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History

	The Shetland Sheepdog Club of S.A. inc was founded in 1976, with a small band of Sheltie enthusiasts organized by Mrs. Pat Goh (Beaujour Kennels). Of the original Committee, three, namely Pauline Brennan-Lim, Mike Brown and Brian Turner, are current members of the current Committee, although not serving for the entire 27 years. Many of the foundation members of the Club, remain actively involved in Club activities, either Conformation or Obedience. The first Club function was held at the hills property of member, Ruth Davies (Brohelen Kennels).This was a members Competition/ Funday, to raise funds required for affiliation with the South Australian Canine Association. The turn out was huge, with Im sure nearly every Sheltie owner in Adelaide, present at the event. Until the Club was eligible for affiliation, members continued to raise funds through Competition/ Fun days and various other means. Competitions were judged by intending aspiring judges, with the majority of trophies being donated by individuals, as is still the case, with all of the Club events. One of the major means of raising revenue in the early days, was through plant stalls, organized and largely funded by Ron and Di Bateman (Kerondi Kennels) Committee members also hired themselves out as Caterers for other dog Clubs. We soon had the funds necessary for affiliation and the Club held its first S.A.C.A. sanctioned event on 3rd March 1979. The event was a Parade, held in the Old Speakers Ring, in Botanic Park and was judged by Mrs. Muriel Pritchard, a Collie Rough breeder, who had always shown a particular interest in Shelties. The entry was 50 individual dogs, very good considering Champions were not eligible for the classes. On 23rd August 1980, The Inaugural S.S.C.S.A. Championship Show was held. The judges were Mr. David Roche from South Australia, and Mrs. Wendy Newbury for the S.A.C.A. Guineas and Property classes. The entry of 65 included several interstate exhibitors. Best Exhibit in Show went to Ch. Kerondi Roving Love with bitch C.C. and Best Opposite Sex in Show, going to Ch. Kendarlyn Kullinan. Best Puppy in Show was Ballyclare Batiste and Baby Puppy in Show was Kendarlyn Kwite A Lad. The Club Point Score Awards had commenced in 1978 and Ch. Kerondi Roving Love was Show Dog of the year for the first three years of competition. From 1981, the dogs and bitches were separated with the renaming to Patrons Top Show Dog and Top Show Bitch of the year. The first winner of the Obedience Sheltie of the Year in 1978, was Ceston Razzle Dazzle C.D., C.D.X. The list of Annual Awards continued to grow, as Shelties began to perform extremely well in all fields of trialing. Annual Trophies are now presented for all classes of Obedience, Agility and Tracking with Jumping, soon to be added. The Shetland Sheepdog Club of S.A.inc, also recognizes the support of the pet Sheltie owners, by offering an Annual Trophy/Club Shield which has been competed for at Club Fun days since 1980 and which continues to be very well supported. The Shetland Sheepdog Club of S.A. inc has always tried to contract Breed Specialist judges and this remains a prime objective of the Club. With the exception of our very first Championship Show, all of our judges have either bred Shelties or had some significant connection with the breed. The core group of Sheltie Breeders and Exhibitors, in South Australia is very small, however S.A. exhibits continue to perform very well at Interstate Specialty Championship Shows and Nationals. The Club conducts one Championship Show and a Parade, plus two Competition/Fun days each year. We also try to hold a Sanction Obedience Trial and a Restricted Obedience and Agility Trial each year, but the Obedience calendar is becoming so congested with the many new disciplines, that we now find it difficult to set dates, which do not clash with the All Breeds Obedience events. The dog fancy, Australia wide, is not attracting many new exhibitors and the same can be said about our breed, in South Australia. The small but dedicated and largely unchanging Committee works very hard to maintain the Club and provide education for its members. We provide information for new owners and conduct grooming and general care sessions, in conjunction with the Fun days. The Club does not run a Sheltie Rescue scheme, as such, but in the rare cases where Shelties have been found wandering, Club members have cared for the lost souls, until the owners were found or new homes identified. Undoubtedly, two of the Clubs greatest achievements have been the hosting of the 2nd and 6th Shetland Sheepdog National Championship Shows, in 1990 and 2000 respectively. Any Sheltie enthusiast wishing to add to their library of show videos can still purchase copies of most of our Championship Shows and both Nationals. Membership numbers remain fairly stable, but we will always welcome more, especially those from interstate and overseas. The Club publishes a bi-monthly newsletter called “Back-Chat", which is sent to all members. We wish to thank all interstate exhibitors, who have supported our shows in the past and hope that you will continue to travel south.