History Index
The First.
Boosts in South Aust
Imports during the 1980's
Imports during the 1990's
Frozen Semen imports
Field Workers
Other outstanding working Welsh
Australian Grand Champions
Long tailed Welsh Springers
Media exposure
Other firsts for the breed in Aust
Conclusions |
History of Welsh Springer Spaniels in Australia.
(This article was written by
William J. Crozier,for the WSSSC yearbook 2002)
When Beth Marschall asked me to write a piece on
the Welsh Springer Spaniel in Australia for the Year Book, I could
think of no better lead-in than the article I co-wrote as then
President of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of New South Wales
for the National Dog Special Feature in 1985. This basically covered
the first decade of the breed in Australia and I will endeavour
to supplement this with information gained from various sources,
including Kevin O'Neill's excellent book and from discussions
with breeders and exhibitors within Australia.
Although we know that Welsh Springer Spaniels were
imported to Australia far earlier, the first registered litter
was bred only as recently as 1974.
Mr & Mrs S. Jeffery of Lindfield in N.S.W. had
imported Plattburn Pi and Plattburn Paceman from the U.K. At around
that time, Mr Arthur O'Dell of Sydney, N.S.W., finding a photograph
of a Welsh Springer Spaniel in a book on gundogs by Mr Roy Burnell,
fell for the breed (like so many before and after) and managed,
through the R.A.S. Kennel Control, to track down Mr & Mrs
Jeffery as the only registered owners in Australia. He managed
to persuade them to commence breeding and three litters followed
under the Talgarth prefix. An advertisement, taken from the June
1974 issue of Australian Kennel Review and Dog News, advertises
the first litter as follows:
WELSH SPRINGER SPANIELS the only known "Welshies"
in Australia. This ancient and rare breed of Spaniel with its
distinctive red and white colouring, traditionally has superb
working ability and wonderful temperament. PUPS NOW AVAILABLE
whelped 30/4/74 from Ch stock etc ......
The first two examples of the breed shown in Australia were one
owned by Mrs Sally Hartley (of Wildheart German Shorthaired Pointers
and Golden Retrievers fame) and the late Mr Bob Philp, a very
popular and well-known gundog judge, breeder and exhibitor. Mr
Arthur O'Dell and Mr Kevin O'Neill, owners of Talgarth Tim, have
the honour of showing the first Welsh Springer Spaniel at a Sydney
Royal (in 1975) and at this time, Talgarth Tim became the first
Welsh to be awarded a Royal challenge and best of breed. Talagarth
Tim was also enrolled in Obedience training at the Eastern Suburbs
Dog Training Club, when that club was written up as a feature
in the Sydney Morning Herald. As evidence of the unusual breeds
undergoing Obedience training, the Welsh Springer Spaniel was
mentioned. Jim and Sue Simmonds, living at Glebe in N.S.W. at
that time, had read this newspaper feature, became interested
and attended one of the Sunday morning classes. Through this contact,
Mr & Mrs Simmonds were able to get in touch with Mr &
Mrs Jeffery. Mrs Joyce Beaver of Wagga Wagga, N.S.W. (Sue Simmonds'
mother) obtained Talgarth Temptation, closely followed by Jim
& Sue Simmonds obtaining Talgarth Tasha, both whelped in 1974.
