25 сентябрь 2022 г.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
“The I’m Only Human Picture Show” competition that we took part in during lockdown, was really popular. It lightened our spirits and brought us closer together. We saw our global Facebook friends at different stages of their lives, we saw their knick knacks, their favourite holiday places, mugs, shoes and almost every other category under the sun. And what opportunities our judges were given
. They may not have aspired to award CCs but they rose to the challenge of judging misshapen fruit and vegetables
The interviews with Sir Dudley Forwood and Susan Burgess posted recently were also well received and many have asked for more of the same.
Thought I would fast forward to today and conduct interviews with people from the current Cavalier and Toy dog fanciers.
It’s the turn of
Sandra Ireland Moger (CHARNELL CAVALIERS)
And get your own answers ready ….I could be calling on you next
Let the fun begin.
QUESTIONS
1. What is your full name?
Sandra Mae Moger
2. Where were you born and tell us about your growing up?
I was born in CARSHALTON, a small village in Surrey that has since been swallowed up by Greater London. I had two brothers, George 14 years my senior and Alan who is 18 months younger than me. My parents both worked full time so the biggest influence on my life was my godfather, Uncle Tom, who took care of my brother and I when we came home from school. He was Glaswegian and an ex coal miner, but was unable to work any more because of emphysema. All through the school summer holidays my younger brother and I camped on a farm on the Isle of Wight with Uncle Tom and his wife, Auntie Bridget who was VERY Irish and from Killarney. He taught us the wonders of nature, the names of trees and plants, showed us badger setts and foxes dens. We had so much freedom helping with the harvest and bringing the cows in for milking in the afternoon. It was a magical time for us. I loved animals and was always bringing home “lost” dogs and cats which then had to be returned to the place where I had found them!
What was your first job?
I worked at a boarding/ breeding kennels with the El Hor Salukis. To this day I can still recite every one of their names in alphabetical order! Whilst I was there they had a terrible outbreak of distemper which decimated their breeding stock. The owner didn’t believe in vaccinations. It was a terrible experience and I stayed up many nights with some of my favourite dogs. Then weeks later when they appeared to have recovered some had dreadful seizures and had to be put to sleep. Nowadays I doubt many young vets have ever seen distemper.
3. If you could change places with someone for a day who would it be?
I would change places with someone working at the Orangutan Rehabilitaion Centre in Borneo looking after orphaned and rescued Orangutans.
4. Your favourite food? Your favourite drink
Ice cream, if that counts as food! I have a sweet tooth so cake, trifle and anything that’s bad for health are all acceptable!
Non alcoholic it has to be a nice cup of tea, milk, no sugar. If it’s alcohol a large G&T with ice and a slice!
5. Best Cavalier Dog and Best Cavalier Bitch you have bred?
Probably the Best Dog I’ve bred was CHARNELL RED RORY J.W., a handsome Ruby boy by SALADOR CHARLOCK out of CHARNELL TIFFIN. His show career was cut short after a huge abscess on his forehead that left scarring. He went on to sire some lovely puppies. The prettiest headed dog would have to be CHARNELL MONTEREY who didn’t enjoy the show ring at all, not nervous……just very easily bored!
Best Bitch would have to be CH CHARNELL CLEMATIS AT SALEGREEN who was BEST OPPOSITE at CKCSC Ch Show 2014/15 and BEST OPPOSITE at CRUFTS 2015.
6. Your favourite perfume?
I don’t really have a favourite but I like Coco by Chanel. Otherwise it’s whatever I’ve been given as a gift!
7. Your own favourite Charnell cavalier over the years?
Meggie aka CHARNELL MONS MEG, a Ruby by CRAIGOWL CHARCOAL ex CHARNELL TIFFIN and was everything a Cavalier should be. Active, gay, sporting, long lived. She visited Care Homes and brought so much pleasure to the elderly. She loved chasing ducks on the local pond. Her head was beautiful with the gentlest of expressions and the blackest nose …right up to the day she died at almost 14 years. She loved everyone and was the best companion anyone could ever want.
