It could hardly have been a more beautiful day for the League’s 80th birthday championship show. In a way it’s a pity we couldn’t have been outside on the grass next to the KC Building at Stoneleigh but at least at that venue the light does floor in through the roof windows. Gavin Parrish ensured everyone parked prettily and once inside all exhibitors were presented with their catalogue, a goody bag containing among other items a piece of veterinary bedding themed with the League’s logo and, if they were a full member, the new League handbook. Ever-calm secretary Margaret Hoggarth was manning the admin stand, and Joy Whitehead had the cups in good order. Sue and John Harrison had a big array of merchandise for sale, and Carrie Thomas had put together all the candidate photos for the next League calendar on which we were able to vote, one for each month. It was good to see a number of new or newish faces among the exhibitors – hope they all had a good time and will keep on attending the shows. Welcome to our newest recruits, both born since the last League show. Dewi Cross and Monty Thomas were both very smart in their Corgi suits! Great to see the show had attracted some exhibitors from overseas, three from the Netherlands, two all the way from Lithuania and one making a flying visit from the Pacific North West of the US! Talk about enthusiasm. All countries did well, especially the latter two as we shall see. I was especially happy to see Brian Neal watching the judging and from the wider dog world Mark Cocozza and Frank Kane were ringside for a few classes. A few stalwarts had set up the ring etc the day before, and as usual our stewards were Bill and Sue Ashcroft. They may not be Pembroke people but they have come to be very much a part of our League ch shows. Judge was Amanda Rees (Stadwen), proudly watched by parents Alan and Wendy. Her dog CC winner was the bobtail Ch Pemcader Thunderball, owned and bred by Kevin Dover and Lars Saether by Ch Pemcader Belroyd Zeus ex Pemcader Black Glamour. This brought his total up to 49 and he has been BOB at all this year’s CC shows so far. This was Pemcader’s fifth League CC win, having previously won not only with him but with Dick Dastardly and with Thunderball’s elder sister Bobbi Sox. Reserve was our furthest travelled exhibitor, Paul Chen from Vashon Island in Puget Sound near Seattle, Washington State, with his tri Am Ch Afara Calico Pony. He is by Ch/Am Ch Rosewood Set Sail to Salvenik (Am Ch Twinan Another Chance for Salvenik ex Am Ch Rosewood Breeze’n By) who of course spent several years in the UK with Teresa Maddox, ex Afara Zip Adeedoodah (Triple H Moonwalker ex Afara Wilhelmina). BPD was Lorraine Weedall and Nicola Bogue’s Bronabay Illuminations (Ch Bronabay Cannonball ex Bronabay True Colours) and BVD Joy Whitehead’s 11-year-old Tudoroyal Christmas Fun (Ch Corgold Harry Potter ex Wharrytons Moonfly at Tudoroyal). During Amanda’s lunch break the special award classes were judged by Jacquie Reay (Jacqueilas) and stewarded by Julia Alexander. Jacquie’s winners were Salvenik Summer Rosebud, Whitebarn Sea Nymph and Ch Brynlluan Wind Runner to Kulla. It was encouraging to see three junior handlers in competition, Katie Read, Ollie Lawrence and Lara Schmidt, and Jacquie’s choice as BJH was Katie who is Margaret and Ian Hoggarth’s granddaughter. Well done all. In honour of the anniversary we had drinks served by expert bartender Barry Coulson, plus a selection of food including some superb cupcakes made by Louise Hill. The tombola was generously supported and Kath Irving was selling tickets for a sweepstake on the BIS winner’s number. Amanda resumed judging the bitch classes and her CC was a fifth for Barry and Sue Coulson’s Ch Woodhenge Star Xtravaganza (Ch/Ir Ch Craigycor Lightning Bolt ex Ch Woodhenge Star Maiden). She was leading bitch under the League system last year with Thunderball, of course, top Pem. Barry and Sue have previously won League CCs with Ch Stonecroft’s Second Stage (BIS at the diamond jubilee), Ch Cottonfields Queen Bee at Cinonnie and Ch Doublereddragon at Woodhenge. Although registered as a red, ‘Saffy’ has ended up with quite a bit of sabling and it’s good to see one