The North of England Welsh Sprin

North Of England

Welsh Springer Spaniel Club

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North Of England

Welsh Springer Spaniel Club

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History

The Club

There are three Clubs in England and one in Wales supporting the Welsh Springer Spaniel of which ours is the youngest. It was formed in August 1990 at a meeting held at Cragbank near Carnforth and given an area of influence, which stretches from the Trent in the South to the Scottish Borders in the North, by the Kennel Club. We aim to promote the health, well being and all aspects of showing and working this dual purpose dog.

The Club was given Championship Show status in 2000 when the first show was judged by two stalwarts of the breed, Ken Burgess (Dogs) and John Phillips (Bitches). They respectively awarded their C.C’s to Tain and Wilson’s Taimere’s Paprika and Thirlwell and Dalrymple’s Dalville Dancing Water with the bitch being acclaimed Best in Show.

As with the other three regional clubs CC’s are rotated being allocated by the Kennel Club two year out of three. The club presently holds two shows a year, their Championship Show being held in April at Doncaster and the Open Show being held in December near Barnsley.

The Club was instrumental in assisting in the formation of the Joint Health Group who were tasked with upholding good health within the breed and seeking to eradicate hereditary problems through active involvement with the other Welshie breed clubs.

It is hoped that this web site will assist in disseminating useful information, about the club and the breed in general, to both members and all those other people to whom the Welsh Springer is a breed apart.

The Breed

So what is a Welsh Springer Spaniel? The Breed Standard describes it as being a ‘distinct variety of spaniel and that it most certainly is. Whilst his origin with all other varieties of spaniels was no doubt a common one it is said that he has been bred in Wales for centuries before he was first registered by the Kennel Club in 1902. His brilliant red and white coat sets him apart from the other spaniel varieties. He is of handy size, being between a Cocker and English Springer, with an expression and style which expresses his trust and faithfulness. He is described as a ‘Symmetrical, compact, strong, merry, active dog of around 19 inches in height with a flat thick coat of a silky texture’. An attractive and handsome dog with a willing if sometimes headstrong nature he has attracted many adherents over the years and their numbers in the show ring have increased steadily since the 1960’s with the breed recently winning many major honours. In the Field he has not usually the zip and verve of his working English cousin but is a steady and thorough worker and can still be truly described as a dual purpose dog.

In short, he can be all things to all people and is in many ways an ideal companion, his whole make up keeping him within the hearts and minds of dog lovers not only in this country but throughout the world.

Graham Tain

Chairman

12^th June 2006