Metro Valley Afghan Hound Association As with many great ideas, they are formed during casual conversation, usually over a cup of coffee. So was the founding of the Metro Valley Afghan Hound Association. The Vancouver area is home to a number of Breed Clubs, and a number of them represent dogs in the Hound Group. We are also represented by two Gazehound Clubs. In 1995, some local Afghan breeders were lamenting the absence of a Club to represent the Afghan Hound in our area. They decided to investigate the formation of a local Afghan Hound Club to represent the breeders, owners and enthusiasts in this area. Plans were made, paperwork prepared and on January 1st, 1997, the Metro Valley Afghan Hound Association was officially recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club to represent the Afghan Hounds in the Greater Vancouver area. The founding members were Mrs. Inge James, a well known Afghan breeder and All Breed Judge, and her husband Mr. Art James, who for many years handled the “Spectrum” afghans in the ring; Mr. Fred Haywood, a breeder of Irish Wolfhounds and who had recently become involved with the Afghan, and his wife, Mrs. Lynn Haywood, who had been breeding Afghans at that time for almost 30 years; and Mr. Chris Veslemes, Lynn’s son, who had never known a day that he was not around the breed, had handled Afghans in the ring and who had been an accomplished Junior Handler. With these few individuals, the 1st Annual Specialty Show for Afghan Hounds hosted by the Metro Valley Afghan Hound Association was presented at the Lower Mainland Dog Fanciers Show on October 25th, 1997. Our first Judge was Mrs. Valerie Hansen from Calgary Alberta and Ms. Gerri Lynn Shurb from Victoria, B.C. judged our Sweepstakes. The 1st Best in Specialty went to Ch. Spectrums Icebreaker out of the Veterans Class. Best in Sweepstake went to a young female, Ch. Procyon’s Madison Ave V Spectrum, who would later go on to win the A.H.C.C. National Specialty in 1998. From these humble beginnings the Club has grown and expanded to a current membership of 16, all very active in the Afghan breed. The Club has expanded its horizon and now offers practice classes in not only Conformation, but Lure Coursing and several of our members actively practice Agility. One of our members has agility equipment and makes it available for use by Club members. Our Club can boast that we have members with some of the finest Lure Coursing Afghans in the country. It would not be unusual to have 20 to 25 Afghans out to a coursing practice on a Sunday morning. A group of our members have hosted the A.H.C.C. National Specialty three times, in 1998, in 2001, and again in 2005. Check out our "Specialties" button for information on up comming events. Our membership is not restricted. We are open to anyone who has an interest in the Afghan breed, and need not own a dog. For information on our Club, its members and activities, please contact us at metrovalleyaha@telus.net. We welcome your enquiries. |
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