of this colour doing so well. Some recent photos posted on Facebook have reminded us of some of glorious sables of the past, one showing three glamour boys in the same class – Ch Caswell Duskie Knight, Ch Lees Chico and Stokeplain Septimus. In more recent times there was that very striking bitch Ch Shavals Fire Odyssey to whom Saffy is linebred. Reserve went to one of our Lithuanian visitors Ramune Masiokaite with Balt Ch Je Suis Kylie Minogue des Contamines, bred in France by Elisabeth Camboni and Katell Malagre – hopefully a boost for the latter who is on the mend after a heart operation. Kylie is from largely ‘Down Under’ lines by New Zealand-bred Int/Balt Ch Dwynella Rough ’n’ Rowdy (Aus/NZ/Am Ch Aberlee Phantom Sequence ex NZ/Aus Ch Dwynella ‘Q’ Behind Me) ex Int/Fr/Lux Ch Gwyneth Paltrow des Contamines (Aus Ch Aberlee Leave Itto Me ex Int/Fr/Lux/Bel Ch Annwn’s Wynona) who is sister to Ch Georges Clooney. BPB on her debut was Sue Harrison’s tri bobtail Haresfoot Cora (Ch/Rus/Ukr Ch Ermyn Snow Knight ex Haresfoot Zena) and as usual BVB was Linda Roberts’ evergreen Ch Cherastayne Snowbride (Ch Brynelli Double Exposure ex Cherastayne Altesse Royale) unbelievably now 14 years old. On to the finals and Thunderball was BIS for the third year running, having won in 2016 under Frank Kane, and ’17 from Gerald King. He’s the first Pem to achieve this at the League show: Ch Lees Coronet won CCs in 1947, ’49 and 50, but was BOB only in ’49. Ch Crowleythorn Snow Man did the same in ’60, ‘62 and ’64 (with BOB that year). RBIS completed a great day for Paul and Calico Pony, with BPIS to Illuminations and BV to Snowbride. ‘Sadie’ now retires from the show ring after an amazing career which included two Crufts BOB, a League BIS and many veteran successes including the RCC at Crufts a few weeks ago. She has certainly retained not only her beauty but her sheer enjoyment of the ring. The day came to an end just before 5.30. Now we all look forward to EuroCorgi, the first time the League has had two sets of CCs in the same year since 1946 when we had three and ’47 when there were two. As I said we now have the latest League handbook to peruse, following in a great tradition going back to the ‘40s. Thanks to Ruth Turner who put it together and to all who supported it with advertisements and other features. This year there is a profile of the background and record-breaking achievements of the Belroyd kennel, and Kevin Egan has outlined some of the efforts being made to promote the breed on the media and to the general public. Nice to see photos of so many of the 2017 winners in the portrait gallery – though it always amazes me that not all exhibitors submit photos and pedigrees of their CC, RCC, BP or JW winners. The pages are exceptionally good value for their very reasonable cost and you’d have thought everyone would want to contribute to this permanent record of the breed’s winners. Perhaps next year will see a full house? It’s been a sad few weeks with the loss of several Corgi enthusiasts to report. Alan Rees tells me of the death after several years’ illness of Bryn Evans. He and his wife Jean had the Pembryn dogs in South Wales, starting with Headholme lines. Among the winners they bred were two gorgeous bitches in Ch Pembryn Penny Black, a League show CC winner, and Pembryn Mali who from the ringside struck me as very unlucky to win only one CC. Our sympathy to Jean and family. From Denmark comes news of the death sadly young of Lis Møller whom many of us will have met. The Blondie’s kennel is most famous for its outstanding Cardis but has also been successful in Pems and St Bernards. Again our thoughts are with Kim Neilsen and family. On a more cheerful note a couple of exhibitors followed up the League show with open show successes later in the weekend. Tracy and Kath Irving’s Born To Be Your Salt Dog at Twinan won BOB under Karen Powney, plus the group and RBIS under Meg Purnell-Carpenter at North West CA charity open show where Twinan Life’s A Blast was PG4. At Aberystwyth Gareth and Rachel Cross’ Duke of Kurdal at Dewiscor was BOB and G3, as well as being declared best Welsh breed.
SIMON PARSONS
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