SOUTH AUSTRALIAN  BULLDOG CLUB

1908

The year’s record in doggy matters is satisfactory. The most important step is without doubt the formation of the Bulldog Club, and the wonderful exhibits made in this class at both city shows. Monthly meetings were held at which many well-known bulldogs were benched and thoroughly discussed and ‘pulled to pieces.’ These monthly meetings did much to keep the breeders together and proved strongly educative. Several important importations have been made, the subject of which will be discussed later in the year. Mr. F. W. Marshall, the president of the club, imported Donetta, a very line bitch but had the misfortune to lose her during whelping in quarantine. (Chronicle Sat 4 January 1908)

The South Australian Poultry and Kennel Club had beautiful weather for the second day of their show at the Exhibition Building on Friday. Since the inauguration of the Bulldog Club special interest has been manifested in this breed, and perhaps more enthusiasm is shown by South Australian breeders than by those in any other State. Fresh strains of blood are constantly being introduced, and at the present moment, there are in quarantine a bitch imported by Mr. A. F. Nash and a dog for Mr. R. E. P. Osborne. It was not surprising, therefore, to find the Bulldog section the best ever placed on the Adelaide benches. Most of the young dogs showed distinct improvement in breeding and were of excellent type. The winning dog in the open class, Mr. F. W. Marshall’s “Medindie John,” Taraxicum ex Shandon Queen, won first and special prizes at the Royal Show last year, and was mentioned by the judge (Mr. W. P. Wright) as the best type of the breed in the Commonwealth. Mr. J. H. Ward’s dog, Rewa, which secured first in the puppy, first in the novice, and second in the open classes, is an exceptionally fine specimen of the breed, and good judges look to this son of “Taraxicum” to turn the tables on his relative, Medindie John, the next time they meet. Mr. J. H. Potter won the Angas Breeders’ Cup, and gained second and third in the novice class, first for bitch in the same class, and second for open class bitch. He was also first in the team class. The Amgoorie Cup went to Mr. Ward. Mr. A. F. Nash was another successful exhibitor, and, among other awards, he annexed the South Australian Bulldog Club’s Challenge Cup.

Prize List Bulldog: Novice class dog J. H. Ward (1 and 2); J. R. Potter. Open class dog, F. W. Marshall; J. H. Ward; A. C. Stafford. Puppy dog J. H. Ward; J. H. Potter; R. Wemyss. Novice class bitch J. H. Potter. Open class bitch, A. F. Nash; J. H Potter, J Arthur Puppy class, bitch, A. F. Nash Brace class J. H. Ward, A. F. Nash. Team class J H Potter.

Special prizes: Bulldog challenge cup, F. W. Marshall; bitch do., A. F. Nash; puppy dog do., J. H. Ward: puppy bitch do., A. F. Nash; Angas Cup, for bulldog puppy dog, bred and owned by exhibitor, J. H. Potter; do. Puppy bitch, A. F. Nash; silver medal for bulldog, W. F. Marshall: for bulldog bitch, A. F. Nash, (The Advertiser Sat 27 Jun 1908)

 BULLDOGS AT THE SHOW. (By “Dragoon”)

The first and second prizewinners in the Bulldogs stood out in each class, with the exception of ‘Carmen’ in the open bitch class, placed third, and might have been second. ‘Medindie John is improving with age, and is a very imposing dog, but the eight-months’ puppy ‘Rhubarb,’ running second to him in the open class, has plenty of time, and may be placed on top next year. ‘Rhubarb’ is a good sort, and it is a pity his color is bad, and his nose is not absolutely black, but he has a good dark eye. His head and ribs will have to expand; no doubt age will do this. ‘Mixture’ was again put down in great form and won the Challenge Cup and English Bulldog Club’s silver medal. The little bitch ‘Vanity’ would be hot stuff for the under 35 lb. class, and is a little model, but cannot compete with heavier bitches. ‘Taxation,’ the winning puppy bitch, is full of quality, and is very good in lay-back, chop, wrinkle and bone, and has the desired wheel-back. The brace and team bronze medals, presented by the British Bulldog Club, went to Mr. Ward and Mr. Potter respectively. Most of the winners were bred by Mr. Nash and sired by his dog ‘Taraxacum.’ (Chronicle Sat 11 Jul 1908)

Bulldogs formed one of the principal classes in the canine section, and the 15 specimens on the benches Rave evidence that fanciers were breeding to a type which has remained the fashion in England. The majority of those shown were descendants of Mr. A. F. Nash’s Taraxacum, a dog that, though he has never been shown himself, is recognised as one of the finest bulldogs in Australia today. The winning dog, Mr. F. W. Marshall’s Medindie John, was a typical young bulldog in splendid condition, but he was hard pressed by Mr. J. H. Ward’s Rhubarb which won in the puppy and novice classes and gives excellent promise for the future. In the bitch class Mr. A. F. Nash was successful with Mixture, a brother of the winner; and the same exhibitor scored in the bitch puppies with’ Taxation. Mr. J. H. Potter won in the novice class with Dandelion Queenie, another Taraxacum bitch, and also in the teams class with Bill Sykes, Dandelion Queenie, and Vanity. (The Register Sat 27 June 1908)

The third annual show of the McLaren Vale Poultry and Kennel Club was held at the Institute on Thursday and will be continued to-day. This year marks an epoch in the history of the club, as it is the first country body to have the honor of holding a show in which every win in the dog sections count as a point in connection with the championships of the South Australian Kennel Club. Bulldogs were well represented by Mr T W Marshall’s Medindie John the South Australian champion and others. Judge Mr J. Smith awarded Medindie John the best Bulldog. (The Advertiser Fri 17 Jul 1908)

The third day of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society’s Spring Show passed off as successfully as the others. The crowing and cackling of cocks and hens and the howls and barks of many dogs at the show on Friday made the poultry and dog sections easy to locate by all but deaf people. The dogs which were benched in the morning in roomy kennels neatly littered with straw made a splendid collection which may justly be described as ‘a good show and a big show’. There were 310 entries which is a record for the state. Bulldogs made a fine collection. The champion of the Kennel Club show in June, Medindie John, in a close contest, lost the premier award, which went to Mr J. H Ward’s Rhubarb, who scored among the puppies in June. The judge remarked of this typical specimen “One of the best of the class I have seen in Australia”.

Results: J. H. Ward’s Rhubarb; F. W. Marshall’s Medindie John. Puppy dog J. H. Ward’s Rhubarb; J. H. Weidenhofer’s Bill Sykes; R. Wemyss’ Abotshall Colonel. Bulldog Bitch J. Arthur’s Carmen; A. S. Nash’s Mixture. Puppy bitch J. H. Potter’s Vanity; R. A. Smith’s Noreen Mascotte. (The Advertiser Sat 12 Sep 1908)

A telegram has reached the Bulldog Club in Adelaide that the bulldog Rhubarb, owned by Mr. J. H. Ward, has taken first prize for Colonial Dogs in the above show also first prize of the puppy class. Rhubarb, who is by Taraxacum from Mixture, was born on October 26, 1907, and was bred by Mr A. S. Nash. He has already won the following prizes: — First puppy and second open dogs, at Adelaide Kennel Club show in June; first puppy and first open dogs, at Royal Agricultural Show at Adelaide, September: and now added to the former successes by winning two first prizes at the Melbourne Ladies’ Kennel Club Show. It is encouraging to breeders of this kind of dog in South Australia to have such awards come to this state. (The Register Sat 19 Sep 1908)