About

MY STORY

I was born into Corgis as my parents had Pembroke corgis before I was born, however my first show ring experience was with my grandparents West Highland White Terriers at the age of six. A couple of years later I progressed to handling my parents Corgis under the TWINAN affix. For my fifteenth birthday I was allowed to choose my very own puppy. My name was then added to the affix.

Since then I have become well and truly hooked on the show ring. I have spent a great deal of time to gain the essential knowledge needed in all aspects of the showing, handling and preparation, studying breed type and confirmation of my chosen breeds, and also learning valuable lessons when it comes to breeding programmes, which is now bearing fruition in various countries throughout the world.

In recent years I have formed the HIGHWORTH affix when I gave a bitch to my good friends Alan and Elaine Barlow to own in partnership. This partnership has gone from strength to strength, producing champions. I have successfully bred and campaigned champions and group winners in both affixes, Most notably: CH TWINAN CUSTOM MADE JW. ShCM; My import bitch: CH WAKEFIELD RED OAK DARLIN DELIMMA LILY FOR TWINAN, CH HIGHWORTH CUT THE MUSTARD FOR TWINAN JW, and of course the legendary CH HIGHWORTH CRESSIDA JW.

I have now bred and campaigned to their titles several Pembrokes, Cardigans and also Basset Griffon Vendeen Petits; I am licensed to award CCs in both Pembroke and Cardigan Corgis and have judged them extensively throughout the UK; I have had many invitations to judge around the world. I had the great pleasure of judging the First Corgi Speciality in Russia, held in Moscow and have since been invited back to judge in Kursk. I have also enjoyed visiting the USA on a number of occasions.

I have judged the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Garden state speciality in New Jersey and Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of Southern California. I have also had the pleasure of judging Corgis in Denmark, Norway and Finland, and also thoroughly enjoyed the once in a lifetime experience of judging the National Speciality in Victoria, Australia.

My husband and I have also had the great honour to be invited to judge a variety of high profile all breed competitions, the most memorable being in Dubai, and closer to home in Dublin, Ireland.

I also try to put something back into the world of dogs. Therefore at the moment I am chair of the Welsh Corgi League (Northern Section), show manager of Heywood and Radcliffe Allbreed Society, which also hosts weekly ring craft classes, and a committee member of Midland Welsh Corgi Club.

I am also the secretary of Pennine and Yorkshire Welsh Corgi Association, a post I have held for more than twenty years. Every year I assist in the show Secretary’s office at Manchester Championship Show Society, of which my husband is Vice Chairman. ( This is an all breed four day event)

My Husband Steve Atkinson (Hollinswell) is Vice Chairperson and Safety Officer for Manchester Championship Show Society, of which he has been a committee member for over twenty two years. He also holds the position of Chairman and Safety Officer for the dog section at Cheshire County Agricultural Show, a large two day event, which caters for livestock and produce of every kind.

He also serves as Chairman of Northwest Border Collie Club, and Vice Chair and Safety Officer for Pennine and Yorkshire Welsh Corgi Association. He is a committee member of Heywood and Radcliffe Allbreed Society and Midland Welsh Corgi Club.

Steve awards Kennel Club CCs in Border Collies, Welsh Corgi Pembrokes and Cardigans, and the four varieties of Belgian Shepherd Dogs, and is working his way to adding a number of breeds in the Working and Pastoral Groups. He has also had the pleasure of judging in Germany, Denmark, Ireland and Dubai.