Center Stage – with Zena Thorn-Andrews

Read More at 180 – August, 2010

In the first edition of my column in The Canine Chronicle, I could not think of a better person to review than our very own UK top all rounder judge, breeder and exhibitor, Mrs. Zena Thorn-Andrews (Drakesleat). A breeder of over 120 UK Champions, and the only judge to award CCs in the UK to all breeds and also a recognized judge of all breeds under FCI recognition.

In her earlier years Zena spent a lot of her childhood abroad, as her father was serving in the Royal Marines. Growing up with dogs which included German Shepherds and a pet Bulldog, Seven-Up Jenny, Zena decided that she would like to learn more about dogs. In 1965 she became a member of the Irish Wolfhound Club and learnt all she could about the breed along the way. It is apparent that Zena has not missed Crufts dog show, since 1965!

Most people find an eye for success with the support of money, credibility, or friends of a friend, however, Zena did not rush into the spotlight so quickly. Zena comments “As a breeder and exhibitor firstly you must read all you possibly can on your chosen breed. Watch carefully the successful people and do not be afraid to ask a lot of questions.”

Therefore, after a few years of studying the breed as much and as thoroughly as she could, Zena bought her first show dog in 1967.

This was the Irish Wolfhound, UK Champion Edgecroft Simon (Shea). A great starter for Zena, even though it was tough for her to be accepted as a newcomer, ‘Shea’ gained for her overall – two Championship Hound Group wins, 14 Best In Shows, and he was also the top winning dog in his breed for four consecutive years (based on points). Zena’s first Drakesleat litter of Irish Wolfhounds contained just one dog, French Champion Drakesleat Sir Francis. He is still their top winning Irish Wolfhound to date amassing a total of 25 CACIBs. It was due to the excitement and success of both Shea and her homebred ‘Sir Francis’ that Zena now had the bug and continued to do well. By the late ‘70s, Zena had become notable for her top winning hounds. She bred a great grandson of ‘Shea’ in the early 1980s by the name of Ch. Drakesleat Kyak. ‘Kyak’ is still the UK breed record holder amassing 41 CC’s, Ten Hound Group wins, Three All Breeds Best In Show, and Top Hound in 1981 & 1982. He was also a producer of Champions. In fact, Kyak’s great grandson, Ch. & South African Champion Drakesleat Odyt, became the Top Hound all breeds in 1992, winner of 11 CCs, Four Hound Group wins, Three All Breeds Best In Show and in 1993 at Crufts ‘Odyt, handled by Zena, took Reserve Best In Show with nearly 23,000 entries. Odyt also won Best In Show at his first appearance at an all breeds championship show in South Africa. Zena’s Drakesleat Irish Wolfhounds are still the second top winning kennel ever.

In the early ‘70s she decided to add another breed to her kennel, Miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds.

Her first Drakesleat Dachshund Champion was Ch. Drakesleat Hussy, born in 1971, who went on to produce four UK Champions and a further 2 Champions overseas. Hussy produced a top brood bitch (for several years) in Ch. Drakesleat Kalamity Kate, who was born in 1973  and was Best of Breed at Crufts in 1975. One of Kalamity Kate’s progeny became the former UK record holder, Ch. Drakesleat Ai Jail, winner of 29 CCs, and top “Hound Bitch Of The Year” three times from 1979 to 1981. Ai Jail went on to produce the current record holder Ch. Drakesleat Ai Jinks, born in 1982 and a winner of 33 CCs. She was the top Miniature Wire for 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1988 with a Reserve BIS all breeds, five Group 1s, and Best In Show at the Hound Show.

Drakesleat’s first male Dachshund Champion was Ch. Drakesleat Klunk Klick of Andyc, brother to Kate, sold to a fellow breeder. He is still the UK male record holder with a total of 27 CCs, Top Hound in 1976, and still remains the top winning male ever. His mother was, of course, Ch. Drakesleat Hussy. Many Champions followed with the dachshunds now on 98 bred or owned, and with two more on 2 CCs, it can’t be long before another milestone for the Drakesleat’s comes along!

Another record was achieved for Zena in September, 2006 when her Ch. Jap./Ch. Drakesleat JP Jest Dis Once became the first Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund ever to win an All Breeds Best In Show at Darlington Championship show. He was also the first Japanese bred dog to win a UK Best In Show. He is totally Drakesleat breeding though.

A notable record for Zena was when her very own Ch. Drakesleat Otto Bahn won the Purina Pro Plan Pup of the Year competition, back in 2004, the first of the breed to do so ever in UK history. “Banner” beat over 10,000 entrants through the year to achieve this merit which also added to his 11 CCs, and Top Dog in 2005.

