Welcome to The British Chihuahua Club

2021 NEWSLETTERS - ON THE WAY
The 2021 club newsletter has now been posted out to all those who were paid-up or Life members on 31 December 2020. If you have not yet received yours could it be you have moved house and not let us know? If so please email the Hon Treasurer, Bernard Coxhead (treasurer@britishchihuahua.club).

Included with the newsletter is an obituary for our Life Vice-President and former long-time Chairman Mr Tony Fitt-Savage, who sadly passed away last December. Tony and his family made huge contributions to the running of the club over many years, and were responsible for the publication in 1990 of the club's yearbook, the Chihuahua Chronicle, which has appeared yearly ever since. The 2021 Chihuahua Chronicle will go on sale in March at £9.00 including p&p to UK addresses for that month, then the usual price of £10.50.

2020 & 2021 AGM
We have not yet been able to hold our 2020 Annual General Meeting due to the imposition of Covid-19 travel and gathering restrictions. We now hope to hold it in May, immediately before the 2021 AGM. If continuing restrictions prevent us holding a normal AGM at that time, with the permission of the Kennel Club we will use Zoom teleconferencing software to "meet" via our computers, iPads, tablets or cellphones. Members can also take part using an ordinary telephone. The date and time of our AGMs will be announced at least 14 days beforehand in the dog press, on our Facebook page and here on our website. At that time any member who wishes to participate can contact the Hon Secretary to obtain details of how to join the meetings.

Agenda items and nominations for the committee must be received by the Hon Secretary by 15th March

OUR SHOWS 2020
Having been forced to cancel both our shows in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions, we are relieved to see that an end is apparently in sight and it seems dog shows may be able to resume from around June onwards. Unfortunately this is too late for us to hold our show scheduled for 2nd May, but our 2021 Champ Show should now go ahead as planned on 21st November.  More information nearer the time!

COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED
We are still two people short on our Committee, and especially under the restrictions that may still be in place this will make it difficult to continue to put on our shows unless we can find a couple more fit and keen 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.

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
Thankfully Crufts 2020 was able to go ahead, just before shows began to be cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.  Toy Day 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 to Mrs Sandra Ludmir's Indiana Malkanorah (handled by Mr Santiago Pier) and Reserve Bitch CC and Best Puppy in Breed to Diane Fothergill's Diamonchi Last One Standing, while Best Veteran was 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.

Best in Show was judged by our Vice-Chairman Mr Graham Foote, and top honours went to Beverley Sutton's smoothcoat Ch Now Or Never De L'isle Au Vert Coteau Nikitos JW. Reserve was Debbie Bird's longcoat Bramerita Dream Bigger with Parisland. Best Puppy in Show was the longcoat import Royal William Bikin Dvor, owned by Pauline Lodwick and Teresa Barker, with Reserve going to Heap & Palmer's Alltoyways Fantasy Minx, and Best Veteran in Show was another Beverley Sutton smoothcoat, Ch Lozek Rhapsody In Blue Nikitos.  In the first picture below are (left to right) s/c judge Francis Yeoh, BIS winner Beverley Sutton, BIS judge Graham Foote and RBIS winner Debbie Bird.  The other picture shows (left to right) BPIS winner Pauline Lodwick, Graham Foote and RBPIS winner Will Heap.

(Photographs courtesy of 'Our Dogs' and T Morgan Animal Photography)

2019 Open Show
Our most recent Open Show was held on 5^th May 2019, shortly before the actual 70^th Anniversary of the founding of the club on 22^nd May 1949.  We saved the big celebrations for our Championship Show in November, but we had a very successful and enjoyable show at the Brackley Leisure Centre in Northamptonshire.  Lynn Hill judged Smoothcoats for us and Emma Huntley the Longcoats, while our BIS judge was Mrs Edith Lynch.

Best in Show was Mrs Beverley Sutton's smoothcoat Now Or Never De L'isle Au Vert Coteau Nikitos, while Reserve went to another smooth and winner of Best Veteran in Show, Jacks' Ch Amarose Tink Attitude.  Sue Lee's longcoat puppy Barwater Agatha Christie of Ridgehawk was Best Puppy in Show.

Having moved the date of our club's financial year-end, we were also able to hold our Annual General Meeting at the show, allowing many additional members to attend.  There were no nominations for office.  Ms Hazel Senior and Mr James Farrugia have stepped down but the rest of the committee, and the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon Secretary and Hon Treasurer all agreed to continue.  The committee is now considering candidates to be co-opted to fill the remaining vacancies.

Don't be tricked out of your money
With the continuing popularity of Chihuahuas, people desperate to obtain a puppy are sending off large amounts of money to people they've never met for dogs they've never seen.  Sadly many of them never receive the puppy they were promised, or ever see their money again.  Read our page Buying A Chihuahua to see how the Club can put you in touch with Club members who may have puppies for sale.  Our members are obliged to abide by our code of ethics