Euro Corgi 2018. Welsh Corgi Cardigan.

Events of this magnitude require precise planning and the Corgi world should be please that both national clubs the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Association and Welsh Corgi League formed a special committee to oversee and ensure a special weekend for everyone to remember. The entry was a true reflection that Cardigan exhibitors from Europe respected the decision to bring the show to the breeds homeland. To all the exhibitors who wished to see and believed there exhibits were more than capable of competing in the strongest competition, thank you for allowing me the privilege of judging your Cardigans and accepting my placings with true sportsmanship that’s mostly evident around the Cardigan rings in the U.K today.

My concerns for the future are, eye’s, that should have defined corners so therefore cannot be round or bold. Far too many exhibits now have poor toplines and many are too long in loin, both will become a major problem and effect the breed for years to come if not corrected. A better understand of size needs to be addressed by some exhibitors and judges for many, it appears ,,have certainly no idea to what the breed standard ideal height of 12'' looks like. To retain the standard you may wish to considerer what's acceptable over the ideal height then the same should be applicable under.

Over the years I have had the pleasure of judging both home and aboard many great Cardigans, and I feel my final line up in bitches to be one of the best I have ever judged.

M.P.D (3) 1/ Peltola Handskes Name of the Game ( Finland) Overall balance, ample neck , good topline and hindquarters. Good shoulders excellent bone correct curvature of upper arm, tight feet. Body of nice shape, tight elbows. Does need to learn to settle on the table and on the move but at 7 mths today’s behaviour was acceptable.

2/ Langford Caprian Challenger head balanced, large alert ears, but would like a slightly larger eye which would give that, ‘I' m a Cardigan’, expression. Nice overall size for 6 mths, good bone, topline and rear quarters. Lost on the day to winner who I felt was better in body shape and front both standing and movement.

3/ Langford Caprian Dexter at Bwthyn litter brother to second and while I considered this one better in eye and expression, he lost in topline to winners. Also like his brother he will need to improve in front but both have time being so young.

Puppy D [2) 1/ Thomas Dexter at Bwthyn Solid 6 mths and so very much a baby. Exceptional bone that he must grow into, large feet. Ears large but still need more firmness. Nice size for age, good length, topline, tailset and hindquarters. By the time he enters the ring next time I am sure he will have more idea about what one should do both on the table and in movement.

2/ Langford Caprian Challenger

Junior D (2) 1/ Thomas Major Point Rock A Billy (Fr) Striking all male 15 mth blue. Excellent balanced head.Correct ear shape that are of nice size. Nice reach of neck that fits correctly into a balanced body. Good topline croup and tailset with nice angulated hindquarters that are well muscled. Correct shoulder placement, tight fitting elbows. Ample bone and correct tight feet. This young lad still requires to mature in body and his forearms have correct bow that will allow his egg shaped body to drop into over the coming mths. A well made quality youngster that looks good with a very nice silhouette from all angles, both standing and on the move. Certainly considered in the C.C challenge but lost out on maturity.

2/ McIntosh Hova Bonde's Knatterton (IMP Dk) Good size male with nice eye and large ears that give a correct expression. Good topline and hindquarters that are nicely muscled. Whilst he has good shoulder placement and gives a nice side profile,in silhouette, he just lacked the body shape of winner and thus moves a tad wide in front.

Yearling D (4) 1/ Thomas Major Point Rock A Billy

2/ Lovell Liebehund Forest Moon, Slow developing youngster that does have a very pleasing side profile. Pleasing overall in head with nice eye and ear shape thus a correct expression. Excellent neck good topline and body shape. Adequate bone for size and build nice feet. Lacks a shade in body and just needs to tighten more in front on the move.

3/ Knox Wildcard Carrglas Balanced in head and body all giving a pleasing side outline. Today not quite so positive in front as winners above but still another youngster that needs more time.

P. Grad (4) 1/ Langford Twinan all Revved Up Of Caprian Nice sized male, pleasing in head nice ear placement shape and size, correct eye all helping to give correct expression. Ample neck fitting nicely in body that has good topline, croup, tailset and hindquarters well muscled. Excellent shoulders, elbows, tight ample bone with tight, correct feet. Still needs to developed more in forechest. Good rear/side movement that has good drive. Whilst front movement has equal reach, he still appears a tad wide in front coming. Presented in excellent firm muscled condition.

2/ Sanders Gowerston Genaur Glyn Young male with pleasing head, eye shape, ears well set of nice size all giving nice expression. Ample neck for overall size that fits nicely into withers. Firm topline correct in croup and tailset. Just preferred the shoulders and side movement of winner today.

3/ Nielsen Blondie's Vision Of Tomorrow DNK Young male with a nice side profile. Balanced in head correct in eye and ear that are well set, giving correct expression. Liked this boys shoulder placement, neck and length to height but he does need more body to give a true balanced look. Another that still needs to tighten in front movement , but does still have time.