In 1975, Mrs Bobbie Hitchcock of Emu Plains in N.S.W. obtained
a bitch, Talgarth Cassandra, from the third and last litter bred
by Mr & Mrs Jeffrey. Talgarth Temptation became the first
Welsh bitch to be awarded a Royal CC and B.O.B., at the 1976 Sydney
Royal, with Talgarth Tasha taking Reserve CC. Both bitches went
on to become Australian Champions, with Temptation being apparently
the first Welsh to gain a championship in Australia. Bobbie Hitchcock's
Talgarth Cassandra subsequently went on to make up her Australian
Championship and both she (in 1978) and Jim & Sue Simmonds'
Talgarth Tasha went on to take their Obedience titles (Companion
Dog, or CD). By 1976, all other registered dogs of Talgarth breeding
had ceased to be shown and the genetic pool of Welsh Springers
in Australia was crying out for new blood. This came in the form
of a promising ddog, Pencelli Prospect, imported after much negotiation
in 1976 by Jim & Sue Simmonds from the kennels of the late
Mr Harold Newman in the U.K. Subsequent matings of Prospect ("Rufus")
in 1976, first to Tasha and then to Temptation started one of
the important landmarks of Welsh Springer Spaniels in Australia:
Pennylon Kennels in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Bobbie Hitchcock followed
suit and mated Cassandra ("Cassie") ro "Rufus",
commencing her Rhiwderin Kennels. Notably, from this litter, Rhiwderin
Ashdon went on to gain his CD in Obedience. Besides his obvious
influence on the Welsh Springer Spaniel via breeding programs
for many years, "Rufus" created one further very important
milestone; he was the first exhibit of the breed to be awarded
the prestigious best exhibit in show at an all-breeds show, by
Mr Roy Burnell, in December 1978.
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BOOST IN S.A.: This initial intake of new blood
was soon to be boosted in 1978, Mr Bob Lott from SA imported Dalati
Gammath from the UK. His joining of the established Pennylon breeding
with his own lines have produced a distinctive Welsh Springer
type in SA> In 1979, Bobbie Hitchcock imported Hillpark Cicero
from Mrs Annne Walton in the UK and matings of Cicero with various
Welsh bitches have produced progeny which have achieved championship
status. (Aust Ch Rhiwderin Bryn, Aust Ch Brynderyn Bronwyn). Another
important event which was to further shape the Welshie scene in
Australia was taking place in 1978. In Rotorua, New Zealand, Scott
& Eira Taylor had imported Eng Sh Ch Tregwillym Golden Gem
and her grandson, Tregwillym Taliesin, from Mr Payne in the UK.
Mr & Mrs Taylor started breeding Welsh Springers in NZ under
the "Warwick" prefix. In 1980 they emigrated to Australia
and established the Nantyderi Kennels in Tamworth, NSW> Since
then, Golden Gem ("Gemma") has been mated to quite a
few Welsh dogs, including their own Nantyderi and Warwick breeding
and Levana (Originally Val Giblin, NZ) breeding. Scott & Eira
have shown preference ffor having Welshies of their breedding
shown to championship level in both Australia and New Zealand
to give Dual Championship status.
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EMERGING FROM RARITY - IMPORTS DURING THE 1980'S
The 1980's decade will be known as the time of initial consolidation
of the Welsh Springer Spaniel in the Australian show scene (particularly
in NSW), as well as one of emergence of the breed from the ranks
of gundog rarity. In 1980, Mary & David Forbes (Milwwrmlaen
Kennels) imported a bitch, Dalati Myfanwy, and mated her to Pencelli
Prospect. One bitch Milwrmlaen Calon Lan was purchased by Sylvia
& Bill Crozier (Slyvkin Kennels) and shown to her Australian
Championship title. New Zealand has provided most of the imports
in the early 1980's. Peter Montgomerie arrived with NZ Ch Levana
Benson, Scott & Eira Taylor with Eng Sh Ch/NZ Ch Tregwillym
Golden Gem, NZ Ch Tregwillym Talesin, NZ Ch Warwick Red Handed
and NZ Ch Levana Adam Laird; Pat & Graeme Swainger from Victoria
imported Levana Cymry and bred with some success under their Lurgun
Kennels prefix; Jim & Sue Simmonds imported NZ Ch Dalati Heledd
(originally from the UK); comparatively recently, Peter Jones
of Ryde, NSW, has Bryndoain Brigadier (now taken to his Australian
Championship title) from Mr & Mrs P. Lawless, (who themselves
have been importing stock from Northey Kennels in the U.K. over
recent years).
