N.C.C.C.C
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N.C.C.C.C
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NORTHERN COUNTIES CHOW CLUB
Even though the Club was established in 1933, the earliest records we have are from March 3rd 1945, when a meeting was called to re-organize the club. We can only assume that the war played a part in disrupting dog show and clubs. At that first meeting, Mr. J. Reynolds took the offices of President and Chairman, with Mrs. Kay Treasurer and Mr. Kay (Tetra) secretary. Committee members included Mr. & Mrs. Downsborough (Wongtung), Mr.Antrobus (Subortna) and Mesdames Dransfield, Simms, Tyson, Miller, Hayes, Holmes and Sadler and Messrs Derbyshire and Rowe. The first show that we have records for was a members afternoon sanction show held at the Saddle Hotel, Market Street, Halifax on Saturday May 12th 1945. Mr. C. Harrison who won puppy dog or bitch, special beginners dog or bitch, and novice dog " Choonam Kong Mao" owned by Mr. Kay won Limit dog or bitch. The entries for the shows were quite promising at the time, so it was agreed that we apply to the Kennel Club for permission to hold a Championship Show. The first change of officials came in 1948 when Mr. Reynolds kept the office of President, Mr. Kay took over as Chairman, Mr. Antrobus Treasurer. At the next meeting, the Secretary informed the Committee that we had been refused permission to hold a Championship show. The AGM of 1950 opened with the sad news of the death of Mrs. Reynolds and the resignation of the President. Mr.Croasdale (Chowdax) accepted this position. There was an objection at this meeting from a member that Mrs. Antrobus who by now was both Secretary and Treasurer lived too far away from some members who she expected to represent. Mrs. Antrobus lived in Liverpool and the complainant came from Leeds. In 1953 Mrs. Brackenbury was made a life member of the Club in recognition of her being a founder member of the original Northern Counties Club. 1954 saw the next change of Officers with the resignation of Mr. Croasdale, Mr. Watkinson (Minhow) was elected President. The Committee included Mr. Smedley (Jungwaw), Mr. Nash (Nashetna) Mrs. Thompson (Philmagee) and Mr. Edgerton (Ukwong). At the AGM of 1958, Mrs. Antrobus tendered her resignation dues to ill health and Mr. Charters took over as secretary and Mrs. Chaters as Treasurer. Early in 1959, The President and several committee members called a special meeting which culminated with the Secretary resigning. It transpired that the Secretary had suffered ill health and the affairs of the Club had been neglected. Mr. Downsborough was asked to be acting Secretary and Mrs. Croasdale took the chair. The result of this was that the Club lost a show for the following year. Mr. Kay, who had been one of the main instigators in the reforming of the Club in 1945 and had held various offices throughout that time, submitted a letter of resignation at the AGM of 1959. This was reluctantly accepted and in recognition of his work for the Club he was made a life member. On a light note, in 1960 the Secretary's Honorarium was £15-15-00 and the Treasurer's £5-5.0 (£15.75 and £5.25) a dinner dance held this year cost £1-1-0 and tickets were sold for £1-5-0 (to cover the cost of the band). In 1964, at the AGM Mr. Egerton was elected President, a position he was to hold (except for a one year gap) until he and Mrs. Egerton emigrated to Spain. Also at this meeting information was forthcoming from Mrs Street regarding hold a "Chow Chow Show of the Year" along the lines of the Great Dane of the Year Show." In June, delegates from the Club Messrs. Egerton, Croasdale and Downsborough attended a meeting in London with the other breed Clubs representatives to finalise the structure of the show. At the time it appears that most of the Northern Counties Committee wanted to retain the name under which the show as first thought of. It was a few years later, that everyone on the Committee eventually agreed to the present name "Chow of the Year Show". The AGM of 1966 saw Mr. Mascord (Ralsave's) take over as a Chairman from Mr. Croasdale, then in June of this year, the Secretary informed everyone that finally the Kennel Club had granted us a licence to hold a Championship Show in 1967 at the Corn Exchange in Leeds. Mr. Grindey and Mr. Gale was the first judges nominated but unfortunately Mr. Gale could not accept as he already had an appointment near to that date. Mrs. Prosser was asked in his place. The schedule for the first
