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In 1986 Patrick and I realized the bloodline we had been using heavily had dead-ended for us. We looked to the United Kingdom for an infusion of new blood.

The first dog we brought in was Ch. Kentwood Lyneth. She had been the first dog exported from Kentwood kennels in over 10 years. Her acquisition was prefaced by years of corresponding with her breeder, the late Sonnica Godden. What a fortuitous find Lyneth was! She was exactly what we needed to cross to our established line, and she turned out to be a wonderful producer.

In 1988 Patrick went to England to visit several kennels. We wanted to bring back several stud dogs, and some young bitches. We talked for months to many English breeders about who was available and whether they could help us achieve our goals.

The first kennel Patrick visited was "Salvenik" belonging to Theresa Maddox. She had two young males available, one a rich red sable and the other a beautiful red brindle. These two dogs were full brothers, and 1/2 brothers to Lyneth from the same sire. We chose the sable for several reasons, the least of which was his lovely color. "Rupert" has also been a wonderful addition to our breeding program.

 

Rupert is shown above finishing his championship with Connie Whan handling. He also finished his Canadian championship easily and was ranked in Canada for the summer he showed there.

Rupert is known for his strength of character and he threw his wonderful temperament to his puppies. Theresa told us he was "bomb-proof" and she was so right!  He moved from house to house with no transition time and became attached to every human who ever took care of him.  He was impossible not to love.

He sired Am./Can. Ch. Phi-Vestavia Nautilus, PT in his first litter in the states. He has also sired 23 other champions, including Ch. Davenitch Sandpiper, who has been a very influential sire, and OTCH/Ch. Phi-Vestavia Spyglass our most recent breed Obedience champion. Rupert's eagerness to please also seems to be inherited as he has thrown many performance children including two CH/UD's!

Rupert died in 1999 at the age of 13.  He left behind quite a legacy of top winning and producing children -- besides many friends and admirers.



The next kennel Patrick visited was the Joseter kennel of Peter and Ann Clifton. We were interested in an older red brindle we had admired in pictures for years. Joseter Geefax was 6 1/2 years old when he arrived in the states. He was a smallish dog of beautiful proportions. His front assembly is still one of the most perfect I have ever seen. His personality on arrival left a lot to be desired, but he developed his confidence with time and turned into a wonderful house dog and companion.

Jeeper's temperament was a lot "tougher" than Rupert's. He was more headstrong and stubborn, but channeled, he could outwork or outperform dogs half his age. He took to herding, but never earned his herding title because of his age and the newness of the AKC herding program. His children have amazing performance abilities, and have excelled in all areas including obedience, herding, tracking and agility.

 

Jeepers finished his championship undefeated in only 4 shows (5, 5, 4, 1) over a two week period. He was only shown a few times past his championship and the highlight of his career was winning Best Veteran in Sweepstakes at the CWCCA Jubilee National at 10 1/2 years old. Jeepers was used for 18 months before illness ended his stud career. He left one champion in England and produced 19 champions in the states and many, many performance titled children.

Jeepers died in 1994 at the age of 12 1/2. One of my deepest regrets is not having him his full life -- my time with him was much too short.


After acquiring Jeepers, Patrick went to see a young bitch named Eng. Ch. Joseter Benita who belonged to Lorraine Smart of Rikarlo kennel. Benita was a Reserve Best in Working Group winner -- the only bitch alive to have accomplished this amazing feat in England. Her sire was a full brother to Geefax, so her pedigree intrigued us also. Benita was obviously not for sale, but we were interested in her upcoming breeding to the reigning star, Eng. Ch. Joseter Joson. Patrick reserved the first pick bitch puppy and we waited anxiously for news of Benita's litter.

Beauty was born in September of 1988. She was a lovely black brindle with a big beauty mark on the white of her muzzle. We finally got to see her in person in early 1989 -- and what a beauty she was. She finished her American championship by going Best of Breed from the classes several times, including at a supported show. Her Canadian championship went just as easily.

 

Beauty's English littermates have had an enormous impact on the breed. Ch. Rikarlo Amos of Ringinglow has sired some lovely puppies. Rikarlo Annjka, owned by Sandra Tonkyn was Best in Show at the CWCA 70th Jubilee show in 1996 at eight years of age.

Beauty only produced one litter of show puppies.  In that litter were Ch. Phi-Vestavia Ultrasonic, a young dog who died tragically young due to a brain tumor.  Another daughter, Can. Ch. Phi-Vestavia Unforgettable founded Merrymoon kennel for Barb Hoffman in Canada.  "Rosie" has continued Beauty's bloodlines by producing many specialty and all breed winners in Canada and the States.


Also imported because of Patrick's trip were Ch. Gwenlais Glynis Glyfar, who now belongs to Debbie Brooks of Ula Mauna kennels. Glynis produced Ch. Phi-Vestavia Spyglass, UD and Ch. Phi-Vestavia Synchronicity for us and has gone on to produce several champions for Debbie.  Glynis is now competing as a Veteran and has been doing well in specialty and all-breed competitions.  She looks marvelous for her 11 years!

Beckrow Black in Fashion was also brought in for Ed and Nancy Warczak. Timmy was bred to Am./Can. Ch. Jason's Bijou, UD and produced a litter of 6, all of whom finished their championship for Springshire kennels.


In 1992 Bob Caldwell and Helen Jones imported Eng. Ch. Joseter Joson for Kennebec Kennels outside of Cleveland, Ohio.  Joson had won the Association show in England several times and was also Best Cardigan at Crufts 6 times. Although Joson was almost 10 when he was imported he has produced wonderfully in the states. We have used him twice with success and he appears in the pedigree of many of our contemporary champions.

Later that year, we imported, Eng. Ch. Beckrow Blue Cedar from Sandra Tonkyn.  We brought in Woody for establishing a blue line for us in the states. Woody easily finished his American and Canadian championships.  He has produced nicely for us, and ironically produced the best litters bred to Joson daughters.

In 1998 Am/Can. Ch. Phi-Vestavia Evan Evans was exported to England for Joseter Kennels.  Evan was a stud fee puppy that Bob & Helen acquired from our breeding of Joson to Ch. Phi-Vestavia Luck Be A Lady.  When Evan came out of his six-month quarantine, he quickly earned his UK Championship and was the top-winning Cardigan in the UK for 1999.  In 2000 he won the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Association Specialty show becoming the first foreign-bred dog to ever win this honor.

 
 
Pictured above are Woody and Sonny the first year they were in the states.  These two males were the top male CC holders in England with Joson holding 33 CCs and Woody holding 30 CCs. Both have also been the top studs in England. As an interesting note: at the 70th Jubilee show in England, Woody's son was best male and Sonny's daughter was best bitch and Best in Show!!!

Since the early 90's most of the winners at the National Specialties have gone back to at least one of above dogs.  All of the All-Breed Best in Show Winners over the last two decades go back to these dogs.  The top-winning Cardigan of all time, Ch. Kingsbury Carbon Copy, winner of 25 all-breed Best in Shows and many, many specialties is a grandaughter of Joseter Geefax.  Not only did these imports win well, they produced beautifully to American lines.

So, the English Influence has come full-circle.  From using English dogs to improve and strengthen our breeding program, we have also been able to "give some back" in the form of Evan, who will hopefully be an influential stud in the UK.