More recently, a moderate relaxation of Australian quarantine
regulations on U.K. imports have seen Welshie fanciers starting
to negotiate with the U.K. breeders. In 1982 Peter Jones (Plattwood
Kennels) has added Delkens Travino, a dog from the U.K. and, in
1983 Balcraig Blazeaway, a bitch from Scotland, to his imported
stock. These have both been shown to Australian Championship level.
In December 1984, Sylvia & Bill Crozier (Slyvkin Kennels)
and Mary & David Forbes (Milwrmlaen Kennels) have jointly
imported the first Welsh Springer bitch in whelp, Eng Sh Ch Beaconside
Siw (in whelp to Eng Sh Ch Dalati Sioni) and a young dog, Janodda
Tomos. "Siw" has come from Mr John Thirwell of Ferndel
Kennels and "Tomos" from Squadron Leader Conway and
the late Mrs Conway of Janodda Kennels. Following on, the Crozier/Forbes
combination (under the jointly-owned HenEpil Kennels) imported
the bitch Bryndoain Genevieve from Pat & Sue Lawless in New
Zealand.
Also in this year, the Swaingers in Victoria imported a dog, Bryndoain
Elesar, and the Taylors imported a dog, Bryndoain Aramis, both
from N.Z. During 1985, Mr & Mrs Randell of Tregroes Kennels
(NSW) returned to Australia, bringing their bitch Rockypoint Redcliffe
Rula. Additionally, during the 1980's, at least one pup from Wybourne
Kennels of Fay & Trevor Symes (N.Z.) was imported to Western
Australia. Three new Welshie imports arrived from the U.K. during
1988. Penny Meulenkamp of Oakdean Kennels (Victoria) brought in
the dog, Fiveacres Firecracker J.W., Peter Jones and Kevin O'Neill
of Plattwood Kennels (NSW) brought in the bitch Aranwr Equinox,
and Sylvia Brackman of Cobcroft Kennels (NSW) brought in the dodg,
Eng Sh Ch Menstonia Torville of Tamaritz. In 1989, Sylvia &
Bill Crozier (Slyvkin Kennels) brought in a bitch, Country Maaid
of Ferndel in whelp to Dalati Capten of Michandra; Bobbie Hitchcock
(Rhiwderin Kennels) brought in a bitch Hillpark Rhapsody; Jon
& Jill Endycott (Featherdale Kennels) brought in a dog, Aranwr
Pyderi. These three were all U.K imports to NSW Kennels; the other
in this year was a bitch from N.Z., Bryndoain Jillian, brought
in by Adele Rodgers of Cliffmoor Kennels in Tasmania.
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Index
IMPORTS DURING THE 1990'S
1991 saw Sylvia & Bill Crozier import a young dog, Ferndel
Richardson, from the U.K. to their Slyvkin Kennels. In 1992, Sylvia
Brackman imported Knockmains Glenfiddich from the U.K. N.Z. Ch
Ap Daffyd Gorowny came in from Conrad Hardy's ApDaffyd Kennels
in N.Z., to be campaigned by Robyn Nicholson in Qld. Conrad also
imported Welkin Rosa Mundi from N.Z. This bitch joined Jan &
Doug Maclean at their Lornelane Kennels in N.S.W. 1996, Dr. Mary
Davies (S.A.) brought a dog from the U.K., Wainfelin Owain Cwmreig.
During 1977, Sylvia & Bill Crozier (N.S.W.) imported a dog,
Red Baron of Tregaron, from Tregaron Kennels in N.Z., Sue Barugia
(S.A.) imported a dog, Bryndoain Wildfire, also from N.Z., and
Sylvia Brackman (N.S.W.) brought in a bitch, Parkmist Bright Destiny.
1998 saw two bitches imported from Yasha Kennels in N.Z., Yasha
Miss Kiwi Girl, to Sylvia & Bill Crozier (N.S.W.) and Yasha
Kee Ora Silver Tuai, to Ellen Davies & Robert Illingworth
(A.C.T.), both on the same flight. This concludes 25 or so years
of Welshie imports to Australia. However, live animal importation's
were not the only method to increase the genetic pool in this
country.
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Index
FROZEN SEMEN IMPORTS.
