BRITISH BOXER CLUB

In memory of Ferelith Somerfield
(d. 25th May 2022)

This exceptional lady was Patron of the British Boxer Club for a number of years, coming regularly to the Championship shows until ill health overtook her.
She always had encouraging words to say to exhibitors.

In the August edition of the Kennel Gazette Simon Parsons write a moving tribute to her.  He says:"She had time for everyone and when I went to a show with her it was always hard to get her to leave as she would chat to people from all sorts of breeds on the way out."

Feffie came from a family of dog people whose main interest was in Cairns.  After she married Stafford Somerfield she continued with Cairns and Terriers and with the Panfield line of boxers established by Stafford and his previous wife, Elizabeth.

Feffie had an extensive judging career, first awarding CCs in Cairns in 1963.  In 1990 she judged Best in Show at Crufts - her winner being West Highland Terrier Ch. Olac Moon Pilot (see photo).

She was an honorary life member of the Kennel Club, serving on the Judges' Sub-Committee, and Chair of the Breeds Liason Council. Her talents as a journalist were second to none with her close involvement with Dog World and later editing their review of the year for their Annual. For many people involved in dogs Feffie was an inspirational character who will be greatly missed and long remembered by those with whom whom she came into contact

The Officers and committee of the British Boxer Club are very sorry to learn that Dr. Bruce Cattanach, a past BBC committee member, died on April 8th. We pay tribute to him below:-

Bruce Cattanach will be remembered in many different ways for many different reasons by many different people. His lifelong interest and involvement with the Breed spanned three quarters of a century, starting in 1945when his parents bought a puppy bitch. Bruce and his mother Margaret were two of the founder members of The Tyne, Wear and Tees Boxer Club.
Dr. Cattanach had graduated with a Degree in Genetics from the University of Newcastle and he took prestigious positions in the U.S.A.
Bruce returned to the U.K. in 1970 and brought with him Black Rose of Cherokee Oaks who would become the foundation of the new generation of Steynmeres. He was very successful making up many champions.
He had many judging appointments in the UK, the highlight being Crufts in 1989.

He was devoted to Boxers throughout his life and his work on improving the health of the breed through genetic research has been widely acknowledged over many decades.

The club sends its condolences to his wife, Jo, and to his daughters and their families at this very sad time

Thank you Dr. Cattanach.

