VALE
Australian Champion Solnes It Had to Happen (Imported Norway)
The black Toy Poodle “Royce”
13th November 1992 - 4th December 2007
Seldom, maybe once in a lifetime, there comes along a dog who is not only a superb showman but who is also an outstanding stud dog, reproducing his best qualities and leaving behind a legacy throughout the World to carry on his breeding and his name.
“Royce” was the type of toy poodle who was not only structurally sound but one who
simply took your breath away just watching him in action. He was a showman, with plenty of attitude to burn, he loved the attention and he loved to please and he was a sight for sore eyes. He was the epitome of true Poodle Type.
International All Breeds Judge and Poodle Specialist Mr. Robert L Curtis OAM wrote the following on “Royce”. “What an impact this outstanding little dog made on the Australian Toy Poodle world when he arrived from Norway in the early 1990’s. Displaying wonderful overall balance and style he was simply outstanding on the move. His head and expression just oozed poodle type. He had a lovely, correctly placed dark eye, good chiselling, and had a moderate stop together with excellent strength and depth of foreface. His body was well ribbed, had a good depth with a level topline and a correct set-on tail. Well coated, showing good texture and density, Royce was always immaculately prepared and well handled. He always carried himself with style with ‘all flags flying’- exemplifying the highly desired poodle ‘attitude’. “
Owner/handler Stewart Budd (Sauvage Poodles) states “We believe Royce to be the Top Sire of all 3 varieties here in Australia. Sire of 40 Champions, 34 Australian Champions (many of them Best in Show winners) three New Zealand champions, three South African champions, (including South African Ch Sauvage Never Can Tell, a black male who produced over 10 champions and Ch Sauvage A Whole New World a brown male who also produced over 10 champions). One Argentinean Ch Sauvage It Just Happened- best in show winner and also sire of numerous champions.
Royce has won 11 Specialty Best in Shows in a very limited show career before he was 5 years old under local and international judges including Carlos Renau (Spain), Helen Lee James (USA) and Australia’s leading poodle specialist Robert L Curtis. On one occasion his daughter Ch Sauvage Promises N Prayers beat him for BIS and Royce was runner up. His first specialty best in show was as a 9 month old puppy.
He is also an All Breeds BIS winner under Andrena Brunotte (Canada). To the best of our knowledge this record has not been beaten.”
“Royce” has left a very impressive legacy which continues on through his champion grand children. He has over 20 champion grandchildren in South Africa alone and here in Australia they are too many to get an accurate count. Many of the bitches mated to him were not shown but in turn produced champion offspring. His daughter Sauvage Higher Ground produced 5 Australian Champions, including the multi best in show winning Ch Sauvage That’s our Man.
“Royce” sired 124 puppies and retired from stud work in 2005 at 12 years of age. He enjoyed a happy and healthy life with his owners Stewart Budd and Roger Schipp until the 4th December 2007 when he suffered a stroke a few weeks before his 15th birthday. |