Newsletter Date Denny and Darcy steal the show! The Ulster Kerry Blue Ter- rier Club held it’s 2015 show in conjunction with Portadown and Banbridge Canine clubs. Greenstar Dog and BIS was Ch Halls- blu Fibber Magee with Ch Clanciarrai Claddagh Ring winning greenstar bitch. Our congratulations go to John Weatherhead as he and Fibber also went on to win both greenstars at Ban- bridge and Portadown Inside this issue: shows. The club also want to thank Ann Ingram for judging our Pictured judge Ann Ingram with GSD and BIS Ch Hallsblu Fibber Magee show and hope that she en- and GSB and RBIS Ch Clanciarrai Claddagh Ring. Officers and Com- 2 joyed her day and also a mittee special thanks to Royal Canin and their generous President’s ad- 3 sponsorship. dress Clanciarrai - 4 Breeder Profile The Ulster Kerry Blue Terrier Club is delighted to have J Poulova (Edbrios) preside over our Top Breeder 2015 5 11th Breed Club Championship Show under IKC Rules. Saturday16th April 2016 Irisblu Breeder 6 Profile In Conjunction with Portadown and Banbridge Shows. Judging at our show will take place at 1pm. Chairperson’s 8 Message We are grateful to Royal Canin for the continued and generous sponsorship The Breed Judges at Portadown and Banbridge Shows are Ms Melanie Corcoran and Mr J Decuyper Page 2 Officers and Committee—2014 - 2015 President: Mr T Malone Chairperson: Mr K Connor Vice Chairperson: Mr M Cushnahan Secretary: Ms F Malone Treasurer: Ms C Neill Auditor: Mr N McKeon Committee: Mr P Martin, Mr J Haskins, Page 3 President’s Address Hi All Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to thank all contributors to our second Newslet- ter and specifically Mark Cushnahan (Cushlagorm) for his work. Today we celebrate our 11th Breed Championship Show under IKC rules. I would like to thank our Judge, Jarka Pou- lova (Edbrios) and our sponsor Royal Canin. We are also fortunate to have a good commit- tee who work well together and are involved in the Club for the correct reason, our passion for Kerry Blue Terriers. Sincere congratulations to Cathy Neill (Kensbridge) on the safe arrival of her beautiful daughter, Grace. I believe she is already a registered owner of a Kerry Blue. Our thoughts are also with those in the Club who lost loved ones during the year ! Congratulations to Paul Martin (Clanciarrai) for the title of Breeder of the Year 2015. Our wonderful breed continues to hold its own in the Show ring, however numbers are not strong and support is poor at Club Shows which is particularly sad ! Congratulations to all those who won during 2015 and I look forward to seeing the breed compete at the highest levels once again in 2016. Kerry Blues are not for everyone and unfortunately far too many end up in Rescue! It is incumbent on us, as breeders, to look after this great breed and indeed our Club and en- sure their safety, success and development for future generations. For news and information of the Club’s activities please visit our web- site www.ulsterkbt.com and the Facebook page “Ulster Kerry Blue Terrier Club”. Finally, I would like to close by sincerely thanking the members of the Ulster Kerry Blue Ter- rier Club for once again ratifying me as President of this great Club, it is both an honour and a privilege. I wish you all good health, happiness and every success in the year ahead. Best wishes Tom Malone Glenfitor Kerry Blues Page 4 Clanciarrai Kerry Blue Terriers Breeder Profile Paul and Eileen Martin have been involved in breeding and showing Kerry Blues since 1977. I think anyone who has had the pleasure of their company would agree that you would struggle to find anyone as passionate about the breed as them. I had time to catch up with Paul over a cup of tea and put the questions below to him, 1. When did you first get in to Kerry blues? We first got into Kerry blues around 1977, I got a bitch from John Watson she was Nostaw Wilma Fintstone and her breeding was all from the “Binate” kennel., which I can remember vividly. 