Miss Eileen Snelling (Khorrassan Kennels, UK)
By Steve Tillotson 2018
Section 3
RIVALS CO-BREED A LITTER
The British authored breed books have mentioned the fierce rivallry between Eileen and Sheila Devitt/Gilleney (Carloway Afghan hounds). Charles Harrison (Vishnu) stated that "Sheila and Eilleen were great characters and terrific rivals. Neither would ever dare risk showing under the other". (Midland Afghan Hound Club Magazine 2005).
Eileen judged Crufts in 1959 - Sheila entered CH Yussef and CH Khymm of Carloway "not for competition" which is usually taken as a compliment when an exhibitor chooses not to,, or is unable to attend a show, theyl may give the Judge a entry under not for competition. It also ensures visibility for the non attendee by virtue of their dogs being included in the show catalogue. Eileen judged Ladies Kennel Assoc (LKA) dogs IN 1955, Sheila entered and Eileen awarded Sheila'sr CH Yussef Of Carloway the Dog CC. Eileen judged the Cheshire show in 1956 and awarded the Bitch CC to Sheila's Tijah Of Carloway. Eileen judged Richmond in 1963 and awarded the Bitch CC to Rifka's Moti Of Carloway (bred by Sheila, owned by Claire Race).
It might therefore be a surprise to some to learn that despite this rivallry, Eileen and Sheila co-bred a litter sired by Eileens Champion Achilles Of Khorrassan out of Sheila's bitch Shiba Of Carloway. The litter whelped 3 dogs on 21st Sept 1955. This colaboration did not end happily. Eileen explained that Sheila registered the litter under the Carloway affix and with Sheila as the breeder. According to Eileen this was contrary to their agreement. The three offspring were named - Khorrassan Quinquereme Of Carloway (owned by Eileen) and Quest Of Carloway and Quomada Of Carloway (Owned by Sheila). Sheila did not breed from her offspring. Eileen's Quinquereme was used at stud on Mrs Marsh's bitch Nahzeema Of Khushani and a litter of 10 whelped in March 1957. Eileen took a dog and a bitch from the litter (Tejbul of K and Sheba of K). Eileen apparently briefly also owned another from this litter a bitch - Khorrassan Cadenza who later passed into the ownership of a Miss M Wyatt. The Kushra Kennel of Morgan and Hedges picked up the Cadenza lines via Mirabelle Of Kushra (Subadar Karim Khan x Khorrassan Cadenza). Cadenza produced 5 litters between 1966 - 1969. A grandson of Cadenza - Chile-Bey Of Jagmarkan was exported to Chile and became a Champion in the famous kennel of Norman D Huidobro-Corbett (Huilaco).
Another anecdote comes from the late Daphne Gie (Jagai) who in an email discussion we had in March 2010 stated - "You have brought to mind so many fascinating memories! I was so thrilled with my adorable Nishtar of Khorrassan [she had a lovely face too]. I think I was the first person brave enough, or idiotic enough, to mate a Khorrassan to a Carloway".
