The Cairn Terrier Association
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The Joint Cairn Terrier Clubs UK Cairn Terrier Symposium Saturday 16 July 2011 I am very concerned that
British Cairn Terrier lovers should fully understand the significance of our
Symposium planned for the 16 July next year. Our breed is at a crossroads
and we need to decide which way we want to go. We have to face the fact that
entries at shows are dropping and so further sets of CC’s will be lost.
Registrations are falling and generally we need to attract new people into
the breed. I personally am delighted when I see a young person competing, but
are we doing enough to keep them interested and do they feel welcome? Over the years the breed
has changed. Some changes are good of course, but are we, often unwittingly,
changing the essential type? Is today’s Cairn too sculptured? Or too
exaggerated? Are we relying too much on ‘potions and lotions’ for our
presentation? Are we doing enough to
guard the health of the breed? Important steps in this area are being taken,
but are they enough? We are fortunate to have good people to lead us, but are
we giving them the right support? The same can be said about the rescue of
Cairns in distress. Again we are fortunate to have a team of dedicated people
in charge of this, but do we ordinary people give the necessary support? Are we doing enough to
encourage new specialist judges? Good though many non-specialist judges are
and I would be the last person to say they are not necessary for the
well-being of our breed, we also need to bring on our own new, younger judges
to take the place of our ageing population. There has been criticism
of our Breed Standard. Does it meet today’s need: should it be amended or
enlarged? Or would too much detail go against the Cairn Terrier envisaged by
its founders? All these area will be
discussed at the Symposium and we need the views of everyone who loves our
breed. Of course we want to see our best breeders, exhibitors and judges, but
we also need to see the people who breed the occasional litter or go to the
occasional local show. Often these will be the people who see most for the
very reason that they are not chasing breed records etc. and will recognise
what we need to do to take our wonderful breed forward. We desperately want
their input and to know what they think. This goes for every single person
who is interested enough to join a breed club. The Symposium is being
carefully planned so that all these points can be discussed. The idea is that
everyone’s views will be taken on board for full discussion by the clubs.
Those who do not like speaking can always forward their views to their breed
club or get someone else to speak for them. We need to have a detailed plan
before we run the breed’s World Symposium, and to do this we need everyone’s
help. Ferelith Somerfield. Further information,
details of the programme and booking forms will be circulated with Club Year
books early in 2011. In the meantime any inquiries regarding the Symposium
can be made to Frances Goldfinch, email goldfinch@kanawha.freeserve.co.uk
or Tel: 01304 851818 |
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