2. What was it about the breed that attracted you to it? I was at a dog show and I seen Granemore Valley I was speechless when I seen that dog..... Stunning, after that I knew I had to have a Kerry blue. 3. Who was your biggest influence in the breed? I had a priceless education when I came into dogs. I am forever thankful for the wisdom and time given to me by Tom and Bridget Boyle and also my dear friends Noel and Mary Reidy (Louisburgh Kerry Blues). I aspired to be like these peo- ple and cannot describe in words how important they were during my early years in dogs. 4. You have been fortunate in your time to breed many great champions if you had to make the tough call, which was your favourite and why? I would have to say without a question it was Son of a Storm at Clanciarrai, this dog had such a personality and was the ultimate showman in fact he was Best In Show 6 times during his career. He was bred by my cousin out of our very own Clanciarrai Stormer (who went on to be the foundation male for the Aran Kennel in Italy) and from a very young age I knew he was going to have the temperament for showing in fact I have heard peo- ple say many phrases about dogs such as “That dog could talk to you” and this boy was Ch Clanciarrai Stormer the same we loved having him and even to this day he is fondly remembered. 5. You have seen how competitive the breed has been over the years; was there any other Kerry’s that you admired? I have to say there are a few males and females that stick in my mind. The males, first was Ch Callaghan of Leander he was a stunning dog and went on to win Best In show at Crufts. I also seen Ch Granemore Killfernora winning best pup in show at National Terrier and as we know he then went on to greater things. As far as bitch’s go I loved Ch Music’s So- nata and Ch Ardkama Maid to Measure. There was also a number of Louisburgh dogs bred by Noel and Mary in particu- lar I liked Ch Louisburgh Rowl N Dust, the list could go on. 6. What is your favourite show? I love National Terrier, always a great show to attend and I always enjoy the atmosphere at it. Closer to home I really enjoy the Swords and District show which is one of the few out door shows in Ireland that never fails to get the weather!! 7. Best moment you have had so far? This is a an easy one for me. In 1983 I had the honour of winning Best of Breed at Crufts with Ch Louisburgh Brigin, the bright lights and excitement of taking your dog into the group at Crufts is something that will live long in the memory for me and it would be a thrill do it again. 8. Have you got any hopes or aspirations for the future in the breed? I still have the same aspiration today as when I first started and that is to breed the “ultimate” Kerry blue. I also hope that people look back when I've finished my time in dogs and feel I con- tributed positively towards the breed and leave it in good hands for the next generation who assume responsibility for it. Ch Son of a Storm at Clanciarrai Page 5 Page 5 Congratulations to the Top Breeder—Paul Martin Clanciarrai In January 2015 it was confirmed that Paul Martin (Clanciarrai Kerry blues) finished the year as top breeder. This award is achieved by the number of wins by dogs bred by a particular breeder over the duration of that particular year. The club got the opportunity to congratulate Paul and ask him how he felt about the award he explained, “It was never my ambition to achieve such an award, we have been very fortunate to have had great people come and get pups from us over the last few years and its through their dedication that this award has been possible. I have to thank Barry, Melanie and Joyce Walker who own Clanciarrai Blue Jasmine also John and Melanie Craig with Ch Clanciarrai Claddagh Ring we also had some success with our own bitch Clanciarrai Blue Velvet which all contributed to the achievement of this award”. We asked Paul what he feels is the common denominator for his success this year. “I have to say since we brought Ariel (Multi Ch Bluemont Ariel at Clanciarrai) into the county we have had tremendous success within our breeding program. I have to pay tribute to his breeder the late Lorenzo Zambrano, its our sincere thanks that he placed his trust in us with Ariel's development and I am delighted he is now making a name for himself as a proven stud dog to add to the success he had in the ring”. Paul continued “I think we are starting to see his potential at stud and were delighted to see many of his children do well recently for example, his daughter GR CH Clanciarrai Solataire (owned by Glenn Lee) became top Kerry in the USA. His other daughter Ebrious Exotica (owned by Phillip O’ Brien and Jarka Poulová) won the reserve CC at Crufts and recently Best In Show at the Combined Canine International Show.