The record of top breeder nearly every year since 1975 in one or both breeds has never been bettered by anyone in the UK. In August 2007 the VDH (German Kennel Club) chose Zena, amongst other German breeders & judges, to be awarded the Baron Von Gingins medal for her contribution in breeding Miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds. Only one other person outside Germany has also been so honored. Zena was also awarded the Tom Horner award in ’95 for her contributions to the world of dogs.

Judging Career

In the 1970s, Zena decided to take on judging. She started judging hounds, especially Dachshunds, Wolfhounds & Bassets, and progressed through this group as a specialist before branching out into the other groups. It was 1974, aged 26 when she first awarded CCs to Irish Wolfhounds at the Welsh Kennel Club. Her first group judging appointment was in 1984 at Bournemouth.

Zena is now the only judge to award CC’s in all breeds, and is currently the number one top judge in the UK. She is also approved by the FCI as an all breed judge in all FCI countries. Although involved in judging, Zena still shows with the help of her partner Jeff Horswell, another top UK judge, who is currently the youngest Best In Show judge in the UK.

For most UK judges, their ultimate judging appointment would be to judge Best In Show at Crufts. In 2007 Zena was appointed for this prestigious job, awarding top honors to the Tibetan Terrier, UK Ch. & Am. Ch. Araki Fabulous Willy. Willy is one of the UK’s Top Dog All Breeds of his time, and the top winning Tibetan Terrier of All Time Ever in the UK.

Now in 2010, as Zena is the only UK judge to be passed to award CCs in all breeds recognized here, and an FCI judge, I asked Zena some questions about her life in dogs.

KR: From all of your judging experiences, is there anywhere in the world that you haven’t judged that you would like to judge?

ZTA: I do enjoy the atmosphere of the World shows. They have an air of excitement about them and all the world’s top dogs do try to attend, so the quality is excellent. I have been lucky enough to judge at many of the World shows, and as they are held in a different country each year, it always makes for a different experience.

KR: Do you have any forthcoming exciting appointments? Please tell us.

ZTA: I always look forward to both Monte Carlo in April, and Barbados every few years! I am lucky enough to have been invited for a second time to judge at the AKC/Eukanuba World show, so I look forward to that also.

KR: What has been your biggest thrill in the world of dogs.

ZTA: I think being the first breeder in the UK to breed or own 100 Champions since our records began in 1873 has been my greatest achievement.

KR: What has been your biggest disappointment in the world of dogs.

ZTA: Losing my husband Terry Thorn who was loved and admired by so many people throughout the world. We were a great team!

KR: How would you advise an upcoming kennel to progress to the level you have with breeding winners, healthy dogs, and many champions.

ZTA: Read all you can about your chosen breed. Watch carefully the successful people and ask lots of questions!

KR: When judging do you have any pet hates?

ZTA: Poorly muscled dogs, thin dogs with big coats that hide it, over exaggerated breed features.

KR: Has there ever been any advice given to you over the years about the code of practice for judging. If so, what was it?

ZTA: Percy Whittaker explained the mystery of shoulder placement to me when I was about 18. I have never forgotten his advice. Also, Mrs. Florence Nagle was a great mentor to me over many years, and gave me so much of an insight into the working machinery of the dog. That has proved invaluable.

KR: Aside from the world of dogs what other hobbies do you have?

ZTA: I collect early dog books, and have a vast number of books about all breeds! I also keep foreign Finches and Canaries, which are soothing to watch.

KR: If you never got into showing or judging dogs, where do you think you would be now?

ZTA: Probably a backing musician as I used to play bass guitar in pop groups.

KR: Tell us where you would like to be in 15 years time?

ZTA: Hopefully not in my box!

KR: Have you any advice to pass on to breeders, handlers, and judges for the future of their careers, coming from your many years of experience?

ZTA: As a breeder keep at it, don’t let early disappointments stop you from going forward. If something doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to re-try! You never stop learning, and don’t think you know it all after a few years in dogs! I still don’t. As a judge keep your ego under control, think first and last of the exhibitors. As a handler, recognize that each dog may need a different approach & style of handling. They are all individuals and need sympathy, as well as training… and never plead with your eyes to a judge for a win!

As we celebrate the year 2010, we can review the life of Zena in just one paragraph:-

Breeder of over 120 Champions, 700 Challenge Certificates won by the kennel to date, a judge of all breeds UK and the only UK judge to do so, the first breeder in the UK to breed or own 100 Champions since our records began in 1873, and still going strong.  A true saying goes – ‘Records can be broken, but the facts will remain the same’.

We are proud to have Zena Thorn-Andrews represent the UK as the number one breeder of all times to produce champion after champion and still be the only person in the UK to award top honors as a judge in every recognized breed.

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