Welsh Kennel Club
The only general championship show in Wales, but also one of the most popular on the U.K. show calendar, is of course the Welsh Kennel Club.
The venue, the Royal Welsh Show grounds, is a huge area, and most popular with the caravan fraternity who duly turn this into an annual holiday. The nearest town is the small market town of Builth Wells and is situated pretty much in the middle of Wales, close to the famous Brecon Beacons National Park and has stunning views of the Welsh countryside — perfect for sightseeing.
It's always an emotional beginning when a Welsh men's choir sings the Welsh national anthem, a nice start to the day. This summer due to Covid regulations and a shortage of tentage, the show was held over four days, August 18 through 21. The show is known as a representative one, meaning every breed is allocated challenge certificates, making it very popular with most exhibitors. The caravan site resembles a small town, such are the huge numbers.
And so to the group judging. The first day was Gundogs, and as always huge entries in various breeds: Irish Setters, Labradors and Golden Retrievers, to name three. Winning the group was the English Springer Sandylands Xpress Delivery. The kennel may be familiar to many, as this is a very famous Labrador kennel, and indeed on the day they were also BOB in that breed with Show Ch. Sandylands High Time. There was a competition for the Gundog veterans, and it was a popular win for Leanne Bryant and sister Lisa Nelson's and Beverley Morris' American Cocker American/Irish and UK Ch. Silhouette Troubling Nasaileen.
The Working Group was won by the Bullmastiff Ch. Hyerdunscar On A Mission With Coulbymoor, and the Herding Group by Melanie Raymond’s Australian Shepherd Ch. Brighttouch Drift The Line Through Dialynne. The Dialynne kennel was perhaps more famous for its Beagles and its late founder, the ever-popular Marion Spavin. Melanie is her granddaughter.
The third day, and as always the Toys and Non-Sporting create quite an atmosphere. The Non-Sporting group was won by the brindle French Bulldog Ch. Chelmbull Rocket Man, and Toys was won by the fawn Pug Ch. Taftazini Nepalensis.
And so to the final day, and the Terriers and Hounds. It was very fitting that the Terrier Group should be won by a Welsh Terrier bred in Wales by a Welshman, Phil Davies, who is probably better known for his Kerry Blues under his Perrisblu affix. This dog, Ch. Perrisblu The Equalizer, is handled by another Welshman, Lynn Snow, who is actually a cousin of Peter Green!
And so to the final group, which was the Hounds. Going all the way to BIS and then home to Holland was the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen DK/NDL Ch. Forget-Me-Not v. Tum-Tum’s Vriendjes and her owner Anouk Huikeshoven and her daughter Solelle. This is a well-known kennel around European dog shows. His sire is a Crufts group winner.
As they say in Welsh, "Diolch i chi a gweld chi flwyddyn nesaf!" Thank you, and see you next year.