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Show Champion litter mates W. Star Queen of Glenmaurangi (Star), W. Queen Bee JW ( Lizzy) & W. King's Magic JW (Charlie) whose 2017 wins gave us the joint "Top Breeder" award. Pictured 2nd from right is our Wetherby Whisper to Wansleydale JW, who won a CC & 2 reserve CCs this year. Her awards contributed to Luke's Top Stud awards.
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| Top Stud Dog, Sh Ch Wansleydale King of Hearts at Bramstorm JW - LukeSire of 4 UK Show Champions, 2 overseas Champions, several others with CC/res CCs and many more championship prize winners. | Top Brood Bitch, Sh Ch Wansleydale Scarlet Ribbon - Scarlet Dam of 3 Show Champions, 3 additional siblings with reserve CCs/Junior Warrant awards and hopefully 2 new puppies from her latest litter due to make their show debuts in 2018. |
8th December - after a summer/autumn of hard work looking after puppies it is now time for a break, so off to sunny Gambia for a week. A lovely week sunbathing and reading and watching a family of red billed hornbills in the gardens around the pool. Also enjoying a swim, in this case in his pool in Mallorca, is Jethro (W.King of Clubs).
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| LKA day - we were enjoying the pool as the Midlands were covered in snow. | Jethro perfecting his doggy paddle |
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| Red- billed hornbill | Hornbill chick - fledged from this nest just an hour or two after this photo was taken. |
2nd/3rd December - The last 2 pups from Margo's litter leave home today. They have had to stay with us a while for their rabies jabs and pet passports - they now face the very long journey to Poland. So pleased to hear that they have arrived safe and well and are now settling into their news homes. Look forward to following their progress next year along with their littermates here in the UK.
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| Wansleydale Maraschino - Robin | Robin | Wansleydale Strega - Jude |
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| Best Gundog - Muir & O'Connor's Irish Setter, Gwendariff I'm Coming Out | Best Gundog Puppy - Squire's German Shorthaired Pointer, Taftazini Honour Wynna |
11th November - up to Edinburgh for the Gundog Breeds of Scotland championship show. A long journey but well worth the drive as Charlie won his 3rd CC and with it (subject to KC confirmation) the title of Show Champion! Arras and Frazer were 1st and 2nd in Post Graduate and Peaches and Whisper were 2nd and 3rd in Open. The English Setter Society of Scotland decided this year to hold their Open show at the same venue, following on after the championship classes were finished. So,we were all back in the ring again, this time under a different judge. Results for the " Wansleydales" were just as good, the only difference was Whisper winning Open with Peaches coming 2nd.In the competition for Best in Show Charlie took the top spot with Arras winning Reserve Best Male, and Whisper took the Best bitch award and was awarded Reserve Best in Show. We won some lovely gifts and also prize money! What a great day.
English Setter Society of Scotland Best in Show line up
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| The newly crowned Sh Ch Wansleydale King's Magic JW | Following day enjoying the beach |
5th November - well done to Jeanette with Jos on winning Best of Breed and Group 4 at Torquay open show today.
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| Wansleydale Goldsmith | Jos - at 18mths |
4th November - another succesful show at Stafford, Setter and Pointer championship show. Again Arras and Frazer in the cards in the Post Graduate dog class. Whisper won Open bitch with Peaches coming second. Charlie was 1st in Limit dog and to end the day we were delighted to get both the reserve dog and bitch CCs with Charlie and Whisper. Running at the same time in another hall at the showground is the National Chrysanthemum show and at the end of their show they sell off most of the blooms for just a £ or so a bunch. There are some spectacular flowers and many of us dog show exhibitors went home with a bunch or two!
Charlie after winning Group 3
22nd October - another great day for Bonnie in Poland at the Poznan show - Best of Breed under another well known UK judge, Frank Kane.
11th October - Gundog Society of Wales championship show at Malvern. Today's judge is someone I would never choose to enter under so just gone along to show Charlie for Yvonne. Results for all Wansleydales were poor - reserve and VHC for Frazer and Arras, 5th place for Sonny and a Reserve place for Charlie. Think their owners will all agree with me and not enter under this judge in future!