KHORRASSAN OVERSEAS
United States
In 1954 Sunny Shay (Grandeur) imported several puppies from the UK bred by Mrs Morris-Cole (UK - Kakashah) from a litter by ( Abdin Of Tzaharane x Kakashah Khishna Of Kuranda). Sunny was a collector of bloodlines and was probably aware that Zendi Of Khorrassan had been exported to Argentina and that a breeding was planned by the Argentine owner of Zendi to Mustapha Of Grandeur (the breeding occured in 1955). Sunny was well informed and knowledgeabe about bloodlines in the UK. Sunny may have decided to acquire the Khorrassan lines behind the Abdin of Tzaharne litter, Sunny imported the following 5 offspring from this litter -
- Am Ch Kaguli Of Kakashah, Kakashah Tiger Lily , Kakshkai Of Kakashah - (Abdin Of Tzaharane x Kakashah Khishna Of Kuranda), all three imported by Sunny and later transferred to the Swayze's Longlesson kennels
- Lakme Of Kakashah - (Abdin Of Tzaharane x Kakashah Khishna Of Kuranda) imported by Sunny and later transferred to Mr Dodge's Dod-Jis kennels
- Kakashah Larch Tree (Abdin Of Tzaharane x Kakashah Khishna Of Kuranda), imported by Sunny. Larch Tree sired over 50 offspring for Sunny and/or her breeder- customers
South America
Seeing as we just mentioned Khorrassan and South America, its opportune to mention another Khorrassan export to South America and one of the first two Afghan hounds to arrive in Argentina - Zendi Of Khorrassan, sired by Zardin Of Khorrassan x Rhapsody Of Carloway. Zendi was bred by Mrs P E Watson in England who owned the dam Rhapsody Of Carloway and used Miss Snellings famous and popular stud dog Zardin Of Khorrassan. Eileen presumably took Zendi in lieu of a stud fee. The litter of five including Zendi of Khorrassan, whelped 2/17/1958. The United Kingdon Kennel Club registration lists Miss Snelling as the first owner of Zendi, then later in September 58 the Breed Records Supplement (BRS) shows the transfer of ownership from Miss Snelling to Marivonne Barbin de Seguin's Kandahar Kennel in Argentina.
The first Afghan hound dog to arrive in Argentina occured a couple of years earlier in 1955 andhe was Mustapha of Grandeur (Hajji Baba Of Grandeur x Kushani Of Grandeur), bred by Sunny Shay in the USA. Mustapha was exported to Marievonne Barbin de Seguin of the Argentinian Kandahar kennel where he became an Argentinian Champion. Mustapha was bred to Zendi, thus producing the "Kandahar" kennels first litter and the first Argentinan homebred Afghan hounds. From this breeding came a number of champions (Alibaba, Mohammed Zahir, etc, all of Kandahar).
CH Mohammed Zahir Of Kandahar (ARG)
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India
Khorrassan is the kennel of (the late) Ms Eileen Snelling, UK. In 1980 Ms Snelling wrote "Of the 5 Khorrassan Indian Champions, 3 were owned by His Highness The Maharajah Of Baria, whom I had the great pleasure of meeting and discussing our beloved breed. It was a great thrill to receive an invitation to his wedding".
The 5 Khorrassan Indian Champions are -
- Ind Ch Sannerdu Of Khorrassan
- Ind Ch Amber Lily Of Khorrassan
- Ind Ch Khorrasan Bahia
- Ind Ch Circe Of Khorrassan
- Ind Ch Djinee Of Khorrassan
The Maharajah of Baria and his brother exhibiting
Ind Ch Khorrassan Sannerdu Of Khorrassan (Left)
and Ind Ch
Amber Lily Of Khorrassan (Right)
For more extensive details and photographs of
Khorrassan in India go to the India Page
KHORRASSAN AT HOME
This is a very famous photograph and was published in a National Daily Newspaper February 1955. It shows a Metropolitan Police Officer holding up traffic whilst Mrs Harris (Nee Miss Iris Craik) walks a group of Khorrassan Afghan Hounds across the road on the way to Crufts.
(Iris Crake (Harris) and Policeman and Khorrassan Afghan Hounds)
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The three Afghan hounds in this photo are listed below. They were from a litter of 4 whelped in April 1954. Their breeding - Montezuma Of Khorrassan x Ajamais Amber Of Menthe. Bred by Mrs H Harris (nee Iris Craik)
- CH Saleh Bey Of Khorrassan
- Khadiji Of Khorrassan
- Adana Of Khorrassan
Eileen Snelling and pack of hounds Crufts 1950's
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This is a photo of Ms Eileen Snelling (Khorrassan) on her way to Crufts which was held at Olympia, London. The Khorrassan Afghan Hounds in this picture are -
- Marabout of Khorrassan
- Ivory Of Khorrassan
- Moonbeam Of Khorrassan
- Sunrise Of Khorrassan
- Portrait Of Khorrassan
Related content
Early Afghan Hounds
Eileen Snelling Section 2
Eileen Snelling Section 1
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