Lesley's mother does not like dogs, so as a child she was never allowed one as a pet. Allan now says that she has spent the rest of her life making up for lost time!
When Lesley left Hastings to live in Wellington, she stopped on the way at Raumati Beach and bought her first dog - a corgi. He was Aramis of Rondo, a dark red and white by Ch Tintagel Mr Tod. Thinking she was being ever so original, she called him Taffy. It was as a result of Taffy that Lesley met Allan - he had a corgi called Taffy too. They were married in 1972 (Allan and Lesley, that is - not the two Taffys!!) and got Pecos Andrew - a stunning sable by Ch Starmyre Shandygaff (Imp UK) & he was followed by Gypsy of Sunnybrae - "Muffin" (by Peter Pan of Wharema)
PECOS ANDREW - "Bandit"
Bandit's first "Big Win" was at the Dominion Welsh Corgi League Championship Show judged by Miss Patsy Hewan on 26 January 1974. He won Best Sable !!!! Lesley is very competitive by nature & was wise enough to realise that she was never going to "hit the big time" with the two dogs she had, so she ordered a dog puppy from Sheila Bailey. He was Beaumaris Battlesong, by Ch Crocket of Wey (UK) ex Ch Volpini Melba. His baby career gave Lesley the taste of winning that she craved for and she was devastated when at only 5 months old he began losing his baby teeth and it was discovered too late that he was haemophiliac.
A significant learning curve followed after losing Battlesong & this was marked with the arrival of Stormwey Erasmas. Again, by Ch Crocket of Wey (UK), Rassie was out of Ch Bowmore Marianne (Aust) & bred by Bruce & Barbara Hyde.
STORMWEY ERASMUS - "Rassy"
Rassy was a quality dog but he had pointed ears so Lesley learnt all about fault judges!!!!!!!! He was also significant because Lesley won her very first Challenge Certificate with Rassy. Rassy lived to a good age but only after he had to have an eye removed due to glaucoma and he also had to have the equivalent of "hip surgery".
Muffin had been bred from, continuing the Blands lines & coming down from her was a pretty little tri bitch who was sent to Australia to be mated to Jean Johnson's, Aust Ch Dawco Midnight Sparkle. From this mating came not only the first Merthyr Champion, but also the first homebred Best in Show winner (Ch Merthyr Rather Special) as well as the first Australian Champion for Merthyr (Aust Ch Merthyr Special Sparkle.) This litter also produced Merthyr Special Love who was bred to the first Merthyr import - NZ & Aust Ch Theldaroy Aussie Rebel (Aust) & they produced Ch Merthyr Midnight Rebel - a multi BIS winner of her time including Best of Group at the NZ National Dog Show.
CH MERTHYR RATHER SPECIAL
NZ & Aust Ch Theldaroy Aussie Rebel (Aust)
On her first trip to UK in 1985, Lesley fell in love with Pemland Royal Command & this dog was to have a significant impact on what Lesley calls the "Nouveau Merthyrs". "Nouveau" because the encounter with Royal Command changed Lesley's thinking about the style of corgi she liked.. ................
