Bulldog Club of Utah

A discussion was held as early as 1998 by four couples about forming a Bulldog club in Utah. They were: Ralph and Kristine Durrant, Les and Pat Hansen, Udell and Shar Kynaston and Pat and Sandy Samples. In 2000, another couple, Ian and Amy Bowdish joined the group.

This core group held a Christmas party in 2001 with 35 attendees, all of whom were interested in the formation of a club. At that party, Pat Samples was selected as chairman, Kristine Durrant became secretary, and Amy Bowdish was named treasurer.

Pat Hansen took over show and fundraising duties; Les Hansen and Aime Rocheleau handled equipment for the club; Shar & Udell Kynaston worked on membership; and Ralph Durrant began collecting information for our BCA membership.

Over the next few years more people became involved and started meeting on a monthly basis. Meetings were held at a variety of locations, sometimes at a home, but more often at a centrally located restaurant.

In June 2002, an application was sent to the AKC seeking permission to found the Bulldog Club of Utah. In September of 2002, the AKC granted that request.

As the name implies, the club's territory is the entire state of Utah. However, the greater Salt Lake City area is at the heart of the club.

On December 20, 2002, the AKC approved the club's request to hold informal AKC-sanctioned "B" Matches, called "fun" matches.

The club also sponsored a number to get-togethers, one of which has become known as the annual “Easter Parade.”

The Bulldog Club of Utah received permission to hold its first AKC-sanctioned "A" Match on February 22, 2005. And that match was held on March 13, 2005 at the Lead Me On Dog Training facility in Murray, Utah.

Judge Renee Hall of Merced, California, had an entry of 11. Pre-entry fees were $5. Day of the match entry fees were $7.

Best In Match that day went to Abagail The Fathers Joy, from the 6-9 puppy bitch class. She was bred by Dustin Jackson, sired by Tinkers Pride Paragon and dam Daddies Little Princess Sophie, owned by Katherine, Patrick, Jordan, and Alec Gray. Best of Opposite Sex was IB Sampson’s Cool Dapper Dan, bred by Lee Ann Leach and Shar and Udell Kynaston, sired by Solid Rock Out Law Sampson and dam IB Dakotas Princess, owned by Lee Ann Leach.

The club held its second "A" Match on September 18, 2005. California again supplied the judge, Patricia Schaldach of Carruthers. She had an entry of 13. Our entry fees remained unchanged. This Match was held at the historic Wheeler Farm in Salt Lake, outdoors and on the grass.

Best In Match was Cherry-O-Let Me Be A Star, from the 6-9 puppy bitch class, bred by Ralph and Kristine Durrant, sired by Glendars Patriot and dam Durrants Sweet Cheri Whine, owned by Pat and Les Hansen. Best of Opposite Sex went to IB Pretty Boys Bugz Malone, from the 6-9 puppy dog class, bred and owned by Shar and Udell Kynaston, sired by Ch. Cherokee Legend Pretty Boy and dam Ch. IB Simply Irresis Ta Bull.

The club became eligible to apply for its AKC show license, and on December 2005, it was approved.

Our first and only logo was designed by Sandy Samples.

The club received an invitation to participate in the Utah Beehive Cluster in May 2006. With the help from BCA Division IV, especially Carolyn Adams, specialty judges were approved, and its first show was held on May 5, 2006, following the Utah Valley Kennel Club’s Best In Show competition.

Mrs. Frances P. Little judged a Sweepstakes entry of 20. Best in Sweeps was one of Utah’s home grown puppies: IB Homestyle Princess Aurora, bred by Shar and Udell Kynaston, and owned by David and Darylin Johnson and the Kynastons. Best of Opposite Sex went to Graybull's Martin Miller, bred and owned by Bill, Kay, and Aimee Gray. Dr. John Little judged the regular class entry of 68 dogs. Winners Dog went to Graybulls Martin Miller. Winners Bitch went to Tumbleweek Peaches N Cream, owned by Alin Retezatu from Oak Hills, California;

Best of Breed was Ch. Legacy Take Me To The Copa, owned by Barbara Morgan, Karyn Simmons, Linda Borden and Jessica Sanders. Best of Opposite went to Ch. Bodhi’s Rock N’ Roll Rosie of Majestic, owned by Shalisa and Geoffrey Neely from Blue Lake, California. Best of Winners was Gray’s Martin Miller.

The second show was on May 6, 2005 following the Intermountain Kennel Club’s Best In Show. Ms. Gayle Pew judged over 68 entries. Best of Breed was again Ch. Legacy Take Me To The Copa. Best of Opposite Sex was Tumbleweed Peaches N Cream.

There were entries from the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, California, Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, Missouri and Utah.

The Bulldog Club of Philadelphia gave the club a medallion for Best Opposite Sex at the first show.

Almost from the beginning the club organized an active Bulldog Rescue committee headed by Shar Kynaston with the able assistance of Lauri Stewart.

The Club’s current membership in 2006 is 37. Members are spread out all over the state and into Idaho. Meetings are held every other month on the second Tuesday, most often at a restaurant in Sandy, Utah, just off Highway 15.

For more information, contact Liz Coates, (435) 899-1330 or e-mail: crunch 7@hughes.net.

Submitted September 4, 2006 by Liz Coates, assisted by Pat Hansen and Kristine Durrant.