Our Dogs Interview

LIFE IN DOGS

INTERVIEW WITH NIGEL AND ANNE WORTH FOR OUR DOGS IN 2021.

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF YOUR KENNEL NAME AND WHEN YOU REGISTERED

Nigel: My Uncle was a GSD Breeder and handler, as a young boy he gave me a bitch puppy. He had handled dogs for the late Nancy Evans of the famous LLanyrafon GSDs.

It didn’t take long before I became hooked on both the breed and dog showing and when a better-quality bitch arrived, within a few years I had my first litter planned.

I needed an affix and decided to register Riversley, which was the name of my grandparent’s house, Over the next 10 years, several litters were born under that prefix.

Whilst both the dogs and the affix were in my name it was pretty much a joint effort with my late father.

However, I disagreed with the move to the “Germanic” type of GSD and sadly decided that this “new” breed was not for me.

Anne: Nigel and I married in 1974 and a year later we obtained our first English Setter, We wanted an affix to add to her name but found it difficult to agree on what that should be.

Nigel wanted a fresh start and didn’t want to use Riversley, and at that time Nigel managed an Evans & Phillips Furniture store, I was waiting for him to lock up one day and picked up a sofa catalogue as I liked the look of the sofa on the cover.

The sofa was called ‘The Sarabande’, I thought this would sound good with English Setters, we had a brief discussion and applied for Sarabande, the rest is history as they say.

No romance or sentiment in the choice just plain old chance, I have since learned that a Sarabande is a Spanish dance.

HOW DID YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE BREED BEGIN AND WERE THERE OTHER BREEDS BEFOREHAND?

A friendship with Phil and Eira Green, Tamaritz Welsh Springer Spaniel & English Springer Spaniels, resulted in the purchase of a Welsh Springer Spaniel pup from close friends of theirs David and Ann Halley in 1988 a dog pup called Canisbay Casanova,  He was a son of Sh Ch Ferndel Stroller out of a bitch called Menstonia Morning Mist, six of his eight great parents were Dalati Dogs/Bitches, At this point, we didn’t have a gundog at home, just an elderly Bichon and two Maltese.

In the years before this, apart from the GSDs and English Setters, we owned a few Pointers, the first bred by the late Joe Braddon, Ide Black and White, a Peakdale Badger son.  Bichon Frise played a large part in those early showing years, our first Bichon, Ch Glenfolly Silver Lady of Sarabande became the first UK Champion in 1980 making breed history.

A Saxonsprings Lhasa dog joined the team and achieved a CC and res CC plus multiple BIS wins at the open show level.

Then a Maltese girl from the famous Movalian kennels of Val and Ian Blore, had a litter and we kept a daughter, they were rarely shown and lived their lives with the Welsh Springer Spaniels as much-loved family pets.

We also owned and campaigned an English Springer Spaniel to her title, Sh Ch Trimere Total Eclipse over Sarabande ShCM.

WHAT WERE YOUR ETHICS WHEN YOU BEGAN AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THE BREED?

Before the days of drink, driving bans back in the early days of dog showing (most of the generations that have done a fifty-year stint will remember) exhibitors would congregate at the shows bar this gave them the introductions to many breed specialists and all-rounders, who stimulated and encouraged the learning of breeds in general to the newcomers not to mention the socialization, fun and stories that were told.

Regardless of the breeds, we have owned, we have always had the same ethic’s, breed the best you can, widen the breeds gene pool, get the balance right, always adapt the motto to breed for type, health and temperament! Take your time, get to know the breed’s history and bloodlines first, it is paramount to making good breeding decisions.

However, it is especially important when you are making plans to breed those discussions and much thought is taken into account first, it is after all a lifetime of learning.

WHO WERE YOUR MENTORS IN YOUR CHOSEN BREEDS?

I’ve already mentioned Phil Green who was instrumental in us obtaining our first Welsh Springer Spaniel, many hours were spent with Phil both ringside and at home discussing the breed at length and learning the skills of hand stripping for the show ring.

I also have to mention John Thirlwell and Meghen Riese-Bassel who have always been willing to answer a multitude of questions and share their vast knowledge of the breed.

There have been others, too many to mention who have years of experience in the breed, some sadly who are no longer with us.