8. Of all the Cavaliers you have judged which one in your opinion best fits the Standard (Charnell excepted)
What a difficult question!! The one that immediately springs to mind is the Black/Tan bitch, SUPREME CH MATMOR SECRET SOCIETY owned by Mat Morse and Will Henderson in Australia. She knocked my socks off as soon as she entered the ring and I couldn’t take my eyes off her! Over the years I have judged some exceptional dogs in many countries so I really don’t like to single out just one. But she stands out in my memory.
9. Your favourite movie?
I still love the magic of E.T. Also FORREST GUMP and GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER starring Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey.
Favourite actor and favourite actress?
TOM HANKS and KATHERINE HEPBURN. In different ways they have been exceptional people too.
10. Your funniest moment in dogs?
Oh dear, so many! Probably the funniest (ask Alex Bubb!) was the Scottish Cavalier Club Show I think around 1983. Bill Siggers was judging. Alex, Anne Letourneau and I went to the cafeteria for lunch. It was very crowded but we managed to get a table. A few minutes later we were approached by Susan Burgess who asked if she could sit with us as there was no room anywhere else. We felt like the Queen had asked to share our table and were on our very best behaviour! We chatted for a few minutes and I started drinking a cup of tea. Susan turned to me and said “I think you’re drinking my tea!” I put it down like I had been scalded. Anne and Alex were trying not to laugh and I was obviously embarrassed. It was to get worse when I picked up a piece of chocolate cake and took a large bite. Susan turned to the the other two and said, “Now she’s eating my cake!” We still laugh about it now.
A few weeks later we were at Midland Counties Show. Susan and Jack Burgess were sitting on their bench and as I was walking past Susan said, “Oh Sandra, would you like a sausage roll?” Then she turned to Jack and said, “ You have to offer her one or else she will just take it.”
It didn’t end there either. A few weeks later at the S&W Wales Cavalier show, Anne, Susan and I arrived at the serving hatch to the kitchen at the same time. Anne grabbed me in a bear hug and said “it’s alright Mrs Burgess I’ve got her!” Once again we were all in fits of laughter. Happy days
11. Favourite singer and type of music?
I love lots of different music from punk to opera and have a very diverse collection of CD’s. I really enjoy Country Music especially DOLLY PARTON, WILLIE NELSON and JOHN DENVER. I love NEIL DIAMOND too and have seen him in concert twice. My favourite bands are FLEETWOOD MAC and THE EAGLES. I have recently rediscovered THE SEEKERS with the wonderful voice of JUDITH DURHAM. I went to see them at their Farewell Conert at Hammersmith Odeon when they left the U.K. in 1967.
12. Kind of car you travel to shows in?
Honda CRV
13. Saddest moment in dogs?
Hearing of the death of Rob Sansom (BYERMOOR)
14. The Cavalier dog/Cavalier bitch you wish you had kept?
I think everyone would expect me to say CH CHARNELL CLEMATIS but I have never regretted letting Rosemary Eustace have her. She has a wonderful home and Rosemary worked so hard with her to keep her in fantastic condition throughout her show career. I had a CH HOMARANNE CAPTION daughter on breeding terms from Molly Coaker. In her litter there was the prettiest bitch iand I had fallen in love with her. Knowing that Molly would almost certainly take her as pick, I was resigned to the fact that I wouldn’t be able to keep her. Molly registered her as HOMERBRENT CARLENA. Several weeks later I heard that Roy and Lil Stevens (MIlkeyn) had a new puppy from Molly. As soon as I saw her I knew it was my favourite little girl. They only showed her a couple of times. She was eventually mated to CH. CRAIGOWL HOODWINK and produced the lovely CH. MILKEYN FLAME. If only I had asked Molly if I could keep her. I’m sure she would have agreed.
15. What other pastimes do you enjoy?
I love History, music and pottering around in the garden. We joined the Rock Choir a few years ago, (something completely different!) and it’s been so much fun and keeps our brains in working order learning new tunes and words.
