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Cavaliers & Charlies

Special Breeder Portrait - Moorfields Cavaliers, Ireland

We proudly present our Special "Breeder Portrait" We packed, once again, our bags and umbrella and went this time to Ireland. Heather & Robert Lamont , Moorfields Cavaliers told us the
fantastic story. Please enjoy the story about Moorfields!

Heather & Robert Lamont – Moorfields Cavaliers

(Robert and Heather with two winners at The Irish Pup of the Year)
(Moorfields Zidane & Ch Moorfields Matthias with Judges Mrs W Harrison & Mrs E J Nugent)

We bought our first Cavalier in December1977, the year we were married and discovered the truth in the saying “A cavalier is for life, not just for Christmas”. Our married life since then has revolved around our Cavaliers although we have also owned Rottweilers and Boxers. All the dogs run freely with the Cavaliers in the garden and house - one big happy family.

Our first Cavalier KARA was a blenheim bitch pet (bought from a newspaper ad.) - we did all the wrong things. She had a wonderful temperament, but when she was 5 months old she swallowed a needle and thread which lodged at the side of her brain.
Totally devastated and thinking she would die we purchased another puppy and began showing in 1980. (KARA by the way, lived to age 13 with the needle still in her head.) We bred our first litter from Ronnoc Iris in 1981 but didn’t keep anything. By this stage we had done a lot of research and knew exactly what we wanted - A Champion!!

Miss Carol McCartney (Harbour Grace cavaliers) was our guide and mentor at the time and she searched the country for us. One of “Carol’s spies” spotted a blenheim bitch barking through a gate and asked Mrs Anne Cartwright if she was for sale. She was and knowing she was of SALADOR/CRISDIG lines we bought her unseen! She came to Ireland at nine weeks and was exactly what we wanted - A small cobby girl with lots of bone and a wonderful, affectionate temperament. We picked Cherry (Caerwen Chanelle of Moorfields) up at the Irish Club Championship show in 1984. She put her paws around Heather’s neck and hugged her - making her cry with delight. Four years later at this club show she repeated the performance having just become our first Irish Champion. Cherry has left us a legacy of top class offspring. All our dogs who have been successful in the show ring are descended from her or her younger brother CALIN (Irish Champion Caerwen Cachemire of Moorfields). We bought Calin in 1985 and he shot our Kennel name to fame in 1988 when he won Best in Show at the Irish Kennel Club Championship Show. (Irish equivalent of Crufts). That would have been the most exciting/thrilling moment in our show career but Heather missed it being at home suffering with influenza. She only believed it when she read it and saw the photos splashed all over the Newspapers the next day.

(Calin & Cherry our first champions)

Irish Champion Moorfields Muscadet

Irish Chs. Moorfields Merci and Diana

Irish& English Ch. Moorfields Dior

Moorfields Cavaliers
Cavaliers king Charles Spaniels

Calin left his stamp on the breed and was the top stud dog in Ireland in 1990, 1991 and 1992.

Disappointment however is always around the corner and his show and stud career ended abruptly when he fell off the back seat of the car and injured his back. Surgery was successful however and he lived to old age with just a touch of arthritis.

We are very pleased that Cherry’s and Calin’s descendants, children and grandchildren have made a significant impact in the show ring and a selection are featured in the following pictures (left):

Ch. Moorfields Muscadet (Scott) a son of Ch Caerwen Chanelle of Moorfields made a significant impact on our breeding programme. A multiple winner in the ring himself he continued his winning ways as a stud dog producing champion offspring worldwide and was the top stud dog in Ireland in successive years. His champion progeny continue to have an influence on our breeding programme to the present day. A special little dog who was treasured for the 14 years he was with us.

Ch. Moorfields Merci and Ch. Moorfields Diana were the top winning Cavalier Dog and Bitch in Ireland of their generation. They won Groups and BIS and Diana won the prestigious champion of champion’s award at the World Congress shows in Dublin.

Dior was the top winning cavalier in Ireland in 1997 and won the annual champion in cavaliers. He won multiple Toy Groups and BIS in Ireland and gained his dual title in the UK with a group win and a BIS at the Scottish Club Show.