WHAT LINES DID YOU START WITH WHEN BREEDING AND ARE THEY STILL IN YOUR LINES TODAY?

Another Shandwick Welsh Springer Spaniel arrived very quickly after that, in 2004.  Sh Ch Shandwick Kristoffer of Sarabande ShCM, 11 CCs, eight Res CCs and Top Welsh Springer Spaniel Dog 2008, another from Ferndel and Dalati stock.

 

Then in 2009 a bitch joined the household, Sh Ch Shandwick Premier Rose at Sarabande JW ShCM.

If you look back at the pedigrees on our website the Sarabande stock still has these lines in them today.

DID YOU SHOW FOR A WHILE BEFORE BREEDING YOUR FIRST LITTER?

With all the breeds we have been associated with over the years we always showed and got to know the breed and its history first and foremost enabling us to choose well when deciding to breed.

FROM THE FIRST LITTER YOU BRED, DID SUCCESS IN THE SHOW RING COME QUICKLY?

It is often said that the strength of any kennel is dependent on the strength in its Bitch line.

Our foundation bitch, Sh Ch Shandwick Premier Rose at Sarabande JW ShCM, was that perfect mix of excellence in the show ring and later on as a brood, not only did she have a glowing show career, winning 9 CCS and 6 res CCs including a CC at Crufts but she became a good producer and was Top Brood in the breed in 2019.

She has produced three litters to three different dogs, although there are similar lines in all pedigrees, In all three litters, she has produced champions here in the UK, Australia and in the USA.

Some of her offspring are still being shown and consistently winning.

AT WHAT AGE DO YOU LIKE TO CHOOSE A SHOW PUPPY AND WHY THAT AGE. ALSO, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR?

Spend time watching your progeny in play as they grow, we have usually decided upon our keeper around the seven/eight weeks of age stage.  The more you do this, the more you will learn.

We look in the first instance for breed type, health and temperaments, followed by balance with a ground covering powerful push and drive.

WHEN DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN JUDGING? CAN YOU NAME YOUR FIRST SHOW AND CAN YOU RECALL THE ENTRY NUMBERS AND YOUR WINNERS?

Nigel: I was invited to my first judging appointment at The Metropolitan Borough of Dudley some forty-two years ago held May 8^th 1979,

I judged eight classes of English Setters with thirty-seven dogs making forty-three entries. I can not remember who those main winners were.

Anne: I judged eight classes of Bichon Frise, same show, day and year as Nigel, unfortunately, no record of entry to remember the main winners.

SIMILARLY, WHEN DID YOU AWARD YOUR FIRST SET OF CCs, WHERE AND TO WHOM ?

Nigel: One never forgets their first Challenge Certificate appointment, mine was back on the day of the Leicester Championship Show in 1992, I awarded challenge certificates in English Setters.  I had one hundred and ninety-three entries and I awarded the bitch challenge certificate and Best of Breed to Sh Ch Starlite Express at Valsett.  I believe she took the breed record on the day and later won a few more Challenge Certificates to add to her total. I have awarded CCs in English Setters eleven times to date.

My first Welsh Springer Spaniel appointment was at Driffield in 1997. My Dog challenge certificate was Highclare Rorkes Drift, his second CC I believe, Res Dog CC was Taimeres Tabasco, Bitch CC and Best of Breed was Ch Ch Dalville Dancing Water and Res Bitch CC Ferndel Opal. Best Puppy was Highclare Spin Doctor.

I have awarded Challenge Certificate’s seven times in the breed; I have two current breed Challenge Certificate’s appointments at Breed shows this year and have judged at championship show level in Sweden and the USA.

Anne: I awarded my first set of Challenge Certificate’s in Bichon Frise at the SKC championship show in May 1987.

The dog I awarded the CC and BOB to was called Melsel Taboo owned by Reg and Chris Belcher and Richard Blackwell. Handled as always by Richard. He also went onto win the Toy Group that day under Monica Boggia-Black.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A STUD DOG FOR A BITCH, DO YOU LOOK AT PEDIGREE, HIS TYPE OR SOMETHING ELSE?  CAN IT HAPPEN THAT A WELL THOUGHT OVER COMBINATION DOESN’T WORK AND YOU DON’T GET WHAT YOU EXPECTED?

