The Welsh Corgi Club Centenary Show
By Valerie Joan Hutton
Bojojamile Pembroke Welsh Corgis (Australia)
Editor’s Preface
In November 2025, the Welsh Corgi Club (Wales) marked a remarkable milestone—100 years since its founding in 1925. As the original parent club for both Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis, the Club has played a defining role in the development, preservation, and global understanding of both breeds. The following reflection is written by Valerie Joan Hutton (Bojojamile Pembroke Welsh Corgis), Welsh Corgi Club of NSW Lifetime Member, Australian breeder and International judge, who was invited to judge both breeds and Best in Show at this historic Centenary Show.
An Honour to Judge
To be invited to judge a Centenary Show is an honour in itself. To be asked to judge both Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis, and to award Best in Show is rarely the case in England, but at the centenary of the Welsh Corgi Club—the oldest and most influential corgi club in the world—was something I accepted with both pride and deep humility.
I was entrusted with judging this milestone event, by Club Secretary Cerys Davies, and I was keenly aware of the significance of the appointment from the moment the invitation arrived. The Welsh Corgi Club has shaped the course of both breeds for a century, and its influence extends far beyond the United Kingdom. Its standards, its breeders, and its judges have helped define correct type, soundness, and breed character worldwide. To be entrusted with such a milestone event carried a responsibility I felt deeply throughout the weekend.
For those interested, there is a marvellous write up by Cerys in the Our Corgi World Christmas Edition, that will give you an insight to the history of the Welsh Corgi Club and its beginnings.
Touchdown London!
Travelling with me from Australia was my young friend Kayla Grannall, owner and breeder of Huddylu Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Those familiar with long-haul travel will know the irony of flying halfway around the world to judge dogs bred to trot happily across Welsh hills.
After many hours in the air, we sensibly paused in Windsor to recover, taking in the Castle and township, before venturing—somewhat optimistically—out to Clarkson’s Farm in pouring rain. It was a timely reminder that British weather waits for no one.
Armed with a hire car and a GPS with a personality of its own, we made our way to Wales. After one enthusiastic but incorrect attempt, the navigator eventually conceded and delivered us safely to Swansea.
My Judging Appointment
The Centenary Show was held over two days at the Mercure Hotel in Swansea, Wales on the 15th & 16th November 2025. The event marked 100 years since the Club’s founding, and the sense of history was palpable. It was a pleasure to meet Club President Brian Neal, along with a committee whose commitment ensured the centenary was celebrated with the dignity and warmth it deserved. My stewards, Julie Williams and her daughter Bekkie, were calm, capable, and endlessly supportive—an absolute gift to any judge.
The show itself was held beneath a large marquee erected in the hotel courtyard. A severe storm the day before judging left the committee with the formidable task of clearing water so the show could proceed. Despite their efforts, a little moisture lingered beneath the flooring, adding an unexpected sense of movement underfoot. Combined with a painful bout of plantar fasciitis acquired shortly before leaving Australia, it made for an interesting judging experience—but one that did nothing to diminish my enjoyment of what were two outstanding days.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgis
Pembroke Welsh Corgis
Judging the Pembrokes was both a privilege and a challenge with many of England top winners present. From the minor classes through to Open and Champion, there was consistency of type, soundness, and breed character. My class winners in both males and females were fabulous to see. Having so many classes it was like a dream come true. I must admit the bitch class winners were indeed stronger than the males.
Many excellent exhibits could only be placed, not for lack of merit, but because the standard was so high. My class winners in both dogs and bitches were of outstanding quality, with the bitch classes, in particular, presenting tremendous strength and depth. In my Open Bitch class alone, no fewer than five bitches could legitimately have taken the win—a situation that truly tests a judge’s resolve.
In my assessments, I focused closely on essential breed features: correct head properties—foxy in shape and expression without exaggeration—balanced proportions, adequate length of rib, and sound, oval feet. These fundamentals remain critical to the future of the breed.
Both my Dog and Bitch CC winners exemplified quality, balance, and breed type. Choosing Best of Breed between them was no easy task, but on the day the bitch claimed the honour.
