Irving - chairman after eight years on the General Committee	James - General Committee chairman for almost six years	Hardaway - vice chairman, working trials background

KC General Committee elects the front runner to the chair

At its first meeting since the 129th Annual General Meeting of members last month the Kennel Club’s General Committee has elected Ronnie Irving, its Vice Chairman of one year, to become chairman of the club. His number two will be Mr Bill Hardaway.

Mr Irving is a third generation Border Terrier man whose grandfather Wattie Irving - a railwayman from Newcastleton in the borders - first showed the breed in 1923. His family and that of Kate, his wife, have between them bred over 50 champions over the years.

Last year he became the head of the newly formed company Kennel Club Services Ltd. which looks after the business interests of the club.

Before his election to the post of vice chairman he judged the Terrier group and best in show at championship show level and gave CCs in over 21 breed across four groups. He first awarded CCs in his own breed at the age of 22 in 1967. He was also chairman of the Border Terrier Club for 12 years, chief steward of the Border Union AS championship show for 12 years and is now its President.

He has been a member the KC Finance & General Purposes Committee for six years and also chairs the KC’s Judges’ Working Party - the ad hoc committee set up three years to review the problem of judges’ education and selection. He is also a trustee of the KC Charitable Trust and was recently elected a trustee of the Kennel Club after Mike Stockman retired because of the ‘age’ rule.

Elected to the General Committee in 1994, Mr Irving was made vice chairman last year in an unusual re-shuffle which saw the then encumbant Mr Peter Mann step sideways to the Crufts Committee and who was then elected its chairman.

At the time its was said that because he and Peter James were of a similar age and that it was prudent to reorganise to ensure proper succession and continuity. Last week Mr James also stepped down as a trustee of the club and also announced that he would not be seeking re-election to the chair.

Now within the space of twelve months the Kennel Club has had a new Chief Executive, new chairman, new Crufts chairman, new vice chairman and now three new trustees.

In a statement issued last Tuesday the KC said:-

‘As Peter James had previously indicated his intention not to stand for re-election to the position of Chairman of the Kennel Club, at its meeting on 11 June 2002 the General Committee elected Mr Ronnie Irving as Chairman and Mr Bill Hardaway as Vice Chairman.

‘The Committee also formally recorded its thanks to Peter James for the sterling service he had given the Kennel Club over many years and as Chairman for the last five and a half years. The Committee intends to thank Peter James more formally at a later date but in the meantime asks for its sincere appreciation to be recorded.’ .

Mr Bill Hardaway, the new vice chairman has a strong background in working trials and obedience and served on the KC Working Trials, Obedience and Agility Sub Committee for over 12 years and was also its chairman.

He has been a member of the KC Finance & General Purposes Committee since 1995 and he is also on the Crufts Show Committee.

He has judged all Working Trials Stakes (except PD) and at the KC Working Trials’ Championships Tracking Dog Stakes.

He was the Crufts Obedience Steward from 1991 to 1998 and for many years has had special responsibility for the KC Good Citizen Dog Scheme. He joined the Kennel Club in 1986.