The Red and Golden Cocker Spaniel Club President's Foreword

The one aim of every successful breed club is the improvement of the dog in whose interests the club is established. This should be so obvious that the relative references invariably found in club rules are almost superfluous. The strong financial resources which result from a big membership roll, activity, and enthusiasm of members, the standing of the particular breed in the canine world, those if wisely exploited, are contributory factors, but are not in themselves the standard by which we calculate success or failure. Cases are on record where accumulated funds have been a drag on breed progress: members activities can operate in wrong directions, and it is possible, nay easy, for breed popularity to result in increased numbers to the neglect of improvement in type. The only true standard by which club success can be estimated is comparison of the types, which prior to, and following any period of club activity determine the position of the particular breed amongst its contemporaries in the general climb towards perfection.

Institution of the Red and Golden Cub in 1928 called forth a certain measure of hostile criticism. It was felt in some quarters that its interests may conflict with those of the Cocker Spaniel Club-- that powerful organisation whose thirty two years of well directed effort, impartial as to colour or class, have done much to raise the variety to its high place amongst the breeds.

The Red and Golden Club seeks to disturb no existing standards. Its one form of specialisation is colour. In everything relating to type and character it holds by the admirable ideals set by the Cocker Club. Practical proof if this is the fact that in all competitions- Show ring or Field Trials- the red competes on equal terms with all colours, and it may be noted, with increasing success.

Time has shown that far from having alienated any support from the premier Club, the Red and Golden has added to the Cocker Club's subscription list by recognition by the Red or Golden supporters of the advantages accruing to supplement any membership of the larger body now that the Red has come into line with other colours in the general progress of the variety.

The marked improvement is general quality of the Red Cocker shown during the past few years, is so obvious that it calls for little comment. It stands out as one of the brightest pages in Cocker history. Unquestionably the Red and Golden Club by its enterprise, efficient management, and wise distribution of funds, has been mainly instrumental in raising the colour to its present high position.

In the six years of its existence the Club has become soundly established, much of its work has perforce been tentative, but, overall, consistently progressive. Several ambitious schemes with Red Cocker welfare as their object are under consideration. The outlook for the Club and the dog whose interest's it serves is one of high promise.

Mr W H Edwards (1934)