28^th November 2005

I have owned a dachshund for 30 years now. I bought my first dachshund, a miniature smooth, from Mrs. Cross of the Loggeta affix, well known for their Longhaired Dachshunds in 1975. I later went on to breed now and again and then to show.

My first little show bitch I brought into the show ring was 'Tinwal Miss Honeybunch', from Mr. & Mrs. Bosworth who I gained reasonable show experience with and had a great deal of fun. I might add so did my husband who has always been at the ringside with me. It was with my second little bitch 'Montreux Susannah' which Jon gave me for my birthday in 1986, a little belated, but there you go, new puppies do not come to order, she was bred by Mr. Negal who was always on hand to offer help and advice. Susie had the affix 'Chadrac' added to her name and was the first bitch I managed to get into the Kennel Club Studbook in 1988 and was later taken to the U.S.A., since which I have added four more, 1 dog and 3 bitches.

The first dog I bought to show was 'Strathra Black Lancer', who I never added my affix to, bought in from Mr. & Mrs. Strathie in 1988. He was 3 years old when I acquired him, I had seen him at 6 months when he attended a show at Newark, with his litter brother and breeders. He had not been shown for the 12 months prior to me having him, from then onwards 'Hamish' as he was known at home, went on to win the Open dog classes at the Welsh Kennel Club, Leicester City and the City of Birmingham all within 14 days, gaining 2 Challenge Certificates also. He became a champion with his 3rd C.C. gained at Crufts Centenary Show in 1991 at the National Exhibition Centre Birmingham.

`Chadrac Cannymagic' was my first Junior Warrant winner in 1994, which also gave me a great deal of pleasure. Since then 'Chadrac Countess' also won her Junior Warrant in 1996. August 1997 C. Countess gained her first CC & B.O.B. at City of Birmingham and followed on with the Res. CC at Crufts; she also gained a Res.CC at the Scottish Kennel Club. 1998 I went back to Doreen Negal (Montreux), with C. Cala and used Noble Knight. Out of this litter I kept C. Calypso Lady, who gained her J.W. in 6 months, B.P. at the Dachshund Club Championship, RCC at the Lancs and Cheshire Dachshund Club Championship, & CC at the Great Joint Dachshund Championship, CC B.O.B. + Group 4 at the Southern Counties Championship, & CC & B.O.B. at the Eastern Counties Dachshund Ass. Championship. We now have another champion at home, who still goes on to win at Championship shows.

I have held the affix 'Chadrac' with the Kennel Club since 1986 and have been an associate member since 1992. I was invited to become a member of the Eastern Counties Dachshund Ass., in 1991. As a committee member I like to think I help in some small way or other, since then Jon has joined the committee also. We have on occasions rescued a few dachshunds, if any fall on hard times and Jon gets to hear of it, usually they are all welcomed unreservedly. Jon makes the arrangements for them, I tend to do the running around, all the driving. We have been very fortunate that we do not have too much about life's little problems and without four legs trotting along behind us, would be very dull indeed.

I was asked in 2002 to give Challenge Certificates at Windsor Championship Dog Show for the first time, which was a great honour for me. I have also been awarding B.I. S. at Club Shows, a new milestone in my road to showing dogs and my life with Dachshunds.   Carol A. Hall