Beautiful blossoms, a few thorns,

Roseneath.

Roseneath is one of the best known Non-British kennel names in the world of Bulldogs, the life work of Julia and George van Rooyen.  That is why a portrait of this world famous kennel is published in the first issue of The World of Bulldogs.   Another reason, if needed: Julia was undoubtedly instrumental in creating that most beautiful Centenary celebration of “her” South African Bulldog Club.

Text Bernice Leroy

It is  said that people  are much  like the dogs they own. Arguably the strongest reason for George and Julia van Rooyen's quick recovery from various serious physical injuries in the last few years has been their sheer “Bulldog”' determination. Whilst Julia is the dominant force and limelight ofRoseneath, George is the quiet and mild gentleman who provides solid support and handles their dogs in the show ring. Their combined influence has produced beautiful blooms and minimised the thorns in the Roseneath journey.

Our acquaintance with George and Julia came about due to a shared interest in the smooth Chow Chow. Whilst their sojourn with Chow Chows was brief, it is their many years of dedication to, and understanding of the essence of the Bulldog, that leaves a lasting impression on anyone caring to learn about this loveable and unique breed.

ROOTS

The roots of Roseneath sprouted in 1969 when George gave Julia a Bulldog as a wedding anniversary gift - a dog named Warren of Fearnought. Their start in Bulldogs was very similar to so many - at that point their knowledge of the breed was virtually non-existent. In ignorance, Julia observed all the colours in one litter - red, brindle, fawn and white pups and had serious misgivings about the 'parentage'. However,.  their first lesson came from the breeder, who explained how '  the various colours came about - and they chose their pup. Warren grew up to be a wonderful companion and much loved Bulldog. Upon winning a small trophy and rosette at his first show the "bug bit" and the van Rooyens searched for a female, A stronger root started taking hold for Roseneath when they found a white female named Lisa. As novices, they did not recognise her major breed standard faults. Shown beautifully trained and snow white, the judge said to Julia: "Madam. your exhibit does not have sufficient merit to go to 1st place but she is so beautifully presented, I will place her"

Thus Roseneath was born in 1971 -as the judge's comment was all Julia needed to spur the Bulldog determination on in her to breed a Best of Breed Bulldog. They bred Lisa to the best sires they could find, always keeping a female pup. These daughters were taken back to another champion sire and within five years they had their Best of Breed winner - Ch Rockliffe Naidir Star.

 MENTORSHIP

 The first most influential dogs in their programme sending down taproots for Roseneath - were the halfbrother, half-sister USA imports Ch Lebo's Dallas and Ch Lebos Maharani in 1978. They were obtained from Ruth Lebo out of Edna Glass stock. These dogs enabled them to continue for some twelve years before needing new blood.

Julia considers Richard Maze - the owner of the sire of their imports, Ch (USA) Smasher's Souvenir HOF (Hall of Fame)  - the strongest influence in terms of mentorship for Roseneath. After importing Dallas and Maharani, Julia asked to import more stock from the same bloodlines. Richard's reply was: "Julia, what do you want to do with more stock? I have given you enough to continue your breeding triangles for at least the next ten years." A very wise man, he emphasised the qualities she should look for in choosing pups and breeding stock.

 Julia explains the triangle. You take Dallas, to an outside female and keep a puppy from that breeding. Breed Maharani to an outside male and keep a puppy from that breeding. Then take these puppies back to the original Dallas/Maharani stock and keep puppies from those breedings. So you continue, until eventually you get carbon copies of type and soundness. The pattern keeps you going for a long time.

Dallas sired a litter of eight pups in his first litter of which six became Champions. Julia says his strong virtues included excellent conformation and a beautiful jaw. Thus his offspring formed the baseline of their breeding from then onwards.

