Alison Benson, Kennel Corben - Sue Harrison, Kennel Haresfoot
I am really looking forward to judging Cardis, at the Norsk Welsh Corgi Klubb show, on August 16 th , & have been asked to write a brief introduction.
I have always shared my life with Corgis, as my father bought a Pembroke puppy, as a gift for my mother, the year before I was born. Another pet followed, but our first show dog did not join us until 1977, from the ‘Kaytop' kennel, of Leila Moore. Minstrel was not bought as a show dog however, when we visited a few months later, Leila suggested we may have some fun with him so, in 1978, at the age of 13 I entered the show ring for the first time. All these years later, through a mutual love of Corgis, Leila has become more than just a good friend & is, now, part of our family!
My next Corgi was a Pembroke bitch bred, & given to me, by my father, who I now share the affix ‘Corben' with. 'Corben Carminetta' (Twiglet) was a very sweet girl & I was devastated to lose her, whelping. I was 19 when I bred this, my first, litter in 1985.
Our friend, Ally Boughton (‘Rossacre' Pembrokes) had purchased Twiglet's younger sister. I will always be grateful, to Ally, for letting Truffles return, to my ownership. I had a great deal of fun with her, winning a Reserve C.C plus many other awards. She produced 3 litters, & was a super brood. One of her offspring was the Reserve C.C winning ‘Corben Golden Splendour of Cooneen', owned by Joan & Cecil Williamson, in Northern Ireland.
I then decided I wanted to show another breed, something that was my own idea. I seriously considered a Bassett Hound, however I had always been very fond of Sarah Taylor's ‘Lees Blue Rose of Bymil' who I'd met at her first show, when just 6 months old. Sarah had kindly let me borrow Rose, for the Junior Handling class, & I was thrilled to come 1 st , especially as I'd never handled a Cardi before. When I heard Rose was due to whelp her 2 nd litter my mind was made up, I would love to have one of her babies. Luckily Sarah agreed I could have pick of the dog's so, in 1984 ‘Bymil Blue Thorn of Corben' moved in. He quickly got his Junior Warrant, ending up with more than double the points required. He also won 2 Reserve C.C's & we even had a go at obedience, but he was much better at it than me! I'm sure he could have gone far, with an experienced trainer.
I may have intended to have only 1 Cardi but Dylan was so delightful, funny & intelligent, I was addicted so, in 1987 ‘Rhiwelli Moonlight at Corben' arrived, from the late Eddie Young. He let me have pick of 2 litters & Bronwen certainly proved to be a valuable foundation bitch. She, like Dylan, won her Junior Warrant & a Reserve C.C, plus she was top Cardi Brood Bitch 1992, in the ‘Dog World' Competition.
Helping her win that award were ‘Ch.Corben Tri Try Again' (Pugwash) winning 10 C.C's, & 9 Reserve C.C's, & his litter sister, C.C winner ‘Corben Lavender Blue' (Squiggle.) Pugwash was not only a top winner, himself, but had a great impact as a stud producing top winners, in most colours, & winning many Top Stud awards. He was a ‘dog of a lifetime' but his greatest value was as a friend & he is still missed, very much. I am pleased to say his children have gone on to produce many lovely grandchildren, around the world, so he is not forgotten.
Squiggle had only 1 litter. Her son ‘Corben Tri To Please' (Sam) owned by Gee Parker, won 2 C.C's, including Crufts 1997, which was a thrill for Gee, & I.
Squiggle's daughter, ‘Corben Only Blue Will Do' (Dotty) produced ‘Int, Fin & Est CH.Corben Tri For The Top' (Topper) who proved useful, in Finland, for Meri Tuli Aalto's Yardican kennel.
Currently I am not exhibiting, but still have 2 Cardi companions, Reserve C.C winner ‘Corben One More Tri' (Squiffy) who is Toppers brother, & ‘Tyci Trindod from Corben' who is a ‘Tri Try Again' granddaughter &, I can hardly believe, will also become a veteran this year. Hopefully a new baby will join us in the not too distant future.
That's my kennel history, as for judging I first awarded C.C's, in Cardis, in November 2000 & I'm due to award my first set of C.C's, in Pem's on 18 th July 2009. I have also had the pleasure of judging Cardis, at Championship level, in France, Finland & Denmark.
It is 21 years since I visited Norway so I'm very much looking forward to meeting up with old friends.
oppdretter pembroke corgi under kennelnavnet Haresfoot og har selv oppdrettet stumphalede corgier.
Sue Harrison har tidligere vært leder i The Pembroke Welsh Corgi League.
Hun har vært dommer siden tidlig på 60-tallet og har dømt i mange land verden over.
I år dømmer hun pembroke på Windsor Championship Show.