Summing up the weekend.

In the US there was a decent Glen of Imaal Terrier entry at the cluster of shows around Terrier Club of Michigan. It was a total success for GCH Liberty’s Darren of Daulton taking Best of Breed at all three events with GCH Daulton’s Clodagh from Cill Dara standing Best Opposite. Piedmont KC has a back to back weekend and GCH Kilkenny’s Sullivan of Castlerock took Gp3 & 4 as well as BOB both days.

Northern Ireland held its only KC Championship Show and BOB Glen there was Ch Abberann Karl with Jeonty MeMe Fern taking the Bitch Ticket. The German Winners at Leipzig saw Spirit of Ireland Batida de Coco taking the 2013 title. At Maastricht Carrighglen Big Boy did the double and a Puppy Group 3 for Ellerton Dusky Beauty at Cleethorpes.

In Sweden the Glen club organised an Autumn walk and the good weather was very enjoyed.

No problem…..

Yesterday’s “Cat Amongst The Pigeons” certainly was; the suggestion that a low co-efficient of inbreeding most certainly isn’t the panacea that some devotees advocate caused quite a bit of emailing, and not just from Glen of Imaal Terrier people! It wasn’t an easy piece to read if not quite up to speed on a couple of things so, with pleasure, a link is given to hopefully help out before re-reading it again.

Cat amongst the pigeons?

Because of the way it’s written it may take a couple of attempts to absorb but something very relevant to Glen of Imaal Terriers.

”GENE POOL” In our breed with global small numbers but wide range of physical variation– unlike more uniform & established bigger breeds-we have to be careful talking about ”gene pool” as it is not advisable to simply randomly cross individuals which don’t show common ancestors in a 3 or 5 generation pedigree to ”increase the gene pool’. Already for some characteristics there is too much variation- & arguably for these characteristics the gene pool is ”too big” —on the other hand for health reasons it is dangerous to narrow down the range of variation in other sometimes invisible characteristics involving DNA & its phenotypic expression via RNA for the many biochemical processes essential for life & efficiently working joints etc —-especially with dominant genes it is easier to increase problem gene frequencies inadvertently than to reduce them again even the effects of genetic drift kick in-especially when international travel was so difficult –So the breeder in a low numbers breed with a wide range of physical variation is walking a tightrope between fixing the desired shape & maintaining health & soundness…ie to increase the frequency of & bring in desired genes for the shape, angulation etc required by the standard by selectively breeding for type & bringing in type from outside- -whilst simultaneously maintaining health & soundness by weeding unsound or unhealthy animals out of breeding but not breeding too closely related individuals together except when there is not a suitable less closely related source of the characteristics the breeder is seeking to fix in by doubling up on– thus increasing the amount of useful genetic variation governing biochemical body processes etc — some characteristics are determined by several different sets of polygenic genes & others by surprisingly few genes– hopefully more info will be forthcoming from the dog genome project as scientists look at its many different implications

Delia Shepherd.

 

Downtown next?

Glen of Imaal Terriers can be seen everywhere

S.W.K.A. entry

South Wales Kennel Association has an entry of 17 Glen of Imaal Terriers for judge Jean Rogers. Glens will be third in the ring on Sunday 13th October

Applause (as usual) for..

…the weekend Glen of Imaal Terrier people.

The Glen Gathering in Boxborough MA was a great day out with everything covered from Agility to Grooming to Barn Hunting to talks on nutrition. In Denmark the Copenhagen Winners saw Hammersmolles Idunn getting the nod for Best of Breed over McCormac Setna Sithbacc as Best Opposite. The Brussels International Show had Glenrosedale Aiobheann NionRos take the big rosette home. At Driffield Kirikee Ronan O’Gara was BOB.

A belated result from the weekend before; at the Irish Natives Breed Show BOB was Abberann Karl with Best Opposite to Abberann Ennya.

Let’s here it for Woody…again!

At the start of the week Woody “starred” with his short-list at Darlington so let’s make it a Woody Week…….

Remember Jilly’s Jolly Jaunt from earlier in the year? The Glen of Imaal Terrier representative was Woody and this week is the final call for all monies. Woody’s Walk raised £326.70 and a cheque has been given to Gavin. Well done to Woody, to Cresta and everybody who contributed!

Midland Counties entries extended!

Midland Counties have extended their online closing date. They will now finally close on September 23rd. Terrier day is Friday October 25th and Glen of Imaal Terriers will be judged by Jamie Sage.

Welsh Kennel Club critique

Glen of Imaal Terriers WKC

PD (1)

1 Hardy’s Amard High Flyer, very smart & good headed boy, showing the whites of eyes a touch. Neat ears carried well, wrap round front but a little too elbowy. Super body & quarters, lovely coat coming, moving well in rear & profile, great temperament. BP.

JD & PGD (0).

LD (3)

1 George & Sullivan’s Romainville Billy Whizz, stole my heart with his wicked terrier expression. Great head, correct muzzle, strength & length, neat ears, OK in front, well up on his feet, great body. Good coat texture just about to blow. Moved well in all directions keeping correct outline & tail carriage. CC & BOB;

2 Quinn’s Kirikee Ronan O’Gara, smart boy, lovely outline in profile movement, good harsh coat, pleasing head. Eyes a touch light & note quite the up & down soundness of 1 but has a decent stride in profile. Well set & carried tail;

3 Welch’s Romainville Brannigan at Brockland.

OD (4)

Good class of lovely terriers.

1 Welch’s Ch/Int Ch Brockland Brayhead Lad, good for size & type, super outline, pleasing head & eye placement, sturdy sound body, good legs, wrap round front & tail carried out at 45 degrees. Moved a touch close going away but certainly well muscled & such a strong easy stride in profile. RCC;

2 Ashcroft’s Romainville Typhoon, a bit too straight legged & a touch too tall I imagine. Loved his head & earset, good expressive eyes, excellent body & rear, well set tail. A bit out of coat but what was there was hard. Good sound dog all round;

3 Hadley’s Donvaleset Rebus.

PB (1)

1 George & Sullivan’s Romainville Rock On Ruby, lovely head, eyes & expression, good folding ears, enough neck, OK in front & lovely thick feet. Big enough for a bitch & not in proper coat. Well set tail, good strong bone. Slight dip in back before the rise over loin but this should improve with time.

JB (0).

PGB (4)

First two both dropping their tails.

1 George & Sullivan’s Romainville Jean Genie, lovely to go over, super head & muzzle, sound front & forechest prominent, excellent body, ribbing, topline & quarters. Precise mover, just spoilt by a drooping tail. RCC;

2 Sharpe & Betts’ Romanville Brigid of Pines, good outline & shape. Not quite the movement of 1 up & down & also lost her tail. Sound legs & feet, pleasing head & strength of muzzle. Coat a little ‘bitty’;

3 Ashcroft’s Romainville Moira.

LB (1) A.

OB (1)

1 Withers’ Romainville Aoife at Pajantick, lovely bitch, sadly out of coat, I saw a touch of hard red hairs there & there. Sound, excellent mover, typy, feminine yet strong & correct for size.
Her type, movement & quality won over a poor coat. CC.

ZENA THORN-ANDREWS

It’s been law for a long time BUT……

The requirements for Pet’s Passports to be used between EU Member States has been in law for quite a while but it has never been pursued between the Irish Republic and the UK. The above letter (note the date) indicates that soon that may be changed. Yes, it does say “Commercial Breeders” but as far as can be ascertained that is anybody with a Breeder’s License!