The Kennel Club have twice in 1991 and 2011 featured in the Kennel Gazette the Cardigan Welsh Corgi in The Judges Choice.

They Judges Asked the Following 

Peter Clifton. Ann Arch. Sam McIlrath. Daphne Slark. Sonnica Godden. Sally Verity. Arthur Bridge. Jo Parkinson. Ken Lincacre.

The most freqently selected was Ch Pantyblaidd Pip.

Peter Clifton (Joseter) Choosing the greats from among the many great the breed has produced over my 40 years in the breed is comprised by selecting those that I would have wished so much to own, and they would all have been superstars in any era.

My first choice Oliver Jones Ch Pantyblaidd Pip. A brindle dog who, I feel was before his time. So totally outstanding in all departments. Sheer elegance when standing and on the move. Doing what all greats do putting fear into their fellow exhibitors just by his presence.

Unfortnately living in Carmarthenshire, Pip was not campaigned a great deal nor overly used at stud, as history proves he should have been. Mudwin his famous son, appears on so many of today's pedigrees and in the States Pip is still regarded with the highest esteem. For in 1969 six of his children were exported to that country. These helped form the foundation stock of many of the American lines of today. The most famous one Am Ch Pantyblaidd Beat produced five Champions and was the granmother of two dogs that took All Breed Bst In show awards on four occasions,

Three most influenial dogs appear on Pip's pedigree 21 times in six generations. Namely Ch Lisaye Rebecca of Greenfarms a personal favourite of mine, Ch Withbrook Brock

My second choice Ch Kenwood Dewin. Dewin was a really superb red and white who today would be the envy of all. Not just for his lovely colour but for his true breed type which he passed onto many of his progeny both home and overseas.

My third choice Ch Debs Delight of Grangefield the breed record holder. Teeming in quality and a great credit to the breed. The tragedy, I feel for the breed was that she was never bred from.

Ann Arch (All Breed Judge) In my opinion the greatest Welsh Corgi Cardigan is Ch Joseter Joson, who seems to embody the breed standard. Balance and sound and even now as a veteran, he is a worthy breed representative to send into a group ring. I count myself very fortunate that on my first Ch appointment in the breed, he was entered and became B.O.B. at a club show.

Ch Beckrow Blue Cedar is another that I have had the pleasure to judge and place highly. Very sound and of such a pleasing colour. He was Reserve to Joson at my first appointment of awarding C.Cs and on my next appointment went B.O.B.

As a comparative newcomer to judging Cardigans at top level I fel it would be presumpnous to make further comments.

Sam McIlrath (All Breed Judge) In my opinion the greatest ever Welsh Corgi Cardigan was

Ch Wendac Robgwen Midnight Special. He was bred by the late Gwen Roberts and owned by the late Doreen Dodds. He was a superb headed dog plenty of neck on well angled shoulders. Correct front and feet, looked excellent in profile was sound in every way. Above all he was a correct Cardigan.

My second choice would be Ch Pharoah Of Joseter, owned by Peter Clifton. One would really bracket these two together, such was their superb quality. Pharoah was a lovely bodied dog with a classical head and overall sound as a bell. Again a more typical Cardigan would be hard to find.

My third choice is Ch Deb's Delight of Grangefield owned by Doreen Page. Another true Cardigan lovely head and ears, correct confermation which gave her such free movement. This bitch had the stamp of quality all the way through. Unfortunately all three are from the past perhaps a sign that I am getting old.

Daphne Slark. (Kerridas)

Ch Joseter Mudwin must be one of the greats in the breed. Bred in 1971 by Peter Clifton he was a very good looking dog who won 6 C.Cs. He sired eight champions all of whom are still producing champions.

My second place would be Ch Rozavel Blue Rosette. Bred by Thelma Gray she was the first post war blue merle champion. She won about eight C.Cs and figures prominently in many of todays well known kennels including Bymil, Gorthleck, Lees , Antoc, Beckrow all of whom have champions descending from her. I think the blue merles would not scarcely exist had it not been been for Rose.

My third choice is Ch Pantyblaidd Pip. sire of Mudwin owned by Oliver Jones. Probably a loss to the breed as he was't used by too many breeders. Had he have lived in a more central district he would have been used more.

Sonnica Godden. (Kentwood) During the time I have been associated with the breed a number of outstanding dogs have graced the ring and some have left their mark. To select the greatest of these is most difficult and I have confined my initial list of ten to those I have known or judged excluding some of my own champions who could have been included.

Before listing my three choices I must mention the influential Ch Withybrook Brock. Bred from the successful Bussieton line this delightful dog first attracted me to the breed and he did so much in the early post war period to improve type an quality when both were so diverse. His numerous champion progeny bred on so well for many breeders and his influence in my own kennel was considerable.

My first choice must be 1960's Ch Pantyblaidd Pip. A medium size attractive brindle and white of true Cardi type and construction. Lovely quality and character and one that could do a days work. He won extensively during this period gaining 10 c.cs including Crufts 1964 with best of breed. His progeny established him as a most successful sire in the USA and one of his gransons was one of the of the first Cardigans to win an all breed best in show. In this country his bloodlines have been equally successful and still continue to influence the breed.

My second choice Ch Gleghornie Blackthorn a charming black brindle while typical in all aspects of the standard, lovely quality and balance and very feminine, She dominated the ring from the late 50's mid 60's and I had the plesure of awarding her first C.C. and best of breedwhen still a junior. She went on to win another 16 c.cs four at Crufts 1958/59 and 1961/62 and she held the bitch record for a number of years.

