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SOUTHERN AFGHAN CLUB

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The History Of The Southern Afghan Club  by Albert D.A. Munro 1964

It seems to be desirable to put the history of the Southern Afghan Club on record so I will do my best to recall it. In as far as I am concerned it all started with my receiving a letter from Mrs Lily Southgate somewhere in the latter part of 1946 (she never did date her letters) asking me to attend a meeting at the Kings Head, Putney in order to inaugurate a new Afghan Club which Mr Reg Floyd wished to get going. At the meeting the business of starting the new club was transacted (the procedure was simpler then) and it was decided to call it the Southern Afghan Club. Officers and the committee were elected, the original officers being President Mr Reg Floyd: Chairman Mr Leo Wilson: Secretary Mrs Southgate: Mrs Jessie Poison and myself as Vice Chairman. At the same time this was going on Mrs Ruth Harrison was entrusted with the formation of another new Afghan Club which she duly did, and which was called the Northern Afghan Hound Society. When the news got round we were the recipients of what, for want of a better term , I might call Calligraphic Vituperation from certain quarters. But, of course we pressed on regardless and came eventually to the holding of our first show.

This took place  on Wednesday, June the 4th 1947 at the Trinity Hall, Great Portland Street, London, and was judged by Mrs Molly Sharpe. The show attracted 146 entries made by 44 exhibitors and 64 dogs. This entry nearly twenty years ago was very satisfactory. The Best In Show was Mrs Howard Gibsons Mitzou Of Aklam and the Reserve Best In Show Messrs Poison & Abson's dog Azad Of Charman. It is interesting to recall here that at the time of the show Mitzou was eight years old and Azad almost six. These two were the winners of Open Dog and Open Bitch. The runner-up in Open Dog being 2. Mrs R Harrison's Patrols Ali Khan and 3. Mrs F. C Rileys Bletchingley Tajomeer. In the Open Bitch the runners up were 2. Mr D G Cooke's Sar Moyah Yasmin and 3. Mrs May Rhodes Ajawaan Chita Mia. In the Puppy Dog class Mrs Abson's Netheroyd Ansani was first while the Puppy Bitch class was won by Baroness de Westenholz's Fatima Of Closmidi.

The next show was held in November 1947 at Lime Grove Baths and was judged by the late John Benyon. Unfortunately I have no record of the results of this show. The third show was in the spring of 1948, and was judged by Miss Venn. Best in Show was Rajah Bey Of Ravelley, Best Opposite Sex was Netheroyd Camelthorn and Best Puppy was Bletchingley Zara. After this event the Secretary became much occupied with other doggy affairs and could not give any time to the club affairs and so a period of masterly inactivity set in. Furthermore during this period Rajah Bey ate the Clubs Books. Several of the members endeavoured, without success to galvanise one or other of the officers into some action, and at last I was asked (as Vice Chairman) if we couldn't have some sort of meeting to get the club active once more.

Accordingly a meeting of members and others interested was convened and duly held at Trinity Hall on Thursday June 23rd 1949. It was decided now to carry on the club and Officers and Committee were elected to carry this into effect. The officers elected were President Mrs E Clarke: Chairman Mr S Fernley Jones and Secretary myself. So we set off on our second phase and after a good deal of routine work and the usual rocking of the boat here and there another show was arranged and took place again at Trinity Hall on September 7th 1950. This attracted some 91 entries and was judged by Mr J Parker (Threestreams)  The winner of the Puppy Dog or Bitch class was Mrs Devitt's Zog Of Carloway which was unbeaten at this show, winning also Junior and Novice Dog classes. Open Dog was won by Miss E Snellings Moonbeam Of Khorrassan and Open Bitch by Mrs Rileys CH Bletchingley Zara.

For our next show we moved to a larger venue, the Royal Welsh Hall in Grays Inn Road. A good hall but but now (like Trinity Hall and many others) no longer available for dog shows. This show held on July 26th, 1951 attracted 105 entries and was judged by Mrs Drinkwater. One outstanding item remains in my memory. Sheila presented a Siamese kitten as a special prize and with one of her flashes of genius, brought it to the show. Some 40 Afghans and one cat! The list of special prizes in the catalogue carried a world of meaning. No 12. Mrs Sheila Devitt offers Siamese Kitten for Best In Show. Nevertheless we appreciated Sheila's gesture and we were very pleased to have the kitten to award. At this show the Puppy class was won by Mrs Leest's Zerith Of Five Chimneys. Open Dog by Mrs Tait's Reza Shah Of Carloway and Open Bitch by Miss E Snellings Portrait Of Khorrassan. BIS however was an excellent Black and Tan owned by Mr Ken Parrot - Jabari Tango, a son of CH Netheroyd Alibaba.