During the 1990's, improvements within medical technology have
enabled breeders to import frozen semen from the country and the
stud dog of their choice, with good success rates when AI is performed.
Peter Jones/Kevin O'Neill (N.S.W.) imported semen from Am Ch Statesman
Spectacular Bid (U.S.A.) in 1997 and Dalview Dancing Master (U.K.)
in 1999. Trevor & Beth Marschall (S.A.) brought in semen from
three Swedish dogs in 1997. These are Don's Serious Moonlight,
Don's Thoroughbred and N Uch Don's Tva Solroda Segel.
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Index
FIELD WORKERS.
At this point, it would be appropriate to mention field work in
the seventies with the Welsh Springer Spaniel. Although various
owners may have worked their Welshies, whilst shooting, the first
documented reference appears to be an article by Mr Cliff Bilston
of Victoria. He described a shooting trip during the 1977 duck
season in Victoria, in which his virtually untrained Welsh bitch
retrieved in fine style. This was followed by equally adept retrieves
of quail and rabbits. Mr Bilston ended his article in National
Dog Newspaper of August 1977 with the catch-phrase 'Welshies are
wonderful', a motto which has caught on with other Welsh Springer
owners in Australia. During the 1990's David and Yvonne Tomkinson
(Nelemn Kennels, Tasmania) proudly saw their dog Aust Ch Penbryn
Nelson of Bronte NRD, become the first Welsh in the world to have
gained formal accreditation in Show, Non-slip Retrieving Trials
and Field Trials. David regularly shot over Nelson, while hunting
in Tasmania and was full of praise for his dog's retrieving skills.
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Index
OTHER OUTSTANDING WORKING WELSHIES.
In S.A., Trevor & Beth Marschall's dog, Aust Ch Penbryn Bonaparte
CDX,ET,TD became the first Welsh to pass a tracking trial in Australia,
as well as an Endurance Test, to go with his obedience qualifications.
In the A.C.T., Jill Campain's dog, Dual Ch Plattwood Paddy holds
his show championship, UD,TDX, and ET, becoming the first Welsh
in Australia to fully qualify in tracking and obedience. Back
to S.A., Laugharne Abby CDX,AD,ET became the first Welsh to achieve
an agility title and Irma Crews' dog, Aust Ch Laugharne Cyrus
CD,ET,ADM,JD, has become at present the only Welsh in Australia
(possibly the world) to achieve the Masters title in agility.
Moving to N.S.W., Brian & Debbie Flynn's dog, Aust Ch Slyvkin
Quartermaster CD,BH, is the first and only Welsh so far in Australia
to compete in Schutzhund and to achieve his Begleitheunde (BH)
title. Congratulations to all the above clever working Welshies
for their ground-breaking achievements.
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Index
AUSTRALIAN GRAND CHAMPIONS
In Australia, to gain Aust. Grand Champion status, exhibits have
to accrue at least 1000 challenge points. So far, there have been
only seven Welsh to qualify for this recent title, however others
of the breed such as Ch Pencelli Prospect (Imp UK) and Ch Pennylon
Fergus, have gained 1000 or more points in the show ring prior
to the award becoming available.
The first to qualify as Aust. Grand Ch. was Kim Stagg's dog Ch
Goldmaid Diamond Duke. The others are Debbie Meaghor's Ch Goldmaid
Topaz Terror, Steve Watson's Ch Cliffmoor Blakeney, Viki &
Mal Hume's Ch Tregaron Afon Mynach, Ellen Davies & Robert
Illingworth's Ch Aquitaine Dvorak, Robyn Nicholson's NZ/Aust Ch
ApDaffyd Gorowny and the only bitch in the list, Debbie Meaghor's
Ch Goldmaid Wild Style
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LONG-TAILED WELSH SPRINGERS
Quite a few Welshie owners over the last few years have chosen
to leave tails on and this includes a few who have exhibited examples
with undocked tails. This is a personal choice and the ANKC breed
standard certainly allows Welsh Springers to be exhibited undocked.
