Susan Seabridge

Sujoncla: the Cornerstone of Tuscan Red

2022 represents a return home for Tuscan Red to the breeder Susan Seabridge. From her did we obtain our first Irish Terrier 14 years ago and to her did we come this year to Crufts where she was judging the breed. We found Susan in 2007, the year in which Marco and I came to live in our cottage Le Lastre, a Reggello with our two cats and our two dogs, the Cairn Terrier Glenn and Border Terrier Emily, two small breeds perfect for an apartment. All the space and land made us think of a larger breed, and my first thought went to an Airedale Terrier, ‘The King of Terriers’ and my companions growing up. Upon reflection, however I remembered my mother’s words: ‘The nicest dog I ever met was an Irish Terrier called Scoogie’. It was natural that my mother knew the now rare breed, since she was born in 1930, the final years of the golden age of Irish Terriers which declined in registration number s after 1940 and 50. I was curious to meet an Irish Terrier. I did a bit of research and chose the breedership of Susan Seabridge in Lincolnshire. I liked her dogs, and on the phone, I liked her, welcoming, open, and expert on the breed. Arriving in the area the day before our visit, we had a walk in one of the many little stone villages and we met a lady by chance. She was not exactly young, but she led four Irish Terriers easily on leads. We went over to say hello and discovered that it was none other than Lucy Jackson, author of the lovely breed book filled with poems and drawings by herself, and president of the Irish Terrier Association. She introduced us to her dogs and assured us that we could not do better, because there was no better breed in the world than an Irish Terrier! The following day was sunny and warm, when we arrived at the Four Winds, the name of Susan’s property. Everything was in perfect order both inside and out, and the view ex6tended as the name suggests in every direction over the open fields to the horizon. First she invited us for a glass of lemonade on her wooden deck which overlooked the fields. Later she brought us to the little paddock where she let run about ten of her dogs who greeted her and us joyously leaping vertically. They began running and chasing and coming to have a look at the visitors. They were playful, light and elegant in their smart copper coats, convincing me beyond any doubt that this was the breed for me.

We came away feeling enthusiastic and waited about a year before the fateful phone call arrived that a bitch puppy was waiting for us. We left for Milan airport where we were guided from one office to another signing piles of paperwork until a sturdy wooden box was set before us. I shall never forget the moment we opened the door and with perfect nonchalance Sujoncla Ghost Dance made her entrance. She started wagging her tail merrily and got into the car as if it was the most natural thing in the world, entering into possession of her family and her new life. Since she was a first-choice pup, Susan had asked me to bring her to a show for an expert evaluation. Therefore, we entered her in the expo at Poggibonsi where, of course she was the only Irish Terrier, and she had a favorable evaluation. Thus began our activities in showing, grooming, training, and in the end, my studies to become a specialist judge. In 2022 Susan Seabridge crowned her carrer with an invitation to judge Irish terriers at Crufts, perhaps the most envied appointment in Cynognostics, (arguably second to national terrier which arrived on her desk for the following month). Fourteen years after the arrival of our Sujoncla puppy, Tuscan Red presented Migliara at Crufts to Susan Seabridge who found her of sufficient quality to award her one of the ribbons she had been entrusted.

My first introduction to dogs was at a commercial kennels at the age of 12, Bawneen Dog Ranch was the home of over 200 Poodles, both mins and toys, at the time when Poodles were at the top of the list. It was also the time when breeding terms were unbelievable. My time spent in the meat room cutting up sheep’s heads, taking the brains and tongue out for the puppies together with cutting up lites, smelts and dead calves is something that I will never forget. On leaving school I went to work for the Old Pekin Kennels of Pekingese and through them I also worked for Kabul Afgans. It was whilst there that I met the great Mr. Egerton, breeder of the Chow Champion Ukwong King Solomon. He also bred Great Danes and they became my first love. The following people gave me good grounding in the show

world, Rev’d Davis, Bill Siggers, Jean Lanning, Joe Bradden, Stanley Dangerfield, Ellis Hulme and Dr. Porter and I shall be grateful for knowing them. A break to have my family reintroduced me to horses and working Springer’s, then a chance conversation introduced me into the world of terriers. Airedale Terriers in particular. With the arrival of Glentops’ Aimin High at Sujoncla and her progeny I realised that terriers were something else. I began showing and breeding Airedale Terriers in 1983, and Irish Terriers since 1996. The natural progression took me into owning my own boarding kennels and cattery which I ran for 16 years. My first three Irish Terriers came from Mrs. June Symonds of the Gabledown affix, they 7 were Gabledown Pocahontas at Sujoncla (Eve), Gabledown Sitting Bull at Sujoncla (Adam), both sired by Champion Edbrios Duplicate, and from the dam Champion Chantalle’s Tan-

