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In 1874 the first Yorkies were registered in the British Kennel Club
stud book. They were referred to as "Broken Haired Scottish
Terriers" or "Yorkshire Terriers", until 1886, when the
Kennel Club recognised the Yorkshire Terrier as an individual breed. The
first Yorkshire Terrier breed club was formed in 1898. During these
early years, one who greatly influenced the breed was Lady Edith
Wyndham-Dawson. Lady Edith was secretary of the Yorkshire Terrier Club
for some time and did much early work for the improvement of the breed.
Later, a Miss Palmer, who was Lady Edith's kennel maid, started her own
Yorkie kennel under the "Winpal" prefix. When Lady Edith
returned to Ireland at the start of World War I, Miss Palmer went to
work for Mrs. Crookshank of the famous Johnstounburn prefix, a name with
a long list of champions, which is now in the care of Daphne Hillman,
who was entrusted with this prefix, and still uses it along with her own
Yorkfold prefix.
Many others have worked very hard since these early years to improve
this breed, and to these breeders much is owed. Many of their early dogs
became the foundation stock of kennels in North America and elsewhere.
Yorkies Today
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The Yorkshire Terrier now flourishes throughout the world and the early
breeders who were instrumental in producing the diminutive toy terrier
of today would surely be astounded at the success of this delightful
breed. In 1932 only 300 Yorkies were registered with the British Kennel
Club, in 1957 the number was 2313, and in the 1970's Yorkies were the
most popular breed in Britain. This trend continued until 1990 with a
record of 25,665 Yorkies registered. However, this figure has now begun
to drop, and in 1994 there were 12343 registrations, with the Yorkie
being recorded as the 7th most popular breed.
The most famous Yorkshire Terrier of modern times in the UK was CH
Blairsville Royal Seal. He was by CH Beechrise Surprise and his dam was
CH Blairsville Most Royale. "Tosha" to his friends (of whom he
had many) was bred, owned and handled by Mr. Brian Lister and his wife,
Rita. Tosha was definitely a 'King' among dogs and no one who saw him
flowing around the ring could ever forget him. His prescence could be
felt, even by a complete novice, and many say that just thinking of him
brings a lump to the throat. During his show career Tosha won 50 CCs,
all under different judges. He was 12 times Best In Show at all breed CH
shows, and 16 times Reserve Best In Show. He took 33 Group wins, and
went Reserve Best In Show at Cruft's in 1978, just as his dam had done
before him. Tosha was Top Dog, all breeds, for two consecutive years. He
became the sire of many prolific Champions and still features in the
pedigree of many of today's Yorkies.
Ironically, when Royal Seal died, aged 15, in 1988, that year his breed
record for the highest number of CCs in the breed was broken by Osman
Sameja's CH Ozmilion Dedication "Jamie", who finished his show
career with 52 CCs, although a few of these were duplicated under the
same judges. Jamie also has two all breed CH show wins, and his many Toy
group wins helped him to win the Top Dog title in 1987. The Ozmilion
kennel is the top Yorkshire Terrier kennel of all time, and holds the
record for the number of Champions produced.
Following on from this, Jamie's grandson, Ch. Ozmilion Mystification
broke another record in 1997 by being the first Yorkie ever to win the
coveted Best In Show award at the most prestigious dog show, Cruft's.
"Justin" was retired after this event, having to his credit a
total 51 CCs, 48 with Best of Breed, 22 Group wins, 9 Club BIS, and at
All Breed Shows, 7 RBIS and 3 BIS awards. He was Top Yorkie from
1994-1997, Top Dog All Breeds 1996, Crufts Supreme Champion 1997, and
Pedigree Chum Champion overall Stakes winner 1997.
Some record of achievement! In this same year, the great
"Jamie" died.
Yorkies in North America
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The first Yorkie to become an American Champion was Bradford Harry, who
gained his title in 1889. He was the great-great-grandson of
Huddersfield Ben, and was imported from England by P.H. Coombs of
Bangor, Maine. Some of the most notable early American kennels are Janet
Bennet and Joan Gordon (Wildweir) who imported many English Yorkies,
including lines from Johnstounburn, Haringay and Buranthea. The
Mayfield-Barban kennels owned by Anne Seranne and Barbara Wolferman have
also done much to improve the breed.
Whilst CH Blairsville Royal Seal dominated the British show scene, his
American counterpart, CH Cede Higgens was making his mark in the USA.
These two dogs were both shown during the same era, and were inevitably,
constantly being compared. However, although they were both outstanding
specimens of the breed, those who had seen them both, agreed that they
were totally different in type. Bred by C.D. Lawrence, Cede Higgens was
closely line-bred to the Clarkwyns and Wildweir lines, by CH. Wildweir
Pomp 'N Circumstance.
Another dog who had significant influence on the North American Yorkies
was CH Finstal Royal Icing, bred by Sybil Pritchard in the UK and
exported to the Jentre kennels after Sybil died. He is by CH Finstal
Johnathan, who still has winning progeny in the UK today. Johnathan was
looked after by Wendy White (Wenwytes) after Sybil's death, until he
died in 1994 aged about 17. |
