YORKY CLUB MAGAZINE #14 -- December 2009

"The Northern Counties Y.T. Club - A brief history" by Richard Haynes

The club was founded in 1947 following a meeting of fanciers at Blackpool championship show . Mr William Hayes ( Atherleigh )took the Chair and became the first chairman with Mrs Annie Swan ( Invincia ) voted in as Secretary/ Treasurer a position she would hold for 16 years until the AGM of 1964 when she did not seek re-election having retired to Blackpool.
A great help to Mrs Swan and the club was Mrs Margaret Riley ( Bridle) who it could be said was her righthand woman and was always pleasant and helpful. Mrs Swan had been actively showing since the 1920’s and her Ch Invincible won 14 CC’s when there were many less sets of tickets.She did not breed much by todays standards but even so regularly bred Champions for herself and others.
Invincia was famous for colour and usually dark blues predominated although the tan might be considered slightly rich by todays standard. Her adverts ‘ Invincia Yorkshire Terriers – The Worlds Best’ left you in no doubt of this determined lady.Her last great dog was Ch splendour of Invincia who won 17 CC’s and sired champions that bred on for the future of the breed.
Annie Swan was a great servant to the club and many shows were held until the Kennel club granted Championship status in 1958 when Mr George Tomkins came up from London to award the first set of CC’s with 100 entries at the Kings Arms Hotel, Salford, Lancashire not far from where the great Peter Eden( 1826 -1889 ) lived whose ‘Albert’ was the first Yorkshire Terrier listed in the first KC Stud Book.
The bitch ticket going that day to Mrs Dorrie Beech with Deebees Stirkeans Faustina although the BIS went to Mrs Furley’s Epperstones Ambassador who won 2 tickets but never gained his title. Faustina did gain hers and many more certificates and became the Breed Record Holder for a while.

After Annie Swan , Les Griffiths ( Beechrise ) has to be the other great figure behind the club, taking over as Secretary in 1964 and holder of most official positions and staunch supporter of the club year in year out.
Many memorable shows were held plus seminars, dinner dances and each year the club produced an eagerly awaited Yearbook. Les handed over to Brian Lister who in turn handed over to Ave Blamires and then Maureen Eades and now Lesley Watson. Alice Burton, Joan and Micheal Turner, Marlene Oxley, Harold Langhorn, Eva Lamb, Nessie Bishop, Hilda Griffiths, Jan Redhead, Gladys Sykes were all great supporters over many years .They all deserve our thanks as do many others that have helped the club too numerous to mention.

In 1968 the then Chairman Mr Vic Groom ( Pagnell ) and as it was 21 years since its inception he commented ‘ The year has been unique in the Club’s history with the celebration of its coming of age. As Chairman he wished to record on behalf of present day Members, an appreciation to those few founder members for their decision to form and the successful efforts that they made to establish the Northern Counties Yorkshire Terrier Club in 1947.
On a personal note I would like to record some of the dogs that came from Northern members including Ch Splendour of Invincia, his son bred in the north Ch Stirkeans Chota Sahib, Ch Burghwallis Little Nip, Ch Pagnell Peter Pan, Ch Beechrise Superb, Ch Beechrise Surprise, Ch Heavenly Blue of Wiske, Ch Marshonia Blue Secret, Ch Skyrona Blue Victoria, Ch Anston Lucy Lockett, Ch Pagnell Prima Donna of Wiske Ch Blairsville Most Royale and the greatest of them all Ch Blairsville Royal Seal.

As I finish this brief look at the NCYTC’s history we look forward to the forthcoming Champ show in Nov with Bob Fitzgerald( Jumara ) judging and to 2010 with Mrs Wendy White Thomas ( Wenwytes) . Again back in 1968 – a golden time for our breed – Secretary the great Les Griffiths in typical bullish style commented ‘ Our Club is second to none – and our aim for the future shall be to continue this way!’ Well said Les we do miss you.

Copyright Richard Haynes ( 43 years a Club Member!) .