WTCA National at Montgomery
Welsh Terrier Breeder Judge: Mrs. Allison Corn Sunderman
Draco was awarded his American Championship at the Welsh Terrier National Specialty on Montgomery County KC from the Bred-By Class. He won Winners Dog every day he was shown and Best of Winners twice!
NEW CHAMPION – CH Darwyn’s Black Magic
2025 was a very special year for many reasons including:
1. The famous Morris & Essex KC, only held every 5 years, was part of the 2025 Montgomery week of shows
2. Multiple Best in Show dogs from other countries were competing in the classes for Winners Dog every day given how special 2025 was.
3. There were 2 official WTCA breed specialties held, Morris & Essex and the National on Montgomery Day
4. Every day of shows, the breed was judged by well-known and well-respected terrier-breeder judges, with a long-time successful Welsh Terrier breeder judging the National Specialty.
5. Most importantly, it was the 125th Anniversary Show for the Welsh Terrier Club of America!
Draco was relatively new to showing, and most people had not every heard of him. A year before, as a 9 month old puppy, he had finished his Canadian Championship, all from group placements from the classes. His finishing points came from a respected breeder-judge from Columbia, Mr. Ivan Sandoval. Just prior to Draco going to his handler in the US, he was shown in Canada for a couple of weekends, again, with not much mention to anyone, and he finished his Canadian Grand Championship, all with group placements. This gave us at Darwyn confidence that we were on the right track to take this young dog to Montgomery, and the WTCA National Specialty, to compete for championship points.
The first day of shows was the famous Morris & Essex KC show, held once every 5 years. Mrs. Lydia Coleman Hutchison judged. She confidently pointed to Draco for Winners Dog for a major! The next two shows (Hatboro I and Hatboro II) it went the same way, but these times, Draco was awarded both Winners Dog and Best of Winners! We could have moved him up to specials to compete directly for Best of Breed, however, it has happened multiple times over the decades where foreign dogs have been entered incorrectly, and wins that you think you have, don’t end up with the points that you expect. Instead, we chose to pull him from competition for the Devon show day. For these shows, Draco was shown by his handler that had been conditioning him for the previous few months – Katheryn Murray.
The last day of the circuit really is the main reason that terrier enthusiasts come from all over the world to just north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Larisa herself has attended this show weekend over 25 times now all of the way from the West Coast of Canada). For 2025, it was even MORE special since it was the WTCA’s 125th Anniversary!
The National Specialty was judged by Terrier Specialist and Welsh Terrier breeder-judge, Mrs. Allison Corn Sunderman of Michigan, USA. Draco was shown in the BRED-BY EXHIBITOR class by Larisa Hotchin.
At the WTCA 125th Anniversary National Specialty, Draco was awarded:
– Winners Dog for a 5 point major!
– Best Bred-by in Breed!
– Award of Merit, from the classes!
For Montgomery County KC’s Bred-By Exhibitor Best in Show, Draco was then awarded BIS 3 (Group 3) Bred-By!
Bred-By-Exhibitor Best in Show – Group 3!
Terrier Breeder Judge: Mr. Merle Taylor
This was a dream come true for me – sweeping the classes, then awarded Best Bred By for the 125th Anniversary, then a Group 3 in one of the most competitive Terrier Group’s I have ever been in! Even more special was the fact that I had so many people, from all over the world, comment on how extraordinary Draco was — TYPE …. QUALITY …. SOUNDNESS.
Given that Draco was not yet 2 years old for these wins, I am hoping that more will be written as his career continues.
WTCA Specialty at Morris & Essex
Terrier Breeder Judge: Mrs. Lydia Coleman Hutchinson
WTCA Specialty w/e at Hatboro
Terrier Breeder Judge: Mrs. Connie Clark