 - K9 News Digital - Issue 11 May2020

TAKING TAKING

THE
THE

LEAD
LEAD

Photo: Samantha Webster By Andrea Keepence-Keyte

I start this months column with was founded in the 1950’s and her the dog world, she was one of a
sad news that the very great foundation bitch was Derawuda kind, totally irreplaceable.
Marion Spavin of Dialynne fame Vanity who was mated to the
passed away in March this year Canadian import Barvae Benroe
CRUFTS has been and gone
after a short illness. Her funeral Winkles. This mating produced
for another year, fortunately not
was a small affair because of the first of what proved to be many
affected by the Covid-19 crisis. It
the Covid-19 crisis but it was home-bred Dialynne champions,
truly is the worlds’ greatest dog
wonderful to see Facebook Ch Dialynne Huntsman. show! It is a time of year that I look
flooded with pictures toasting her D.Huntsman went on to be a
forward to. I am lucky enough to
wonderful life. I suspect there will prolific sire who was behind Ch.
live very close to the NEC which
be an enormous celebration of Dialynne Gamble who is said to
means that I can attend every day,
her life once we can gather in our have changed the modern beagle
I take full advantage of this and do
masses again, she is not one to be for all time. He went on to sire so!
sent off quietly! 26 UK champions! The Dialynne
I stewarded for a couple of days,
name can boast well in excess of
reserved hound and terrier day
60 UK champions and hundreds
of champions worldwide. Marion for spectating/showing and
reserved a day for shopping. It is a
had a keen eye for a dog and
wonderful celebration of dogs, and
was a phenomenal breeder and
an opportunity for our fraternity to
judge. She was always willing to
shine. And boy didn’t we! I suspect
talk to you (“alright there duck?”)
and tell a funny joke, sometimes that all of us experience potential
puppy buyers approaching us for
a bit naughty too! And it was
advice about what breed to buy
clear to anyone that she had an
and where to go for a puppy. I
enormous passion for dogs. She
always advise my friends and
was a well-respected breeder and
judge not just in the UK but across people who do approach me to
go to Crufts and visit Discover
the world. She was infamous for
Dogs. For me, this is a wonderful
her hospitality, friendliness and
opportunity for prospective dog
willingness to entertain. When she
owners to go and speak to people
Marion was an amazing woman attended shows she was always who live with, breed, show and
whose influence in beagles will instantly surrounded by people love their breeds. They are best
never be forgotten. She started who wanted to be in her company placed to answer questions and
from “the bottom up” and worked and have a chat with her ringside. give advice which can either
in kennels until she was able to set Marion was truly a wonderful confirm the buyer’s choice of dog
off on her own. Dialynne beagles woman who dedicated her life to
or perhaps steer them towards
140 - K9 NEWS DIGITAL