CARDIGAN CORGI HISTORY IN NEW ZEALAND

Cardigan Corgi history in New Zealand began in 1952 when Mrs Eve Adamson of Auckland imported from the UK her original pair, dark brindle Binder of Greenfarm and tricolour Kentwood Fflur. She bred three litters from these two and sent a number of the progeny to Australia. In 1957 Elkay Meri was imported and was also bred to Binder. Then in the mid 1960's Parmel Barman and Bridgemont Bridgette arrived at Mrs Adamson's West Country kennels. Several Cardigans from the Australian kennels of Lewdux, Shirlden and Trajon were brought into the South Island to breed with the West country stock, and thus provided the foundation of the breed in New Zealand.

In 1965 Joy Devery joined the little band of enthusiasts in NZ with the purchase of the red brindle bitch Tenby Te Maire, by Barman from Ch. West Country Jessica (Binder ex Meri). This bitch not only worked tirelessly on the sheep and cattle station where Joy lived, she became a show champion and the top winning Cardi of her day in NZ's North Island. Her four litters, along with Joy's several imports from Australia, including the top winning Aust.Ch. Rhossili Regal Apollo, founded her Rerehau kennels which in 1977 she changed to the well known Copperleaf prefix.

Mrs Beryl Russell of Tuahine kennels joined the fray in 1968 with a young dog Grwffydd of Kimchella from the South Island, later going on to breed the lovely Tuahine Merribetson. David Taylor of Tidemark and later Angwyn kennels purchased the much admired red West Country Cedric from Mrs Adamson's final litter thus beginning his many years of interest in the breed, concentrating later on blue merles. In 1972 Miss Bridget Smeeton purchased a red brindle male from Mrs Russell and a brindle female from Joy Devery and so began her Rodwell breeding line, later bringing in from Australia the dark brindle Bellbeau Tara Gem and several Cardigans from the Cambrian bloodline. Cronadun, Cavadale and Medway kennels in the South Island concentrated on breeding with the brindle Delfryd Rastus Man over dogs carrying Australian Ajax blood. (alternatively  ...over dogs desceing from the Australian Ajax kennels).

In the mid 1970's Mrs Dawn Turner of Tymkin Pembroke kennels imported the handsome tricolour Daleviz Napoleon from the UK and he was bred to a number of Tuahine bitches. He was followed by Mrs Glenys Blinman's (Winscote kennels) Parmel Debonair and Vennwoods Sugar n Spice to add to the gene pool. Aust.Ch. Jezalin Fanfare of Dilwel (UK) made a visit to Bridget Smeeton's kennels from his home in South Australia and sired one litter, from his daughter, Bridget's Ch.Bellbeau Tara Gem. Tuahine kennels imported Kardibroke Ebony Lady and at Copperleaf several more Cardis arrived from Australia, including the first blue merles, a male and a female, from Plynlimon and Leamore kennels.

In 1980 Mrs Shane McDonogh of Bluemeadows kennels imported the brindle bitch Kentwood Blodwen in whelp to Eng.Ch. Pharoah of Joseter. Tragically Blodwen died immediately after giving birth to the litter of eight puppies but Mrs McDonogh and her daughter successfully raised the litter themselves. A dark brindle dog from this litter Bluemeadows Ptolemy proved an outstanding show dog and was very useful at stud. In 1984 Mrs McDonogh following this with another English import, the red Jezalin Top Secret.

1980 also saw Mrs Ann Aitken introduce two Australian Cardigans to her Badagri Pembroke kennels. They were the litter mates Cambrian Kum Again and Cambrian Kan't Resist, both to become top winners. Mrs Aitken was later joined by Mrs Helen Arps in kennel partnership.

Shirley Morton of German Shepherd fame imported the tricolour Cardimore Storm and the blue merle Aust.Ch. Kardibroke Krystal Gem from Australia and began her Talstroms breeding line, successfully combining with Joy Devery's tricolour Rerehau Ebony Star. Mrs Carol Tozer imported the litter sisters Damlen Sailors Mate and Damlen Tarnished Angel, daughters of Aust.Ch. Ringinglow Sailor King (UK), from NSW. All these dogs intertwined to form the foundation of some very successful breeding.

