The Texas Gulf Coast Vizsla Club was originally organized in the Waco area in 1980. The club's name was announced as the Lone Star Vizsla Club. Vizsla owners from across the state began to join. AKC then decided there was a problem with our name, stating it implied too large an area. They asked that we find a new name more suited to the area in which most members lived. The majority of members lived in or near the Waco area. With Waco being in the "heart" of the state, the name Waco Vizsla Club was decided and voted into being.
In the following years of 1981 thru 1989, and before the club’s name was changed to TGCVC, events such as: field trial matches, breed seminar, membership meetings, hunting test & field trial seminars, a parade of Champions and title holders, conformation & obedience fun matches, field training and Fun days, versatility test, agility training and Fun days were held
By 1989 the majority of our regular membership resided in the Houston area. We were actively per suing licensing by AKC to hold specialty conformation and obedience shows. During our correspondence with AKC they noticed our membership geographic area changes. Again a request was received from them for a club name change. Our by-laws were again revised, approved and resubmitted. With acceptance from AKC the club became known as Texas Gulf Coast Vizsla Club. During all this we were still striving to get licensed from AKC to hold specialty conformation and obedience shows. A newly introduced AKC hunting test was becoming very popular. A few members decided our club should try for AKC recognition via applying for a hunting test license. After applying and successfully holding two sanctioned hunting tests; a 'B' in October 1989 and an 'A' in January 1990, TGCVC was granted AKC recognition in 1990 to hold AKC Hunting Test. At that point TGCVC began to hold yearly licensed hunting tests.
With hunt test licensing behind, our attention again focused on the matter of gaining licensing to hold specialty shows. We began holding our required three 'B/OB and two 'A/OA' matches, with the last being held in March, 1993. During this time TGCVC held a supported entry and Puppy Sweepstakes in conjunction with the Houston Kennel Club and funded a National Vizsla Club supported entry in conjunction with the San Jacinto Kennel Club in September 1992. In August of 1993 TGCVC held a supported entry and Puppy Sweepstakes with San Jacinto Kennel Club and a VCA supported entry with Cypress Creek Kennel Club; and a TGCVC supported entry with Houston Kennel Club in August 1994, all at Astrohall. TGCVC finally achieved it's AKC license to hold specialty shows. Our first specialty was held in conjunction with the Houston Kennel Club at the Astrohall shows in August of 1994. Our club is now a member of the Houston Combined Specialty Association and we now hold our specialty shows in conjunction with this association at the Reliant Center and Houston Farm and Ranch locations.
Other activities held during these years were:
Judges Education Seminar in September 1993 with VCA President, breeder and breed judge, Dr. Richard Hilderman, presenting the program.
Breed education booth each year at Astrohall (thru 97)
Vizsla rescue committee was formed and rescue program begun.
Fun days with training and education demos
VCA versatility tests for conformation and obedience;
Training classes in obedience, conformation and hunting;
Education programs at the meetings
Agility equipment was bought and paid for by holding training classes and Show and Go events.
All through the years, we have had an informative newsletter, the Texas Tales, to keep everyone 'in the know' and many fund raising events to keep the club viable.