For those who have not seen any, the finished product is a Welsh
with a quite well-furnished setter-like tail. The first undocked
examples to be exhibited at shows in Australia were Rhidwerin
Cynffon and Plattwood Pollyanna, both owned by Stephen and Fiona
Ross. Plattwood Pollyanna also became the only Australian-bred
Welsh Springer to be awarded Best Maiden Bitch at a UK show, Tay
Valley Gundog Show, in 1988. Probably the first undocked Welsh
Springer to win at class-in-group level in Australia was Crozier's
Dog, Slyvkin Pennaf, who won Puppy-in-Group under Mr R. Marshall
at Albion Park K. C. Championship Show in 1993. At Sydney Royal
Easter Show, which traditionally draws the largest Welsh Springer
entry of Australian Royals, Crozier's undocked Ch Slyvkin Vilette,
won Reserve CC bitch 1998 and 1999. Hitchcock's Rhiwderin Copper
Penny went one better when she won bitch CC at 2001 Sydney Royal.
Flynn's Ch Slyvkin Quartermaster CD,BH has already been noted
in the section on working Welshies. This dog is also undocked.
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Index
MEDIA EXPOSURE IN AUSTRALIA
Apart from many occasions where owners/breeders have taken paid
advertisements to place photos in National Dog diaries, Welsh
Springer Spaniel breed features, and so on, the breed has been
featured in various publications, on television and in advertising
media as follows:
The first Australian Welsh to represent the breed was Crozier's
Ch Milwrmlaen Calon Lan, who appeared in Roy Burnell's book "Sporting
Dogs" in 1983. She was followed by Jones' Ch Bryndoain Brigadeir
Imp NZ in Prosser & Trafford's book "What Dog Is That?
100 Breeds of Dogs in Australia" in 1984.
In The WSSC (UK) Yearbook of 1983-84 and again in John Phillips'
book "The Essential Welsh Springer Spaniel" of 1985
(and again in the second edition of 1990), Crozier and Forbes'
Eng sh Ch/Aust Ch Beaconside Siw (Imp UK) appears as the joint-leading
challenge-winning bitch of 1983 in the UK>
Jones' dog Plattwood Perchance appeared on the cover of the RASKS
Journal 1n 1987 and, in 1988, "Lucky Dog" used three
Plattwood puppies (including Proclamation and Primrose) to advertise
their dog food. In 1990, Family Circle magazine used one of Crozier's
pups, Slyvkin Glyndwr, in a photo shoot for their April issue.
The National Dog Gundog Review in 1991 used a photo of a young
dog, HenEpil Brychan, bred and originally owned by Crozier &
Forbes, to illustrate the Welsh Springer Spaniel. An Australian
Welshie doing well overseas, Crozier's Aust Ch/NZ Ch Penbryn Braint,
on loan to the Ash family in NZ, was featured on the front page
of the Waihi Leader Newspaper in 1991. Additionally, the N.Z.K.C.
used his photo to advertise their leading ddog show, the Tux National,
in several monthly issues of the N.Z. Kennel Gazette during 1992.
In 1995, Helen Furber used a 1986 photo of Crozier's dog, Ch Janodda
Tomos (Imp UK), to illustrate the breed in "Concise Encyclopedia
of Dogs".
In early 1999, TV program"Animal Hospital", looking
at tail docking in dogs, featured Crozier's Ch & NZ Ch Penbryn
Braint as a docked example and his kennel mate, Slyvkin Jenny
Wren, as an undocked example. Also in 1999, Davies & Illingworth's
Grand Ch Aquitane Dvorak represented the breed on TV programme
"Harry's Practice", filmed at Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Still later in the year,a Welshie, Hume's Ch Tregaron Afon Mynach
I am told, appeared on the cover of the October 1999 Royal NSW
CC Journal. In S.A., Marschall's Ch Laugharne Highwaymsn ET was
used to illustrate a children's book on the TV programme, The
Book Place, while Criws' Ch Laugharne Cyrus CD,ET,ADM was featured
in an advertisement for a land development. Blackwell's Ch Lornlane
Spellbound was also featured on the TV programme "Harry's
Practice".
