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The Polski Owczarek Nizinny, or Polish Lowland Sheepdog as it is known here, is one of the two native breeds breeds of herders in Poland the other being the Owczarek Podhalanski or Tatra Mountain Dog. The breed's first 'official' arrival into the UK was in 1985. Megan Butler (Megsflocks), well known in Briards and Hungarian Pulis, was the pioneering importer of the breed. The first six dogs came from Belgium from the de Halkaza Kennel of Zenon Mossakowski; three males Jucha, Jonasz and Jaki da and one female Janka, and a male Jurista and a bitch Jasna from the second litter. In 1986 the late Bob and Phyllis Prestridge imported a bitch Panja, from the German Kennel of Manfred and Monica Schulze, followed in 1987 by Quenzo and Queenie pon von der Raubkammer. It was another German dog, Alik Kurna Izba in Megsflocks, from East Germany, who was to have a big influence on the British bred dogs being a prolific sire, along with the Dutch Import, Uwaga Jestem Smok in Megsflocks. The breed was first exhibited in 1986 at the National Working Breeds Society; it's Secretary - Ann Arch - had travelled abroad with Megan in the search for stock and has given continued valuable assistance to the breed; under judge Brenda Banbury it was Megan's Jurista de Halkaza in Megsflocks who won best import; his litter sister Jasna was top Polish for the year. In September 1986 more breed history was made when the first quarantine-bred litter was born at the Overhills Kennels of Meg Purnell-Carpenter. Megan Butler had arranged for the importation of a young bitch from the most famous of all PON kennels, that of Dr Danuta Hryniewicz. Her Kordegarda Kennels are somewhere in the pedigree of every Polish in the world today. Naspa z Kordegardy had been mated to Polish Ch Igor z Zeriby, and duly whelped five puppies. One of his litter was Fama z Kordegardy in Megsflocks, owned by Ruth Scott (Ramberhay), who went on to be top PON in 1987, 1988 and 1989 - winning best rare breed in show at the National Working Breeds in 1992 and BOS at Crufts, for the second year running, as recently as 1995 at the age of 8.1/2 years. The others were Filut, Fadjka Fant and Fast. Between 1985 and 1991 the real foundations of the breed were laid. There were 42 imports during this period, 27 to Megsflocks, four to Padworth, three to Jeddep, two to Nedraw and Esterjay and one each to Dorianblue, Navarrenx, Mybeards and Ottersdream. By the end of 1991 registrations stood at 294 and new combinations of bloodlines had come from the well known Uwaga Jestem dogs of Mrs. van Gelderen in Holland.
In 1991 the Kennel
Club transferred the breed to the main register and
recognised the Polish Lowland Sheepdog Club (PLSC)
as the breed club in the UK. The first open show
breed classes were scheduled at Southampton. The
first championship show to give breed classes was
Windsor and in 1992 the breed appeared for the first
time at Crufts. From an entry of 59, the late David
Samuel chose Sue Ainsley and Terry Radford's Antrosu
Andrez at Darford for BOB, he was also short listed
in the group. 1992 The first limited show was judged by Norman Ziman, BIS went to Ruth Scott’s homebred Ramberhay Ysella. By the end of 1992 registrations were 414. In 1993 Val Smith's Ire Ch. Antrosu Szafir at Derochas became the first Polish and the only one to date, to qualify for the Dog World/Spillers Pup of the Year competition. In October 1994 the breed club held its first open show; the judge was Ruth Scott and BIS was Mybeards Flambeau of Valleyhouse. It was in 1996 three dogs achieved group placing: at the WBAW Terrie Cousins' Antrosu Dobrany from Dorianblue won RBIS under Andrew Brace and also collected the title of Welsh Puppy of the Year. At the East of England, Diane Mottram's Mybeards Wizzin won group 2 under Steve Hall; Mybeards Pioneer, won RBIS and best rare breed in show at the National Working Breeds under Ken Bullock, then the working group at the Welsh Kennel Club under Ann Arch. All three went on to gain their Championship titles. In 1996 two Pons were imported from the well known Banciarni kennel by Sue Ainsley and Margaret Rushby. In 1997 there were 3 more imports, amongst them the first chocolate, Smuga z Almarenu, imported by Sue Ainsley and Margaret Rushby. In 1997 the KC has allocated five sets of CCs, the first of which was at Crufts and were awarded by Megan Butler (Megsflocks). The DCC was Jill Elkin’s Akola Ebony, RDCC Terrie Cousins’ Antrosu Dobrany from Dorianblue, BCC & BOB Diane Mottram’s Mybeards Wizzin, RBCC Dennis Kiely’s Mybeards Sophie. The breed’s first UK champion was Ch. Mybeards Pioneer and to date there are nine UK champions, 4 males and 5 females. Ch. Mybeards Dynamite later became the first dog to win a Pastoral Group under the new Group system. In 2000 the first Polish and International Champion was imported in to the country. Int.PL Dlaczego z Gangu Dlugich came in whelp to Int.PL.Fin WW’96 Ch. Premier Oligarchia and had 11 puppies in quarantine. UK bred Pons have been exported across the world and have achieved much success in the ring in Europe, North America and South Africa. |