Churchills

About Us

We are David and Tricia Churchill and live in a beautiful part of the country on the Welsh Borders. We only have the two Afghans at present. I saw my first Afghan while working for a vet when I was15, my boyfriend at the time is now my Husband David. I was determined to one day own one of these fabulous dogs. My parents wouldn't allow it so I had to wait until I was married. We had our first Afghan in 1970 A black masked gold dog called Tosca, followed by another in 1973 a Black/Silver called Maxi. I intended to show but unfortunately due to family commitments and re allocation due to David's work I never actually got round to it. Tosca lived until he was 14 and Maxi until 10.

I was desperate for another Afghan, one of my ambitions had been to show a dog at Crufts but we were so busy with other hobbies and work it was not a possibility so I had to wait patiently for the right time. The first time ever I bought a copy of Dog World to read over the Christmas holidays (1995) there was a litter of Afghan Puppies for sale, so after Christmas Murphy 'Vectalia Golden Magic' joined our family. I had been to Crufts most years and recognised his sire and his mothers sister as two dogs that I had admired on previous visits, 'Ch Regal Lily of Zenduskhas' and 'Ch Karaburan Jelly Roll Morton. His mother was Vectapet Azalia of Ashkhabad, full litter sister to Lily.

Off I went to ringcraft telling them I wanted to show a dog at Crufts (Always had been a dream) I was then informed how difficult this can be (In those days only the first two qualified in the class) and there were large classes. My first open show found me hiding behind everyone else, I probably came last. At our second Ch show Welks 1996 we qualified, so it was a long wait until Crufts 1997.

My Mother was very interested in hearing all about the shows and looking forward to Crufts, it was on her Birthday but unfortunately she died just before and I really didn't feel like going in the end. Murphy was really naughty and David was heard to say he would shoot us both when we went home, well the judge loved him and out of a huge class he was 3rd. The rules changed that year and so we qualified for the next Crufts, needless to say we didn't get shot but congratulated instead (much nicer) April 1998 we went to Ireland and Murphy was awarded the Dog CC, words cannot describe how we felt and we never thought we would better this award, but our next Afghan had just been born the previous week George, who was to become 'Ch Amudarya Shafir'.

When Murphy was 12 weeks old I met Anna Paton and her Amudarya dogs and visited her home often determined that when she had a litter I wanted a puppy. Murphy was two by the time the litter were born so it was a nice space between. I went to see the puppies weekly from I think two weeks, at first of course from a distance. In the end Sue and Anna just left me with them and carried on with their chores. They called one of the pups George and I was drawn to him because he was red, also he was born on my Fathers birthday and his name was George, also David came to see the pups and he fell for George so he came home.
Ringcraft was great fun with him he was so naughty compared to Murphy. His sister 'Ami', now also a Champion came to the same ringcraft.

David started to show George and at their 1st Ch show Driffield (October 1998) he was 3rd and qualified for Crufts. At this show 2 years later he was awarded his 1st RCC (2000).

CRUFTS March 2001 he was awarded his 2nd RCC soon followed in April 2001 Birmingham National his 1st CC and BOB.

Dec 2001 LKA George was awarded his 3rd RCC, February 2002 his 4th was at Manchester.

October 2002 and George was awarded his 2nd CC and Best in Show soon followed in December 2002 his 3rd CC, BOB and his CROWN.

CRUFTS March 2003 was a day to be remembered forever George was awarded the Dog CC and BOB . April 2003 he won his 5th RCC at Welks.July 2003 at East of England he was awarded his 5th CC BOB and was 3rd in the Hound Group. November 2003 at Birmingham Afghan Club he was awarded his 6th RCC.

CRUFTS 2004 he again was awarded the RCC his 7th and in June 2004 at Blackpool he was awarded his 6th CC and BOB.

CRUFTS 2005 he won a fabulous open class full of Champions and it was then decided to retire him, I am at the moment reconsidering this because I have itchy feet and need to get back on the show scene and George is missing those early mornings I can tell. So to date George has been awarded 6 CC's all with BOB and 7 RCC's.

George is a treasure to live with and loves everyone. My only disappointment is that he hasn't sired a litter but you cant have everything in life and he has given us far more than we ever expected. I still hope one day he may surprise me.
Both our boys have given us so much fun and pleasure and it goes to show that if you have a good dog you don't need to be a judge to win. My motto has always been enjoy your day and bring the best dog home which is...... the one you went with of course.

Back

David and Tricia Churchill

Triciafghan@aol.com

Updated 22/12/2008 09:11