ya of Gabledown. Plus an older male Chantalle’s Drummer Boy at Sujoncla (Drummer) Sire Gabledown All That Jazz of Shallcome, Dam Champion Kerrykeel Rose, Drummer being the foundation male from which all my male line originated from, he was also the older litter brother to Champion Gentleman Joe at Dehra who was Best in Show at the St. Patricks Day Show (Dublin). A further three Bitch puppies arrived at Sujoncla Kennels, Kerrykeel Roisin Dubh at Sujoncla (Clara) Sire Champion Edbrios Duplicate, Dam Kerrykeel Chantalle’s Scarlet O’Hara. Gabledown Belle Fleur at Sujoncla (Ester) Sire Gabledown Apache Brave, Dam Penmire Sparkle. Penmire An Coonan at Sujoncla (Blit) Sire Penmire Sirius, Dam Gabledown Roisin of Penmire. Sujoncla are a small select kennels who breed Irish Terriers of quality both for the show ring and as family pets, breeding at all times for temperament and type. All Sujoncla breeding dogs are tested for Hereditary Hyperkeratosis and are all certified clear. My commitment to my dogs and the world of dogs extends to being qualified to award

Challenge Certificates in both Airedale and Irish Terriers at Championship Dog Shows. I have been a committee member of the National Airedale Terrier Association and the Yorkshire and Eastern Counties Airedale Club, and am currently the Chairperson of the Airedale Terrier Breed Council, and a member of the National Airedale judges subcommittee, I have previously held various posts within the Irish Terrier Association Committee. For both breeds I have acted as Rescue Office for numerous years. Sujoncla Irish Terriers have bred numerous Champions both in the UK and overseas including Champion Sujoncla Powder River who when gaining his Championship status became the youngest UK Irish Terrier Champion. 8 All my dogs are prepared and handled in the show ring by myself, and loved and chauffeured throughout the country by my best friend and husband John.

Lincoln, a town on the banks of the river Witham, is truly ancient. Archeological evidence indicates that it dates to the Iron Age. It was a roman colony, but soon saw a decline in prosperity that lasted until the 10th century when a state mint was established there, fueling growth as a center of trade and commerce. Such became the importance of the town that the Norman king William I ordered the construction of a castle to better control the area. The castle today houses one of four extant copies of Magna Carta signed by the Bishop of Lincoln (Hugh of Wells) one of the original witnesses in 1215.

Lincoln

A first cathedral was built in 1092 but due to various disastrous events including a fire and an earthquake, the final tower was only finally erected in 1311, making it, for over two hundred years, the tallest building in the world. (Please see lincolncathedral.com for details) The cathedral still conserves today elements of architectural, religious and cultural importance, among which the library designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1674 stands out. A suggestive atmosphere, it was the setting for two films: ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and ‘The Young Victoria’.

Lincoln è un insediamento sul fiume Witham, davvero antico, reperti archeologici indicano che risale all’età del ferro. Fu una colonia romana, ma attraversò un declino fino al decimo secolo, quando fu vi insediata una zecca di stato, potenziando la sua crescita come centro mercantile. Tale fu l’importanza acquisita che il re normanno William I ordinò la costruzione di un castello per meglio controllare la località. Il castello oggi custodisce una delle quattro copie della Magna Carta rimaste, firmata dal vescovo di Lincoln (Hugh of Wells), uno dei testimoni originali nel 1215. Una prima cattedrale fu costruita nel 1092, ma a causa di vari motivi, tra cui un incendio e un terremoto, solo nel 1311 fu innalzata definitivamente la torre che fu considerata la struttura artificiale più alta del mondo per oltre due secoli (vedi lincolncathedral.com per dettagli). La cattedrale conserva ancora diversi elementi architettonici, culturali nonché religiosi molto importanti, ma in particolare spicca la biblioteca progettata da Sir Christopher Wren nel 1674. Ambiente di grande fascino, ha ospitato ben due volte delle troupe cinematografiche, prima per ‘Il Codice Da Vinci’ e poi per ‘La Giovane Victoria’.

Oltre ad essere un centro commerciale, Lincoln divenne famosa per la produzione di lana finissima, particolarmente nelle tinte scarlatto e verde, un prodotto diventato iconico in associazione alla figura di Robin Hood che vestiva ‘Lincoln green’. Oggi questa località rimane un centro amministrativo, una meta di turismo e un centro di produzione sia di macchine fuoristrada che di viti di acciaio. Not only a center of trade, Lincoln became famous for the production of fine woolen cloth especially in the hues of scarlet and green, a product that became iconic in association with the figure of Robin Hood who wore ‘Lincoln green’. Today this city remains an administrative center, a mecca for tourists and still a center of industry, primarily automotive though there is also a specialized production of steel screws.