Center Stage with Lee Cox & Tom Isherwood

From page 372 – The Annual, 2010-11 Issue

by Kerry Rushby
photos courtesy of Lee Cox & Tom Isherwood
& Lisa Croft-Elliott · PawPrints

It takes years of commitment and determination for a true breeder to see results from years of hard work in producing sound, well-bred and top winning dogs.

For Lee Cox & Tom Isherwood, success came after a long spell of personal success, before joining the world famous Vanitonia kennels. Vanitonia was founded by the late Roger Stone and his partner, Graham Thompson, back in 1962. It was with Poodles that the kennel put its stamp on the world of dogs, producing winner after winner admired the world over. Sadly Roger and Graham left us some years ago but the kennel has continued to dominate thanks to Lee and Tom. Lee joined the Vanitonia kennel at the age of 20, after many years as a successful breeder and handler of Sussex and Clumber Spaniels, the breed that Lee and his family campaigned for many years under the Maladetta prefix. He started to handle his parents’ Sussex from the age of four, and at the age of ten bred his first Best of Breed winner at Crufts with Maladetta Martinas Double. When he left school, Lee decided that he wanted to learn more about grooming and trimming, so he took himself to Roger and Graham’s at Kaston Kennels to learn more, and the rest – as they say – is history. Roger and Graham saw the potential in Lee and asked him to also handle a few of their dogs at Championship shows. At the age of seven, Tom was taken to Crufts by his grandmother to look at dogs and immediately he was fascinated by the whole scene. His family had always had dogs as pets and after his visit to Crufts in 1991, Tom eventually bought his first show dog in 1996. In 2001 Tom then joined Lee and, in partnership, they became essential members of the Vanitonia kennel. I met up with Lee and Tom towards the end of 2010 to look back on a great year!

KR: When did you become involved in breeding, showing and judging pedigree dogs?

Lee: I was born in 1972 into a doggy family who, at the time, exhibited Pyrenean Mountain Dogs. When I was born, it was decided that the Pyreneans were too big to have around a small child and so Clumber Spaniels were introduced and the PMDs were phased out. I handled my first dog, a Shetland Sheepdog, at the age of four. At six I was given my very own dog, a Sussex Spaniel, as a present. From this bitch I bred my very first litter and the result gave me my very first CC winner at the age of 10; the show was Crufts and the judge the one and only Joe Braddon. I still remember it as if it was yesterday. Funnily enough my Mum won BOB in Clumbers on the same day. Thinking about it, I would probably die of embarrassment if it happened today, Mr. Braddon was not shy of making a performance of events! But to a 10 year-old, who really didn’t quite appreciate the enormity of it all, I just took it in my stride. I first started judging at 13 and awarded CC’s in Clumbers for the first time at 23.

Tom: I was born in 1984; my family always had a pet dog of some kind. However, I bought my very first show dog at the age of 12. In 1991 I was taken to Crufts by my grandmother and was immediately fascinated by it all. The dog, although not the greatest specimen, introduced me to the scene and in all fairness had a reasonable amount of success. My judging career started in 2001 and I will award my first set of CC’s this year.

KR: Before joining Vanitonia, what success did you achieve in showing dogs, and what breeds were you both involved in?

Lee: I bred and campaigned both Sussex and Clumbers when I was younger with my family, with a reasonable amount of success. We never bred that many litters as we were involved with breeds that were able to be shown for a good few years. We had a few CC winners and were lucky enough to finish a lovely Clumber bitch. In my teenage years I was introduced to English Setters and qualified the very first of the breed for the POTY finals. I was also very much involved with handling for my Godmother, Ann Findlay, who had the Oldholbans gundog kennel which housed Sussex, Clumbers, English Setters, Pointers and the very first Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers in the country. After I left school a very brief soiree into professional handling introduced me to the French Bulldog. I was lucky enough to handle a beautiful bitch to not only her title but also to top bitch that year.

Tom: The family owned a Rough Collie, then a Border Collie but it was Papillons that introduced me to the world of showing dogs. My first show dog won a few Championship classes and also helped me in the Junior handling classes.

KR: Who or what inspired you both to progress in this field and make it your full time job, passion and love?

