The Sydney Royal is the most prestigious dog show on the Australian dog show calendar. It carries with it history, prestige, and just a little bit of glamour. Entries must be carefully considered months in advance, submitted to the RAS well ahead of time — and in the period between entering and exhibiting, so much can change.
As fate would have it, my little bitch Rosie was in her first season and I was reluctant to withdraw her, so I frantically read the rules and reached out to Pembroke member Robin Robertson for some sound advice. With my mind at ease, I started to prepare for the show.
I spent the days before preparing the dogs… and the snacks! We’ve been burnt before by the Sydney Royal economics. Quiche, chicken and beef meatballs, chicken wings… and they were just for the dogs! (Joking!) Dogs were bathed, nails trimmed, and shaggy feet manicured into puffy, marshmallow-shaped pillows. Show bag packed and repacked — double and triple checking to make sure all contingencies were covered and that we could cope with whatever drama the Royal threw at us.
So, with poor hormonal Rosie and rock-solid Iago packed into the car, off we set — because the show must go on. The Corgi day fell on Easter Sunday morning, so we left the chocolate bunnies behind and headed off to our favourite show, complete with our Royal picnic for both us and the dogs. Car park passes, exhibitor passes, handler passes, dog numbers… the list goes on. A logistical nightmare!
We didn’t arrive too early this year, knowing from past experience that it would be a long day ahead, and that we had until 9am to bench the dogs. I had my daughter with me, and we unpacked the car — dogs, crates, and all the gear — joining other exhibitors doing the same. It’s such a fun and exciting atmosphere to be part of. So many familiar faces all stepping up to the Royal with high hopes for a brilliant day. Hair done, faces on, best show gear on. The air of excitement was everywhere, with Sideshow Alley coming to life and the sound of barking dogs floating through the air.
As it turned out, our allocated area was quite crowded, with some exhibitors requiring extra space, and an additional crate near our billet meant space was at a premium.
We offered to relocate, which was graciously accepted, and in doing so we found ourselves in a position that turned out to be quite valuable — front and centre for the Royal crowds.
Our dogs were patted, photographed and admired throughout the day. The number of times I was asked, “What’s your corgi crossed with?” would have made me a rich woman.
It was a timely reminder that the Royal is not just a show — it’s an important opportunity for public education. For many, this is their first encounter with my breed the cardigan, and it highlights just how little known Welsh Cardigan Corgis remain compared to their more widely recognised cousin, the Pembroke.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Sydney Royal week is the addition of the Sydney FCI International. Running alongside the Royal, the FCI International offers something quite different — a chance to compete for internationally recognised CACIB awards, and to have our dogs assessed through a global lens.
In 2026, across both shows, Welsh Corgis were represented by:
What makes having two shows particularly valuable is the opportunity to see the same exhibits assessed under both systems.
Some dogs perform consistently across both. Others may resonate more strongly under one system than the other. That contrast is not only interesting — it’s informative. It challenges us to look at our dogs more objectively, and to consider how they align not just with our national standard, but with international expectations as well.
I just love seeing our breeds out in the public eye — it makes me so happy.
We only had one baby puppy across both breeds, so it was wonderful to see the beautiful Cardigan, KALORA EVERYONE LOVES ME, selected for Baby Puppy of Day 3. With our numbers being so small, this felt like a win in itself.
Eight-year-old Cardigan ‘Beth’, CH. DORWYN MEANT TO BE, returned to the Royal ring after only light showing in 2025 to be awarded Best of Breed — a fantastic achievement.
My boy ‘Iago’, CH. MANDENE BALERION AP IAGO SPRD, did his best as he always does. With no male competition, he was awarded Challenge Dog and Runner Up Best of Breed.
Rosie looked a treat but wasn’t my shiny star on the day, and after being knocked out in Junior Class, only had one turn in the ring.
Challenge Bitch was awarded to CH. KALORA CAUGHT IN A DREAM.
A strong lineup of dogs across most classes made for competitive judging.
Baby Puppy was won by Renay Cochrane’s ‘Bliss’, BEGRAYCED BELFAST BLISS, beating litter sister ‘Siobhan’, BEGRAYCED BELFAST CHILD. Bliss now returns on General Specials Day for a chance at Puppy of Show.
Male exhibits were beautifully presented and handled, with Challenge Dog awarded to ROCKY L DUELING BANJOES (IMP USA). Joan Hutton’s ‘Cash’, CH. BOJOJAMILE BOTTOM DOLLAR, was awarded Reserve Challenge Dog.