2001 saw "Petchef" dog food use Murray's dog, Carnmenyn
Austin, to advertise their product, while a 2001 issue of the
Southern Highlands Post Newspaper featured, on the front page,
the successes of Crozier & Marschall's Ch Laugharne Khufuu
(AI) at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
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Index
OTHER 'FIRSTS' FOR THE BREED IN AUSTRALIA
Many of the firsts' achieved by Welshies in Australia have already
been listed earlier. Others not described so far include Bobbie
Hitchcock's Ch Talgarth Cassandra CD, the first Welsh to gain
a CD title in Aaustralia, 1n 1978. Simmonds and Beaver's Ch Pencelli
Prospect (Imp UK) was the first of the breed to achieve Best Exhibit
in Group in Australia in 1977, his Best in Show first in 1978
being noted earlier, in 1983, his progeny, Ch Pennlyon Fergus
and Pennlyon Alfrida waer the first pair of Welsh Springers to
be awarded Best in Group and Runner Best in Group at the same
show. Ch Bryndoain Brigadier (Imp NZ) has been an ambassador for
the breed during the 1980's. His win of Best in Show at a metropolitan
all-breeds show of 1400 entry in 1987 was a first and his 3 Best
in Show at Welsh Springer Spaniel Club shows was a record, until
overtaken by Ch Slyvkin Ivanhoe (IID) with 4 Best in Show wins
at Welsh Springer Spaniel Club shows. Davies & Illingworth's
Ch Slyvkin Ivanhoe (IID) allso holds the record for the largest
Welsh Springer Spaniel breed challenge, when he beat 26 other
male Welshies uner breed specialist John Thirwell (UK) at the
1993 WSSC of NSW show. This 1993 club show is still the largest
breed entry of Welshies in Australia, with 60 exhibits. Crozier's
Ch Penbryn Josephine won the largest breed bitch challenge by
22 other female Welshies, in 1993. In an era when Welsh entries
were larger than now, Ch/NZ CH Penbryn Braint's 23 point challenge
at Sydney Royal in 1990 is still the record Royal challenge at
Welshie breed level. It should be realised that most of these
challenge sizes will ultimately be beaten, since a change to the
method of scoring points for challenges brought in by the ANKC
in the year 2000 has resulted in the Best of Breed winner accruing
points for exhibits beaten of both sexes, so larger challenge
points will result in the future. At the time of writing, however
the previously mentioned records are still current. Crozier and
Marschall's Ch Laugharne Khufuu(AI) holds the best result at a
major Australian Royal Show when he was placed 4th in Gundog Group
out of 715 entries at Sydney Royal in 2001.
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Index
CONCLUSIONS
In writing any piece of history of this type, it is inevitable
that someone, some dogs, or some snippets of information must
inadvertently be left out and if this causes any offense to anyone,
I apologise. I wrote this history of the Welsh Springer Spaniels
in Australia from the information available to me at the time.
Finally, in writing much of this, I felt incredible nostalgia,
since I have competed against in shows, or run around the show
ring with, or simply just met, or in later years even judged in
the show ring, so many of the Welsh Springers listed in this article.
And they were, or still are, a great group of dogs. Some of the
earlier owners and breeders have left the ranks and have been
replaced with newer enthusiasts. Many of the older brigade still
remains. It is in all our hands to continue to further the Welsh
Springer Spaniel in Australia. A final phrase springs to mind
- "Welshies are wonderful".
William J. Crozier,
Owner, breeder, exhibitor and Judge of Welshies.
Inaugural President of Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of NSW.
References:
1. National Dog, June 1985, The Welsh Springer Spaniel Special
Feature.
2. National Dog, Gundog Review, September 1991
3. The Welsh Springer Spaniel in Australia, Kevin O'Neill, 1990
4. Australasian Gundog, Vol12, No.1, 2001, The Welsh Springer
Spaniel Special Feature.
5. Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of NSW Newsletter, various issues.
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