WELSH VETERAN OF THE YEAR 2020
Held on the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells on Saturday, February 29th, 2020.
Welsh Veteran Of The Year is held in conjunction with Welsh Junior Of The Year and Welsh Junior Handler Of The Year, all three are separate competitions.
In its fourth year now, it is a well-supported and fun-filled celebration for the older generation of our welsh show dogs.
This year saw exhibits returning that have previously won other coveted titles and this year a little bit of historical magic happened when Welsh Junior of the Year 2013 Arthur Wood and Christine Kenyon’s Pyrenean Mountain dog Ch Charibere Simply Special at Chezanna JW returned to win this competition as well and become a welsh veteran of the year 2020.
Kodi is the first dog to hold both titles to add to his tally of 25 challenge certificates, 10 group 1 placings, 2 all breeds BIS Championship Show wins and a veteran group 1 placement. I don’t think we have seen the last of this boy, do you.
Judge
Garry Mason
Garry Mason grew up with racing greyhounds as his grandmother bred and raced them in the mining valleys of south wales, the care and training of the dogs were the daily chores of the family’s children. Garry went to his first show in the late 1960s with an afghan hound and has a great passion for the breed to this day. He is a life member of the afghan hound club of wales and has served on its committee in the past.
Garry has awarded challenge certificates since 1974 in the Afghan hound, and today in also in the following breeds Borzoi, Norwich and Norfolk terriers, Parson Russell terriers, Smooth Fox and Wire Fox Terriers.
Garry and his wife Annette also own Japanese Chins and Annette made up a bitch from limited showing. Currently, Garry handles Jack Russell terriers for Annette that were imported from Italy.
He has bred two champions Ch Glenhafod Arizona and Ch Glenhafod Texas who was best bitch at Crufts in 2002 and 2003. He has also bred an American Champion Norwich terrier Glenhafod Kansas and a Japanese Chin Glenhafod Indiana.
At Crufts in 2005, the best of breed dog was Ch Drakesoak Envoy to Glenhafod, sired by Glenhafod Arizona, bred by Gill James of the Drakesoak Kennel but owned by Garry and Annette at this time who are currently campaigning a Norwich terrier.
Next year’s competition will be on Saturday, February 27th 2021, Further details and any changes can be obtained on the competition’s website under the welsh Veteran section; https://welshjunioroftheyear.com