The young ladies outshone their older counterparts to take top honours. Michelle’s stunning ‘Kenzie’, CH. FERGWYN DANCE THE DREAM, caught the judge’s eye to win Challenge Bitch and Runner Up Best of Breed, ahead of Joan’s lovely ‘Tessie’, BOJOJAMILE BEACON OF LIGHT (AI), who was awarded Reserve Challenge Bitch.
Jules and ‘Beth’, CH. DORWYN MEANT TO BE, proved to be unstoppable, returning to the Royal ring after a break to be awarded Best of Breed — a fantastic achievement.
Rosie tried her heart out, beating the other two Junior bitches to take Junior CACIB-J, and then going on to compete against Beth and two older bitches to be awarded Reserve Challenge. It was incredibly exciting for me — not only had Rosie beaten all the other exhibits (two Juniors, an Australian Bred and an Open), but she then had to compete in the ring with my daughter handling Iago for Runner Up Best of Breed.
This was the first time I had my daughter in the ring with me, and I was so happy and proud. Bonnie did a wonderful job with Iago — but on this occasion, it was Rosie who took the win over him for the title.
For the Pembrokes, ‘Kenzie’, CH. FERGWYN U HAD ME AT HELLO SPRD, was awarded Best of Breed at the FCI.
Beth and Kenzie returned in the afternoon for FCI Best of Group 1. While they were not selected for Best in Group, they did our breeds proud — and it made it even more special knowing their handlers are Club members.
For exhibitors, this dual format offers something quite unique.
The Royal remains a benchmark — a place where results carry weight and tradition still matters.
The FCI International, however, encourages us to step outside that framework and consider our breeds in a wider context. It provides an opportunity to measure ourselves against a global standard, without leaving home.
And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that there is more than one way to interpret quality.
More than anything, this year reminded me why we do it. Not just for the ribbons or the results, but for the experience — the early mornings, the chaos, the pride, and the moments shared in and out of the ring. Most importantly, sharing the ring with Bonnie. Dog showing is so often a solo pursuit, with work and other commitments funneling you into showing alone, so to have Bonnie share both the day and the ring with me was incredibly special.
To see our Welsh Corgis represented so well, to share that experience with my daughter, and to celebrate the achievements of our fellow members has made the week one to remember — and there was still more to come.
General Specials Day is always something a little different — a shift in pace and atmosphere from the earlier breed judging. The crowds are bigger, the stakes are higher, and there’s a sense that everything has been building to this moment. Watching the live stream from home, I was excited for our contenders and for friends exhibiting other breeds in our Working Group.
For the Cardigans, we were proudly represented by ‘Bliss’, who was clearly having a great time. Being shortlisted in Group is no mean feat, and while she didn’t place, what an exciting Sydney Royal she had.
It was also wonderful to see ‘Beth’, CH. DORWYN MEANT TO BE, return to the ring to represent the breed at Group level. Coming back in amongst the broader Working Dog lineup is no small task, and it’s always a proud moment to see our breed stand alongside some of the strongest herding breeds in the country.
The Pembroke Best of Breed winner also returned for Group judging, representing the breed with quality and presence.
While neither exhibit progressed to Group honours on the day, both carried themselves beautifully and represented Welsh Corgis with distinction in a strong and competitive lineup.
Rosie has a ‘sister’ in the Working Group — Phoebe. Both girls are about the same age, both blue merles, and both proudly carry the name ‘Blue Rosette’. Phoebe, CH. HARTLY BLU ROSETTE, bred, owned and handled by Judy Docksey, had an outstanding show, taking out Puppy in Group at both the Sydney Royal and the FCI International.
Beautiful ‘Lyanna’, A2O GR CH FIN. MVA. INT.CH. SUP.CH. PUKAWIDGEE THE MOON IN WINTER HECW-25 WW-25, is always a standout. Winning Best of Working Group at both shows, she is quite rightly a superstar. Her owner Jarod has generously helped me with handling lessons and always has time for a chat — something that doesn’t go unnoticed.
And finally, a special mention to Jordan Long, winner of Class 64 – Junior Handler (15 to under 19 years). Jordan is a friendly, hardworking young handler who is always willing to help, particularly when exhibitors need assistance handling multiple dogs — including this year at the Sydney Royal, assisting Michelle with Pembrokes. His support and dedication to the sport are clear, and this win is incredibly well deserved. A fantastic achievement congratulations Jordan!
