Norma Inglis с Caroline Gibson.
7 октябрь 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.
And get your own answers ready ….I could be calling on you next
It’s DERBY DAY …. I’ve gone to Ashbourne in the Dales in search of Caroline Gibson (TORAYLAC)
QUESTIONS
1. What is your full name?
CAROLINE GIBSON
2. Where were you born and tell us about your growing up? What was your first job
I was born in Liverpool and lived there until I was 9 years old and then we moved to Sunderland for 2 years, then to Cheshire and back to Liverpool until I was 18.
My Dad was a Quality Assurance Manager in at Plessey in Sunderland and Liverpool. Plessey was an electronics, defence and telecommunications company. I have a brother Christopher and sister Melanie.
I was totally animal mad, my parents not so much which caused many a problem when I repeatedly snuck to the pet shop and bought yet another Guinea pig!
We always had a dog (mongrel) and a cat (moggie) but I was fascinated by breeding Guinea pigs and training them to show jump (don’t ask ) I was also an extremely keen horse rider and spent every spare moment at the local stables.
My first “proper” job was as a science teacher in a rather challenging secondary school in Derby and I stayed in teaching until my son,Jack, was born in 1998.
3. If you could change places with someone for a day who would it be?
I can see my self as The Supervet: NOEL FITZPATRICK. Carrying out those amazing operations would be fantastic.
4. Your favourite food? Your favourite drink?
Love Lamb and a glass or two of red wine goes down a treat.
5. Best Cavalier Dog and Best Cavalier Bitch you have bred?
My first litter was born 37 years ago in January 1985 so there have been a few to choose from. My Best Dog was CH TORAYLAC NO TROUBLE JW. 3CCs and 3RCCs. He was born in September 1988 and won the CC at Crufts 1991 in a record entry under Caroline Gillies Compston (McGoogans)
My Best Bitch was CH TORAYLAC PERFECT PASSION JW who was born July 2010. ‘Hetty’ won 3CCs and 4RCCs and was such an amazing showgirl with a fabulous ‘look at me’ character.
6. Your favourite perfume
Like Marilyn Monroe it has to be Chanel No.5 for me.
7. Your own personal favourite Toraylac over the years, not necessarily the best.
I utterly adored CH TORAYLAC JOSHUA who won 3 CCs and 5RCCs. He was a terrible escape artist and climber. Infuriating as he passed this tendency on to his offspring!
8. Of all the Cavaliers you have judged which one in your opinion best fits the Standard (Toraylac excepted)
So difficult to choose having judged many amazing examples of our breed but the dog that stood out to me for sheer star quality was CH MAIBEE MAKE BELIEVE. I gave him Best Puppy in Show, the CC and then Best in Show at the tender age of 10 months old. His first of very many CCs. Like every dog he wasn’t perfect but he made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when he went round the ring.
9. Your favourite movie? Favourite actor and favourite actress?
It has to be ‘GREASE’ …..I know all the songs.
I enjoy watching Actors EWAN MCGREGOR and MERYL STREEP
10. Your funniest moment in dogs?
‘Hetty ‘ doing her “flop” in the challenge for Best Puppy in Show under Sandra Ireland Moger at the Southern Cavalier Ch show in 2011. She was a real clown when she wanted to be.
11. Favourite singer and type of music?
Anything Pink Floyd and I also love Classical music
12. Kind of car you travel to shows in?
Volvo XC90. Have to have 4 wheel drive where I live.
13. Saddest moment in dogs?
It was a dark day for me when ‘Joshua’ was run over and killed after he had escaped yet again.
14. The Cavalier dog or bitch you wish you had kept?
I would love to rewind and keep INTERNATIONAL CH TORAYLAC DAVINCI (by World Dog Show Winner Ch Toraylac De Niro x Toraylac Liberty Belle RCC.) He is such a glamourous young dog who is now producing really typy puppies in Europe.
15. What other pastimes do you enjoy?
Riding my very large Irish Sport Horse, Ruby around our glorious Derbyshire countryside. I do have to be very careful as I badly broke my back riding a young horse and needed reconstructive surgery to put me back together. My other loves are my sheep and goats. I also enjoy sewing.
16. Your favourite judge?
The late Terry Thorn who awarded a RCC to Toraylac Peter Piper (owned by Anne Pelech). He won 1CC and 2RCCs and was my first JW winner.
17. If stranded on a desert island what 2 items would be vital?
A case of wine and my hubby John. Although that would probably John’s worst nightmare.
18. Favourite TV programmes
I loved NEIGHBOURS and watched every episode from the beginning until it ended this year. I also love anything that DAVID ATTENBOROUGH does.
19. What piece of advice would you give newbies just starting to show?
Take your time, study the dogs that appeal to you and try to understand why they are winning. But more than anything LISTEN , LEARN but don’t GOSSIP!
20. If a fairy granted you 3 wishes what would you wish for?
1. My dad back as he died of cancer last year and I was robbed of so much time with him due to COVID-19.
2. To not feel old and have my health back
3. For John to have two legs
21. How did you become involved with Cavaliers
It was 1983 and I was in my final year at University in Nottingham. I was greatly missing my parent’s Cocker spaniel and really wanted a dog. I was very lucky as the rental home I was living in with my boyfriend, allowed dogs. I decided on a Cavalier as they were smaller and not as loopy as a Cocker spaniel and by chance saw an advert for a litter bred by Diane Searle. That beautiful puppy was ROXANNA LITINA OF STONEPIT and she is behind every single Toraylac.
22. Where do you like to holiday?
We love going to the USA. Not to touristy places but places of natural beauty such as the Rockies in Colorado. Recently visited Gettysburg and spent time learning of the history of the Civil War.
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.
Robbie Williams. I loved Take That and went to quite a few concerts over the years. I loved his cheeky, anti-establishment character and he would surely make it a dinner party to remember
24. What kind of thing makes you mad?
Politics of any colour. I used to be a bit of a firebrand when young and very idealistic. I was even asked to consider standing in a General election as an MP but I had two young children so couldn’t take the chance I would be elected.
25. Why do you think TORAYLAC has been so successful over many years?
I love the thrill of looking at puppies and imagining if there is another star in the litter. That has never changed. My other secret weapon is my husband John who always backs me and carries out all the hard manual work around our home.
I truly hope to spend many more years breeding and campaigning our wonderful breed.
Caroline Gibson
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