Showing in Ireland

There are 25 championship shows in the South of Ireland each year. It is difficult to make up an Irish Champion as you need 40 points including four 5 point majors. Points are only awarded to the “Green Star” dog (best dog) and “Green Star” bitch (best bitch.) On average it takes eight green stars to become a champion and as the quality is high, different dogs win on various occasions. It is therefore necessary to travel to every show and we do! On average there are two Irish Champions in the breed per year.

We both judge the breed at championship level and also judge all the Toy breeds and Group. Our judging has taken us all over the world and we have judged the breed in various parts of Europe, Australia, New Zealand and North America. We have really enjoyed seeing the Breed and meeting other Cavalier breeders and exhibitors worldwide and discussing our wonderful breed with them.

Heather & Robert Lamont

Ch Kragfergus Royal Memento of Moorfields, Int Ch.Moorfields Le Tombeau, Ir.Ch. Allegra Hundertwasser Von Moorfields ACh -04

1. What is the most important issue/aspect in your breeding program?
Robert and Heather have slightly different tastes and opinions but that’s what makes us a team. We would agree however that our “perfect” cavalier must be small short and cobby, yet with a graceful neck and plenty of bone. They must be typical with a nice head and move well keeping a level topline. Temperament is all important, neither of us would entertain a beautiful cavalier who was shy or cross. Breed type, for us, encompasses temperament. We are agreed also, that markings are to a certain extent cosmetic, although if you have a well marked dog, it is the icing on the cake.

2. According to question 1, have you achieved this in your breeding program?
Unfortunately as yet we have not managed to breed the “perfect cavalier.” We do believe that we have achieved some of our objectives, cavaliers with good breed type, outgoing and friendly temperament, soundness, good bone and substance, cobby, graceful and balanced. We now strive to get all of these attributes in one dog.

3. What do you look for when picking a puppy in a litter?
We pick puppies from a litter as early as one day old! Overall shape and construction are evident from birth. As the puppies mature and get on their feet we look at shape and type and an outgoing and happy personality. We discuss and argue between ourselves on the overall merits of the puppies and then agree on what to keep. On the occasions when we cannot agree we normally run on two puppies and choose later. We believe and have found from experience a puppy will return to what they look like at six weeks.

4. In your opinion, which cavalier (present & past) has been the most significant for;
a) UK (all breeders)
We very much admire many of the descendants of English champion “Lymrey Top of the Pops at Ricksbury” as we feel she has left her stamp on the breed in a very significant way and her descendants continue to produce quality and top winning cavaliers.

A cavalier in the past which we believe made a very significant contribution to the breed was English Champion “Rosemullion of Ottermouth.” We feel that he would be as useful today as a stud dog as he was in his own generation, producing quality and type.

b) for your own breeding
Our first champions Caerwen Chanelle of Moorfields and Caerwen Cachemire of Moorfields were the foundation of our kennel and their attributes live on in their descendants some 20 years later.

5. Which cavalier has been the most significant/important that you;
a) owned
This is a difficult question, the two foundation champions “Caerwen Chanelle of Moorfields” and “Caerwen Cachemire of Moorfields” were a major significance on our lives with their breeding, show successes and personality. More recently the most significant ones have been Irish Champion “Allegra Hundertwasser Von Moorfields” and Irish Champion “Moorfields Sans Limites,” beautiful dogs with loving and affectionate personalities.

b) from your own breeding program
Irish. Champion “Moorfields Muscadet” was probably the most significant. He produced multiple champions and winning offspring and was the top Irish cavalier stud dog for a number of years. Most of our current top winning dogs are descended from him.

6. List down below, the best dogs and bitches in each colour?

a) Blenheim dog English. Ch “Hilarney the Gigaolo at Ravenselm”
b) Blenheim bitch English. Ch “Ricksbury Royal Temptress”
c) Tricolor dog Irish Ch. “Moorfields Merci”.
d) Tricolor bitch English Ch. “Barsac Touch and Go”
e) Black/tan dog English Ch. “Rheinvelt Ringold Von Salador”
f) Black/tan bitch English Ch. “Harana Nina Simone”
g) Ruby dog English Ch. “Myhope Fever”
h) Ruby bitch English Ch. “Chamanic Lucasta”

7. From the above mentioned Cavaliers – who is the best?
Over the generations it is difficult to assess an answer to this question but we believe Ch “Ricksbury Royal Temptress” was an outstanding example of the breed and therefore gets our vote.

