Basenji Club of Great Britain Runner-up to Top Stud Dog 1974 
St Erme Golden Kinglet 
was my very first basenji
22.01.1972 - 1979 - KC 100696/72 - DKK 25501/76
Pedigree - Progeny  - Mickey´s progeny in Denmark & Europe  - Highlights for Mickey's progeny

Mickey trying to find a good place to hide his bone - Windsor 1972

One evening in 1972 on my way home from work, I read an advertisement in The Times about a barkless dog for sale. I thought about this, as my daughter wanted a dog very much as well as the rest of the family. So far we had not been able to agree on a breed we all liked   

However no one can ever be  prepared for a BASENJI if not properly instructed about the breed!
I am not criticizing the breeder, just stating a fact - and WE were not prepared for Mickey at all, when we  collected him at Mirrie Cardew´s wonderful mansion one fine Summers Day in August 1972

Mickey was 8 months old and not what my daughter had expected, so Tina
soon lost interest in Mickey and it became my duty to walk and feed Mickey, who showed signs 
of being an unhappy dog. This the breeder corrected by selling us our first black/white basenji girl - St. Erme Pony My Love -  a sweetheart we named Kahli


Soon after we also had a red/white basenji girl - St. Erme Scarlet Rose Finch - named Rosie - pictured above at left with Mickey

Now the fun started - Showing a basenji!
 Our first show was in Leeds.  We lived in Windsor, Berkshire, so it was an 8 hour drive and I 
did not have a clue how to show a dog - The basenjis were judged by the late Bobby James and he said, had I been a better handler Mickey would have won 

Photos from the very first time I showed a basenji - taken in Leeds, June 1973

From left I am showing Mickey for Bobby James (note the heavy coat and Mickey on  my right side!) In the photo in the middle I have taken off the heavy coat and have my basenji girl, Rosie,  on my left, but am stringing her up to much - behind me is Delia Willams, kennel Antefa´s - Delia was known to travel to dogshows on her motorbike with sidecar, in which she had her basenjis!  
Photo at far right is of the basenji girls being judged - in light blue jeans is Mirrie Cardew, kennel St Erme  and I am right behind her desperately trying to keep up ...  

After this first attempt I attended weekly ring craft classes at the Village Hall, recommended by the late Margaret Christy-Davies, who lived near by and soon I sort of got the hang of showing a basenji and later pharaoh hounds. 
My daughter also showed in Junior handling classes and won several prizes at shows in England and did much better after we came to live in Denmark

Mickey's progeny in England

The English basenji owners and breeders were always very helpful, and I shall NEVER forget 
Miss Veronica Tudor-Williams and all her kind advice and words of wisdom  

... and of course Fula 

Some years later, rich on friends and experience in the dog world in England but no English Champion of my own, I asked one breeder how I could improve on showing my dogs  
She answered: "Pia, dearest, just keep on showing your dogs and come back in 20 years and you might get an English Champion!"  
In late 1976 we moved to Denmark, which was a new experience for my daughter and myself

The very first time I attended a dog show  in Denmark 
Fallohide Golden Evenstar was Best in Show 3 
 All the showing of basenjis in England had finally paid off!

Pedigree

Eng Ch  St Erme Fula Falcon of the Congo 99AZ England 14 Aug 1965 KC 118915/65	Eng Ch Fulafuture of the Congo 985AV England 20 Nov 1961	Fujak of the Congo
		Eng Ch  Personality of the Congo
	Kipushi (of the Congo) 28141/63 England 24 Nov 1962	Fula´s Son of the Congo
		Ruth of Littlebreach
(St Erme)  Sirelaine of Horsley Tricolor 748BG England 26 Dec 1969 KC 22423/70	Sir Cavalier of Horsley Tricolor England 9 Jan 1969	Eng Ch  Sir Casper of Horsley
		Eradown Jolly Molly
	Sophia of Horsley England 27 Dec 1964	Eng Ch Fulafuture of the Congo
		Saby of Horsley

Mickey had 3 littermates 
St Erme Golden Pheasant, Golden Arrow & Star Finch




*A letter from the past - January 2005