*Photo: The Kennel Gazette 1990*	In memory of Ferelith Somerfield (d. 25th May 2022) This exceptional lady was Patron of the British Boxer Club for a number of years, coming regularly to the Championship shows until ill health overtook her. She always had encouraging words to say to exhibitors. In the August edition of the Kennel Gazette Simon Parsons write a moving tribute to her. He says:"She had time for everyone and when I went to a show with her it was always hard to get her to leave as she would chat to people from all sorts of breeds on the way out." Feffie came from a family of dog people whose main interest was in Cairns. After she married Stafford Somerfield she continued with Cairns and Terriers and with the Panfield line of boxers established by Stafford and his previous wife, Elizabeth. Feffie had an extensive judging career, first awarding CCs in Cairns in 1963. In 1990 she judged Best in Show at Crufts - her winner being West Highland Terrier Ch. Olac Moon Pilot (see photo). She was an honorary life member of the Kennel Club, serving on the Judges' Sub-Committee, and Chair of the Breeds Liason Council. Her talents as a journalist were second to none with her close involvement with Dog World and later editing their review of the year for their Annual. For many people involved in dogs Feffie was an inspirational character who will be greatly missed and long remembered by those with whom whom she came into contact
*Photo: Marc Henrie*
The Officers and committee of the British Boxer Club are very sorry to learn that Dr. Bruce Cattanach, a past BBC committee member, died on April 8th. We pay tribute to him below:- Bruce Cattanach will be remembered in many different ways for many different reasons by many different people. His lifelong interest and involvement with the Breed spanned three quarters of a century, starting in 1945when his parents bought a puppy bitch. Bruce and his mother Margaret were two of the founder members of The Tyne, Wear and Tees Boxer Club. Dr. Cattanach had graduated with a Degree in Genetics from the University of Newcastle and he took prestigious positions in the U.S.A. Bruce returned to the U.K. in 1970 and brought with him Black Rose of Cherokee Oaks who would become the foundation of the new generation of Steynmeres. He was very successful making up many champions. He had many judging appointments in the UK, the highlight being Crufts in 1989. He was devoted to Boxers throughout his life and his work on improving the health of the breed through genetic research has been widely acknowledged over many decades. The club sends its condolences to his wife, Jo, and to his daughters and their families at this very sad time Thank you Dr. Cattanach.
T he British Boxer Club is the oldest Boxer club in the UK, founded in 1936 when it gained Kennel Club affiliation. Since then the Club has seen many changes and we hope that our website will supply you with any information you might need, whether you are a Boxer owner, breeder, or enthusiast. As a breed club, we put on a Championship Show each year, usually at the beginning of August, and our current venue for this is the purpose-built Kennel Club Centre at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. At this event our prestigious ‘Champion of Champions’, ‘Sire of Merit’ and ‘Dam of Merit’ Trophies are awarded annually.	left to right:- Marion Seeney (Hon Secretary), Laura Clark, Phyllis Borrelli. Back row, left to right:- Tina McQueen, Jennifer Williamson, Rita Clarke, Yvonne Cherry, James Kelly, Sue Drinkwater, Eileen Kelly, Amanda Jinks (Chairperson). Viv Matthews (Treasurer)
We also hold two Open Shows, held in April and November, in Oxfordshire. The Committee of The British Boxer Club were delighted to receive this from the Kennel Club after our last open show. Proof of what a great team we have.
To serve the ‘Working Boxer’ community, we run a ‘Working Day’ in September. Do not be put off by the name of this event! It is huge fun, with a spectrum of activities just for Boxers, including obedience, agility, Boxer racing, temperament testing, and tasters of gundog work, working trials and flyball. Alongside these activities there is a companion dog show with all the traditional classes, open to all breeds. As a Club, we aim to encourage and support our members’ interests, and also the interests of the breed as a whole. To this end, we invite our members to let us know what issues concern them within the breed and what initiatives they would like us to pursue in relation to the Boxer breed. On the Breed Council platform, (three members of the British Boxer Club committee currently serve on the Health Sub-Committee (boxerhealth@yahoo.com). One of our committee also works as a representative on the Kennel Club accredited breeder scheme. An introduction to the Club would not be complete without adding that the motivating factor for each of us is the love of the Boxer, a breed of dog with a huge personality and a great sense of humour, who gives unstinting love and devotion to his owner his whole life long. We recognise that in principle we own our Boxers, but in truth we are owned by them! Amanda Jinks British Boxer Club Membership British Boxer Club Members benefit from reduced entry fees at our three shows held throughout the year. We no longer produce a newsletter, but show results can be found on this website and any important news is either here or on our Facebook page. Club members also have the honour of voting for the winners in the prestigious Boscar awards presented by us at the Annual Boxer Event. If you would like to become a Member of The British Boxer Club, Please click the relevant links below Please also take the time to read our Code Of Ethics. To Download a UK Membership Form Click Here To Download an Overseas Membership Form Click Here To Download The British Boxer Club Code of Ethics Click Here To Download The British Boxer Club General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) statement click Here
Officers & Committee Patron: Mrs D Wild President: Mrs Linda Carnaby Vice Presidents: Mrs M Bye, Mrs A Jinks, Mr J Longdon, Mr Robert McDougal, Mrs K Wilberg Chairman: Sue Drinkwater Secretary: Laura J W Clark Breadoven Cottage, Northfield Farm Ind Es,t Wantage Rd, Great Shefford RG17 7DQ 07887 566899 Lauradtp@aol.com Treasurer: James Kelly, Anchor Hse, Friends Green, Weston, Hitchin, Herts SG4 7BU 0146279 0119 Committee: Mrs Y Cherry, Mrs S Drinkwater, Mr C Humphries, Mrs E Kelly, Mr J Kelly, Mrs C Loadsby, Mrs V Matthews, Mrs M Seeney, Ms J Williamson.

In memory of Ferelith Somerfield (d. 25th May 2022)

In memory of Ferelith Somerfield
(d. 25th May 2022)