8. Which moment/memory is your biggest regarding shows/dogs?
Our biggest moment was in 1988 when Irish Champion Caerwen Cachemire of Moorfields won his first Green Star, Toy Group and Best in Show at the prestigious Irish Kennel Club All Breeds Championship show on Saint Patrick’s Day. He defeated the Crufts Toy Group winner that day in the group and was only the second Cavalier ever to go Best in Show. Making up our first champion Caerwen Chanelle of Moorfields is a close second in memorable moments.

9. Which moment/memory is your worst regarding shows/dogs?
The worst moments definitely have been to say goodbye to the dogs you have loved and shared you lives with over the years. Especially the really special ones that have enriched our lives both in and out of the showring, the most recent being Moorfields Marron.

10. What kind of a judge do you prefer showing for?
We like to show under judges who are totally honest and judge the dogs irrespective of who owns or handles them. Judges that are honest and demonstrates that they are judging to type, which everyone can clearly see, is desirable but unfortunately they are a rare breed!

11. Is there anything that could be changed within the show/dog world?
Judges in all kennel club systems throughout the world should be examined and tested on the breeds before they are allowed to judge them. They should judge in a trainee capacity first and be assessed by respected and competent breed specialists.
We like the FCI system of judging where each dog is given an individual critique. This means in theory that a judge has to be competent as he/she has to record the good and bad points of each exhibit. This makes their judging more open and accountable in theory.

12. Describe the best puppy-buyer?
People who have researched the breed and have fully considered the implications of owing a cavalier puppy. People who’s first question is not “how much is it!” Families who can offer a loving and caring home to a puppy and have no intention of breeding at the first opportunity.

13. Any advise to new breeders in Cavaliers? What are the most common faults a new breeder makes when starting up the breed?
Many newcomers seem reluctant to ask experienced breeders for their advice regarding breeding and suitable stud dogs/bloodlines for their bitches. One common mistake is to use the “Dog of the moment” (the top winning dog at that time) with little or no regard to what he has produced. They don’t seem to think of using the sire of that top winning dog.

14. Any advice to new exhibitors?
Learn to be a good loser and always be sporting whatever happens and congratulate the people who beat you on the day. You have paid for the judge’s opinion so accept it! You may not like it or agree with it on the day but you will achieve more from being sporting and will be held in higher esteem by you fellow exhibitors than constantly being spiteful and critical of judges. Try to learn as much as you can about the breed by researching and asking questions, rather than thinking you know it all after a year or two. Above all else remember this is a hobby and not a matter of life and death.

15. Any other interest except for Cavaliers?
We could fill another article on our other interests but they include, horse riding, fishing, canoeing, swimming, trampolining, travelling and judging in general.
One of our main interests is working in our local church. This includes youth and community work and working in discussion groups and study groups within the church. It is important to us that our Christian faith is an integral and meaningful part of our lives through our hobbies, dog showing and work life. It is a challenge at times to apply the Christian principles of love, kindness, forgiveness etc. when you feel you have been badly treated either in the showring or outside of it.

16. What makes you happy in the show/dog world?
The dogs themselves. When we see people being treated fairly and honestly in the show ring and when fellow exhibitors are friendly and congratulate each other with sincerity. Meeting new people from around the world and enjoying friendship and fun with them.

17. What makes you pissed off (sorry for the language) and mad?
Judges that are so blatantly dishonest in their judging that they did not need to turn up at the show as they could have posted all the top awards to their friends prior to the show day. The second thing is bad sports and people who cannot accept that their dog may not have been the best in the judges opinion and spend the rest of the show complaining about how bad the judge is.

18. Why did you choose the breed Cavalier King Charles Spaniels?
Having had dogs all our lives we decided when we got married that we wanted a dog. We were not sure exactly what breed but after doing some reading about Cavaliers and visiting a litter of puppies we were won over and our adventure with Cavaliers in our life had begun.