Looking back, Lesley admits that when she bought her from Mary Winsone, she did not fully realise that the beautiful Ch Bulcorig Zola of Cordach (UK) (by Pemland Royal Command) was as good as she was.
Zola came to New Zealand in 1986 in whelp to the now famous UK Ch Belroyd Nut Cracker (also by Royal Command). The litter was spectacular but like Zola, her progeny did not do as well in the show ring as they should have done. It was only the specialists who seemed to realise what they were looking at.
In 1986 Lesley again visited UK and succeeded in convincing Alan Taylor & Idris Jones that Belroyd Puffin should come to New Zealand. Puffin was only a puppy at the time and was a half brother of Nut Cracker & Alan & Idris believed that Puffin could win his title, so the deal was that he should be shown in UK so that his mother , the lovely UK Ch Belroyd Jacana could have the chance of equalling the breed record with four Champion progeny.
UK & NZ Ch Belroyd Puffin (UK)
The day Puffin finished his UK title at the Yorkshire Corgi Club show, another beautiful bitch also claimed hers - the bitch was UK Ch Bulcorig Zenita - one of the prettiest you could wish to see. At her first 6 shows Zenita won 4 CC's and to this day that could still be a record. Some 3 months later Lesley visited UK again & it was agreed with her owner & breeder, the late Connie Lewis, that Zenita should come to NZ.
Mary Winsone had a young dog at the time - the Junior Warrant winner, Cordach Chieftan (again, by Royal Command) & because Mary would not sell him, it was decided that Zenita should visit him before travelling in whelp. Just two weeks after Zenita arrived in NZ, the circumstances changed & Mary offered Chieftan to Lesley.
Neither Chieftan nor Zenita made a great impact in the show ring in NZ. Chieftan simply HATED being shown so he got his 8 CC's and never entered the ring again. Zenita was another story........ With one exception our Antipodean judges couldn't see much to like about her. She only ever won one Challenge - a remarkable reversal of the impact she had in UK!!
Best of Breed at the NZ National Dog Show -1989
Zenita was a sorry tale in terms of breeding - she developed cysts on her ovaries & had to be spayed before she could have another litter. She has to have been the most expensive housepet in NZ!! But what a beauty to enjoy looking at!
Somewhat remarkably Puffin was not a popular stud dog - especially considering his record..... From 6 litters he produced 4 Champions. His stud career was cut short when he went infertile after an infection from a "dirty" bitch. His show career produced 12 Best In Show wins in both NZ & UK. His last appearance in the ring was when at 9 years old he won Reserve Best in Show (All Breeds) Puffin died in September 1999 after 11 years as Lesley's beloved companion. Truly a remarkable corgi & a wonderful little person.
Chieftan was used in a very limited capacity - he was used over 10 bitches and produced 13 champions.
Belroyd Thornberry & Bulcorig Night Shift were also imported to Merthyr. Thornberry was used twice & produced a BIS winning Champion daughter, while Night Shift was also scarcely used and gave us two Champion progeny.
Then came Cordach All About Eve - a litter sister of the UK "twinnies" Cordach Victorian Secret and Tribune. Eve produced so well in her first litter by Chieftan but then ran into fertility problems.
In 1996 came two more Belroyds. Emperor was purchased by Lesley & then the following day won his first CC. He is one of the last sons of the great Nut Cracker. Travelling with Emperor was the young Belroyd Friarbird who was to prove one of the most outstanding dogs of Merthyr.
9 Best in Show at All Breed Championship Shows
4 Best in Show at Specialty Shows
1 Best in Show at Group Championship Show
1 Res Best in Show at Group Champ Show
6 Res Best in Show at All Breeds Champ Show
2 Res Best in Show at Specialty Champ Shows
RUNNER UP SUPREME SHOW DOG 2000
Has qualified for the title NZ GRAND CHAMPION
He has been described by four judges (2 of them Specialists) as the best corgi they have ever judged.
His career as a sire was equally spectacular, but in 2000 tragedy struck again and for reasons still unknown, Ryan lost his fertility.
Dog CC (Puffin) & Bitch CC (Ch Anwyl Tickle My Fancy) at the DWCL Champ Show 6 Oct 1990. Judge: The late Ms Sandra Tonkyn (UK)
In 2001, Merthyr welcomed the arrival of Can/NZ & Aust. Ch Boitano President of Merthyr (USA). Clinton is sired by Am & Can Ch Merthyr And So It Is, was bred for us by Carol Boitano and Robert Simpson & stayed in the loving care of Michelle Doherty Vinall until he was old enough to come to join us in NZ. To date Clinton has sired two Champions. His show record to date is:
3 Best in Show All Breeds Championship Shows
8 Reserve Best in Show AB Championship Show
5 Best in Show Specialty Championship Shows
Later in 2001, Merthyr also welcomed Woodhenge The Dream Keeper from Barry & Sue Coulson in UK. Bugsy later became CH and In March 2004 on the just the 10th occasion he had been shown he won "the biggy" - BEST IN SHOW All Breeds. He has Champion progeny in Canada and America.
CAN/NZ & AUST CH BOITANO PRESIDENT OF MERTHYR (USA)
CH WOODHENGE THE DREAM KEEPER (UK)
Best in Show - All Breeds
Bay of Island Kennel Assn - March 2004
Judge - Mr J Clark (Group) & Mrs G Johnson (BIS)
And so to the future.........
We still desperately seek another stud dog to deepen the gene pool that we are able to work with, but as yet, to no avail. In the meantime we are very fortunate to be in the position of being able to use frozen semen from NZ/UK Ch Belroyd Puffin & Ch Cordach Chieftan
In 1997 Belroyd Icebird arrived in New Zealand. She was a disappointment and so in keeping with our policy that if it's not good enough to show then it's not good enough to breed from, Chole was spayed and put in a pet home without being bred from.
Can & NZ Ch Boitano President of Merthyr - Reserve Best in Show - Waikouaiti Kennel Assn - February 2004 - Judge Mr E Soti
