The development of the Working Cocker Spaniel in New Zealand
Working Cockers joined the game trial circuit early in the 2000s. Since then 18 dogs have been made up to Field Champion (two wins at championship level), with one becoming a Grand Field Champion (eight wins at championship level).The first to be trialled was Gelligoch Candy (Maggie), which I imported from Wales on the advice of the late Keith Erlandson (Gwibernant Kennels). She was by F.T.Ch. Mallowdale Rackatear out of Kigaro Lady. She won her first trial in 2002, but it wasn't until 2005 that she was made up. However, she was pipped for her title by my next Welsh import, Wernffrwd Daffyd Du, who was made up in the same year. Daffyd won his first trial in 2004 and his last in 2008. He came from Cyril and Mary Gwynne's Wernffrwd kennels (look back five or six generations in your cocker's pedigree and you will probably see a fair sprinkling of Wernffrwd F.T. Chs). He was by F.T.Ch. Wernffrwd Dai Bach, out of Quarryford Fly.Next to be titled was Rob Browning's Arddun Ebon, in 2009. He was by Daffyd out of Maggie. In 2011 Andrew Whitehead made up Coblye Little Lemon of Borderreiver (Lilly). She was bred by Mick Bullen, of Rotorua, by Beaumont Bob of Birkdale (imp. UK), out of Caderyn Amethyst. The dam was bred by Gillian Murdoch from two of her UK imports.In 2013 I imported Trochry Jazz (Ollie) from Will Clulee's Poolgreen Kennels. He was by one of Will's Championship winners, F.T. Ch. Moelfamau Griffon, out of Jess the Dark Beauty. He was titled in 2017.In 2018, Andrew Whitehead titled his second cocker, Borderreiver Blanchard (Dora), who was by Will Clulee's U.K. F.T. Ch. Argyll Warrior (A.I.) out of Andrew's Lilly.2019 saw the first of the Payton F.Chs, Arddun Havoc (Griff). He was by Ollie out of my Alice (F.W. Bodhran Oban), which I bought from Brett Davidson in Western Australia. Brett imported Alice's dam, Rowston Sadie, from the U.K., in whelp to a Clulee F.T.Ch., Lockslane Archibald. Griff is our first and only G.F.Ch, cocker.Next to be titled was my Vera (Arddun Imp). Also by my Ollie, she was out of Arddun Feather.In 2022, Alex Henderson made up Arddun Jonquil of Borderreiver (Ivy). She was the result of a joint breeding effort between myself and Andrew Whitehead. I supplied the bitch, Alice, and Andrew the dog, U.K. F.T.Ch. Argyll Chiefton (A.I.) The next year, Andrew titled his U.K. import, Mallowdale Game of Borderreiver (Charlie). He was sired by Ian Openshaw's F.T.Ch. Mallowdale Quad, out of F.T.Ch. Mallowdale Shine.2024 was the Payton's (Peta and Jamie's) year. They titled three cockers: Arddun Keeper of Glentarvis (Kenzie), her half-sister, Arddun Kea of Glentarvis (Midge) and Glentarvis Bomber (Darcy). Kenzie handled by Peta won the SI Spaniel Championship in 2025.This was another joint breeding effort. I supplied the bitch, Matagouri Silver-Star (Aggie), Peta and Jamie the frozen semen. Aggie produced Kenzie, who was by U.K. F.T.Ch. Tiptop Jack Ajay (A.I). Midge, was by U.K. F.T.Ch. Bishwell Barcud (A.I).Darcy was by U.K. F.T.Ch. Endowood Cork out of Kenzie. Bill Taylor also burst on the scene in 2024 with Borderreiver Eccles (Meg). She was by Andrew Whitehead's Charlie out of his Dora.The same year I titled two dogs, the afore-mentioned Matagouri Silver-Star (Aggie) and Arddun Jester (Gyp). Aggie was by my Ollie out of Lou Matthew's UK import, Samsir Going to Stay (Silver). Gyp was by Howie Halliday's Arddun Humbug (Archie), a litter brother to Jamie Payton's Griff, out of Arddun Gemma (Fig).Bill Taylor featured again in 2025, making up his second cocker, Lineham Quartz-Golden Lead (Fern). She was bred by Bethany Lineham, by Howie's Archie, out of Princess Lady Bill Barton (imp. U.K.).That year also saw the Paytons title another dog, Glentarvis Crusader (Reggie), who was by Griff out of Kenzie.
A special mention should be made here of the Paytons and Andrew Whitehead. I can take a little credit for first introducing the breed into game trials, but Peta, Jamie and Andrew deserve most of the kudos for promoting the working cocker through their imports of frozen semen from several of the top U.K. field trial dogs, coupled with the fact that all three are top handlers.
