Werrington Buoyancy of Rattlebridge
An Australian Best in Show winner whose influence travelled far beyond the Australian show ring
Some Cavaliers make their mark in the show ring. Others leave a legacy that can be traced through generations of the breed.
Werrington Buoyancy of Rattlebridge, affectionately known as “Bounce”, was one of those exceptional dogs.
A tricolour Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Buoyancy was bred in Australia and later became the foundation sire of Rattlebridge Cavaliers in the United States. His pedigree records him as the son of Lechevalier My Matelot and Werrington Rose Marie, connecting him to established Australian Cavalier bloodlines.
By the time Meredith Johnson-Snyder encountered him in New Zealand in 1992, Buoyancy was already an accomplished Australian show dog. Rattlebridge's own history describes him as an Australian Best in Show and Best in Specialty Show winner and records that Meredith and her husband Al brought him to the United States, where he became affectionately known as “Bounce.”
Pictured: Werrington Buoyancy, owned by B. P. & C. E. McCowage.
Photo credit: Historical photograph. Source Unknown
A star in the Australian show ring
Buoyancy had already established an impressive reputation in Australia before his export to North America.
Rattlebridge's historical account recalls that, in 1992, Meredith learned of an Australian BIS and Best in Specialty Show champion who was living in New Zealand. After making enquiries with Australian breeders, she was able to acquire Buoyancy and bring him to the United States.
Contemporary Australian advertisements provide additional insight into Buoyancy's reputation during his Australian career, including his success in the Toy Group, at Royal Shows, specialty shows and all-breeds competitions.
These advertisements are valuable historical records of the impact Buoyancy had made in the Australian show ring.
From Australia to America
In 1992, Buoyancy's story took an extraordinary turn.
While travelling in the region, American breeder and exhibitor Meredith Johnson-Snyder learned of the Australian champion who was then living in New Zealand. She subsequently acquired him and brought him to the United States, where he became known as “Bounce.”
For Rattlebridge Cavaliers, this proved to be a pivotal moment.
Rattlebridge's own history describes Buoyancy as the foundation sire of the kennel. He rapidly completed his CKCSC/USA championship, winning Reserve Best in Show at the 1993 National Specialty, and subsequently completed his Canadian championship with Group 1 wins.
His success in North America therefore added an important new chapter to an already distinguished Australian show career.
Pictured: Werrington Buoyancy
Photo credit: Historical image, source unknown.
A foundation sire for Rattlebridge
Buoyancy's greatest contribution was ultimately not his own collection of titles, but the influence he exerted as a sire.
Rattlebridge records that he sired Ch. Wye Rebound of Rattlebridge, which became the kennel's first AKC Champion. His influence continued through subsequent generations, including descendants such as Ch. Rattlebridge Masterpieceand other successful Rattlebridge Cavaliers.
Rattlebridge continued to value Buoyancy's genetic contribution many years after his death. In 2007, Meredith Johnson-Snyder wrote about producing a litter using frozen semen from her foundation sire, Aust. Best in Show, Canadian and CKCSC/USA Champion Werrington Buoyancy of Rattlebridge. She described the breeding as a way of bringing “a little Bounce” back into her breeding programme.
His influence also appears in later American breed records and pedigrees. The American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club's Register of Merit records, for example, contain later dogs with Buoyancy appearing in their ancestry.
Pictured: Werrington Buoyancy and handler.
Photo credit: Historical image. Source unknown.
A tricolour who changed a breeder's eye
Buoyancy also had an influence beyond pedigrees and championship records.
Meredith Johnson-Snyder wrote about acquiring her first tricolour in Ch. Werrington Buoyancy of Rattlebridge, saying that she subsequently became deeply enamoured with the colour. Her article provides a personal insight into the impression Buoyancy made on her and his role in shaping the direction of her breeding programme.
This is a particularly interesting part of his story because it illustrates how an individual dog can influence not only pedigrees, but also a breeder's understanding of type, colour and the qualities they wish to preserve.
A tricolour who changed a breeder's eye
Buoyancy also had an influence beyond pedigrees and championship records.
Meredith Johnson-Snyder wrote about acquiring her first tricolour in Ch. Werrington Buoyancy of Rattlebridge, saying that she subsequently became deeply enamoured with the colour. Her article provides a personal insight into the impression Buoyancy made on her and his role in shaping the direction of her breeding programme.
This is a particularly interesting part of his story because it illustrates how an individual dog can influence not only pedigrees, but also a breeder's understanding of type, colour and the qualities they wish to preserve.
A remarkable legacy
Werrington Buoyancy's story spans two continents.
Bred in Australia, successful in the Australian show ring, exported to the United States and subsequently established as the foundation sire of Rattlebridge Cavaliers, he became an important link between Australian and American Cavalier breeding.
His influence was not confined to his own lifetime. Through his children, grandchildren and later descendants, his bloodline continued to contribute to the development of the breed.
The continued use of his frozen semen decades after his arrival in America is perhaps one of the clearest demonstrations of the esteem in which his genetic contribution was held.
Werrington Buoyancy was more than a successful show dog. He became a bridge between Australian and American Cavalier history and a foundation sire whose influence continued for generations.
Historical Documentation
Werrington Buoyancy of Rattlebridge
Name: Aust., Can., USA Ch. Werrington Buoyancy of Rattlebridge
Breed: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Colour: Tricolour
Sex: Male
Sire: Lechevalier My Matelot
Dam: Werrington Rose Marie
Paternal grandsire: Amamtra Captain Pugwash
Paternal granddam: Aust. Ch. Lechevalier Lady Gaye
Maternal grandsire: Amamtra Bohemian Rhapsody
Maternal granddam: Lechevalier Mary Rose
Australian achievements: Best in Show and Best in Specialty Show winner
CKCSC/USA: Champion
1993 National Specialty: Reserve Best in Show
Canadian championship: Group 1 wins
Rattlebridge: Foundation sire
Notable offspring: Ch. Wye Rebound of Rattlebridge
Affectionately known as: “Bounce”
Werrington Buoyancy - Pedigree
References
American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club. (2017). Register of Merit awards.
Cavalier Pedigrees. (n.d.). Werrington Buoyancy of Rattlebridge: Pedigree record.
Johnson-Snyder, M. (2000). Consider the wholecolors! Top Notch Toys.
Johnson-Snyder, M. (2007, August 20). Using frozen semen from our foundation sire. Rattlebridge Cavaliers.
Rattlebridge Cavaliers. (n.d.). About Rattlebridge Cavaliers: Show dog history and international beginnings.
Rattlebridge Cavaliers. (2001, November 1). Rattlebridge Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Dogs in Review.
Rattlebridge Cavaliers. (n.d.). Maxwell.