Pictured left to right, littermates out of Ch Sanchu’s Ginger and by Ch Topsfield Bumper Cars CD ROM: BISS Ch Sanchu Topsfield Go-Cars (Orlando photo), Multiple BIS and BISS Topsfield Sanchu Sports Car ROM (Tom Weigand photo), and Ch Sanchu Topsfield Kiddie Cars. They were collectively known as “The Polar Bears”. (Kurtis Photo, Inc)
Ch Sanchu’s Ginger ROM going WB at BHCA national specialty under breeder-judge, Pat Gellerman to finish her championship. She went on to earn BOW that day. Bred by Kitty and Chuck Steidel and owned by Kitty and Claudia Orlandi. Photo by Bill Meyer Photography.
bred her back to Bumper Cars. As you can see from the photos, the brother and sister from the resulting litter very closely resemble their dam and their siblings. Then Ginger was bred to Bum- per Cars’ brother, Ch Topsfield Calypso, and produced a BIS and BISS hound, Ch Sanchu Topsfield Yahtzee. Although she was bred sparingly, the six champions that Ginger produced have gone on to have a positive influ- ence on the breed. Kitty maintains, “… that is not all to Ginger’s credit, because Bumper Cars passed on his phenotype as well.” Then, too, those oh-so-domi- nant genes from Ginger’s tightly inbred, close up ancestors had much to do with her good nick with Bumper Cars. Of those champions, Ginger produced more dogs than bitches. Her son, Sports Car, went on to become a top produc- ing sire in the Topsfield-Sanchu breed- ing program with 18 champions to his credit. In describing Ginger’s contribu- tions to her progeny, Kitty explains, “Ginger contributed temperament, that sought-after front and correct angula- tion and movement to the breeding pro- gram. She also had correct ribbing – an often overlooked trait in the breed.” We need to keep in mind that until relatively recently, there were not many health screening tests available for breeding stock. Claudia Orlandi, of Topsfield, remembers, “We drove to New York for all bleeding disorder (tests) and eye certifications. There are many more tests now, and we avail ourselves of all those recommended for our breed, including testing for von Wil- lebrand’s Disease, cystinuria, glaucoma and elbow dysplasia.” Down through the years, Ginger’s impact has been substantial. Not only have her first generation of offspring been successful in their own right, but subsequent generations of Gingers’ progeny demonstrate her quality in many of the Topsfield-Sanchu Bassets.
Pictured on the left is Ch Sanchu Topsfield White Linen and on the right is Ch Topsfield Sanchu Polo. These two are full siblings to “The Polar Bears” from a repeat breeding of Ginger to Bumper Cars. Photos by Chuck Tatham & Fritz Clark.
ringside, Kitty remembers thinking that, “Ginger had fulfilled my hunch. I’d bred my red and white show stopper!” Other breeders noticed, too, and expressed an interest in acquiring Ginger. Knowing that she could not do jus- tice to Ginger with her busy schedule, Kitty decided to send her to Claudia Orlandi of Topsfield Bassets. It was see- ing nine month old Topsfield Bumper Cars that made the decision for Kitty. She recalls that, “The first time I saw Bumper Cars, he blew me away! He had that same uncanny balance, length of body and smooth outline—a combi- nation of quality parts fitting together beautifully.” Bumper Cars also had the front few other dogs have and a great rear. The plan was to breed Ginger to Bumper Cars, because, although the breeding was an outcross, the two dogs were phenotypically much the same. A Topsfield-Sanchu partnership developed from those fortuitous events. For the last 15 years Topsfield-Sanchu has produced the top winning Basset Hounds in the breed, and Ginger con- tributed to that success. Multiple BIS & BISS CH Topsfield Bumper Cars, CD, ROM going Best of Breed at the BHCA National Specialty under Breeder/Judge Augusto Rizzi. Pictured with Bryan Martin handling, with breeder/owner Claudia Orlandi and co-owner Kitty Steidel. Bumpers was bred by Claudia and Dom Orlandi and owned by Claudia Orlandi and Kitty Steidel. Ashbey photo by Dave McCurley.
When Ginger went to Claudia, Kitty advised her, “Show Ginger for minor points, but save her for the Nationals. I think that the judge will like her.” Claudia did wait, entered Ginger at the 1999 BHCA National Specialty and then saw her go Winners Bitch and Best of Winners. Such a prestigious win was a testimony to Ginger’s correct angula- tion, beautiful head, length of body and excellent reach and drive. Thus began the productive and lasting partnership of Topsfield and Sanchu. Ginger was subsequently bred to Ch Topsfield Bumper Cars, CD ROM. The resulting litter of 2 dogs and 1 bitch all resembled Ginger in their excellent breed type that included good, bal- anced angulation with its correspond- ing good movement and good ribbing. Ch Topsfield-Sanchu Sports Car ROM and his litter brother, Ch Sanchu-Tops- field Go-Cars, both earned Winners Dog at BHCA National Specialties. Go- Cars became a Group winning and Best in Specialty winning hound. Sports Car garnered the top rating of number one Basset Hound in both 2003 and 2004. Impressed with the offspring from Ginger’s first litter, Kitty and Claudia Ch Sanchu Topsfield Yahtzee shows the same strong family resemblance to Ginger as his half- siblings. Yahtzee’s sire is a brother of Bumper Cars, Ch Topsfield Calypso. Photos by Ashbey & Bjorn Zetterlund.
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