My third selection is a grandson of my first choice

Ch Pharoah of Joseter. A stylish brindle and white and possessing all ther essential attributes. He had a spectacular career winning 23 c.cs including Crufts 1975-1977 each with best of breed. The 1977 Crufts win I had the pleasure of awarding myself. He was one of the first Cardigans to receive recognition in the varity ring being a finalist in the Daily Express/Spillers Pup of the year contest 1974. It is interesting to note that Pharoah is the grandsire of the breeds present top winner Ch Joseter Joson demonstrating the influence of this bloodline.

Sally Verity (Veritas). This is a very difficult question to answer because there have been and are so many good dogs to choose from. I have therefore gone into the 1960s and for me Ch Kent wood Cymro stands out. He has a beautiful head of good proportions with erect ears, good reach of neck fitting into well laid shoulders, deep broad chest with good best bone, well sprung ribs giving plenty of heart and lung room. He has a level topline without any trace of dip behind the shoulders leading to a clearly defined waist and we’ll muscled thights ending in his marvellous brush. Good bone reaching down to his well padded round feet. A dog who looks as if he could do a hard days work. When all is said and done the Cardigan Corgi is a working dog but can also be very attractive with the selection of colour combinations we have in the breed.

My second choice would be Ch Deb's Delight of Grangefield

a real glamour girl feminine all through. She stands with her head erect as much as to say “look at me, aren’t I beautiful “. Again good reach of neck, level topline lower to ground than Cymro with deeper chest. Again a clearly defined waist with muscled thighs and perfectly carried brush. Pity she was never bred from to pass on hopefully all her good points.

My third choice is Ch Gleghornie Blacktorn.

Another from the 60s a sweet feminine bitch so similar to Debs Delight they could have been sisters the same remarks apply and I could carry on ad infiniturn with present day exhibits in this country. At the same time I would like to mention one dog I would be proud to own. Bred in this country by Mrs Ash exported by the late Gwen Roberts and owned by Anita Nordlunde of Denmark. I made him best of breed at the Netherlands welsh Corgi show and he was also best in show. Danish Ch Greg’s Boys of Rob Gwen for me he epitomises the standard. I deplore the present day fash3 of exhibitors getting down on their hunches stringing up the dog instead of letting it show itself off on a loose lead.

Arthur Bridge (Daleviz) when I read the letter from the Kennel Club my first through was for Ch Pantyblaidd Pip. And though I have given through to this nylon first choice must still be Ch Pantyblaidd Pip. He was beautifully balanced and consequently a very sound mover. I particularly liked his height to length of body and neck balance, topped by a beautiful masculine head. He had great quality and has left his mark as a super sire.

My second choice is Ch Ringinglow Mory's Treasure

 Very much the feminine counterpart of Pip. Super quality and beautiful head, well balanced, great ring presence and a most lovely red brindle colour.

My third choice is Ch Kentwood Cymro

When I first saw Cymro I through him quite outstanding and still carry the torch for him after all these years. Again that beautiful balance and soundness of Pip and Treasure, a great showman and one which lives on through the outstanding Cardigans he has sired.

Joe Parkinson (Parmel) The greatest Cardigan Corgi – that is the question. It is necessary to determine in one’s mind what constitutes greatness. Is it overwhelming success in the show ring, outstanding conformation, ability to reproduce those qualities in its offspring and so improve the breed technically and as a breed attractive to the public. I feel all of these facets must be taken into account with special emphasis on confirmation and quality of progeny, not forgetting temperament, the topic of much debate at the moment high zip am pleased to record does not involve Cardigans,.

I consider that Ch Kentwood Cymro. met those criteria not only in himself but passed them on to many of his first and subsequent generations both in the British Isles and overseas. In addition to his star qualities he was endow9with what might be described in humans as self confidence, alert without aggression, attributes which made the breed more attractive and appealing to the general public.

My second choice would be Ch Robgwen Blacvk Beauty

of outstanding quality in her own right and the foundation bitch behind many typical Cardis- once again both home and abroad . Aptly named not only beautiful in type and size but temperament too, all of which were readily discernible in her offspring.

My third choice Ch Pantyblaidd Pip

Another top quality specimen whose potential neither in the ring nor at stud was exploited to its maximum maybe due to his geographical location. Nevertheless he was relatively successful in both fields gaining his title without difficultly and his progeny, through several generations have maintained his type and conformity to the recognised standard.

Ken Lincacre (Blewburton). Ch Kentwood Anwyl is my first choice- a Bitch of beautiful balance , confirmation and outline. She had a lovely head, ideal size for body size, with that flat skull domed forehead and length and weigh of muzzle required with most beautiful services size and shape of ears. Broad deep body with good reach of neck well laid shoulders, correct bow of front with out-turned feet, very sound rear. An excellent mover. Perfect coat with bush tail, no flag. She was something of a primary donna but magnificent at her best. Winner of 12 c,cs. Unfortunately she never had a litter. Still with us now at 13. If anything were to be changed, perhaps just a shade more length of body would have improved her.

My second choice would be Ch Joseter Joson

- a magnificent dog, perhaps a little more of a ‘racehorse ‘ but a beautiful head and magnificent construction. His movement is a joy to see. I would not want to see a dog much bigger than Jason, but zip would not change anything.

My third choice is Ch Wendac Robgwen Midnight Special, if we are looking for great dogs, Bryn has to be included. A dog of great presence and character, lovely size and outline, free mover with great strength. Rather wide in front if one is looking for faults. A great winner, great sire and a great influence on the breed.