Au Gr Ch Camelot's The Fifth Element ET

Leelu passed away on August 3, 2012, at the age of 13 1/2. She was bred and lived her first 1 1/2 years at Camelot, then went to live with Lisa Barrenger at Isilwane in Australia. She had a distinguished show career in Australia and enriched the gene pool in that country through a number of sons and daughters.

Following is my favorite photo of Leelu, taken in my Family Room shortly before her trip to Australia in August of 2000

Clayton Heathcock, August 5, 2012

Leelu won the 6th Australian Rhodesian Ridgeback Specialty Show, held in Perth, Australia on July 6/7, 2002. The judge was Mr. Richard van Aken of Cartouche Kennels, Johannesberg, South Africa. [Read the judge's critique of Leelu.]

The photograph above is Leelu at ten months of age, taking her first point at the King's County KC show in Hanford. Leelu is cowned by Clayton and our friend Lisa Barrenger, who lives in Bungendore, Australia. In August, 2000, Leelu took a Qantas flight across the big pond to live with Lisa and her pack at Isilwane. In her first show in Australia, Leelu won Reserve CC and Best Junior in Show at the Queensland Rhodesian Ridgeback Specialty in Sydney. She finished her Australian championship on March 18. In July, 2001, Leelu became the first American-bred Rhodesian Ridgeback to complete the challenging endurance trial and earn the title "ET". In her first 12 months in Australia, Leelu emerged as one of the leading Rhodesian Ridgeback show dogs in Australia, amassing nearly 400 challenge points and winning a number of Bests of Breed. She has won the "best gaited bitch class" at the last three Australian National Specialties (2002, 2004, 2006).

The following photo was taken at a major show in Sydney:

Leelu eventually earned more than 1000 challenge points and earned the exclusive title of Grand Champion. For other photos of Leelu, click here.

Check out Leelu's pedigree.
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