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Posted 08/03/98

THE HISTORY OF THE NORFOLK IN AUSTRALIA

ANTA member Liz Hindley, who visited Montgomery County and ANTA's Fall Festival last October, has provided us with some insight into the growth of the Norfolk Terrier in Australia.

In the early 1970's, English and Australian Ch. Nanfan Sharpshooter and Leddington Eclair were imported from England by Joyce Thorne. Leddington Eclair was imported in whelp to Leddington Captain Cook, producing Summerplace Corndolly who was born in quarantine.

Sharpshooter, Eclair and Corndolly entered the kennels of Robert Bartram's 'Craigend'. Other progeny entering included Bet Millhouse's 'Penfillan' and later Cracknor Cookaburra to Carol and Warren Goldsworthy's 'Aberdeen' kennel. Nanfan Cheesecake was imported during the 1980's by Anne Ellicott of Thirroul, NSW.

During this period, the Norfolk Terrier gained in popularity, mainly through the successful exhibiting of Ch. Craigend Romany Rebel owned by the Goldsworhy's and bred by Robert Bartram. His many wins included: Runner-up to Best in Show, British Terrier Club 1979 under Peter Green, Best in Show British Terrier Club 1981 under Rick Chashoudian, and Runner-up Best in Show in 1982. Rebel also won Best in Group at the Spring Fair under Fran Crozier.

His half-sister, Ch. Craigend Gypsy Lilt, owned by Liz Hindley, was also successful in the show ring, winning many Groups, classes in show, and Runner-up Best in Show at an all breed show. Her daughter, sired by Rebel, was also successful in the show ring.

Bet Millhouse, by carefully line-breeding from progeny from the original imports, managed to breed the first black and tan Norfolk in Australia, Penfillian Busybody, who went to Carole and Warren Goldsworthy.

The Stormdust Kennel, owned by Michael and Sandra Potts, was successful with a son of Nanfan Cheesecake and a granddaughter of Sharpshooter. From Stormdust Kennels, Wendy Kirk and Noel Martin purchased two bitches and a dog who were successful in the show ring and whose progeny are now successfully being shown in Queensland under the Mantilina prefix.

In Victoria, Iris Tuckett's Llanrust Kennels imported several Norfolks from Mrs. Dorkins of Lowmita Kennels in England. Shanara Park Kennels, owned by Wendy and John Spence, imported Beenanben Barrier Reef of Jaeva (UK) from Martin Phillips. They achieved many classes in group and show.

Norfolks then went through a lean period as the gene pool was very limited, and quality dropped. However with the arrival in December, 1994, of Nanfan Cactus (Nanfan Comfit x Nanfan Clary) and the recent arrival of Nanfan Chill Off by Int. Ch. Nanfan Caper out of Nanfan Chill Out, the Norfolk Terrier is back on the winning show scene. Cactus, having won two Best in Groups and his progeny now taking classes in group consistently. Chilli has gained her first CC and we are looking forward to seeing more of her in the future.

Liz Hindley
ANTIC, June, 1998

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