South Africa Dachshund Club
FOUNDED 1939. AFFILIATED TO THE KENNEL UNION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
The Club celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1964 and held a special Silver Jubilee Show in conjunction with Goldfields Kennel Club in August of that year. The judge on this auspicious occasion was Mrs. Muriel Rhodes from England and there were 75 dogs present with all varieties represented. Dogs came from as far afield as Cape Town and Salisbury. To mark the occasion the Club had Dachshund statuettes cast and these were presented to all-breeds clubs to offer in competition at their Championship Shows.
Mrs. MA Powell succeeded her husband as President of the Club in 1969 and held this office until her death in 1983. Mrs. Muriel F. Rhodes (U.K.) was elected President of the Club in 1984.
After holding the office for 34 years, Mrs. Margaret Humphreys retired as Chairman of the Club in 1973. The reins were handed over to Mr. Bob Jenkins and Mrs. Humphreys was elected Hon. Patroness. Mrs. Humphreys served the Club in this capacity until her death on 27 May 1990 at age 94. She took a keen interest in the Club's activities right up to the end of her life and the passing of this grand old lady marked the end of an era, not only for the Club, but also for only for the Club, but also for South African dogdom.
The Club prospered under the brief but competent Chairmanship of Mr. Bob Jenkins who sadly decided to stand down after only two years. Mr. Paddy Pearson became the Club's third Chairman in 1975 and held this office until 1978 when he also announced his retirement. Mr. Pearson was elected Hon. Patron of the Club in the same year. Under Mr. Pearson's Chairmanship an amendment to the Club's Constitution was approved early in 1975 and a further minor amendment followed in 1978.
Mrs. Mady Curtis succeeded Mr. Pearson as Chairman in 1978 and was to hold this office until her death in 1989. During the eleven years in which she served in this capacity, Mrs. Curtis made a tremendous contribution to the welfare of the Club and its members and will always be remembered for her selfless dedication to the Dachshund, especially to the Miniature varieties. She poured her vast knowledge and energy into the Club's Newsletter which she edited with so much devotion for a number of years, and her enthusiasm was an inspiration to all who had the privilege to know and serve under her. Mrs. Curtis died peacefully on 8 May 1989, and with her passing the door closed on yet another era in the Club's history.
Following Mrs. Curtis's death, the Club's Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Irma Lowman, agreed to fill the position of Chairman till the Annual General Meeting early in 1990. Mr. Bruce Jenkins was elected the Club's sixth Chairman at this meeting, a fitting recognition for the many years he had devoted to the Club and its affairs as Committee member and Secretary.
Throughout the early years of its existence, the Club held annual Trophy Shows in conjunction with all-breeds clubs and it was not until 1969 that the Club applied to hold its own Championship Show. To attract entries from other centres, the show was held over the same week-end as those of Transvaal Kennel Club and S.A. Ladies Kennel Association. An American judge, Mrs. Ramona Van Court, officiated on that occasion and 85 dogs of all varieties were present. It is interesting that Smooth-haireds accounted for more than half of the entries and this variety continued to boast the largest representation at shows throughout much of the Club's history. During the 1980's, however, the Miniature Smooth-haireds and Miniature Long-haireds gained tremendously in popularity and since the late 1980's these three varieties have been about equally represented at shows.
Since its first Championship Show, the Club had always made every effort to have an overseas breed specialist judge at its annual Championship Show, thereby giving exhibitors the benefit of an "outside" opinion. There have been only two exceptions - in 1978 when the Club invited Mrs. Margaret Humphreys to judge in honour of her 80th birthday, and in 1981 when the appointed judge from Britain missed his plane and a good friend of the Club, Mrs. Joan Liddicoat, had to step in literally at the last minute.
The next milestone in the Club's history came in 1989 with the celebration of its Golden Jubilee. With so much goodwill and generosity from members, a tremendously successful Championship Show was staged. The hall was lavishly decorated with ribbon and flowers and several dignitaries attended. The guests of honour were founder member Mrs. Margaret Humphreys (then 93 years old) and Mr. G.R. Eva, President of the Kennel Union of Southern Africa. The judge on this joyous occasion was Mr. John Hutchinson Cook from the U.S.A., the latter-day doyen of the American Dachshund and one of the most respected Dachshund authorities in the world.
Mrs. MA Powell succeeded her husband as President of the Club in 1969 and held this office until her death in 1983. Mrs. Muriel F. Rhodes (U.K.) was elected President of the Club in 1984.
After holding the office for 34 years, Mrs. Margaret Humphreys retired as Chairman of the Club in 1973. The reins were handed over to Mr. Bob Jenkins and Mrs. Humphreys was elected Hon. Patroness. Mrs. Humphreys served the Club in this capacity until her death on 27 May 1990 at age 94. She took a keen interest in the Club's activities right up to the end of her life and the passing of this grand old lady marked the end of an era, not only for the Club, but also for only for the Club, but also for South African dogdom.
The Club prospered under the brief but competent Chairmanship of Mr. Bob Jenkins who sadly decided to stand down after only two years. Mr. Paddy Pearson became the Club's third Chairman in 1975 and held this office until 1978 when he also announced his retirement. Mr. Pearson was elected Hon. Patron of the Club in the same year. Under Mr. Pearson's Chairmanship an amendment to the Club's Constitution was approved early in 1975 and a further minor amendment followed in 1978.
Mrs. Mady Curtis succeeded Mr. Pearson as Chairman in 1978 and was to hold this office until her death in 1989. During the eleven years in which she served in this capacity, Mrs. Curtis made a tremendous contribution to the welfare of the Club and its members and will always be remembered for her selfless dedication to the Dachshund, especially to the Miniature varieties. She poured her vast knowledge and energy into the Club's Newsletter which she edited with so much devotion for a number of years, and her enthusiasm was an inspiration to all who had the privilege to know and serve under her. Mrs. Curtis died peacefully on 8 May 1989, and with her passing the door closed on yet another era in the Club's history.
Following Mrs. Curtis's death, the Club's Vice-
Throughout the early years of its existence, the Club held annual Trophy Shows in conjunction with all-
Since its first Championship Show, the Club had always made every effort to have an overseas breed specialist judge at its annual Championship Show, thereby giving exhibitors the benefit of an "outside" opinion. There have been only two exceptions -
The next milestone in the Club's history came in 1989 with the celebration of its Golden Jubilee. With so much goodwill and generosity from members, a tremendously successful Championship Show was staged. The hall was lavishly decorated with ribbon and flowers and several dignitaries attended. The guests of honour were founder member Mrs. Margaret Humphreys (then 93 years old) and Mr. G.R. Eva, President of the Kennel Union of Southern Africa. The judge on this joyous occasion was Mr. John Hutchinson Cook from the U.S.A., the latter-