- DCC: CH BRYNLEA CRESLOW PAINT IT BLACK AT COTTIVY (Imp USA)
- BCC, BOB & BIS: CH PENLIATH BILL ME LATER (AI)
The Cardigan Welsh Corgis
Cardigan Welsh Corgis
The Cardigans were, quite simply, a joy to judge. The depth of quality across all classes was remarkable, and it was evident that breeders had brought their very best to mark this historic occasion, with particularly strong heads, well-constructed fronts, firm top-lines, and excellent length of rib. As a group, they presented as confident, workmanlike dogs, very much in keeping with their heritage.
I appreciate a Cardigan that is masculine, substantial without being coarse, and confident in his presence—standing close to the 12-inch height guideline, with no weight limit specified in the standard. While there were some variations in style, all exhibits fell comfortably within breed requirements. A small number of otherwise outstanding dogs were unfortunately let down by hesitation in the ring, reminding us how important confidence and temperament are alongside construction.
Both my Dog and Bitch CC winners were of exceptional quality. The dog, in particular, displayed a wonderful temperament and a commanding “look at me” attitude, winning Best of Breed and narrowly missing Best in Show.
- DCC: BOB & RUBIS – NUCH SUCH DKCH FICH NORDCH ESTCH LTCH CIB DK JCH EST JCH LVA JCH BALTJW-24 ESTW-24 ESTJW-24 BALTJW-24 KBHJW-24 KBHV-24 DKW-24 HEJW-24 HEW-24 OSLW-25 BRIGHT CARDIBAND KEN I WAITED FOR [ATC ATCBB40272EST]
- BCC: NUCH DKCH NJV-21 NV-24 OSLV-24-25 ANALOG CC NO USE FOR A NAME [ATC ATCBC43250NOR]
Post Show Reflection
As the Best in Show awards were presented and the weekend drew to a close, I felt a genuine sense of sadness that my judging appointment for this remarkable event had come to an end. To judge at the centenary of the Welsh Corgi Club was not merely another assignment, but a privilege—one that carried the weight of a hundred years of history, dedication, and passion for both Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis.
The depth and consistency of quality across all classes in both breeds spoke volumes about the enduring influence of the Club and the breeders who continue to uphold its ideals. Exhibitors had clearly brought their very best to honour the occasion, and I felt truly privileged to assess dogs that so clearly reflected the soundness, balance, and breed character the Welsh Corgi Club has championed since its founding.
But Before We Went Home...
After the show, Kayla and I left the Mercure Hotel and were fortunate to spend several wonderfully relaxing days with Cerys and Mark Davies (Ceranda) on their stunning Welsh farm in the Swansea Hills. A little sightseeing around the area was simply delightful—Rhossili Bay at Worm’s Head, wandering and dining around the Mumbles, spotting the homes of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Bonnie Tyler, and, of course, enjoying the iconic Joe’s Ice Cream, founded in Swansea in 1922 and still made to its original recipe.
We finished our Welsh stay with a most pleasurable visit to the Penderyn Distillery, including the memorable opportunity to sample a formidable 92% pre-cask whisky, before the difficult task of saying goodbye to wonderful friends. From there, we returned the hire car and spent a few days in London, undeterred by freezing temperatures and a little rain—embracing hop-on hop-off buses, Ubers, sightseeing, three West End plays, and a wonderful luncheon and tour at the Royal Kennel Club, with sincere thanks to Simon Parsons.
Then came the long journey home to Australia—tired, certainly, but deeply grateful for exceptional dogs, enduring friendships, and the rare honour of being part of such a significant moment in the history of the Welsh Corgi Club.
With Thanks
The Welsh Corgi Club of NSW sincerely thanks Valerie Joan Hutton (Bojojamile Pembroke Welsh Corgis) for sharing this generous and insightful account of judging the Welsh Corgi Club Centenary Show, as well as her reflections on the friendships, hospitality, and experiences that made this UK journey so memorable. Joan’s perspective offers our members a rare and valuable insight into both the significance of the event and the quality of dogs presented at this historic celebration.