LAST Saturday’s first-ever Pembroke Pageant, a dog show in aid of Guide Dogs Cymru, has ended in a happy tail, after more than 200 attended.

The charity dog show took place on Saturday, June 16, at The Commons.

The show was the brainchild of Pembroke Mayor Linda Brown, and celebrated the Welsh Corgi breed.

Cllr Brown got the idea after meeting Corgi owners at Pembroke Castle last year, as they bravely conducting an agility event in the pouring rain.

As well as the charming Corgis, judged by Crufts-level judges, there were classes for other breeds.

Cllr Brown said: “It went very well, although the weather didn’t help. To be fair, even with the weather it was a good turnout.

“There was plenty for people to do, everything you can think of was there, with stalls and a bar and hot food, and the field was decorated for the occasion, as well as a fantastic turnout of Pembrokeshire Corgis, including two nine-month-old puppies; they were beautiful.

“There must have been around 20-25 corgis, and a number of people came down for the companion dog show after the corgis.

“A number of people came down late in the afternoon from the Rock the Castle.”

Cllr Brown felt numbers may have been hit by other events taking place the same day, including a protest at Hywel Dda proposals to downgrade Withybush.

“The dog show has been in the planning for months and months, it was planned before the talk of the downgrading of Withybush and Glangwili.

“As an inaugural event it went very well, something I’d like to see repeated annually, possibly next year we may change the format.

“I would also like to highlight the plight of the Sealyham terrier, another Pembrokeshire breed that is somewhat at risk.

“Corgis have gained in popularity since the making of The Crown, their popularity has risen.

“I’m trying to keep the focus on Pembrokeshire as a county.

“On the day we raised £130, which is going to Guide Dogs for the Blind Cymru, one of my two mayoral charities, which is a brilliant news for both the blind and partially-sighted, it’s good to be able to do it.

“I would like to see the town council see this as a continuing event, hopefully we can do something year-on-year and build on it.

“It’s something that will help to engage the community, not just for people that may pop down to the dog show, something for local people to get involved with and help that to build.”