Club History

1966  -  2006

As you can see 2006 was the 40th Anniversary of the formation of the Basset Hound Club of Scotland.   Here is a little information about the Club's early years and its subsequent development.

The formation of a specialist Club in Scotland for the Basset Hound had always been the vision of Rosemary McKnight of the famous Chantinghall Bassets, and to this end an inaugural meeting of a group of Scottish Basset Hound fanciers was convened in 1965.  The outcome of this meeting led to the gathering of the requisite number of Founder Members and the preparation of a Constitution, so that when representation was made to The Kennel Club in early 1966, recognition of The Basset Hound Club of Scotland was granted by The Kennel Club later that year.
Founder Members of the Club included Jim and Rosemary McKnight (Chantinghall), Captain and Mrs Peter McMillan and Miss Pat McMillan (Balleroy), Sheila Goldie (Keirhill), John and Julia Garland (Houndslease), Janet and Rollo Millard (Monksbond), Mary Pain (Candover), Penny Knight and Mr and Mrs Shannon Russell (Ravenswood).
The first Open Show was held in Glasgow in May 1967, the day after the Scottish Kennel Club Championship Show.  On the evening preceeding the Show, a dinner was held in the Grosvenor, Glasgow, the attendees reading like a who's who in Basset Hounds.
Championship status quickly followed and Challenge Certificates were granted to the Club in 1968 and our first Championship Show was held in Clarkston, near Glasgow later that year.  
In the early years the Club organised walks and drag meets, in various parts of Scotland, which were very popular and well attended.
The Club holds an Open Show and a Championship Show each year.   In addition, we have a Fun Day for members and non-members who particularly enjoy the companionship of their Basset but perhaps are not particularly inclined towards the Show Ring.   The numbers attending these events can be quite staggering, the venue often bursting at the seams!
For our 25th Anniversary Championship Show in 1991, our judge was Pat Moncur (McMillan), Balleroy and the Committee thought it very fitting that she return to officiate at our 40th Anniversary Show.   An after Show dinner was held at the Phillipburn Country House Hotel, Selkirk and the evening was enjoyed by all who attended.

We like to think that The Basset Hound Club of Scotland - the UK's second senior Breed Club - is a happy Club, welcoming all to our events.