During this period Mr Fernley Jones had resigned from the office of Chairman and his place had been taken by Baroness de Westenholz, the other office bearers remaining unchanged. Now followed another somewhat blank space. Committee meetings and what have you were held periodically but we did not get round to another show until February 1953, a lapse of almost two years. This show was held at St Mary's Hall, Paddington Street, London on February 28th and was judged by Mr R Floyd. The entry was very poor, 47 entries, but among them was a newcomer showing for the first time, Miss Pauline Leyder. Open Dog winner was was Miss Lemon's Siddi Bey of Yemen, Open Bitch and BIS Miss Snelling with one of her Khorrassans. The Puppy class was won by Mrs P Ratcliffe with Tasha Khan of Brierbarn.

Undeterred by the poorness of the support for this show we staged another twelve weeks later on 30th May 1953. This was judged by Baroness Lily de Westenholz and this attracted a few more entries, 65 to be exact. At this show a hound named Hassan Ben Rifka was entered by Mrs C Race in special beginners. Other Rofka puppies were Mrs Dove's Calinda Ben Rifka and Mrs Tyles Gayenhah Ben Rifka, under whose domination Mrs Tyler has lived ever since. Another entrant in the puppy class here was destined to be heard of again. He was Yussef of Carloway.

The show marked the end of the second phase of the clubs activity for, although we arranged a show in 1954 at which Mr & Mrs Tyre was to judge, virtually no support was forthcoming and I was compelled to cancel this and another show later through lack of entries, and no more shows were held until 1958. During this interim period the club was supposed to have ceased to exist and in fact was referred to in print as the 'Defunct Southern Afghan Club', but it was not so, all the time, by paying our annual dues and making the necessary returns and by one means or another I contrived to keep the club in existence for almost five years of inactivity. At last a few of us got together at a show and we decided to re-commence activity and arrange another show. When this became known the reception was was terrific. Everything from veiled threats to just ordinary abuse was hurled at us and landed with the impact of a feather falling into a bowl of custard. We went on regardless and with the faith that is said to move mountains  and capitol of thirty seven shillings, set about staging an Open show at St Mary's Hall, Marylebone, which Father Ford agreed to judge for us.

At this show the Puppy class was won by Mrs Rileys Bletchingley Ragman. Open Dog by Mrs Race's Rifka's Tarquin of Carloway and Open Bitch by Mrs Devitt's Muphytt of Carloway. This show took place on September 27th 1958.Now being fairly started again we set about another open show at the same venue to be held in the spring of 1959, actually on April 11th, and judged by Mrs Marna Dods attracted an entry of 101. Things were looking up. Another new name appeared among the exhibitors at this event, a Miss Daphne Smith at that time unfettered by the bonds of matrimony but now known to you as Mrs R Gie. Best In Show was Mrs Devitt's Watsatari of Carloway and Best Bitch, winner of limit and Open was Mrs A Adams Salterns Sheba. The Puppy class was won by a black dog owned by Mr Oliver, Abrazog Kandy. Two more new exhibitors appeared in Special Beginners with Miss Smith and Mrs D Bowdler and Miss S Hunt-Crowley who won the class with a home bred puppy dog Chandhera Abdul Azraya. Junior Dog was won by Bletchingley Ragman, by then owned by Major W. H. Pede who became an extremely well known and successful exhibitor with Ragman and his progeny before returning to the USA. Memorable was the late arrival of the judge who noticed when arriving that a black Afghan was flying up an alleyway in hot pursuit of a cat, so she set out to recover the erring hound.

Now the pattern of our activities was being set and the next show was scheduled for December 1959.Since this time we have continued with an open show in the spring and autumn of each year right up to the present time. The show was held on December 5th at St Marylebone Youth Centre. The show judged by Miss Pauline Leyder, had an entry of 98. At this time we still had not got round to segretating the puppies, there was only one class for dog or bitch. This was won by Mrs Riley's Bletchingley Kalef. Open Dog first and Best In Show Miss Niblock's Khanabad Suradar and Open Bitch was won by Mrs Devitt's Muphytt Of Carloway, now a Champion.