Lee: Having been born into the fancy you could say that it is deep in the blood and my passion for the sport started from a very early age. My sister never had the same passion and so I was able to have the full encouragement of my parents to progress, although they were a little unconvinced that I could make any sort of career out of it at the time. They did however (my mother in particular) understand the love I had and so were determined not to stand in my way and gave me their full backing. I was like one of those annoying youngsters that would have to know everything and would worship my own little heroes of the time. I would stand there dreaming that one day I would have the same success and I still dream today, as there is so much more I want to achieve.

Tom: With regards to showing dogs it was the trip to Crufts with my grandmother that started the love of the sport. It became an obsession and I was lucky enough to have a father who also had a love of dogs. He encouraged me in everything and it soon became an interest of his, too. Both my parents understood that this was not just a whim and both gave me the support and backing to pursue the avenues that I wanted to go down. This I will always be grateful for.

KR: Roger and Graham were the original founders of the Vanitonia affix, sadly both of them are no longer with us, but how do you feel, being privileged to continue the affix and the long-term dedication of many years of hard work, success and achievements of this famous kennel name?

Lee and Tom: We are both extremely honoured that we have been entrusted to carry on the work that both Roger and Graham started. They were both extraordinary men in their own right and the knowledge they had and shared with us will never be forgotten. We will always remember them and what they did for us and we know only too well that we would not be where we are today without the pair of them. Tom was unfortunate not to meet Graham, but I know they would have got on like a house on fire. Always the backroom boy but such talent, a great wit and always ready to share what he had learnt. Roger was a different character: more flamboyant and an incredible handler in his day. His passion was undoubted and this got him into trouble at times but his knowledge, particularly of Poodles, was amazing. He was determined that we were to carry on the kennel and we only hope that they are both proud of how we are doing.

KR: What advice had Roger and Graham given you in the early years, and did any of it help you along the way?

Lee and Tom: Roger and Graham were the easiest people to talk to, we gleaned from them their knowledge and experience. They used to love to help people and would get enormous pleasure from watching others get success from seeds that they had sown. Graham would not only impart his knowledge of dogs but also he was a great businessman and without him we would not be able to run the two companies we have at present. He would nurture the more careful side. Roger on the other hand would nurture the flamboyant side and would let us know that from time to time it was okay to take a risk and speculate. Because we were being taught by two such different characters, we hope that we have taken the best from both and are going down a more central path. We like to think that Roger and Graham were the 20th century Vanitonia, whereas we are the 21st century Vanitonia. We are very aware of how they did things and take these on board, however we do have our very own take on the way things are done. Roger and Graham used to do everything very much on a large scale, as was possible in years gone by. However we believe that the days of the large kennels are gone and so carry on our breeding very much on a smaller scale. Yes we still have a nucleus to work with but nowhere near what used to be housed here. We are also determined that we will be sensible enough to know when age tells us that enough is enough and leave the breeding/exhibiting to those more capable. That’s not because we don’t love what we do but because we DO love what we do.

KR: When choosing your puppies, do you always agree, or does it take a few disagreements to finally agree on selection?

Lee and Tom: Good question! Many a time the atmosphere in the house has got a little tense over what is or is not pick of the litter. Everyone has their own personal preference and this will always affect the decision making process. This is healthy and also kept a more balanced result at the end. Luckily we have always been able to run a couple on and in the end we would usually agree on the final choice. One thing that we would never do is the so say picking a puppy when it is just born and wet. A talent that we have, thankfully, never been gifted with. A newborn puppy is a newborn puppy and they all look the same. We like to wait for them to get up on their feet and see the personality develop first. (We believe that you can have the most beautiful dog in the world but if it has no temperament or personality then it really is not much use in the ring. Yes, it can be said that they could be used to breed from, but our major worry is that if you introduce bad temperament into your line, it is damn hard to breed out.) We usually pick our puppies whilst watching them playing and running around, then a quick up on the table to make sure everything is in the right place and that is that. Another important part is the ability to recognize when you may, on an occasion, have got it wrong; no one, after all, is perfect.

KR: Many kennels of today are known for their breed type, style and charisma. What have you introduced into your lines over the years for the Poodles, Cresteds, and Clumbers to have been consistent in winning top honours at Championship shows, not just in the UK but overseas as well?

