On October 6, 2019, GCh. Ch. Brightluck Money Talks, “Dazzle,” owned by Keith Bailey (Bayleigh) and Janet McBrien (Brightluck), and presented by Tracy Szaras, won Best of Breed under the distinguished terrier judge Mr. Clay Coady, and continued on to win Best in Show under the esteemed breeder judge Mr. David Kirkland. With GCh. Ch. Abbeyrose Captain Jack, “Captain Jack,” winning BIS in 2018, it was consecutive years win for Welsh Terriers at the prestigious Montgomery County Kennel Club—the greatest terrier show in the world.
Many thought, what a marvelous highpoint for our rare breed. Upon further study, amazingly, the feat has happened three times in Welsh Terrier history (only two other terrier breeds have done it twice: the Scottish Terrier and Wire Fox Terrier).
The first time a Welsh Terrier won BIS at Montgomery was in 1952, and again in 1953 by the same dog—Ch. Toplight Template of Twin Ponds, “Template”—owned by Mrs. Edward P. (Ernestine) Alker (Twin Ponds). In fact, “Template” was the first of any terrier breed to win back-to-back BIS at MCKC, established in 1929. He won the Welsh Terrier Club of America Grand Challenge Cup in 1951 and 1954.
Lightning struck again in 1962 and 1963, when Mrs. Alker’s Ch. Caradoc Llwyd of St. Aubrey and her Dewi of St. Aubrey went back-to-back BIS at MCKC. This was the second time a Welsh Terrier beat all other terriers in consecutive wins at Montgomery. The following two years, the Scottish Terrier took the honor.
Ch. Caradoc Llwyd of St. Aubrey was the winner of the WTCA Grand Challenge Cup in 1962. Ch. Dewi of St. Aubrey, “Dewi,” won the WTCA Junior Challenge Cup in 1963.
In 2018, the Montgomery BIS winner was GCh. Ch. Abbeyrose Captain Jack, “Captain Jack,” owned by Mary Duafala and Pamela Allen (Abbeyrose) in 2017, and additionally Judith Anspach (Abbeyrose) and Janice Simmons (Summersun) in 2018, and presented by Leonardo Garcini. “Captain Jack” holds 94 Group First and 21 BIS wins. He is the No. 14 ranked AKC Welsh Terrier Grand Champion.
Then, 2019, GCh. Ch. Brightluck Money Talks, “Dazzle,” shone ever so brightly to win the third consecutive Welsh Terrier Best in Show win in breed history at Montgomery.
As of November 7, 2019, “Dazzle” holds 148 Group First and 37 Best in Show wins. He is the No. 1 ranked AKC Welsh Terrier Grand Champion, and a Number One Terrier in America and Number Four Dog All Breeds (2020).
For the record, two other Welsh Terriers won BIS at Montgomery: in 1978, Ch. Copperboots Wee Blaste, “Blaste,” owned by Marge and Dr. O.W. McClung (Wenmar); and in 1996, Ch. Anasazi Billy The Kid, “Billy,” the Top Winning Welsh Terrier Dog of All Time, owned by Welsh Terrier Club of America President Bruce Schwartz.
For more information on these record holders, and more, visit https://welshterrierrecordholders.com
–Denise Yates, Founder and Author of Welsh Terrier Record Holders
You can watch the 2019 Montgomery County Kennel Club Best In Show judging on AKC.tv by clicking here.
You can watch the 2018 Montgomery County Kennel Club Best In Show judging on AKC.tv by clicking here.