Limit D (8) (1) 1/ Thomas Gowerston Gwydion Very mature 21 mth blue. Balanced head, nice eye, ears all well set, and giving a true Cardigan expression. Ample neck for overall size fitting nicely into firm topline. Good tailset and well angulated hindquarters. Well constructed front assembly that fit corrrectly to egg shaped body. Tight elbows, excellent bone and feet. Moves true fore and rear with equal reach and drive. While he came into consideration for higher awards today, in the challenge, lacked for me that desire to move with total natural freedom purpose and desire.

2/ Faarup Faarup Topper DNK Two year old lacking the maturity of winner. Most pleasing well shaped head of correct proportions. Nice eyes having correct defined corners. Ears nice shape, large well set. Neck fitting correctly into withers , body egg shaped. Firm topline correct croup and tailset. Firm angulated hindquarters. Excellent in shoulder well boned. Lost today on the maturity of winner.

3/ Eby Big-Wood's Gruffudd Gritus For Kilvroch (IMP Fin) 7 year old mature all male looking lad of excellent balance. Correct balance of head, nice ears well placed, ample neck fitting nicely into body of good length for his height, thus giving a look of excellent balance. Firm topline well angulated rear. Just lacked the eye shape and front of winners.

Open D.(9) Quality class 1/ Taylors T & S Ch Tamlin Starman. Extremely attractive male in head and side profile. Correct classic head ratio correct eye shape without any sign of boldness. Ears large correctly set and thus this head gives a most true breed expression. Long neck that just balances into his overall length and height.Fitting correctly into the withers, that flow into a level topline with correct croup and tailset. Good hindquarters, well muscled and firm. Body egg shaped well laid shoulders, elbows could be a tad tighter excellent bone large feet. Well developed forechest fitting nicely into curve of forearm. Moves with equal reach/drive and purpose and fitness. Excellent rear movement. Presented in excellent coat, body and condition, and today handled to perfection by the young co handler who took this male to the C.C.

2/ Nielsen Aus Ch Crowncor Bolt To Rio 2 year old beautiful constructed of correct size. Different in head to winner but balance with nice expression well placed nice size ears. Skull flat between ears. Balanced neck in relationship to overall size fitting correctly into withers, level topline, correct croup and tailset. Hindquarters correctly angulated without being overdone in any way. This male excels in forequarters with correct shoulders tight elbows. The front bears correct curve of forearm and turnout of feet that are tight. Body fits correctly, without daylight showing, into the curve of the forearm and this is something that I greatly treasure and appreciate. The deciding factors in placement came down to pros and cons. This boy scored slightly in front construction and front movement, but lacked condition being light in body, coat condition and head appeal and this today cost him the top spot in males.

3/ Saunders Wildcard Bandit Correct size again all male. Beautifully constructed in body. Neck correct for size and like winners, fitting nicely into withers. Level topline croup and tailset. Good hindquarters well muscled. Excellent shoulders elbows tight, good forechest, ample bone correct tight feet. Correct body shape of good depth, giving excellent profile from side and front. Presented in excellent coat condition but a tad light in body and was handled with understanding. Different in head to both above and while I consider the head to have the correct foreface to skull , it lacks the desired angle of rise from one to the other thus lacking defined stop.

Vet D (6) (4) 1/ Frickers Multi Ch Pluperfect Merrymoon Proper Englishman best vet male. Seven year old import all male balanced head, nice eye and expression. While he has thickened up in neck a shade, it does not distract from his overall balance and quality. Neck slopes correctly into withers, excellent topline running gently nto croup, nice tailset. Strong quarters not over angulated, well muscled. Excellent shoulder, forechest and depth of body. Good bone, large tight feet that turn out a shade more today than desired. Moves round the ring with reach and drive, even carrying a little extra weight. Very pleased to see that today he's now become a steady happy show dog.

2/ Lovells Behund Dream Lord 8 year stylish outlined male. Excellent head nice eye,ears and expression. Ample neck firm topline and good overall balance. Pleasing front feet and rear quarters, good muscle tone. Lost to winners all-round movement today.

3/ Froggarts Am Ch Rhydowen Rhinestone Cowboy For Gerefa (IMP USA) The daddy of the veterans but enjoying his day out. Much to like about this senior for he appeals in head, correct eyes large ears, all giving a very nice expression. Super correct size, presented in excellent body condition with great muscle tone.

Minor Puppy B (1) Langfords Caprian The Vixen 6 mths with nice overall balance giving a nice side profile. Needs to develop more in skull to balance out foreface. Nice eyes with defined corners . Neck fits nicely into withers, good topline and hindquarters. Acceptable front for age ample bone and large tight feet. Will need to tighten in front movement and settle to the job in hand, but time is on her side.