Lee and Tom: The key is to not only stand for what you believe in, but also to recognize where you fall down. It is very important to recognise your competition as they are your competition for a reason and they ALL have something useful and worthwhile. It is all too easy to berate someone else’s dog just because it is successful, but you have to appreciate why it has been successful and if you are needing that something to improve your own. The perfect dog has yet to be born and will probably never be, but it doesn’t stop us wanting to breed that next ‘Great’ one. We would hate to ever be considered kennel blind and hope that we know that not all our geese are swans. This is why we are never afraid of using other lines or indeed importing dogs to incorporate into the breeding programme. Another reason why we happily export in the hope that someone else will benefit, too.

KR: Has there been anyone else except Roger and Graham who inspired you both along the years, or is there somebody now who you see as a mentor, and why?

Lee: There are far too many through the years that have inspired me to mention here. Also I have had different people inspire me for different reasons: whether it be breeding, exhibiting or indeed judging. However, with regard to Clumbers in particular I have to mention both Rae Furness and Faith Gilham. Two ladies that I had enormous respect for and I was lucky to have known both of them. Both were very approachable and I would sit and talk to them both for hours. I will never forget the day that Rae was to judge BIS at championship level for the first time and being asked to go with her, a real honour. Both Faith and Rae, in my mind, changed the face of Clumber Spaniels and the breed was all the poorer when we lost both ladies in such quick succession. My other great inspiration was my godmother, Ann Findlay. A great lady and another with forthright opinions but a real gundog person. A person that I have always had the most admiration and respect for that wasn’t involved with my own breeds was Di Johnson. A true dog breeder and judge extraordinaire, I still love to sit and talk to her today. Her passion has never gone away and her knowledge knows no bounds. Judging-wise I could watch Bobby James and Cathy Sutton, no matter what breed they were judging, both true professionals. Nowadays, I am lucky to count Toshi Omura as a friend and, particularly with Poodles, we can bounce ideas off him and he is happy to share his lines with us. Maybe he is still a bit young to call a mentor but I suppose he is as near as can be. He is an amazingly clever breeder.

KR: Who else has advised you over the years, and what has been your best advice from them?

Lee and Tom: Probably the best advice we have ever been given is to keep our feet on the ground and remember that it is a long hard climb to the top but a very quick fall back down again.

KR: Both of you award CC’s in your respective breeds. Has there been any exciting appointments that you have taken up so far, or anything exciting coming up for both of you?

Lee: Any appointment is exciting and we look forward to each and every one, truly. However judging last year in Japan was an experience that I will never forget and hope that one day we are lucky enough to repeat it.

KR: Lee, when did your partnership with Roger form, and what is your history with Roger before your partnership formed?

Lee: The partnership formed when Graham died in 1995, although we always bred with separate interests. However I joined the kennel in 1992 as both Roger and Graham needed somebody to handle their dogs in the ring. I had originally come to learn how to trim but took up the opportunity offered with very little thought; it was – after all – the opportunity of a lifetime.

KR: From all the dogs that you have campaigned over the years, has there been a dog in particular that kept a special place in your heart, whether it be his character, or the success you had together for its show career?

Tom: Very difficult question, there have been so many that I feel I am betraying some for not mentioning them. However, a dog no longer with us who always had a very special place in my heart, not only for the success we had together but just simply because he was the most darling dog to live with, was the Standard Poodle Ch. Int. Ch. Racketeer Exquisit Sinner At Vanitonia or H’san to his friends. I just adored this dog.

KR: Tom, you joined Vanitonia some years after Lee. People feel that both Lee and yourself have made Vanitonia one of the best UK kennels. What is your secret?

Tom: We are honoured and humbled that some may think this as we truly don’t consider it ourselves. However the success we have been lucky enough to experience has been as a result of great teamwork, dedication, hard work and obviously a great amount of good luck. Also, we must remember that we could not have done any of it without the dogs themselves.

KR: You have a great rapport with Nora when we see you in the big ring. Was Nora a special girl from the moment she was born?