We look at the whole picture, we have to first like the dog in terms of his type and overall structure and he has to have the necessary health tests, then we look at what we believe he can offer the bitch, particularly should we want to improve in a particular area!

Then we consider the pedigree, we believe that Line breeding is the way forward with an occasional outcross before coming back into the pedigree lines.

This was no easy task for us when looking for a stud for Sh Ch Shandwick Premier Rose at Sarabande JW ShCM as everything we liked in terms of type and construction turned out to be too closely related to her, We even started looking at some dogs abroad, Completely at a loss, we turned to John Thirlwell for some help and guidance.

He pointed us to the Statesman Welsh Springer Spaniel Kennels in Georgia USA of Susan Riese and her daughter Meghan Riese-Bassel and to two dogs, in particular, these dogs had several British dogs in their pedigree, lines now lost to us in the UK.

A lasting friendship was formed, and the majority of our litters have been sired by their dogs or by using semen stored by them.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ABSOLUTE HIGHLIGHT IN DOGS

Nigel:  My highlight has to be the honour of judging my first Gundog Group in my homeland, at The Welsh Kennel Club, It was an excellent quality group and I thoroughly enjoyed this most special appointment.

In terms of showing without a doubt, it has to be winning the CC and BOB in an exceptional entry for breed specialist Catherine Dods at Crufts in 2019. The bitch in question was at her first show since returning from the USA.

Being asked to judge Welsh Springer Spaniels at the flushing spaniel show in the USA was also a special moment in my judging career.

Anne: Top of this list must be making up the first UK Bichon Frise Champion in 1980, Ch Glenfolly Silver Lady of Sarabande was my first Bichon and won five of the six Bitch Challenge Certificate is on offer that year.

Making breed history is always special.

In terms of judging, it has to be my appointment at Crufts in 2003, I had a very good entry and some very good dogs from both the UK and abroad.

I felt it was such an honour and a privilege that will never be forgotten.

NAME THREE OF THE BEST DOGS YOU HAVE BRED

We have been fortunate to breed some lovely dogs but in no particular order

She is out of Sh Ch Shandwick Premier Rose at Sarabande JW ShCM first litter by Am GCH Statesman’s River To the Sea. Her pedigree includes dogs from Slapestones, Kazval, Ferndel, Steelriver, Arkview, Cannisbay and Weslave kennels.  She won a puppy group just 4 days out of quarantine and is still winning today. She has had 2 litters and is now a mother of champions herself.Aust Ch Sarabande Sea of Dream AI. Born June 2013. Owned by Bev and the late Bruce Cornish, Brisbane, Australia.

Sh Ch Sarabande Eternity at Slapestones JW AI. Born November 2015. Owned by Andrew, Thelma and Dawn Ritchie.

She is from Sh Ch Shandwick Premier Rose at Sarabande JW ShCM second litter by Am GCH Statesman ‘s Amicus.

He is out of the same British bitch as River to the Sea, but by a dog with different Dalati, Ferndel and Inu Goya Lines. To date, she has won 6 CCs, 12 res CCs and was Top Welsh Springer Spaniel bitch 2019.

Am GCH Sh Ch Sarabande Sweet Nothings AI. Litter sister to Sh Ch Sarabande Eternity at Slapestones JW AI

Affectionally is known as Rose she went out to the USA to Meghen and Susan Riese-Bassel as a young puppy.

She was shown in the States to her American Grand title and returned home in November 2018. Her first show in the UK was Crufts 2019 where she won the Challenge Certificate and Best of Breed. Rose gained her title by the end of that year and won the res bitch CC on her last outing to date at Crufts 2020.

NAME THREE OF THE BEST DOGS YOU HAVE JUDGED OVER YOUR CAREER THAT YOU HOLD IN HIGH REGARD

Nigel: In our breed, it has to be the breed’s record holder, Sh Ch Ferndel Aeron Macgregor,  for me he completely fits the breed standard! I awarded him his first Challenge Certificate at Birmingham City from the Junior class, I then had the pleasure of re-judging him at his last outing at Gundog Breeds Association of Scotland where I was delighted to award him the Veteran Group.

