“Aladin”, more officially known as UK Ch Gr Aust / Gr NZ Champion Rainbow Aladin of Jhanzi. He is a rascal of a black and tan afghan hound bred by Alex Gilchrist and William Hansen in New Zealand. He has since become New Zealand's most highly awarded and acclaimed Show Dog based on the titles bestowed on him.
Aladin has been on a slow tour boat since 2003 having left his Jhanzi kennels in New Zealand in March 2003 to join ex-pat Aucklander’s Brian and the late Pam Hobbs in Perth, Western Australia (Koh-I-Baba Afghan Hounds). His first port of call was originally for a brief show holiday. As it happened he stayed a little longer and soon became part of Brian and Pams family and the West Australian Show scene for almost two years up to April 2005.
Much to the delight of us all Aladin completed his Grand Australian Championship in 2004, becoming the first afghan to achieve “dual” Australian and New Zealand Grand Championship status. This top honour came on the heels of his highly successful New Zealand/Australian 2003/2004 show years including achievements such as; top Afghan Hound New Zealand Pal Pedigree BOB competition 2003, Number 1 Afghan Hound Australia, State Winner West Australia, Top Hound Australia (Oz Dog Competition and Pal Pedigree BOB competition) and Top 10 Australian Show Dogs - All Breeds, 2003 (Pal -Pedigree).
During his show time in Australia William took frequent opportunities to meet up with Aladin and exhibit him at many of the top Australian show events. These included the Oz Dog Of the Year Competition in Sydney, the Pal Pedigree Show Dog Competition of the Year in Brisbane and Breed Speciality Shows in Melbourne 2004. Some of the most memorable events included Runner up Best in Show at Perth’s Royal Show.
The most prestigious Australian win has to be his Best In Show under highly regarded afghan hound breed specialist and All Breeds Show Judge - Mr David Roche- (Fermoy). David was instrumental in importing and establishing the Coastwind type of Afghan into Australia in the 1960's and 1970's.
In 2003, Will visited Crufts in the UK where he met Claire and Liz Millward (Alouann), this friendship developed due to having the same vision for Afghans and when Claire and Liz said they were searching for a sire for their next litter, Will and Alex offered for Aladin to come over to the UK to be campaigned and sire the next Alouann litter. In partnership with Anne Wilson and Janine Brownless (Tolah), Aladin arrived in the UK in April 2005 where within 5 months Aladin attained his UK champion title finishing it by winning Reserve Best In Show at the Houndshow 2005 and then siring his first European litter. Aladins 1st CC was extra special as Brian and Pam Hobbs were in the UK as Brian had a judging appointment and came to watch Aladin at Southern Counties. Aladin continued his winning ways and ended 2005 with limited showing as Top Afghan Hound male 05 but 2006 was to be Aladins year.
2006 started with Aladin taking the BOB at the 1st show of the year Manchester champ show, his next show was then Crufts under world reknowned judge Mr Paulo Dondina (Italy), this year top Afghans from Europe and US had travelled to compete under Mr Dondina and the atmosphere was electric, after a long decision Aladin was awarded the open male class and then the CC, it was a Crufts that none of us involved will forget and it was extra as Brian Hobbs was over to watch Aladin win at this show.
Aladin continued to win CC's and BOB through the year but in May won his 1st Hound Group under Ben Reynolds Frost after being awarded BOB by Wayne Douglas (Aust). The next big win came in the form as one of the highest accolades that you can achieve in the UK when Aladin went Group 1st and then Best In Show at Leeds Champ show under Swedish judge Mrs R Spores-Willis in an entry of over 10500+ dogs. A month after this win Aladin again took Group1st at SKC under judge Mr S Wilburg. By the end of 2006 Aladin was Top Afghan 2006.
In 2007 Aladin made the journey back home to New Zealand in July after having a successful half year winning 3 more CC's plus Group 2 at his last show and taking Best In Match at the Afghan Mayball. At time of export Aladin was Top Afghan 07, his journey in the UK was amazing and eventhough it broke Claire, Liz, Anne and Janine's heart to say goodbye to him they felt honoured to part of this amazing dogs life.
During Aladins time in the UK, he has been one of the most successful imported Afghans into the UK by attaining BIS Leeds, RBIS Houndshow, 3 Group 1st, 2 Group 2nd, 2 Group 4th, 14 CC's, 12 BOB, 2RCC's, 1 RCAC, BIS at the Afghan Supermatch and due to his winning in the UK he qualified for the AKC Eukanuba Invitational 07 and Afghan Hound Club Of America Top Twenty Tails of Fantasy National 06 in the US.
After Aladins return to New Zealand, we took him to a back to back weekend of shows where he won Best In Group at the 1st show and then took BIS under George Kostopolus (Greece).
Aladin has champion progeny and near champions in a number of countries including Australia, New Zealand, UK and Japan.
Unfortunately, Aladin passed away on 20th May 2011, he is a true legend and will be sorely missed by all that were part of his life and his worldwide fans.
