Welsh Corgi Club Of Cambria

WELSH CORGI CLUB OF CAMBRIA, Nov 28

PEMBROKES - I was delighted to be asked to judge at the Welsh Corgi Club of Cambria championship show, especially as this was the first club to ask me to do a breed club open show nearly 40 years ago! Thanks to Andrew Morris and his team for running an enjoyable event at Perdiswell Leisure Centre and to my stewards for their help. I appreciated the entry of 78 dogs which is encouraging in today’s conditions. It was a pity that the storm the day before prevented some of the Scottish and Northern Irish exhibitors from making the journey - thanks go to those who did venture out.

The top awards, plus some other class wins, went to imports from a variety of countries or dogs sired by overseas dogs. It’s great that breeders are making good use of the opportunities available these days but I for one wish we could get back to the days when Britain was the hub of the international Pembroke world. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - this will only happen if breeders co-operate with each other and I very much hope we can revert to the time when stud dog services were on offer to all genuine breeders and when newcomers could obtain quality foundation stock from any of the leading kennels. I live in hope!

It’s hard to generalise about the dogs we have today but perhaps points to watch are feet (it’s always difficult to get typical Pembroke feet with the amount of bone that we seem to prefer) and front angulation. That clean neckline and the flow into the topline, which add so much to a look of class and quality, invariably derive from correct angulation and placement of the bones which make up the forehand. Heads are generally at least acceptable, in some cases really lovely.

MPD (2) 1 Irving’s Born To Be Your Stars Align at Twinan, quality boy with an air of style about him, very typical head and expression, well placed ears, sound front, neat feet, super flowing neckline through clean shoulders, enough bone, well bent stifle, moved true and covers the ground well. Well developed in many ways for 7 months and topline will I’m sure level out as he develops. I thought he was rather promising; 2 Rees’ Stadwen Romeo, smart 8 months baby of a more compact build, excellent hindquarters and scored here on topline. Well proportioned head though preferred 1’s pigment. OK bone, winner scored on front angles, feet could be tighter. Went well behind, could have a shade more reach in front. PD (2) 1 Davies’ Andvol Z-Sieger at Ermyn, impressive eye-catching 10 months tricolour, great showman, already with plenty of ring presence, super head with lovely pigment, dark eyes, ears placed just right, correct balance of skull and muzzle, reachy neck which he shows off, plenty of bone, decent front angles, super topline, powerful hindquarters, true mover, sensible degree of ground clearance for a working dog giving him plenty of scope for full maturity. In the challenge he turned it up a gear and went round the ring with remarkable reach, drive and determination, demanding the CC which he got, the first time I’ve given a Pembroke puppy a ticket so I hope the future is kind to him, also won BP over a charming bitch; 2 Coulson’s Woodhenge Star Commander, another eyecatcher with a dramatic outline, classy head type, good neck, excellent topline for a youngster, OK angles, feet rather open. Moved smartly going round but somewhat narrow coming and going and needs more substance overall, suspect he will take some years to fulfil his potential. JD (2) 1 Maddox’s Ellhar Star Rose at Salvenik, smart chap with an iron-hard topline, good male head, alert kind expression, true front, sufficient forechest, OK neck, well made hindquarters, sound mover especially behind, perhaps could have a shade more reach and drive but has much to like; 2 Franchi’s Saniaquinto A Kind Of Magic, lower to ground boy with a good neck, topline and hindquarters, perhaps slightly long in loin, slightly stronger head type but well proportioned, a shade elbowy standing and on the move, true behind, enthusiastic side gait. YD (1) 1 Roberts’ Rosewood Sea Dragon of Cherastayne, beautiful tricolour of great quality with the most lovely head, neck, shoulder, upper arm and bone, gorgeous expression from well placed dark eye, correct chiselling and well placed ears, the right amount of forechest, correct ribbing, moved absolutely true with good reach in front. The puppy just had a shade more drive from the rear today but it was a close run thing and I’m sure a great future beckons. RCC. GD (2) 1 E Star Rose at S; 2 Roper’s Cardigan Bay, smart chap who is gradually getting the hang of the show ring, masculine head with dark eyes, good reach of neck, sensible amount of bone with the proper Pembroke feet that go with it, in good condition, moved true, would prefer a shade more hind angulation and rear drive. PGD (3) 1 Taylor’s Ermyn Razzle Razzle, handsome masculine tricolour, super head proportions, liked him expression, good ribbing, excellent topline, well made hindquarters, could just have a shade more neck and front angulation, moved true behind; 2 Powell’s Pemcader Skyfall with Jemsty, neatly made boy of a smaller type, head in proportion, OK neck, enough bone for his size, typical feet, smart mover though not quite so true behind as 1, keen showman but tended to crouch behind at times; 3 Harrison’s Haresfoot Danny Boy, masculine bobtail tricolour with a stronger head type, good length of ribbing, strongly boned, feet rather round, would prefer a bit more hind angulation. LD (8) Nice even class. 1 Gordon’s Crescenthill Brynlea Moon Glow, appealing tricolour with so much to admire, not least his super overall balance and general air of class and quality. Has a really beautiful head, super eyes and ears, typical Pembroke front with legs fitting well round the chest, excellent topline, enough bend of stifle, looked well going round with a steady side gait. Just needs more width behind on the move; 2 Dover, Saether and Taylor’s Anwyl Tell Me When, smart deep red dog of a squarer balance, super showman who makes the most of his qualities, excellent topline, powerful hindquarters with correct bend of stifle and low hocks, sufficient bone, moved true behind. Alert expression but just preferred winner’s head proportions and front angles; 3 Down’s Elessar Royal Salute, another classy dog with a super head, masculine but still with quality, excellent reach of neck, decent shoulders, strong bone, feet a shade round, OK topline, good hind angles. Appeared a shade longer in loin than 1 and 2 and not quite so ‘all of a piece’ on the move. OD (3) 1 Maddox’s Ch Redfordhill Magic Moments to Salvenik, such a handsome boy with a stallion look, has matured and come on very nicely during and after lockdown, excellent head type which is distinctly male with a quality expression from excellent eyes and ears, good bone, well constructed front with clean shoulders, reachy neck, well ribbed, could just stride out a shade more behind to match his good reach in front. Well in contention in the challenge; 2 Barlow’s Woodhenge Star Agent for Pendrell, nicely balanced typy tricolour bobtail in a smaller mould, such a classy head and expression, just enough bone for his size, well ribbed, moved true but didn’t hold his topline as well as 1; 3 Warner’s Meitza Erik The King, lovely tricolour with an outstanding head and expression, alert, kind and intelligent, with the ideal skull to muzzle proportions, decent neck, good topline and ribbing, gleaming coat, moved true behind, a shade heavy over the front and moved slightly wide, but a classy dog who like 2 should make a worthy champion. VD (2) 1 BVIS Webb’s Cottonfields Perseus, handsome chap in great form at 10 years, such an appealing head and expression - don’t a few grey hairs give a Pembroke an air of distinction? Reachy neck, typical outline, enough bone, a touch long in loin but moved steadily and makes a classy overall picture; 2 Legerton’s Ermyn Time To Dream for Solaw, exuberant 8-year-old tricolour who is quite convinced he is still a puppy! A bigger overall type with plenty of bone and substance and a typical head and expression. Would prefer a shade more bend of stifle. 

