Midland Rottweiler Club History

THE EARLY DAYS

The Midland Rottweiler Club started out as a branch of the Rottweiler Club and its first event was held in Great Witley in Worcester at the invitation of our first president the late Squire Crane. The event was a match between the Midland Rottweiler Club and the Rottweiler Club. There was a show and then an obedience competition. At this time the Midland club had a formidable obedience team and they swept the board in this competition and all the other matches and competitions they entered. The show team were also no pushovers either and included dogs from the kennels of Upend, Poirot, Jagen & Robvaal. The Midland club were victorious in both sections and it was a great boost to the fledgling club. Some of people in attendance that day were Sid and Mary Jeys, Anne Wallet, Les and Pat Price, Liz Harrap, Mary McPhail, Betty Hobley and Ruth and Dennis Hankin. The club grew under the stewardship of Barbara Butler who was a strong chairman and knew how to get the best out of her committee. In time the club attained Championship status and had the largest Rottweiler entry ever recorded in this country 475. (Rudolf Haggland Norway) The open show also attracted large entries and Ms L Grutter from Holland had an entry a little over 350. The club decided to run an all breed obedience show which became one of the biggest obedience shows in the country. (entries of 500 or more) So successful was the show that it was on the point of being offered Championship status. Unfortunately the secretary at the time decided the work load was too much and the show ended much to the dismay of the obedience fraternity. The club placed great store on temperament and this was long before the dark days of bad publicity for the breed.� Character test were a regular feature in the club calendar and most of them were judged by Terry McCaffie who was the chief training officer for the R.A.F. Terry was the partner of Michael Quinney who was also in regular attendance at these events. Regular training events were also held in the week and there were good attendance's and a keen interest. Les Price was responsible for running these training meetings at Essington for several years. Later Jane Heath ran them with great success. There were many people who helped in the early days who were not connected with the breed but liked to help. Most are now dead but their contribution was vital. People who helped or were on the committee and are still around today include Peter Radley, Joyce Radley, John Dunhill, Michael Quinney, Anne Evans Wallet (founder member), Pat Osborne (founder member), Jenny Dennis, Mary Jeyes (founder member), Ruth and Dennis Hankin, Les Price (founder member) Kate Wood and Jane & Michael Heath.

The MRC began as a branch of The Rottweiler Club in August 1974, and on July 17th 1977 with 36 founder members, the club was founded. Its first Chairperson Mrs. Barbara Butler untill her death in 2006, with Secretaries position being held by the late Miss Betty Hobley. The late Mr. & Mrs. S Jeys were also on the Committee at that time & remained involved with the Club throughout there lives and in their final years as Life Honary Members, Vice-President & President.

Training and other events.

1978 saw the start of the Clubs annual three shows, an open Show with Any Variety Open Obedience in March, a Sanction Show in August and another Open Show in September. The Club was then granted Championship Status by The Kennel Club and held it's first Championship Show at Bingley Hall Stafford on the last Sunday in September 1981. The judges on that day were Dogs- Herr Fredrich Berger (Chief Breed Warden Rottweiler Club, Germany) and Bitches-Herr Wilhelm Hedtke (Asst. Breed Warden) drawing an entry of 233. The Obedience judge on that day was Mr. Ian Dunstall, with an entry of 51 (49 coming from the breed classes). BIS went to Rudi Anton Bali (later to become a Champion); RBIS & BOS was Panevors Proud Chichasaw and BPIS Cuidado The Dandy (again later to become Champion). The Ch Show is still in the same venue and same date today, with the one Open show now being held in February, at various venues over the years, to support many areas within the Midlands.
 

Newsletter - this is now a bi-annual production, with the Spring Issue being available for Crufts and the Autumn Issue available at our Championship Show (well we always try to aim for these dates!) Mrs. Ann Evans (formally Wallett, of Poirot Affix) has edited it, since 199? . 2003 saw our first yearbook, released, in time for Christmas, along with a calendar. These were produced primarily by Bev Cambridge, with help from our chair Barry & his wife Carole.
 

1981 was a very eventful year for the club, as the Club took on the bold step to produce a book. Now world famous the first edition of the Rottweiler in Great Britain came out in August of that year. There were future editions in May 1983, January 1985 and September 1987. Since that date there has regularly been updates printed to keep the Book in touch with all new Imports, Junior warrant Winners and of course Champions with photographs and Pedigrees. This has now come close to its end and soon a 5th Edition will be with us.

The Clubs next project was to try and bring many top quality dogs (mainly youngsters) together from all over the UK, to be viewed and admired collectively all under one roof at one event. On March 8th 1987 after the Clubs Open Show a Specialty Event was held, it was called the Ransome Dog Super Trophy. It was by Committee invitation only and took the format of one large bitch class & one large dog class, both Judged by two Judges Mrs. Mary MacPhail & Mrs. Dot Skinner. The winners on that day were Dogs Mr. M. Blundens Ch. McGuire Esquire & Mrs. C Brady Ch. Rottsan Velvet Vision (both gaining their tiles after the event
This original idea then took on the existing format of the Gala Night, which we now see today as the Junior of the Year Contest & Super Dog Challenge, both requiring qualification at the highest level to attend. The first event was held at Bingley hall Stafford in 1989 and the winners were
Top Junior Ch. Lintock Night Watchman Mr. & Mrs. Shaw.
Super Dog Ch. Upend Gallant Ynys of Amatol Mr. & Mrs. Culley.
 

In 2003 the Medallion Rottweiler Club, USA, became our sister club, and hopefully the exchange of comments/ideas/articles may benefit both M.R.C's.