This Site Chosen By Microsoft As THE Afghan Web Link for Encarta Saluki Gazelle Hound Database and Breed Information Exchange

SALUKI (GAZELLE HOUND) BREED NOTES

SALUKI NOTES WEEK ENDING 31ST MARCH 2000

The SGHC held their Limited Show last Sunday at Weeks Drive Community Centre, in Slough, Berks. It was the first time we had held a show at this venue and I thought that the location and condition of the hall was excellent. Ian Veal and Brandon Austin were in charge of the kitchen. Their catering was very good and I enjoyed the vegetable soup while Helen was partial to the home made carrot and coriander soup. Judging dogs was Miss Jenny Casemore and bitches, Mrs Joanne Mahon. The referee was Mrs Peta Tribe. BIS was Mrs E Metcalf & Mr M Green's Altaya Tasmayah at Tasia. RBIS and BOS was Mrs K. Webb's Manzemar Mahdi. Best Puppy In Show was Mrs D. Tovey's Lusaki Rha Rhaman of Tirzah.

After the judging the Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club held their AGM. Ms Liz Gibbons retired as the treasurer and the club thanked her for all her hard work. Then she was presented a gift by the President, Mrs Tessa Abbott on behalf of the club. The new treasurer for the club will be Mr Don Everton. The new committee was announced. they are: Mr K Allan, Mrs K. Fisher, Mrs K. Perkins, Miss N. Quadling, Mrs Z Rawson, Mr I Veal, Mrs D. Tovey, Mrs J Pyatt.

Judges for the Championship Show 2002 are Mrs J. Davies and Mrs K. Webb. The Open Show 2001 will be judged by Miss J. Casemore and Ms L. Stephen. The Limited Show 2001, will be judged by Mrs Mottershaw and Mr A. Brace.

The Welfare Officer, Mrs K Fisher said that the Welfare had rescued 30 salukis in 1999 and many had required veterinary care.

Last Saturday morning Francine Hadfield lost her battle with cancer. We would like to thank her friend Steve Ham for sending us the following: "I am sure by now that most of you have heard that Francine Hadfield lost her long battle against cancer and died peacefully in her sleep, last Saturday morning. The most shocking thing is that she attended Crufts the Sunday before and nobody had a clue how very unwell she really was. They had to leave early but no one could imagine that would be the last time we would see her. Fran had been in dogs for thirty odd years with her "Lokhandar" affix, successfully showing and breeding Afghans. Of recent years she turned her attentions to Salukis, having two bitches from Pauline Everton. Illness then prevented her from showing them. One day, when out for a ride with Oonagh Preece, she went to visit a litter, with no intention of having a puppy, and met and fell in love with "Bina". This started a new realm in the Hadfield household. Having shown Bina to her title, Fran then bought two little brothers, not having been able to choose between the two. When the time came to breed from Bina, Fran could not decide on a suitable stud dog, so she imported a brother and sister from the famous "Baghdad" kennels in Australia. Unfortunately, time ran out for Francine and this mating never materialised. Our thoughts and best wishes at this time go to Keith and the family. Fran, we will miss you. God Bless." The family has requested no flowers but ask for donations to be sent to Cancer Research.

Eileen Skelton-Fortune has passed away and Helen Graham has kindly passed on the following information: "Eileen Skelton Fortune died peacefully on 19th March in the nursing home which had been her home in recent years. She would have been 93 in July.

Eileen established the internationally recognised Daxlore kennel in the 1950s. She bred 13 British champions and countless overseas champions before retiring from breeding in the mid 1980s. Salukis bred by her were exported throughout the world, most notably to the USA, Australia and Scandinavia where many kennels were established on her bloodlines. Eileen held the breed record for Challenge Certificates for many years successively with two different bitches. Ch. Alexandra of Daxlore held the record with 18 CCs until overtaken by her granddaughter Ch. Skybelle of Daxlore, who achieved 29 CCs, although withdrawn from the show ring for breeding at four and a half. For many people worldwide Alexandra epitomised the ideal of beauty and function. Her photograph was used by the American Kennel Club to illustrate the breed standard, and it was also used to illustrate the breed in the Observer Book of Dogs. Her image is still reproduced today, notably on South Saharan postage stamps. For many Alexandra epitomised what came to be regarded as Daxlore type - heavily feathered cream bitches. In fact, Honey, as she was known was a lightly marked fawn and white parti colour whose spots faded away in summer. Mated to her litter brother Ch.Alexis of Daxlore she produced the red and white parti Ch.Seamist of Daxlore, who was the dam of Ch. Skybelle of Daxlore. Alexandra's record was remarkable for its time, given that she achieved her CCs when there were only 6 sets on offer annually. Skybelle was remarkable because she achieved her CCs in a relatively short show career, yet her impressive record was only overtaken relatively recently, and then only by one dog and one bitch. Ch.Wildrose of Daxlore, a heavily feathered pale cream, also made a significant impression on the breed. While Eileen enjoyed great success with her bitches, she bred many champion dogs. Perhaps the most admired was the deep red litter brother to Skybelle, Ch.Skyrocket, who regrettably Was never used at stud.

Although she stopped breeding in the mid-eighties Eileen retained salukis as companions until she was almost 90. While Honey was her undoubted favourite, she maintained that the best she had bred was Ty-Folly, an unshown fawn and white bitch. She was Eileen's last Saluki and died aged twelve and a half. Folly was the dam of Folly's Aura of Daxlore, the foundation bitch of Helen Graham's continuing Daxlore line. In 1989 she produced the solo dog puppy Daxlore Aurelianus. His son Mirabile, Crufts BOB 1999, continues the line Eileen established into the millennium.

Note, click here for article on Daxlore "Saluki Heritage" April 96 Kennel Gazette Feature

In addition to Francine dying on Saturday, we also heard that our dear friend Chrisse Schrey-Grandell had died that morning of cancer. Chrisse was a partner and leading light with Pirjo Gronfors in the Finnish kennel of El Hamrah. When we decided to import a dog into the United Kingdom, El Hamrah Mehrab-Khalifa, it was Chrisse who agreed to whelped the bitch and reared our dog for us so we could bring him in under the Balai Agreement. She also accompanied him to the U.K. to make sure he arrived safely. Chrisse had been involved with Salukis and to a lesser degree Afghans for about 30 years. Judges throughout the world knew of her and her wonderful handling style and always present smile. Languages were never a problem as she was fluent in many. One of her notable successes was Best In Show at The World Show with Int Ch El Hamrah Giah. I think her favorite hound was the Int Ch El Hamrah Jaddah. Our condolences to her husband Oke and her best friend Pirjo.

Michael Williams (101547.503@compuserve.com)

GoTo SALUKI HOMEPAGE