During 1975, a group of English Setter enthusiasts held several informal meetings in Bridgend to discuss the possibility of forming a Breed Club based in the Principality. Eventually, the ideas became more concrete, and at a formal inaugural meeting held at the Wellington Hotel, Brecon on 11th July 1976, it was proposed that those people present, (amongst whom was our current President Mrs Glenys Gough), form themselves into The English Setter Society of Wales under the acting Chairmanship of Mr Windsor Stephens, with Mrs J Pritchett as acting Treasurer, Mrs B Davies as acting Secretary, with Mr Harold Schofield being elected as President. On July 17th 1976, Mr & Mrs Charles Upton were invited to become the Patrons of the Society. Founder members were then invited to apply to the Society. Of the 33 that accepted the invitation, Mr & Mrs Evans and Mr & Mrs Whitehurst are still members of our Committee, thus, with Mrs Gough, providing a link back to the origins of the Society.
An application to register the proposed Society was sent to the Kennel Club who, in turn, referred it back to the Welsh Kennel Club for their consideration. Unfortunately the WKC were unable to support the chosen name of the Society, and requested that a more “regional” name be submitted, such as “South Wales English Setter Club”. However, this objection from the WKC was over-ruled by the Kennel Club, and in April 1977, the English Setter Society of Wales became a registered Society.
A series of Committee meetings then took place, which enabled the Society to put down some roots, culminating in the holding of the Society’s first Open Show in November 1978 This was held at Queensferry, North Wales, and judged by Mrs F Grimsdell. The entry for this, our first Show, was 122 dogs making 195 entries. The Show moved to Chepstow in South Wales (thus demonstrating the correctness of “of Wales” in our title) in Mar 1979 with Mr S Crane in the hot seat drawing an entry of 122 dogs making 173 entries.
Naturally, the Society aspired to greater heights, and on 6th March 1980 we held our first Championship Show at Pontypool. Judging Dogs and drawing an entry of 96 making 151 entries was Mr W Wilson, with Mrs M MacCullum drawing an entry of 144 Bitches making 225 entries. The Referee for this Show, who, incidentally, was not required, was Mrs D Arthur. BIS was the Dog CC winner, Kenandra Lord Helpus, with the Bitch CC being taken by Grelancot Evita. The reserve CC’s were won by Sh Ch Mindenday Music Master (Dog) and Renmark Snow Bunting (Bitch).
In February 2004, the Society was proud to stage its Silver Jubilee Championship Show, thus celebrating 25 years as a Society serving all of Wales. I feel sure that under the careful stewardship of the current Committee, on which, as mentioned earlier, 5 of the original members continue to serve, we can look forward with confidence to the next 25 years.
