Four Days in Wales
One of the most popular — and well-attended — shows of the year has to be The Welsh Kennel Club, held in 2023 on August 17 through 20. Maybe not the easiest to travel to, as there are no nearby motorways. But you do travel through one the most beautiful parts of the country, the Brecon Beacons National Park. The name has now been changed to Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, quite why I have no idea, but you would know it’s in a glorious place in mid-Wales.
If you are a visitor taken in by old-world charm, then the showground, situated alongside the small and quaint town of Builth Wells, is perfect. Time hasn't changed it at all. The venue is the permanent site for The Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, one of the few remaining shows of its kind in the country. There you can see every type of farm animal, plus the exciting Welsh Mountain Ponies — now, I can tell that is a sight to be seen!
The dog show itself has now moved to four days. Covid made part of the showground out of bounds and so space was at a premium, making them have to move to an extra day. The entry this year was nearly 6,000 dogs, so as I have said, this is a show very much enjoyed by exhibitors.
Each day begins with a wonderful singing of the Welsh national anthem by a male voice choir, and the whole showground comes to a standstill.
The first day is always a busy one, with the Herding and Working breeds. Topping the Pastoral Group, as the Herding Group is called in the U.K., was the big-winning Australian Shepherd Ch Brighttouch Drift The Line Through Dialynne. Co-owned by Melanie Raymond (handler), Hong Kong-based John Shaw and Kerry Kirtley, at this stage he was the leader in the Dog of the Year title. This was his 18th Group First, and on the day he became the breed’s new record holder with his 45th challenge certificate.
Topping the Working Group was a new face to group winning: the Canadian-imported Leonberger Ch Corleone Navigator at Kalizmar, owned by Lee Studholme.
Second were Toy and Utility (comparable to the Non-Sporting Group in the U.S.). Toys were topped by the big-winning red Miniature Pinscher Ch Hawksflight Hot Pursuit, owned by Tereza Watkins and Jess Bugden. For Tereza this is a new venture, as she is better known for her successful English Setters and Vizlas.
Second was the Italian Greyhound, Christine Chau and James Steele Jr.’s American import Ch/Am Ch Jaros Ferazi Et Tu Brute at Sfizimio.
Utility was won by the Akita Ch Stecal’s All Guns Blazing, co-owned by Fay Bevis (handler), her mother Carol, Rachel Corr and K. Venezia. This kennel has been very successful over many years, and this group win was the dog’s fifth.
Second was the U.S.-imported Schipperke, Am Ch Whispering Pines Lover Boy.
The evening of the second day also saw the traditional dinner, held in nearby Llandrindod Wells (try saying that after a couple of glasses of wine!) with again a speech by The Royal Kennel Club chairman Tony Allcock. This must now be the only show on the circuit that holds a traditional dinner.
Third day were the Terriers and Hounds. Terriers were won by the Smooth Fox Terrier Ch Kanix Quickstep, owned by Kari Wilberg and handled by Warren Bradley.
In the Hounds, the new face to group winning was the Wirehaired Dachshund Ch Tendrow Makes The Right Turn, owned by Roisin Howlett and V. Phillips.
And so to the final day and the biggest group at this show, the Gundogs (Sporting in the AKC system), with 1,200 dogs. It was another Group First for the Weimaraner Sh Ch Gunalt Hendricks, owned by David Alcorn (his handler) and Gavin Ingram. This dog is yet another bred up in Yorkshire by those amazing breeders, Stephen and Patsy Hollings. This kennel has dominated this breed now for so many years and has produced champion after champion.
And so to the final. Stepping in to judge the seven dogs was the Norwegian Espen Engh, famous for his Jet's Greyhounds and latterly Griffon Bruxellois.
A highly experienced judge, he wasted no time in pointing to the Australian Shepherd as his Best in Show, with Reserve to the Weimaraner.