championship show makes very interesting reading as it includes this regulation. Admission to visitors was 3/6d and accompanied children 1/6d.(approximately 18p and 8p.). Entry fees were 10/6d. each entry for members and 16/6d each entry for non members. Prize money was £2-0-0 first, £1-0-0 second, 10/- third and 5/- reserve. F.G.Woodgate provided the benching for the price of £20-16-6 while Spillers offered free of charge, ring numbers, bench numbers and prize cards plus entry forms, also this year, the Club invited suggestions for a design for a Club Badge. This was later to be agreed to the design that we have, a dog in a collar. Around this time the Secretary received a letter from a member wishing to form a new Chow Club in the North, which give the exhibitors three more shows per year. The committee discussed this but all agreed that this was a matter for the Kennel Club. In 1969 Mrs. Poole took the Office of Secretary and Mr. Poole the Treasurer. Mr. Egerton remained President and Mr. Mascord Chairman. The Committee by now consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Mascord (Ralsaves) Mr. and Mrs. Poole (Katholroy) Mr. Antrobus (Subortna) Mr. Trick (Jowtrix) Mr. and Mrs. Nash (Nashetna) Mr. Walmersley, Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Bentley, Mr. Coote, Mr. Downsborough, Mr. Pearce, Mrs. Berry. In the late sixties and early seventies, Mr. Egerton (President) brought great delight to himself and all Chow Lovers by campaigning the great Ukwong King Solomon to his title (as well as several other dogs). Never in the history of the Breed has there been a dog with a record to compare with his. He won 78 challenge certificates, 6 best in show (all breeds) 6 reserve best in show, 23 group wins, 22 reserve group wins, top dog all breeds in 1970 and 1971 and top utility dog in 1972. He also won four consecutive Chow of the Year, Best in Shows. Other members of the Committee have also owned good dogs but I think Solly's achievements deserve a special mention. As the 1970's progressed many of
the people now serving as Officers of the Club were first elected onto the
Committee. Mrs. J. Williamson (Dejoh) (Vice Chairman of the Club and Chairman of the Breed Council) was elected to the Committee in 1977, then had a short break from1980 whilst living in Ireland. Mr. McAteer (Denchang) (Chairman) joined the Committee in 1970 and has been the only continuous serving member of the committee. Mention at this time should also go to Mrs. Egerton, who having returned from Spain has rejoined our Committee. For which we are really grateful. Mr. & Mrs. Poole resigned in 1980 and Mr. Oldroyd (Lincher) was elected Secretary with Mrs. Oldroyd Treasurer. The following years that Mr. Oldroyd was Secretary went very well with Peter proving a very good Secretary. Some of the AGM's being quite noisy affairs but in the end, I think al the members worked well together. When Mr. and Mrs Oldroyd tendered their resignations at the 1987 AGM saying that thy didn't have time to give the club 100% commitment, I (B. Heyes) was elected Secretary and Mrs J. Williamson Treasurer. At one of the first meetings, whilst I was secretary, we received a letter asking for our comments regarding a judges training scheme. I must say that quite a number of the Committee were against this ideas saying a Breed Council should be formed first. Happily both these schemes are now up and running successfully. During my tenure as secretary, the club continued to function quite amiably most of the time, we still had noisy AGM's but as in the past, the Committee worked very well on behalf of the members. When I resigned Mrs. J. Williamson took over the Office. The Club continued to go forward, as most people exhibiting these days will know Joann, they will know of her commitment too the Breed. When Joann tendered her resignation we went through a spell when different Secretaries and Treasurers left us, after only serving short spells in office. This led to the club lacking continuity. Though this has caused problem the present Committee pull together and the Club can only progress. I think proof of this can be judged by the "Chow of the Year" show that we have run this year (1999) the atmosphere at the Show was fantastic and everyone worked together to make this show the spectacle it warrants and deserves. The members of the Club can take
great heart in the knowledge that the Committee do now, as they always have
done, put the feeling of the members first. The last function that the Club held before this article went to print was a Chinese night at a restaurant in Elland Halifax.
submitted by Mr. W. Heyes (Jensim)
the present Committee ( AS OF 2008) consists of :
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