Puppy B (5) 1. 1/ Froggatts Wildcard Queen Of Clubs For Gerefa nice size and well made young Iady. Super balance side picture, with neck flowing into body. Excellent shoulders ample bone for overall size. Front has correct curve of forearm for the developed body to fit into, correct pasterns and turn of foot. Head still needs to develop a shade more, good bite and underjaw. Nice size ears that balance nicely into overall head, alert expression. Easy free mover, great showgirl presented in excellent coat and condition and she responds very well for her handler. Best puppy and best puppy in show.

2/ Tay;ors Tamlin Voodoo Cream Super headed puppy correct eye and ear all giving a genuine feminine appearance. Super neck fitting,, like winner, into her body. Excellent overall front construction. Liked her length to height and again like winner presented in excellent coat and condition and handled well. Super front movement but on the day I considered winner scored better in hindquarters and topline.

3/ Faarups Faarup Vilma (DNK) liked this young girl for her overall balance but did find her a shade bold in eye that spoiled, for me, the true breed expression. In movement, while having equal good drive and reach, she was today, close in rear movement. Still needs to settle more to the job in hand but perhaps considering her long journey this could be understandable.

Junior B. (6) 1. 1/ Taylor, Mrs T & Miss B Tamlin Strawberry Daiquiri Large girl well bodied and showing a lot of ground clearance but still does have time to drop. Nice foreface and underjaw correct bite. Skull of correct proportions to foreface with correct width between ears of nice size and shape. A better eye shape would give a more softer expression. Front and hindquarters construction overall good, adequate bone correct tight feet. Moves with little effort and good rear drive and front reach.

2/ Faarups Faarup Unika (DNK) Like winner, another large girl that needs to drop and develop a shade more in body. Nice head with defined stop thus giving correct head planes. Correct size ears and alert expression. Excellent neck with nice curve into withers. Topline firm and level. Hindquarters nicely angulated and muscled. Good shoulders but does need to mature in body and develop more forechest, thus filling the curve of forearm, Good rear movement but does move a shade wide in front.

3/ Flincks Big-Wood's Kipinän Hetki Atcav (Fin) nice size with lovely overall balance. Like winner a shade bold in eye. Ample neck for size and like winners, it enters withers with a great curving line. Nice body shape, good shoulders, tight elbows, correct front construction, nice bone and large feet. Pity that she seemed unsettled by the weather and marquee blowing in the wind.

Yearling B (9) 1. 1/ Lovell, Mrs J & Mr M Ch Liebehund Jakku JW Super correct size, excellent side silhouette and overall balance. Super true breed head of correct ratio nice underjaw. Nice skull doming above eyes that are correct in size and also have defined corners. Ear shape and size in balance with overall head, sweet feminine expression. Correct neck flowing into withers, excellent topline. Well angulated hindquarters. Correct shoulders, elbows tight, and legs of correct shape so that they cradle the egg shaped body. Ample bone for size, nice tight feet. Moves true front, rear and side. The young Lady deserves her title without any question, however today she is in that in between stage and lacking a tad in body and coat.

2/ Taylor, Miss S E Bymil Back To Blue very interesting blue youngster. Pleasing most acceptable head and head markings, large ears all giving a nice feminine expression. Like winner well constructed all-round and again her bone suits her size. Two very nice Cardigans but today, while this lady was in better coat and body condition, she just lacked the overall balance of winner.

3/ Saugmann, Balsau Corgi's Call Me Super Carla (DNK) making up a nice trio with excellent outline. Pleasing head with nice underjaw. Defined stop, correct head planes, nice ears and expression. Balanced neck fitting into an egg shaped body of good length to height. Strong muscled hind and forequarters correct bone and shape, tidy feet. Still just need to tighten up a shade more in front standing and on the move.

Post Grad B. (9) 3. 1/ Belcher Effybid Rubie feminine 19 mths nicely balance and of correct size. Pleasing head correct bite underjaw, correct eye , ears of good size and shape and are correctly set, skull flat between ears. Ample neck, firm body, nice croup and tailset. Strong muscled and not overdone hindquarters. Excellent shoulders, tight elbows, good bone all-round. Front forelegs correctly curved allowing the egg shaped body to fit snugly into. Feet large and tight. Moves true in front and rear, but would like to see more effort. Today maybe due to carrying a shade extra weight.

2/ Keeble Keebleway Blue Heven Bigger than winner but nicely balance throughout and presented in nice condition, coat and body. Head of correct ratio, acceptable eyes, nice large ears. Nice neck, shoulders and topline. Angulated hindquarters and all well muscled. Excellent bone large feet. Nicely presented and pushed winner but today lost on front movement.

