This is where it all started:

Lamsgrove The Toy Boy, Hershey's Dad on the left and over on the right is Wendy, Markrem Porcelain Lady, Hershey's Mum.

Hershey below, was the result on August 5th, 1998!
He's come a long way since.

To ensure you get the full story please scroll all the way to the bottom of the page - reading all as you go.
Perhaps Hershey should have his own Airmiles account!

Shown regularly in the UK until The Maltese Club Ch show of 2001, Hershey won a total of 1 CC and 6 Res CC's including the Res CC at the Millennium Crufts 2000.

A decision was taken at that Maltese Club show to campaign him in North America. He was taken courtesy of Delta Airlines, and accompanied by Carol, to Tonia Holibaugh in Austin, Texas early in Oct 2001. By the time the AMA Specialty came around in March 2002 he had gained his US title and it was a real thrill to see him exhibited in the Specials class at that show in Dallas. The competition at the AMA Specialty was, as always fierce with some excellent quality Maltese vieing for a place. Hershey was not placed at the show but he was by no means disgraced.

Following the Specialty Hershey left the USA for Canada where he was expertly handled by Jennifer Shaw to his Canadian title in just four shows. At all four shows he took BOB and finished his title with a Group win, 2 Group seconds and a Group third.

Hershey left Canada for Europe on June 14th 2002, arriving in Amsterdam just over 2 weeks before the World Show where he was entered in the Open Dog class. Champions from USA and Canada are not permitted under FCI rules to enter the Champions class therefore the only class eligible to Hershey was the Open class. More strong competition greeted Hershey at the World Show so you can imagine the sheer delight when he was awarded first place in his class.

Because of quarantine laws at the time and the fact that the USA and Canada were yet to become part of the PETS travel scheme, Hershey could not travel home to the UK until Dec 14th at the earliest. Prior to his arrival in Holland it had been arranged for him to be cared for by a Maltese exhibitor living an hour out of Amsterdam and it was to there he went after the World Show. Six weeks later, because of the lack of care that Hershey had received whilst staying with this exhibitor in Holland he had lost all of his face furnishings and became very red and stained in the face. An uneasy gut feeling took Carol off to Amsterdam where she was met by the father of the exhibitor and Hershey. It was whilst waiting for the flight to Malaga, near to where we (fortunately) have a property, that the true extent of Hershey's condition resulting from his lack of care was realised. Carol was almost in tears brushing him out whilst waiting for that flight. He was quite literally rescued and after much hard work over just a few difficult weeks he fortunately resumed his winning ways in Europe. In Gibraltar he won CAC, CACIB & BOB, in Spain he has won 3 CACIB, 5 CAC, 2 BOB, and a group 2.

After spending over 4 months in Spain with Hershey Carol really missed her other dogs at home. The show dogs were being cared for by trusted show people in the UK and the house and other dogs by daughter Emma Jane (EJ) for which and whom we are eternally grateful. What had taken over two years to achieve with Hershey's show condition had been almost destroyed in just two months. Heaven knows what he would have been like after the six months originally planned for the stay in Holland.

The best Christmas present was to drive off the ferry in Harwich on Dec 23rd with Hershey back on English soil once more. However, the journey back from Europe was not exactly straightforward. The original intention was to fly from Malaga to Gatwick with either Brittannia or GB Airways - both approved carriers under the PETS travel scheme. Initial approaches to both carriers revealed unacceptable conditions for anyone who really cares for their animals.

Firstly, both carriers utilise the services of the same agent in Malaga - a VIPet World. Secondly, neither carrier (through it's agent) could guarantee that Carol and Hershey would travel on the same flight, unacceptable. Thirdly, it is a condition of the UK Government that all animals travel cargo and finally the cost, VIPet World quote Euros 600 - that's £400, $US600 to fly one animal on a 2 hour 40 min flight between Spain and London. You may draw your own conclusions!

So how did Hershey complete the final leg of his journey? He travelled with Carol in his Sherpa in the cabin of a Transavia flight to Rotterdam for the princely sum of Euros 100 (including Carol's fare), where they were met by Brian and sailed/driven back in style on the Stena Ferry to Harwich.

Oh! the fare for Hershey on the ferry - just £5, Euros 8 or $US8. OK, so the journey took longer but we all travelled together and were able to load the car with cheap booze for Christmas and to celebrate Hershey's return home.

Lessons have been learned, thankfully there have been more good times to temper the not so good and an objective has been achieved. In addition to Hershey's titles and wins away from home he has added many admirers wherever he has been shown. Hershey has also left his mark with the progeny sired whilst in the USA and Spain. We hope that continues in the UK where he will indeed be shown in 2003.

The 2 month stay in Holland left Hershey with virtually no furnishings, a red stained face and badly stained feet!
The pictures below were taken shortly after his arrival in Spain.
All credit to Carol that he was able to start winning again in Spain as seen by the pictures further down the page.

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