The restrictions imposed for indoor events, including those on social distancing, greatly reduce the capacity of the hall, and this alongside the other stringent measures required to ensure the show is safely managed and COVID safe have been important considerations.  However, we have taken this decision primarily in the interest of the welfare, safety and security of our exhibitors, judges, spectators, and the officers and committee.  We know this will be extremely disappointing to you all.

We now plan to hold the rescheduled Championship show on Sunday 2nd May 2021, and have been granted permission by The Kennel Club to do so.  This will replace the Open Show we had scheduled for that date.  We still hope to arrange an Open Show sometime during 2021, as soon as we can look at which dates are available.

We very much look forward to seeing you all again at some point in the future, and thank you all for your continued support of the Club.

CHANGE OF CHAIRMAN - call for new Committee members
Mrs Shelda Hornby has reluctantly stepped down as Chairman due to recent ill health and our Vice Chairman and previous Chairman Mr Graham Foote has resumed the role pro tem.  Mrs Emma Huntley has taken on the Vice Chairman position.  This has brought to the fore a problem we have, that there are insufficient Committee members, which will make it difficult to continue to put on our shows unless we can find two or three more fit and keen (and dare I say it younger) people to help us out.  To be elected onto the Committee you must have been a member for at least three years but if necessary, the Committee can co-opt people who would not otherwise qualify.  If you are interested or can suggest someone who might be, please get in touch with our Secretary Mr Jim Culverhouse.

RESCUE COORDINATOR NEEDED
Mrs Margaret Foote has been doing a marvellous job of running the British Chihuahua Club Rescue Association but has now reached the point where she needs to hand over to someone else. It's a job that takes a lot of time and trouble and is not for everyone, but for the sake of Chihuahuas in need of rescue and rehoming someone needs to do it.  To find out more about what's involved you could chat to Margaret about it (rescue@bccra.org.uk or 07535 418784.)

2020 AGM
Our 2020 Annual General Meeting had been scheduled to be held during the lunch break of the Open Show, but since this was cancelled, it has not yet gone ahead.  If and when the AGM is rescheduled, members will be be given due notice of the new time and place.

COVID AND YOUR DOG: There is no evidence your dog can catch the disease and give it to you, but of course just like human hands, pet fur could possibly pick up and pass on the virus, so you need to wash your hands after handling a dog that has been outside the home. The virus will not live long on fur or fabrics, and will be killed by washing clothing and blankets with soap or detergent. For more information about pets and coronavirus click here or visit www.cfsg.org.uk/coronavirus

CRUFTS 2020
Toy Day this year at Crufts was on Thursday 5th March, and as usual some of the best Chihuahuas in the world were there, being judged by David Reece (smoothcoats) and Tony Timberlake (longs).

On the left are photos of the longcoat dog CC and Best of Breed winner, Hayley Murphy's Aphienna A Million Dreams, and of Lindsey Anderson's Ch Lumanatii Rolling Thunder, the smoothcoat Best of Breed.  We were all thrilled to see Hayley take her dog to 3rd place in the Toy Group under Mrs Carolyn Roe. This is only the second time an Irish exhibitor has taken Best of Breed at Crufts, and the first time for a Toy Group placing.

Reserve Longcoat Dog CC went to Mr & Mrs Hill's Ch Lynpix The Mexican with Becanna, while the bitch CC and reserve were awarded to Christine Kadowaki's Bramver's First Priority and Mrs Hunter's Jotolemar Best Of Time respectively. Best longcoat puppy was Geoff Curr's Natimuk Beaumont and veteran was the Sangsters' Tidos Christmas Gift.

In smoothcoats the reserve dog CC went to Mrs Ward's Red Hot Chilli Pepper by Milendo, bitch CC and Best Puppy to Mr Santiago Pier's Indiana Malkanorah, while reserve bitch CC was Diane Fothergill's Diamonchi Last One Standing and Best Veteran Ms Lind-Rasmussen's Multi Ch Chiboels Hollywood Look Out Elvis.

There was a somewhat lower attendance at Crufts this year (you could actually move around normally instead of fighting your way through the crowds!) but few absentees from the ring, and we welcomed many members and friends at the British Chihuahua Club stand and sold a good number of copies of the brand new 2020 yearbook (the Chihuahua Chronicle) and some very attractive brooches and ring clips made for us by Shi-Chi Chen.

If you were unable to be there, the 2020 Chihuahua Chronicle is now on sale by mail order, along with some back numbers and a few other club branded items.  Click here to go to our shop page.

2019 Championship Show
We celebrated the club's 70^th Anniversary at our Championship Show held on Sunday 17th November 2019 at Brackley Leisure Centre.  A magnificent cake (pictured) was donated by Amy Wilcox and enjoyed by the exhibitors, along with (non-alcoholic) sparkling wine, and there were some fabulous prizes for winners.

In longcoats, judged by Vera Gillott (dogs) and Janet Fraser (bitches), the CCs went to Lee Humphreys' Amarantos Tobin and Debbie Bird's Bramerita Dream Bigger with Parisland. Smoothcoats were judged by Francis Yeoh (dogs) and David Milton (bitches), and the CCs went to Beverley Sutton's Ch Now Or Never De L'isle Au Vert Coteau and Borjomi Fortune, owned by Tony Allcock and Jurate Suprinaityte.