3/ Lovell, Stevens & Symes-Morris Liebehund Lucy Lockett overall well balanced, ample neck, nice topline, angulated hindquarters. Overall head balanced 3 to 5, good clean cut underjaw , skull flat between ears that are of good size. Eyes a shade bold that I feel spoil the true Cardi expression. Good length to height, and topline. Moves with equal reach and drive but lacked front movement of 1.

Limit B (5) 3. 1/ Taylor, Miss S E Bymil Picture Perfect 23 mths most promising of excellent size and full of quality. So feminine in head. Lovely eyes, nice ears well set, all giving a true breed expression. Excels in egg shaped body and front construction, elbows tight, good bone and tight feet . I doubt this girl could ever stand wrong in front and that’s something seldom seen in this breed. Neck flows nicely into withers. Good topline, tailset and muscled hindquarters that are not overdone in angulation. Moves correctly front rear and side and was presented in excellent coat and condition.

2/ Price Brynlluan Magic Crystal Another very well made red and white of correct size, presented in excellent body condition with excellent muscle tone. Nice neck for overall size and this runs correctly into body, nice topline, croup and tailset. Very nice rear angulation. Correct shoulder placement, tight elbows ample bone for build with tight feet. Super depth of body and moves very true with equal reach and drive. The deciding factor for placings was, she was not in the very best of coats, and in head, while it does have good balance, for me, just lacked the rise of skull, and defined corners to eyes.

Open B. (12) 4. 1/ Faarup Faarup Penny excellent strong class.1. Appealed in head and expression. Nice underjaw and mouth, Good stop that climbs, at a correct angle, into the skull. Nice eye shape and doming above eyes. Skull flat between ears, excellent ear size. Good reach of neck fitting nicely into a correctly shaped body. Good length to height, topline, croup and hindquarters, good muscle tone. Very nice front quarters, tight elbows , correct shaped front with body fitting into forearm curve, ample bone tight large feet. Moves well fore rear and side. Presented in firm condition and good coat and handled to a very high standard to get the best out of her.

2/ Keebles Sichaz Lexi To Keebleway Have always liked this 6 year old girl and today she did not disappoint. Nice size attractive head and feminine in expression. Head comments of winner apply. Good strong neck fitting correctly into the withers, excellent topline croup and tailset. Excellent muscle toned hindquarters, correctly angulated. Nice layback of shoulders, nice tight elbows to body, correct shaped front, well off for bone and large tight feet. Moves very true front and rear, with equal reach and drive. She does not show any sign of age, coarseness or overloading in shoulder and I feel extremely disappointed for our breed that she has not gained her title. Today I think that she was handled to a high standard and pushed the winner hard.

3/ Nielsons Blondie's Uptown Blue Girl Nicely balanced good sized 3 year blue, nice overall head, correct eyes , large well shaped and set ears with great expression. Correct in height to length. Ample neck running into withers, excellent topline, croup and correct rear angulation. Excellent shoulders, front, bone and large feet. Nice body shape with good depth. Moves nicely all ways, but sadly today lacked the jacket to push winners harder but I felt with her overall quality she deserved third place.

Vet B. (10) 2. 1/ Taylor, Miss S E Ch Bymil Smile Please Jw What a class of superb veteran Cardigans and when I took my first look at this class my face lit up with sheer delight for great quality was so obvious.1. I gave this girl the C.C and B.O.B way back 2014 and today I feel that she has retained all her great qualities, and does not show any sign of coarseness that comes with age. So feminine in head that's balanced with correct plains, super eye , ears and expression. Neck suits her overall correct size and fits neatly into body. Level topline and super hindquarters well muscled. Egg shaped body,defined waist, excellent shoulders, elbows tight to body with good bone. Forearms correctly curved with correct turn of tight feet.Presented in excellent condition and today she had to showed her socks off to win this class. Was pleased again to award her the C.C and B..O.B.

2/ Flinck, Mrs J Multi Ch Ww-14 Fiw-14 Big-Wood's Triumph Renown Another bitch that I have judged before and made B.O.B. in Finland At ten years of age she is a credit not just to her owners but also the breed, for she is a prime example that great Cardigans go on virtually for ever. So feminine in head and expression and her head bears all the qualities of the winner. She retains a super neck that curves into the body, level back, correct croup and tailset. Superb hindquarters and muscle tone. Correct body shape, shoulder placement and fitted tight elbows without any sign of looseness to body. Viewed from the front, everything fits like the standard escribes, and from the side she shows not any sign of heaviness in shoulders. Still moves very well from all angles and was presented in excellent condition. Pleased to award her the res C.C and res B.O.B.

3/ Roberts, Mrs V Floatin' Hawen Hawys For Kogarahs (IMP Nld) Another old favourite quality lady of 9 years. Super head and expression, body well balanced nice topline hindquarters. Nice shoulders, front and feet. Still looks and is full of quality but lacks that wonderful freedom of movement of my winners.

Peter Clifton (judge)