Our Next venture was on March 19th 1960, judged by Mrs Devitt it received an entry of only 75. Nothing very outstanding occurred at this show. 1st in Puppy class was Mrs Riley's Bletchingley Spokesman. Winner of Open Dog and BIS was Mrs M Dods Horningsea Khanabad Suveraj. Open Bitch was won by Mrs Adam's Badakshan Rani, but BOS was Mrs D Bowdler's Indira Of Carloway. Our autumn show took place on November 26th, and with Mr Aurthur Appleton judging the entry rose to 102. The Puppy class was won by Mrs Riley's Bletchingley Zelda. BIS was Mr and Mrs C H Harrison's CH Khanabad Azravi of Vishnu, and Best Bitch Mrs Devitt's CH Tijah of Carloway. And so on to 1961 and the spring show on March 18th judged by Mrs de Casembroot. BIS was Mrs Devitt's Bijan of Carloway and BOS was Mrs Dods Horningsea Khanabad Suveraj.

The autumn show was held on November the 25th and Mrs FC Riley officiated as judge attracting an entry of 101. Best Puppy was Mrs Devitts Yazbar Of Carloway, BIS Mrs Devitt's CH Muphytt Of Carloway, Best Dog was Mr and Mrs Harrisson's Jali Of Vishnu. And so to 1962 and the spring show on March the 24th judged by my daughter with an entry of 128. Twenty five puppies were entered at this show, so we scheduled seperate classes for Dogs and Bitches, a practice which we have continued since. Amongst the newcomers welcomed at this show was Miss Ann Hardy, now Mrs Andrews. Winner of Puppy Dog was Mrs Bowdler's Mohameed Alie of Moonswift and winner of Puppy Bitch was Mrs Dod's Horningsea Sarahle. Open Dog was won by Miss Leyders Tajammul of Tarjin, but BIS was Mrs Dod's Horningsea Tammul Khan, the winner in Limit Dog. Open Bitch was won by Miss Tingley's Horningsea Sayanora. In November of 1962 the show was judged by Mrs Claire Race, who drew our record entry, more than any previous show and more than any subsequent year up to now (1964). The entry was 180 in 13 classes-an average of 14 per class.Puppy Dog winner and Best Puppy was Miss Hunt-Crowley's Chandhara ex dai Nisim's Gobi-Thorn. Puppy Bitch was won by Biebuyck and Stephenson's Hadji Nunez of Carloway. Open bitch was won by Mr and Mrs Doulton's Black Perle, but Best Bitch was their Silica, winner of Limit Bitch. BIS was Mr and Mrs Harrison's Khanabad Rakib of Vishnu.

So we turn to 1963 and our spring show judged by Mr D Appleton. Puppy winners were Mr and Mrs Harrison's Bletchingley Tarik of Vishnu and Mrs Race's Rifka's Moti of Carloway who won Best Puppy. BIS was Mrs Dod's Horningsea Saggitarius and Best Opposite Sex was Mrs A Andrews Ueda of Carloway. In November Mrs Wilson came over from Holland to judge. She found her Best Puppy in Mrs Devitts Hahppi of Carloway. BIS was Miss Leyders Tajammule Of Tarjih. Open Bitch was won by Mrs Race's Rofka's Moti Of Carloway. For our next show we moved to the TA Drill Hall, Finchley, where we have remained to date. This time (March 1964) Mr H Herton was the judge. Best Puppy was Mrs V Well's Sherarah Of Shanshu, BIS Mrs Race's Rifka's Ivori Orronz and BOS Mr and Mrs Ross's Pina Of Carloway.

The November 64' show, again held at Finchley. was judged by Miss P Leyder. Best Puppy Dog was Mrs DB Hamilton's Horningsea Shaglala, Best Dog Mrs M Eaters Ahmaed Khan of Westover and BIS Messers Brooks Shemsuki Deva Raya (now Ch) and Best Bitch Mrs C Race's Rifka's Moti Of Carloway. That then is the record of the Glut's shows to date. Other activities including two matches, two parties and a photographic competition have been held during the past eighteen months, and we shall hold similar event in the future. In these events of a more or less social nature we should be glad of every support from members. In January 1963 our club magazine "Afghan Review" made it's initial appearance and, under the Editorship of Miss Hunt-Crowley, set and has since maintained what is probably the highest standard set in this field so far attained in this country. So we have the story to date. I should have liked to added to and amplified the somewhat stark record here provided, but perhaps it is better to "Let sleeping dogs lie"

Albert Munro 1964 - © Southern Afghan Club

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