 One of Dallas' sons - Ch Roseneath Eustone (affectionately known as Rebel) - was judged at six months of age by the Netherlands judge, Mrs Koudijs, Baroness Tacts van Amerongen, who predicted a great future for him. This proved true, as he was a multiple Best in Specialty Show winner, culminating his career as Dogmor Dog of the Year 1987. The Dog of the Year challenge invites the dog and bitch with the most Bests of Breed within a twelve months period in each breed, to compete for top honours. The challenge was hosted directly after the then prestigious Goldfields K.C Championship show, a show which, in those years, attracted entries of some 2500 dogs. This was Rebel's third invitation to the event.

In 1989, a Dallas grandson, Ch Roseneath Devlin was the first  of two  Best  in  Show  winners – All Breeds,  for  Roseneath followed by a Best in Show in 1990 for a Rebel daughter, Ch Roseneath Mystique, who also gained a Best in Specialty Show that year.

Rebel sired fourteen champions - one litter produced three champions and two litters produced four champions each. The champions were:

Roseneath Sheffield, Roseneath Tequila, Roseneath Mystique, Roseneath Taranagi, Roseneath Spot On, Roseneath Turbo, Roseneath Fame, Roseneath Portia, Roseneath MeGyver (Multi Group Winner), Roseneath Laser, Sezer's Crystal  (Multi  BISS),  Sezer's  Danny, Sezer's Avie and Sezer's Abbey.

With two great stud dogs, Roseneath produced champions and top winners. Some dogs were exported - notably Roseneath Quest to Mrs Ann van de Heuwel-Cowan in the Netherlands.  He won the World Winner title  in Dortmund, Germany in 1991 Quest was sent to Ove Germundsson in Sweden on Breeders Terms where he did South Africa and  the breed  proud.  Ch  (Sw/Nor) Rosencath African Bullion and Ch (Sw/Nor/Fin/Nord) Roseneath Masquerader also left an indelible mark in the Swedish Bulldog world.

However, the time came where the van Rooyens found themselves bred into a corner, and an outcross male had to  be  found.  Due  to  the  state  of the  SA  economy, importing was impossible, and a complete outcross was not (heir choice. Looking at the virtues of the dogs in the showring - with a Roseneath background - led them to the late Mr Henry Ribbens and his dog named Eltoro Santoro. His paternal ancestry included Ch Roseneath Jubilee (a Dallas son), but his mother was an outcross.

 SPENCER

 Ch Deboneur Spencer of Roseneath was born 18 July 1998. He was bred along the same lines as Rebel in cooperation with their co-breeder Mrs Eksteen. At the age of ten months, he was awarded Best Puppy in Specialty Show. He was almost exclusively made up as a champion under breed specialist judges who recognised his qualities.

Spencer was always strong in siring quality females that could win Best of Breed and Groups, but never really a quality male, until he was bred to Roseneath Anastasia. Anastasia was a great granddaughter of Roseneath Regal .  Anastasia was  sired by the Netherlands import Beefeater Bulls Keltic King who was a son of Int. Ch. Roseneath Regal. Thus Ch Roseneath Royal Doulton was born turning the breeding programme right around. Unfortunately Doulton was a victim of an armed robber at the Rooyen's premises at a young age. Prior to this he sired some puppies of which quite a few have returned to live at Roseneath.

Spencer’s last litter included Ch. Rockhaven Destiny of Roseneath and Ch. Rockhaven Breitling Both of whom have been Best of Breed winners .  This was Spencer’s last litter when at the age of 10 years he died of a heart attack in the arms of George.  As at this point in 2010, Spencer is the sire seventeen champions. He was Top Sire in Sweden for 2002, 2003, and 2004 for which he received special recognition from the Svenska Bulldog Club.  His  semen has been stored and exported, thus he will co to add to his legacy as a producer in South Africa, Sweden and Australia and maybe even the U.S.A..