16. Your favourite judge?
It’s got to be SIR DUDLEY FORWOOD! Win or lose it was always the most entertaining day out! I have really enjoyed judging on the two occasions that NORMA INGLIS (Craigowl) has been my co-judge. We have similar taste in Cavaliers and we have never disagreed when making our final choices. I could say the same about KIRSTIE MCMURRAY (Merryoth) who I had the pleasure of judging with at CRUFTS 2020.
17. If stranded on a desert island what 2 items would be vital?
I suppose I’m not allowed to say my iPad so perhaps I could say
1. an iPod with all my music
2. “NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND” my favourite book by Bill Bryson to remind me of home.
18. Favourite TV programmes?
All the U.K.detectives, Morse, Frost, Vera, Inspector Poirot, and of course Midsommer Murders (for unusual ways of murdering people!) Who Do You Think You Are and Repair Shop are also amongst my favourites.
19. What piece of advice would you give newbies just starting to show?
Don’t give up! Always care about the breed and it’s future. Use the best dogs you can and remember that most of the puppies we breed will be someone’s much loved pet so temperament is of the utmost importance. I think it was Susan Burgess who said “Look for the virtues in others and the faults in your own.”
20. If a fairy granted you 3 wishes what would you wish for?
To stay fit and healthy enough to be at Crufts and the Club Show when I’m 100
A cure for terminal illnesses like Cancer and MND
Happiness for my family.
21. How did you become involved with Cavaliers?
My beloved Golden Retriever was stolen from my garden while I was out shopping and we searched for her for weeks. When it became obvious that we weren’t going to get her back, my brother gave me a little Cavalier dog. My sister-in-law had decided to show and breed pugs and no longer wanted the Cavalier. He was a Blenheim and his name was LINDEN OF DENDY. He was mostly EYEWORTH/TTIWEH breeding and went back to CH. DAYWELL ROGER on his 6th generation. He went to his first show at Stoke Park, Guildford, Wednesday 9th May, 1968 and won 2nd in Novice in a well filled class. It was there that I met JANIE BOOTH (Millstone) who encouraged me to get in touch with his breeder BERYL SADLER who had suffered a severe stroke. I went every week to groom her two remaining Cavaliers and in return she taught me about the breed. Janie and Beryl were my mentors and helped me find my first Cavalier bitch later that year. I initially registered the prefix Perrymount, the name of the cinema at Hayward’s Heath where I was stranded for three hours after the car broke down on the way home from collecting her! A year or so later the KC decided that I could no longer use it and I had to think of another one. I wanted to have Roseoak but wasn’t allowed that either. A few years later while travelling to a show I met a lady with a Charlie who had the Roseoak prefix! CHARNELL was my sixth choice!
22. Where do you like to holiday?
Anywhere in the world from Malvern to Melbourne where we can meet up with good friends.
23. If you could invite anyone from the past or the present to dinner who would you like around your table? You can consider celebrities etc.
BILLY CONNOLLY, KENNETH WILLIAMS and JANE GOODALL the primeatologist who changed our understanding of the Great Apes, and from the Dog World it would have to be MADAME HARPER TROIS FONTAINES of the de Fontenay Cavaliers and Pyrenean Mountain Dogs. In the 1960’s/70’s she used to write the Pyrenean breed notes for Dog World and was not always complimentary about her fellow breeders and their dogs. I’ve read her book and she was quite a character.
24. What kind of thing makes you mad?
Cruelty in any form, either physical or verbal. Bad manners. Destruction of rain forests and the habitat of other species.
25. Why do you think Charnell has been successful over many years?
I’ve never really considered myself to be a really successful breeder although I have bred UK champions in both Cavaliers and Charlies as well as others around the world. I do however try to be consistent in what I breed. Small, pretty, sound Cavaliers that are as near to the standard as possible. Not necessarily top show winners but ones you would see out for a walk in the street and be proud to say “I bred that!”
Sandra Moger