In 2015; I judged my first Gundog Group, from a quality entry my winner was the buff American Cocker Multi Group & BIS & BISS Winner International, French, Italian, Swiss, Malta, Luxembourg, UK CH Ch Very Vigie I Don’t Know, groomed & handled by Hughes Schuh from Geneva, ‘Ricky’ was a superb showman and has gone on to win many accolades and titles throughout the world.

Naming a third is very difficult as there could be a number that could fill this spot and the list would be quite long, however, I am going to name two’s dog that made a big impact on me the Weimaraner, Sh Ch Gunalt De Ice at Stridview, and the Irish Setter Sh Ch Gwendariff Coconut Cream CW’18.

Anne: My apologies but I have to name four as I cannot leave one out, written in the order I judged them,

Ch Snarsnoz Show Quest, owned by Reg and Chris Belcher and shown by Chris, was my Best in Show when I judged the Bichon Club Open Show in 1984, he was a beautiful dog and so very sound and has always been one of my favourites!

Ch Sibon Fatal Attraction at Pamplona owned and shown by Michael Coad. This bitch was a multiple winner, very feminine, true to the standard and a real showgirl.

Ch/Ir Ch Ashmair Double Act, owned and shown by Ashling Connolly from Ireland, My Crufts Dog Challenge Certificate and Best of Breed winner in 2013, Absolutely loved him as soon as he entered the ring and he didn’t disappoint to go over.

Ch Louisianna Troublemaker, I awarded him his first Challenge Certificate he very quickly gained his title and won the Challenge Certificate and Best of Breed at Crufts in 2016. Trouble fits the standard so well and has personality plus when in the ring.

IF YOU COULD BRING A DOG HOME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, WHERE WOULD IT BE FROM AND WHY?

If I were to import a Welsh Springer Spaniel it would most probably be from the USA, in particular from the Statesman and Clussexx kennels, but it would be completely dependent on the lines in the pedigree.

WHAT KENNELS PRESENT AND PAST DO YOU ADMIRE AND WHY?

Already mentioned are the Dalati and Ferndel kennels, particularly their older stock. The breed no longer has the ‘big’ breeding kennels, but many smaller breeders are breeding consistently to type and doing well today.

WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THE BREED FROM DIFFERENT CORNERS OF THE WORLD? HOW DO THEY VARY IN TYPE. ARE THE BREED STANDARDS DIFFERENT FROM UK, FCI, AKC, ANKC?

Doesn’t matter what part of the world the breed should be the same, words in the standards around the world may vary, the Welsh springer is still a Welsh springer spaniel, Standards are ambiguous.

HOW DO YOU FEEL THE BREED HAS CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU STARTED IN THE BREED GLOBALLY? HAVE THEY IMPROVED OR GOT MORE VARIED OVER TIME?

In some countries it has improved, in other’s it is decline, however, I believe this is due to co-efficiency breeding.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER SOME OF THE FAILINGS IN TODAY’S DOGS? YOUR BREED/S AND IN GENERAL

Overall and in general I believe that co-efficiency breeding practice will compromise breed type in the long term, which will affect all breeds around the world.

WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST EXCITING JUDGING APPTS YOU HAVE DONE, GLOBALLY, THAT YOU CAN SAY HAS TICKED A BOX FOR YOU IN YOUR BUCKET LIST. WHO WERE YOUR WINNERS?

In the mid-1990s we jointly judged at a show in St Petersburg, Russia.  Judging lasted until past midnight, the show itself was rather chaotic but most enjoyable.

The group and Best in Show judges were picked on the day, depending on their popularity with the exhibitors present.

We judged a variety of breeds and both of us did a group. Nigel was invited to judge Best in Show. We spent a week in St Petersburg and it was a truly memorable experience.

Anne: I had the opportunity some years ago to judge the Norway equivalent of the UK Toydog Championship Show. The hospitality was amazing and the show itself very well organized, I judged a lovely entry of Bichons, Maltese and Boston Terriers.

Nigel: I have been honoured to judge the Welsh Springer Spaniel in Knoxville, Tennessee and have judged both Welsh Springer Spaniel and English Springer Spaniel in Sweden, on both occasions, there were several lovely specimens presented before me.