Larry Donnell and Graeme Parris of Barclay kennels bought in Rhossili Itsa Surprise from Sydney, followed in 1983 by the black Rhossili Piccallo and later Aust.Ch. Rhossili Sans Rival, the latter going on to win the first Best In Show award won by a Cardigan in NZ -- this was at a Corgi specialty of the day. Larry and Graeme bred several good winning progeny during the time they were in the breed.

Mrs Ann Svenson added Aust.Ch. Johnwey Wild Wind and Johnwey New Outfit from Queensland, Australia, to her Benvenuto kennels and bred these two with two bitches from Winscote kennels. Joy Devery of Copperleaf also used Wild Wind successfully over her Copperleaf Evensong. In 1983 Joy bred the tricolour dog Copperleaf Indiana and thus continued the forward march of the breed. Indiana proved highly influential both in the show ring and at stud, going on to sire the prepotent sable bitch Copperleaf Tiger Lily from a daughter of Wild Wind and Evensong.

In 1987 Bridget Smeeton imported the red Eng.Ch. Jezalin Top Brass from England, and combined him with her Rodwell breeding, along with Wanmirri Gai Alexa from Australia. Her winning stock Rodwell Ain't She Sweet and the siblings Rodwell True Brew and Rodwell Rosette directly carry her Top Brass bloodline. Helen Arps brought in Finlai Ice Breaker also from Australia and Ann Aitken Cambrian Zebadee. These latter two males have had a hugely positive effect on each of the breeding lines they were used over, more so when used in combination -- and most especially when combined with Copperleaf Tiger Lily -- a combination that can now be found in stock in all our major kennels, and which has proven so successful overseas. From these lines came the famous siblings Badagri Welsh Lad, Badagri Spring Daisy, Badagri Crest Of The Wave and Badagri Sailing High. Helen and Ann then introduced the Am.Ch. Kennebec Ice Anchor son Cambrian Big Bickies to their breeding line, and the red brindle bitch Cambrian Alliance. Breeding Zebadee to Alliance gave them the lovely specialty bitch Badagri One And Only, who went on to produce Badagri Almost Persuaded.

Pauline Jessep of Blue-grass kennels in the South Island has used several different bloodlines, but has achieved longterm success with progeny of Blue-grass Quiz Master (son of Ice Breaker from Zebadee/Gai Alexa daughter Rodwell Canasta) over Tuahine Sinead from mostly Copperleaf breeding. She has introduced the black Tuahine Ebony Llad a son of Aust.Ch.Trygarn Traveller to her kennels. Naomi Munro of Little Ridge kennels, also in the South, has used several different bloodlines, but concentrated mainly on Tuahine stock. Shane McDonogh no longer shows but her brindle male Bluemeadows Bonfire has been used by other kennels, particularly successfully over the red Copperleaf Mari Gold.

Les and Maureen Manning of Carey kennels began their Cardigan breeding in the late 1980's with Lace Jewel of Carey, daughter of Copperleaf Rain Bonnet. They combined this bitch with Copperleaf Courtney, Ice Breaker and Zebadee to produce some very good winners to carry the flag for their kennels.

With the generosity of Jean Clarke of South Australia, Joy Devery brought Aust.Ch. Memini Hot Doggy Dino to Copperleaf and bred some quality stock from the blacks Copperleaf Peach Bonnet and her Courtney daughter Copperleaf Polly Plum. Together with Mrs Jan Field-Dodgson she imported Kardibroke November Mist from Melbourne and combined her with the above lines. A line breeding to the Dino/Peach Bonnet combination produced the stunning brindle Copperleaf Rose Of Sharon, multi In Group and In Show winner and the winner of the second Best In Show in NZ Cardigan history. The tricolour Kardibroke Late Nite Sky has been introduced to further the bloodline.

Many people have come and gone but we now have two new breeders in our ranks, both with Copperleaf stock. Ms Delrae Clode of Paganlea kennels and Miss Sarah Tate. These folk are most welcome in our small band of enthusiasts, and small in numbers though we are, we are extremely proud to have produced some exceptionally fine Cardigans which have been recognised for their quality in many countries of the world.

 by Joy Devery

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