Memories 2
For over 20 years, we kept a bitch line going and selected stud dogs from the wide choice of dogs in New Zealand and Australia, and back then it was easier to send bitches across the Tasman for breeding and bring them straight back than it is now. But in the early 1980's the choice didn't seem so great and we went to UK where the strength of the breed was at that time to select a male. Eng Ch Blands Status Symbol impressed us with his breed type, and his wonderful outgoing temperament . We then went to view the bitches that were in whelp to him and settled on Belroyd Meadow Lark ( later Am. Ch), putting in an order for the pick red male. We were still in UK when they were born and although Idris reported that the only red male was "just a plain little dog" we visited as soon as we could. It was true, he was a plain little pup over shadowed by seven larger flasher siblings, but somehow he pleased us, and the order stood and when Bruce returned to view him at 8 weeks, there was his sire's fun temperament and "Luke" was ours.
NZ & Aust Ch Belroyd Ocean Flyer (Imp UK)
"Luke" won Best Puppy in Show at his debut - Central Welsh Corgi League, several more All Breeds Best Puppy in show awards and topped that off with Best Puppy In Show NZ All Breeds National Show, under Harry Jordan (UK).
He won the first NZ wide Contest of Champions, and he won his last challenge from the Veteran class at the first NZ Corgi National - and retired.
And in between times he filled the ring with lovely progeny .
In 1988 we went to the English League Jubilee and as well on that visit Bruce judged at Birmingham Show and the following day we went to Belroyd to see a litter from Eng Ch Belroyd Popinjay as we had a bitch puppy ordered. There were two lovely bitches and it was agreed that whichever they chose to keep, we would have the other one. On leaving we compared notes and both of us had fallen for a very pretty dog puppy . Yes, he was pretty ! We went back in and were told that the pick male belonged to Art and Pat Sandy-Smith, but they had yet to make their selection. Idris asked me not to tell him which one I wanted as it would put him in an awkward position, and so we returned to NZ with an agreement that he would phone us when they had chosen their puppy. I couldn't believe how lucky I was when the phone call came and the puppy left was "the one with the pencil blaze" - Merlin ! Incidently, the bitch that accompanied him was the one I preferred too.
Two months later Merlin and Lily arrived. She was a perfect little corgi and he was a 'load of legs' but we were thrilled with both. Lily (Ch) Belroyd Sanderling was a winner from the start with a very early specialty Best in Show, and strangely a couple of very experienced International all rounders recognised something in Merlin and he took his first AB Best in Show from the Puppy class. I could hardly believe it !
Ch Belroyd Stormbird (Imp UK)
That litter from Popinjay turned out to be Internationally significant. The bitch that stayed at Belroyd - Ch Shorelark produced multiple UK champions and those bred on well. In American Pat & Arty's Ch Belroyd Seabird produced many champions and those also bred on well.
When we put Merlin to Flight of Fancy the results were everything we hoped for: below a dog and bitch from that litter:
Left (Ch) Tickle My Fancy
right (Ch) Fancyman
"Fancy Man" had a very good career in the South Island including an early Best in Show All Breeds, and in his only litter he produced multiple champions. Unfortunately he was killed in a farm accident very young.
But it was Tickle who re-wrote the record books. She won at the highest level from 6 months on, including Best In Show at her first Specialty from the Minor class. After about 7 Specialty Best In Shows she topped off her career with Best In Show NZ AB National under Leonard Pagliero OBE.
Contact Details
Robin RobertsonHills Area, NSW, Australia
Phone : 0411071578 (email contact preferred)
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