Judges: Jeff Luscott (Dogs)

Sylvia Burton(Bitches)

Referee: Mrs Joy Butcher

To be held

on

SUNDAY 5th. October 2008

Schedule for the 2008 Championship Show can be downloaded from here or

&

The Entry Form for the 2008 Championship Show can be downloaded from here or

FROM OUR JUDGES

JEFF LUSCOTT
I first became involved with Great Danes in the late 60s, my cousin in Wales having had them for some years, Blacks and Blues from Betty Baxter, Farnaby, and on visits to the Pub they kept, I would often take two youngsters for a walk down by the River Usk. I promised myself then, that when the time came, I would like to own a Great Dane.

In 1975 married and with a large enough house, a Brindle boy arrived from Topsy Seagar, we took Ben (Brookview Son of Sam) back to Topsys for boarding at 5-months and she said we should show him and that started my career in dogs.

Since then, I was involved showing, breeding and have made up one champion in Danes, Ch Dicarl the Lady in Waiting at Jalus. My judging career started in 1980, I awarded my first set of CCs at South Wales Ch Show in 1986 and this will be the ninth time I have awarded CCs to Great Danes.  My career in Judging has further developed over the years, to where I now award CCs to 32 Breeds in the Working, Pastoral, Terrier, Utility Groups, the Working and Pastoral Groups and Best in Show at Ch Shows. I have also judged Great Danes abroad in many Countries and I am really looking forward to my appointment with you at the East of England Great Dane Club.

SYLVIA BURTON
Together with husband Geoff we first registered our Kennel name Devarro in 1967 and have since gone on to produce 7 Champions to date with a long line of offspring achieving top honours. The prefix 'Devarro'  was one of 6 choices (required by the K.C.) being a derivative of an old family name.

Over the years we have also owned and bred Old English Mastiffs, Boxers and Bulldogs and now are content with three bullies who share our home. I have a long association with the Midland & West of England Great Dane Club being Secretary for some 24 years and now serving as President. I incidentally I have been that "bossy" Editor of the Mid & West Annual for the last 17 years.

I judged Dane of the Year in 1985 and award C.C's in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

It all started with the purchase of a plot of land in 1964. We moved into the resulting bungalow - aptly named 'Quarter Acre' we felt our idea of having 'a dog' could be fulfilled. Geoff's first choice had always been a Great Dane (a Black one actually!) I was happy to have a dog.  A mutual friend told us of "Great Dane puppies for sale" in the local paper - and off we went. No Blacks, but Fawns and guess what - Brindles!!, which I fell for. However the only male puppy was a Fawn and 'Shan' came home with us (he cost us £20). We thought he was a 'Champion' and entered him for a Midland & West club show (joining at the same time). Sadly two weeks later we lost him with bloat misdiagnosed by our then vet. I was given details of Dane puppies at Joan and Eric Hutton's 'Merrowlea' kennels and took home a fawn male puppy (early 1966) named ' Mr Knowall Of Merrowlea' turned out to be our first show Dane.

Following on from there the Joan & Eric encouranged us and he did his fair share of winning.

Next to arrive was an older fawn bitch 'Millys Thrill Of Merrowlea' and these two were mated and a litter resulted late 1967. By this time we were well and truly hooked. We purchased a Brindle boy from the Impton kennel sired by Airways Wrangler of Impton and the resulting issue from combining the above started our 'Brindle Bonanza'.

I'm really looking forward to judging the Danes at The East of England Championship Show in October.