The Working Cocker champions (as at 01/01/2026)
Wernffrwd Daffyd Du (7 wins)Gellicoch Candy (2 wins)Arddun Ebon (2 wins)Coblye Little Lemon of Borderreiver (6 wins)Trochry Jazz (4 wins)Borderreiver Blanchard (5 wins)Arddun Havoc (8 wins and our first G.F.Ch.)Arddun Imp (7 wins)Arddun Jonquil of Borderreiver (3 wins)Mallowdale Game of Borderreiver (5 wins)Borderreiver Eccles (4 wins)Arddun Keeper of Glentarvis (6 wins)Arddun Kea of Glentarvis (2 wins)Glentarvis Bomber (2 wins)Matagouri Silver-Star (2 wins) Arddun Jester (2 wins)Glentarvis Crusader (2 wins)Lineham Quartz - Golden Lead (2 wins)
NZ FCH Working Cockers (Still under development)
FCH Wernffrwd Daffyd Du (IMP GBR) (Daffyd)
SIRE: UK FTCH WERNFFRWD DAI BACH DAM: QUARRYFORD FLY Y3792504Y03
Owner/Handler - Bob WhiteheadFCH Arddun Ebon (Bracken)
SIRE: FCH WERNFFRWD DAFYDD DU (IMP GBR) (BLACK) AB00652602 DAM: FCH GELLIGOCH CANDY (IMP GBR) (LIVER) AA02742002
Owner/Handler - Rob BrowningFCH Coblye Little Lemon of Borderreiver (Lilly)
SIRE: BEAMONT BOB OF BIRKDALE (IMP GBR) DAM: CADERYN AMETHYST
Owner/Handler - Andrew WhiteheadFCH Trochry Jazz (IMP GBR) (Ollie)
SIRE: FT CH MOELFAMAU GRIFFON 3344CW DAM: JESS THE DARK BEAUTY 4364CW
Owner/Handler - Bob WhiteheadFCH Borderreiver Blanchard (dora)
SIRE: FT CH ARGYLL WARRIOR (IMP GBR) (LIVER) 3149CP DAM: FCH COBLYE LITTLE LEMON OF BORDERREIVER (LEMON ROAN) 06063-2008
Owner/Handler - Andrew WhiteheadGFCH Arddun Havoc (Griff)
SIRE: NZ FCH TROCHRY JAZZ (IMP GBR) (GOLDEN) AQ01469904 DAM: FW BODHRAN OBAN (IMP GBR) (LIVER) 6100083833
Owner/Handler - Jamie PaytonFCH Arddun Imp (Vera)
SIRE: DAM:
Owner/Handler - Bob WhiteheadFCH Arddun Jonquil of Borderreiver (Ivy)
SIRE: ENG FT CH ARGYLL CHIEFTON (IMP GBR) (BLACK) 4660CS DAM: FW BODHRAN OBAN (IMP GBR) (LIVER) 6100083833
Owner/Handler - Alex HendersonNZ FCH Mallowdale Game of Borderreiver (imp GBR) (Charlie)
SIRE: FT CH. MALLOWDALE QUAD 4257DE DAM: FT CH. MALLOWDALE SHINE 2279DF
Owner/Handler Andrew WhiteheadFCH Borderreiver Eccles (Meg)
SIRE: NZ FCH MALLOWDALE GAME OF BORDERREIVER (IMP-GBR) AX02415906 - Liver DAM: FCH BORDERREIVER BLANCHLAND (AI) 03068-2014 - Black
Handler / Owner Bill TaylorFCH Arddun Keeper of Glentarvis (Kenzie)
SIRE: GB FT CH BISHWELL BARCUD (IMP GBR) (BLACK & TAN) 4336DA DAM: FCH MATAGOURI SILVER-STAR (LEMON & WHITE) 03714-2017.jpeg)
Owner- Peta Payton /Handler - Jamie PaytonFCH Arddun Kea of Glentarvis (Midge)
SIRE: GB FT CH BISHWELL BARCUD (IMP GBR) (BLACK & TAN) 4336DA DAM: FCH MATAGOURI SILVER-STAR (LEMON & WHITE) 03714-2017
Owner/Handler - Peta PaytonFCH Glentarvis Bomber (Darcy)
SIRE: UK FT CH ENDOWOOD CORK (IMP GBR) (BLACK) 4352DA DAM: GFCH ARDDUN KEEPER OF GLENTARVIS (AI) (BLACK) 00648-2020
Owner/Handler - Jamie PaytonFCH Matagouri Silver-Star (Aggie)
SIRE: NZ FCH TROCHRY JAZZ (IMP GBR) (GOLDEN) AQ01469904 DAM: SAMSIR GOING TO STAY (IMP GBR) (LEMON ROAN) AR02100406
Owner/Handler - Bob WhiteheadFCH Arddun Jester (Gyp)
SIRE: ARDDUN HUMBUG (GOLDEN) 04131-2015 DAM: ARDDUN GEMMA (BLACK) 06332-2011
Owner/Handler - Bob WhiteheadFCH Glentarvis Crusader (Reggie)
SIRE: GFCH ARDDUN HAVOC (LIVER) 04130-2015 DAM: FCH ARDDUN KEEPER OF GLENTARVIS (AI) (BLACK) 00648-2020.jpg)
Owner/Handler - Jamie PaytonFCH Lineham Quartz - Golden Lead (Fern)
SIRE: ARDDUN HUMBUG (GOLDEN) 04131-2015 DAM: PRINCESS LADY BILLBARTON (IMP GBR) (BLACK) AV02460501.jpg)
Owner/Handler - Bill TaylorFCH
SIRE: DAM:
Owner/Handler -