Tom: No, to be honest we were disappointed when she was born as she was a little pink mouse. However as soon as she was up on her legs and her personality started to develop it became apparent that this was something special. She is simply a dog in a lifetime and we absolutely adore her. It’s a cliché but it’s true to say that not only is she a great show dog but an absolute delight to live with as well. Always happy and always there to please.

KR: How do you feel being top dog all breeds (at time of going to press), as well as Top Clumber?

Lee and Tom: We have to sometimes keep pinching ourselves over the year we have had in 2010. It really has been the most amazing experience and a dream come true.

KR: Is this the thing you have dreamed of the most, or is there something more you wish to achieve?

Lee and Tom: Of course there is more we wish to achieve; you must always set yourselves goals. Once we are lucky enough to reach one, then it’s on to the next one. There will be failures and there will be quiet periods, it is how you deal with these that matters and it makes the successes all the more sweeter.

KR: From all you have achieved in the UK, have you any credits from dogs shown overseas

Lee and Tom: Since the kennel began there have been numerous champions abroad, too many to mention here and we thank all that have campaigned Vanitonia dogs for us. We are proud of them all but to mention a couple we have had the first Chinese Crested group winner in Japan in Jp. & Am. Ch. Vanitonia Monkey Business and Top Dog all breeds in Sweden with the Toy Poodle Ch. & Int. Ch. Vanitonia Holy Moses. There are a few youngsters around the globe at present that we hope will – or have started to – make their mark.

KR: What is the Vanitonia record to date?

Lee and Tom: We have listed the champions in the UK separately, but the total to date stands at 71. Thirty five of these are Toy Poodles, 21 Standard Poodles, three Miniature Poodles, 10 Chinese Crested and two Clumber Spaniels. We have been fortunate to have won BIS at Championship Shows with Toy & Standard Poodles and Chinese Crested. RBIS with Toy & Standard Poodles, Chinese Crested and Clumber Spaniels. And Group winning Clumber, Toy Poodles, Standard Poodles and Chinese Cresteds, nine Pup of the Year qualifiers including winning the final in 2009 and winning the final of the Eukanuba Champion stakes in 2010. Some records also include Bitch CC record holder in Chinese Cresteds, Ch. Zucci Highly Provocative for Vanitonia, who was also Top UK Crested ‘04 & ‘05. Sh. Ch. Vanitonia You Bet I Am, Top Clumber Spaniel for ‘09 and ‘10, Best of Breed Crufts, Group Championship show winner, and Pup of the Year Qualifier. In Standard Poodles, UK Ch., Swedish, Norwegian, International Champion Racketeer Exquisit Sinner At Vanitonia, Group and Best In Show Winner, CC Crufts. Ch. Labamba Lawrence Von Vanitonia (Top Std 2004, Group winner) Champion Torpaz Talking Point At Vanitonia, the youngest champion in the breed UK, and also a POTY qualifier.

KR: There must be ups and downs, so what has been your biggest disappointment in the dog game so far?

Lee and Tom: You cannot achieve a certain amount of success without your fair share of disappointment along the way. Life will always have its ups and downs; and nobody has experienced this more than us over the years. Mistakes have been made but it is how you use these experiences that is important. It is all a learning curve and hopefully you learn by these mistakes, turn things around and do better. We do feel that you need a thick skin if you enjoy any amount of success as there is always somebody out there to put you down. We have seen this side of the dog game even more so in 2010 and although it has been the most phenomenal year for us, we have also experienced much nastiness. Maybe it is us that they have the problem with, but sadly it is always the dog that the venom is usually directed at. Why people cannot see that she has paved the way for future generations is beyond us. She may be the first in the breed to win a BIS but because of her she will not be the last, we are sure. This attitude has got to be our biggest disappointment.

KR: You have a great team of supporters in the UK – what advice have you been given from fellow friends, breeders and judges regarding your high profile?

Lee and Tom: We are aware that we have a great team of supporters and we are truly humbled and grateful for them. They are a part of what has made our year so special. For every one detractor there is 100 in support and we thank them all. The main advice given to us is to encourage us to keep level-headed with our feet firmly on the ground. All too often you see people get carried away with their own self-importance and greed takes over. This, we believe, is the start of the end.

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