Sire of seventeen Champions internationally, namely

Breitling  of Roseneath,  Roseneath  Royal  Doulton (Multiple BISS), Breakspear Rose Petal of Roseneath, Breakspear Hot Gossip of Roseneath, Breakspear Dorothea. Roseneath My Delilah (Zimbabwe). Rosenenth African  Legacy (Germany), Roseneath  Masquerader (Ch. Sw/Finland/Norway/Nordic), Malcom's Go for Roses (Sweden), Malcom's Golden Rose (Sweden), Malcom's Glittering Ice Flower (Sweden), Malcom's Glory Boy (Finland), Malcom's Great Ice Breaker (Sweden),  Karslemaine  Kandy  Kane  (Australia), Karslemaine Karlan Kepa (Australia), Karslemaine Ktz Krystal (Australia).

INTERNATIONALLY

Some of the Roseneath dogs that were exported and made an impact on the breed in various countries:

Sweden: Roseneath African Bullion (Roseneath Bronson x Deboneur Sasha of Roseneath), Owner-  K. Ogren, Swedish and Norwegian Champion.

Sire of five Champions: Swedish Ch Malcom's Fireball, Swedish and Finnish Ch Malcom's Fortune Hunter, Swedish, Norwegian, Nordic, Finnish and International Ch Malcom's Iron Bullion NordJW'03, SW'04, Swedish Ch Malcom's Iceflower and Swedish Ch Malcom's Independent Woman.

Sweden: Roseneath Masquerader (Ch Deboneur Spencer of Roseneath x Roseneath Rayne Dancer), Owner K. Ogren, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian and Nordic Champion. Sire of three Champions:

Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian and Nordic Ch Heavy Bull's Glenmorangie NordW'07,  Swedish Ch Flatty Face's Brave Remus and Swedish and Finnish Ch Wheelback's African Queen who was also the top winning bitch in Finland.

The Netherlands: Roseneath Regal (Ch Ladycele Naomhan of Roseneath x Ch Roseneath Portia), owner: A. var de Heuvel, South African, Dutch, Luxembourg and Swedish Champion, thus making him an Internaltional champion

Sire of WW'08  (at ten years!) Malcom Duke of Sparreholm, Nordic,  Finnish  and  International  Ch Beefeater Bulls Kilkenny-Hero, Swedish Ch Sir Archie'' Rosamunda at Malcom's, PMV'97 Finnish Champion NordW'97 Merciless Matador Big Bosomfriend, Finnish' Champion Merciless Matador Blooming Belle, FinnishChampion Merciless Matador Cap-A-Pie Cute and Finnish Champion, FinW'99 Merciless Matador Chivas Regal.

 JUDGING

Whilst they are no longer actively involved in breeding they are active in showing the young dogs out of their bloodlines, such as the Doulton offspring.

They have held positions of office with the South African Bulldog Club since their first Bulldog was acquired and Julia has been the (Chairperson of the Club for some years. Both George and Julia are breed specialist judges  have judged in South Africa and internationally. Julia  judges Hound, Toy and Utility Groups. Julia mentioned with great pride her honour of having been recognised a Bulldog Breed Specialist judge by the UK Kennel Club.

What does Julia place priority on when judging Bulldogs?  Breed defining points must be prioritised. Lame dogs must be excused from the show ring. Entropion and ectropion cannot be rewarded as they pose serious health problems. She believes that no awards should be made if a Bulldog does not have a roach (ie it has a level topline, if it has straight stilles, wry jaw, lack of spring of rib, shallow brisket, narrow chest or shoulders not correctly 'tacked on'. No Bulldog should show signs of respiratory distress. Imperative to Julia is the correct wide front movement together with the 'ice skaters' rear movementi which produces the necessary Bulldog 'roll'.

When asking Julia about her views on the UK changes to the breed standard, she is very emphatic. Whilst she concedes some good points, in the main the changes are unacceptable to them because the 59 changes mentioned give a complete makeover and results in a different breed. It is  no longer the English Bulldog which is "as much part; of England as is the London Skyline and the Beefeaters There is still discussion as to whether South Africa will follow the UK or establish their own Breed Council in order to retain the Bulldog as we know it. This is the line George and Julia feel that they will be pursuing. Until then, they will wait it out with breeding and continue showing their youngsters.