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUDGE A SPECIFIC DOG THAT YOU DIDN’T GET A CHANCE TO, WHO WOULD THAT BE AND WHY

I would like to have had the opportunity to judge the Flatcoated Retriever, Sh Ch Vbos The Kentuckian, I saw him in the ring on several occasions and thought him to be a superb dog, one of those special ones who just got even better as the years went on by.

IF YOU WERE HOSTING A DINNER PARTY WHOM WOULD YOU INVITE, DEAD OR ALIVE IN THE WORLD OF DOGS TO YOUR DINNER AND WHY?

Terry Thorn for his knowledge on all breeds, he was such a perfect gentleman, Ron & Tydfil Bebb, who came as a package with a wealth of information on breeds and rules, Peggy Grayson for his spin on things of today’s world, Marion Waddell and Gordon Haran, for their combined knowledge and experience, Meghen Riese-Bassel for her exceptional grooming and health knowledge of welsh springer spaniels. Tom Mather, for his knowledge of a large variety of breeds, another one of the greats in our dogdom.

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF YOUR HOBBIES, WHICH WOULD IT BE, BREEDING, SHOWING OR JUDGING AND WHY

Nigel: For me, there is no other choice, it would be in the showing of the dogs, I have always been the same, with that comes my passion for presentation, the art of grooming as near to perfection as one can achieve, after all, Miss World would not compete without her hair washed and makeup on.

Anne: My love lies without a doubt is within the joys of new births, the rearing of puppies fills me with joy, as does indeed everyday whilst they are with us, watching them develop, learn and interact with life. 

IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THIS BREED WHICH OTHER BREEDS, DO YOU LIKE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH?

Probably the top of our list would be the Lagotto Romagnolo, a breed we have both admired ringside.

WHAT GOALS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS IN THE WORLD OF DOGS?

Probably more of the same, showing our current dogs, one or two litters planned and adding a few more breeds to our judging portfolio.

ASIDE FROM DOGS WHAT OTHER HOBBIES DO YOU ENJOY?

Nigel: Do canine exhibitors have time for hobbies other than their dogs, I do not! I put all I have into the dogs, I used to be a golfer! But now I am just a keep fit personal trainer for the dogs.

Anne: I enjoy socializing with good friends and ladies’ lunches.

NAME YOUR DREAM SEVEN DOGS FOR A BEST IN SHOW, THAT YOU WOULD JUDGE, ONE FROM EACH GROUP, OVER THE YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN A FAVOURITE OF YOURS AND WHY?

Gundog Group: the flat-coated retriever, Sh Ch Vbos The Kentuckian, he never looked back, he just got better and better with age, watching him come with its own emotions of a true partnership of one man and his dog.

Hound Group: the Petite Bassett Griffon Vandeen, Ch Soletrader Peek A Boo, Dearest Jilly, a true hound that moved with such style, at one with her handler completed the picture, just adored that smiling face.

Pastoral Group: the OES Ch Zottels Miss Marple, another stylish mover for her breed, her stunning presentation was second to none, she was one of a kind.

Toy Group: the Pekingese, Ch Yakee Oh Ah Cantona, his little legs carried him rolling around the ring, such a showman, and wow what a coat.

Terrier Group: the Kerry Blue Terrier, Ch Perrisblu Kennislain’s Chelsea, this bitch gave me the chills, so typically terrier yet so pretty and elegant, stunningly presented, a true ambassador for her breed.

Utility Group: the Lhasa Apso, Ch Saxonsprings Fresno, when she decided to show, she was so at one with her handler she was a sight of beauty, such a perfectly presented flowing coat, and rear pads kicking back to show the extent of her power in movement.

Working Group: the Dobermann Ch Sallate Ferris, entered the ring with true breed type every time I saw him, such clean lines and style with power again at one with his handler.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?

First, it would be nice to be remembered at all, but to be remembered as the ‘Welsh’ Welsh Springer Spaniel man from the valley’s where the breed was invented would be nice.

Secondly, I would hope to have made some impact, however, big or small on the breed with its future preservation foremost in mind, and to be remembered for doing my best at widening the gene pool of the breed where I could and consistency of breeding type.