MPB (1) 1 Rees’ Stadwen Waltzing Matilda, delightful 8 months baby, pretty feminine head type, good reach of neck, clean shoulders, shapely body and well made hindquarters, a charming pup and I hope time is kind. PB (4) 1 BPB Coulson’s Woodhenge Star Enchantress, if ever a pup was aptly named it’s this one, she’s a little doll with plenty of attitude and an irresistible eyecatching outline to go with it, prettiest of heads, a clean line through the neck and shoulder, well made hindquarters, at 10 months just needs to develop a shade more width through the front but I’m sure many will be as enchanted by her as I was; 2 Irving’s Born To Be Your Caramel Popcorn, nearly 12 months well boned pup of a stronger type in head, bone and body, excellent front, lengthy ribbing, well bent stifle, moved true, just needs to settle in topline; 3 Turner’s Woodhenge Star Dreamer, no surprise to find she’s the winner’s litter sister, equally pretty and feminine, loved her head proportions, dark eyes and well placed ears, enough forechest, sound well made hindquarters used well on the move, not quite the front angles of reach of 1 and 2 but has plenty of promise. JB (5) 1 Wyer’s Cottivy Strawberry Moon, scored heavily here on shape, outline and movement, her excellent angles match front and rear with the result that she moves all of a piece, holding her excellent topline, has a super neck, excellent ribbing and enough substance, a slightly bigger eye might enhance her expression a little; 2 Powell’s Pemcader Kiss And Tell with Jemsty, I think there may well be a really lovely bitch here just waiting to emerge but today she was carrying lots of weight which made her qualities hard to assess and caused her to appear rather heavy in front. Loved her head type, has a good topline and well made hindquarters. Look forward to seeing her after a spell at Weight Watchers; 3 Down’s Elessar Royal Coronet, strongly made tricolour, well proportioned head which could be a shade more feminine, good neck, bone and feet, OK hindquarters, a shade long in loin. YB (4) 1 Warner’s Never Ending Love Story Rudens Legendos, in the good old days there were plenty of lovely bitches around in the UK with this sort of type and quality. Today they are like hen’s teeth so this is one to treasure! Sturdy, sound and workmanlike yet still has class and quality, an attractive well chiselled head and expression, good reach of neck, excellent topline standing and just the right angles, one of the truest movers of the day, beautifully balanced. Only the narrowest of margins separated her from the CC winner and I hope she goes all the way. RCC and RBOB; 2 Legerton’s Anwyl In The Lime Light at Solaw, well angulated dark red bitch, somewhat naked today but had her moments when she showed off a typical outline, excellent hindquarters, good overall balance, OK head type but just preferred 1’s expression, not quite so true in front, moved well when she settled; 3 Wyer’s Cottivy Blue Moon, bigger type of tricolour with an attractive outline, strong bone and an excellent reach of neck, OK front, good head proportions, feet a shade round, would like a bit more hind angulation. GB (2) 1 Creech’s Zydahayes Scarlet Tweed, was rather taken by this quality girl who is of a similar type to the RCC winner. Loved her head type with the right balance of skull to muzzle and correct eye and ear shape, the right amount of bone, shapely body, good overall balance and sound hindquarters with the right angulation. Could have a little more reach in front and stand slightly truer but I loved her type and gave her a second look in the challenge; 2 Davies’ Ceranda By Design, attractive tricolour who could do well when she gets used to the show ring. OK head type if not quite the exceptional expression of 1, good neck, body shape, topline and hindquarters, not too happy on the move today but seemed to go true coming and going from as far as I could assess. PGB (5) 1 Davies’ Cadiha Delilah, a very appealing feminine bitch, so neat and smart, charming head and expression, true front with good feet, super topline, balanced angles and a sound steady mover, Would just like a shade more neck. Won the award for best post grad; 2 A In The Lime Light at S; 3 Coulson’s Woodhenge Sent By An Angel, charming tricolour, another pretty feminine girl with a sweet head, dark eyes, reachy neck and good ribbing, such a showgirl, enthusiastic mover. Just preferred angles and topline of 1 and 2. LB (3) 1 Gordon’s Ryslip Hobnob, very typy sable with a most attractive outline, feminine all through but still sturdily built with enough substance, excels in topline, proper feet, moved soundly but could just put a shade more effort into her side gait. With a bit more oomph could do very well; 2 Irving’s Twinan Finger Licking Good, stronger made girl but still has a feminine head with a lovely expression, plenty of bone, good balance of ribbing and loin, enough substance, true front, not quite so ‘together’ on the move as 1 today; 3 Smith’s Pemlodge Star Appeal, nice type and overall balance with a feminine head, good bone, well bent stifle which she used on the move and had a smart outline. A shade heavy in front today so moved rather wide. OB (5) 1 Blance’s Ch Penliath Bill Me Later, makes an immediate impression with her lovely outline and feminine charm, such a pretty head and expression, a sensible size with bone to balance, correct angles and a flowing line from ears to tail, moved soundly and with reach and drive, keen attentive showgirl, the overall picture took her to CC and BOB; 2 Rees’ Ch Stadwen Tinkerbell, a few sizes bigger but her lovely shape and conformation earned her this place in an excellent class, typical head if not so obviously feminine as 1, super neck and shoulder, another very good mover from all angles; 3 Davies’ Ch Secret Starlight Express into Ermyn, pretty feminine girl who responds so well to her handler, such a typical head, alert expression, enough neck, OK front, well made hindquarters, not quite so firm in topline as 1 and 2 today. VB (4) 1 Barlow’s Highworth Vanity Fair for Pendrell, pretty feminine 7 years girl of a finer type than some, her head type appeals, she has quality bone with typical feet, enough neck and lengthy ribbing, in fit condition, strode out smartly and was close up to the male in the challenge for BV; 2 Wyer’s Brisam Mokka at Cottivy, a quality nearly 8 years tricolour with a bit more strength and substance, one I have always liked but today was a shade heavy and not so firm in topline. Reachy neck, typical head and strong hindquarters; 3 Legerton’s Ermyn Flickering Flame at Solaw, 11 years, another happy veteran from this owner, clearly enjoys her days out, a sturdy girl with super body and hindquarters, slightly stronger head type. A shade heavy in front today.

SIMON PARSONS