The Festival started off in Birmingham on the Friday. It was an All Breeds Dog Show but with a good entry of Salukis. Reena Clark was the judge. Philip Browning is the President of the Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club and was supposed to open the Festival but unfortunately he isn't enjoying good health so Marie Bryce-Smith opened it in his stead. Ken Allan got his final ticket for his little black bitch and I think Debbie Copperthwaite won the Dog challenge. I did take some photographs to share when I get back. After the dog show I caught a lift to Cambridge with Brian and Wendy Duggan. They were staying with John and Lisa Hudson (John used to be the Secretary) and lived very close to Jesus College where I was supposed to stay. We had dinner in a lovely Italian Restaurant and then Gertrude Hinsch (my room mate) and I ended up yakking until midnight. J

The Symposium went off very well. Gertrude spoke on the origins of the Saluki and some DNA results. She was followed by Brian Duggan who spoke on early salukis in the military as well as throughout the world (not forgetting our Sarona Baz Gul and Zora El Supaya). He had some great slides to share. Then there was me and I was able to determine you'll all be very pleased to know
that there's no difference between Smooth and Feathered Salukis! HA HA HA!

Lunch was next and that was very nice. The lecture hall and dining room at Jesus College is very ancient and very formal. The meal was like that too. There were people from everywhere including the Arabian Saluki Centre in Dubai. He had his own little corner with all sorts of advertising material in it!

After lunch the next speaker was Lesley Brabyn. Lesley spoke on the various functions that salukis can become involved in especially since hunting is banned now in many parts of the world. After her was Ute Lennartz from Germany who talked about AI and then Zola Rawson who did a presentation showing the silhouette of a saluki back in the 1970's and then compared that with modern silhouettes of Best in Show winning Salukis. You would have cried had you seen them!

I returned to north after the symposium (and tea and scones on the back lawn). Some went on a canal ride and there was a formal dinner that evening. However, Rosie was involved in the Northern Saluki Show at Chesterfield so I went with her. Just by the by, during that week there were four Saluki shows including the Club Champ Show so as you can imagine, everyone was rather all showed out by the time No. 4 came around!

The judge at this show was Beryl Payne who is 83 or something like that. A Bagdad Saluki got BIS if I remember correctly. The Knightellingtons were all last in their class so we ended up playing up and had a great time! That was aided and abetted by a few American folk that got into the spirit of
things. The next day was the Seminar at Hassop Hall in Chesterfield which was a beautiful old manor house now turned into a hotel. It was amazing. That seminar was also good - Sir Terence Clark spoke on salukis in the desert, he was followed by Clair Cryssolor (originally from Canada) who spoke on coursing memories, then we had lunch - once again yummy - and then Ingrid Romanowski from Canada spoke on different saluki styles/types and then I was able to sum up with my Breed in our Hands - structure and conformation. I had fun presenting that I must admit especially since I had some great photographs from Herb Wells to share.

The following day was open house at various Saluki people in England. I went with Rosie to Clair's BBQ in Marlow which was great fun. Then I went on with Pip Buswell to Redhill as we were going to the Art Exhibition the following day. That was marvelous. All these Saluki paintings, jewelry, sculptures, art work. I've taken lots of pics to share. They selected only a few out of everything offered so you cannot imagine how many saluki art there is around. Wonderful!

Thursday was the Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club Champ Show. Bo Bengtsson did the Bitches and Ken Allan did the dogs. Renee Clarke won Best Dog with a tri dog and Lisa Hudson won best bitch with a pretty little fawn. I didn't have to show any dogs at this show so had a great time wandering around chatting. Met up with Christina Ormsby who sends everyone her love. I assured that love would be reciprocated. Of course Ken and Dianna also send their love to everyone, forgot to mention that.

I didn't go to the Richmond Dog show on the Friday as I had to get Mum to Gatwick to fly off to Poland. After the show they were to have a formal dinner which sounded as if it was going to be awesome. This was to be held at the show venue which is on the grounds of a wonderful manor house. I forgot to say at the Saluki Club Show they had a parade of champions and coursing champions which was led by a beautiful white stallion. He was handled by a woman dressed as an Arab which was a bit peculiar but I guess no one really noticed! :-)

Saturday they were having Lure Coursing in Berkshire and then that was the end of the Festival. I wasn't able to get to that either but I understand it went off very well. I don't think they've got their act together like us though - from what was said they don't do it nearly as well as ASFA (and, of course,
us!) Oh yes, more love being sent - Monica and Kathy Chapman. Kathy didn't come to the SCOA show but was there at the Festival. I've told her she can come back and mentor our Lure Coursing any time she likes! Monica sends you all her love. Reckons she's coming back with her husband sometime. I've told her she's most welcome.

So, now it's all over and what a festival it was. I've ordered a copy of the DVD's of both seminars in case anyone is interested in seeing the speakers. I'm hoping I can simply copy them but nowadays sometimes they do a preventer on that. I've got various cards and stuff which Pip is posting to me as fund raises for our Club. The jewelry and stuff was too expensive I'm afraid and the sculptures, whilst expensive, were just too heavy to contemplate bringing home. Sorry about that! :-)

Take good care. Hope all is well with you down there and the weather has improved.

Love, Carole Tipler