21/10/2026
Clumber Spaniel Breed Notes 21/10/26
Last week on Wednesday 14th, Malvern saw the hosting of Gundog Society of Wales. Colette Perkins judged the breed without CCs and awarded Sh Ch Vanitonia Something Extra owned by Adam Gardner and Dee Carter-Hunt. Reserve best dog was Tweedsmuir Manhattan owned by Claire and Jonathan Blackburn. Best Bitch and Best Puppy was Lee Cox’s Vanitonia Society Girl and Reserve Best Bitch Rachel Wareham’s Suelynda Dream On. The Best Special Beginner was Elskerwoo Solar Flare owned by Mr and Mrs Morrison. On to the groups and under Jacqui Ward, the Vanitonia team were awarded Group 4 with Something Extra and Reserve Best Puppy In Show with Society Girl. Well done.
On Sunday 18th October at Gravesend and Medway Towns open show last weekend, Clumbers also had a good run. There were no breed classes and the AVNSC judge was Laurie Hunt who awarded BOB to Linda Thorogood’s Anbrook Don’t Stop Me Now At Harrifield ShCEx and Best Puppy to Lauren and Sue Wilson’s Vanitonia Strike A Pose At Winhampton. Under the same judge Don’t Stop Me Now was then Gundog Group 2 and Strike A Pose struck a PG1. She then went on to win Reserve Best Puppy In Show under Gavin Robertson. Congratulations all.
Our Dogs Top Clumber Spaniel has been announced for the three quarter stage and Sh Ch Vanitonia Something Extra is the lead for our breed with 31 points. Congratulations to owners Adam and Dee and breeder Lee Cox.
Alison Hawkes, CSC member has written to advise that the WSS Club of South Wales are short of entries for their Minority Breeds Field Trial on 14th November at Tregynon. Any Spaniel excluding Cocker and English Springer can enter; £55 for non-members, the judges are Mr B Faley (A panel) and Mr J Robertson (B Panel). Entries close 31st October, please download a form from www.wsscsw.co.uk
I caught up with Paul Whitehouse who continues to do a great job coordinating the promotion of Clumbers at public events. Paul coordinated Edition Dogs Live, held at Stoneleigh Park, last weekend and would like to thank the Blackburn family with Ernie and Alfie; Maggie Loughran with Ned; Helen & Andy James with Mallow and Claire Pickering with George.
Paul also thanks Tori Parkes for helping on the stand without dogs on the last afternoon. Well done team and best of luck to Paul and his volunteers with planning Crufts 2027 now.
A few changes were announced for Crufts today and over the last few days. This includes a slightly earlier 3pm departure time for exhibitors, and vet checks for all Best Of Breeds before they are judged by a Group Judge who will have had a DBS check. Your breed judge won’t have been required to have one, but neither judge will actually be providing a regulated activity such as providing a professional service that involves being alone with vulnerable people or privy to their sensitive information. I have a DBS for my own job on regular update service, but I have no idea why this is needed for a Group judge at Crufts, especially when it's not needed at any other shows. There is also introduction of a declaration for those who have animal abuse convictions, but this is voluntary so even more baffling.
News in general is likely to start to dip off over the next few months, so these Notes will become fortnightly. Do please still send me things for inclusion and they will get added.
James Taylor
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The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of South Wales was founded in 1980. It's the only club in Wales specifically dedicated to this wonderful breed