8th October - Margo's pups are 8 weeks old now and most are off to their new homes this weekend
Never could get a photo with all 11 in view at the same time!
7th October - back to Builth Wells again, this time for the South Wales championship show.Another great day for all " Wansleydales" entered.Jeanette with Jos ( W. Goldsmith) was 2nd in Junior, Nigel and Arras were 2nd in Post Graduate with Lynne and Frazer coming 4th in the same class. Stella with Peaches won 1st in Open bitch with Whisper coming second. Charlie was 2nd in Limit, and today he and Peaches were our stars - both winning the reserve CCs.
18th September - Another good day for Bonnie, this time at the Club show. Again another well known UK judge - Diane Ritchie.
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| Bonnie - Best English Setter Junior | 3rd place in the Junior Best in Show competition |
17th September - Judging English Setters today at Darlington championship show. Horrible cold wet weather but really enjoyed the day especially as Sandra Farmer (Bellesett English Setters) who was visiting from Australia came to the show with me. It gave her lots of opportunity to meet up with old friends and we had time for a lovely lunch courtesy of the Darlington Dog Show Society.
11th September - one of the reasons I wasn't entered at Richmond yesterday was because Bella was due to whelp her first litter any time and she decided today was the day.Not the best of timing on her part as it was a difficult weekend due to several causes and consequently things didn't go to plan with the whelping and we lost 2 of the 5 puppies she was carrying.Still we have 3 lovely healthy pups and she ( unlike her sister Margo) is being a model mother.
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| Bella relaxing towards the end of her pregnancy | Content with her 3 puppies |
10th September - Richmond Championship Show and our only representative was Stella with Peaches (Wansleydale Fairie Queene with Bramstorm) who won her first Reserve CC - wish I had been there to cheer her on! Further afield - many congratulations to Zbigniew and Bonnie on winning not only Best Junior in Breed but also Best Junior in Show at the Setter and Pointer Club of Poland - judge UK Gundog specialist Chris Atkinson.
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| Wansleydale Orszak Gold (Bonnie) winning Best Junior in Show | Best Junior in Breed presentation |
3rd September - Birmingham Championship show at Stonleigh. Only 3 " Wansleydales" there today but all in the cards. W. Frazer 2nd in Post Graduate Dog, and W. Star Queen at Glenmaurangi 1st in Open Bitch with our Wetherby Whisper coming 4th.
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| Margo with her 3 week old pups | Mango demanding attention |
20th August - Welsh Kennel Club championship show at Builth Wells, Powys. Barbara with Logan started a great day for us all by winning Veteran dog. Nigel and Arras won Graduate dog, Lynne with Frazer was reserve in Limit, Sonny was 4th in the open class and Stella with Peaches was 2nd in Open bitch. We were thrilled to win Limit bitch with Lizzie who was also awarded the Reserve Bitch CC but the star today was definitely Charlie who won his class, his first CC and then Best of Breed.
Wansleydale King's Magic JW - thanks to Tereza for this lovely photo of Charlie taken after winning Best of Breed
10th/11th August - Oh what a shock, Margo goes into labour 8 days early! She whelped through the night and safely delivered 11 puppies - we were only expecting 8 or 9. Several were very small - the tiniest only weighing 5 oz.
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| Towards the end of the first week and, against all odds, all surviving | Think Margo needs to improve her feeding technique! |
5th/6th August - Back to back championship shows, one in Paignton and the second at Malvern. I had not entered either as I had promised to house sit for Ingrid so that she could have a weekend away and show Acer and Silva. Sadly didn't work out that way as both of Ingrid's youngsters had a bad bout of kennel cough, as did Bella, picked up a few weeks earlier at the Northeren English Setter Society's show. Flying the flag at Paignton was Jeannette with Jos who was 3rd in Junior dog, Yvonne (struggling no doubt) with Charlie to 4th in Limit dog and Brendan & Robin over from Ireland to take 2nd in the Open class. Stella with Peaches won 2nd in Open bitch.
Brendan in the ring at Paignton with Robin
National Gundog Association championship show the following day saw Nigel with Arras 4th in Graduate, Lynne with Frazer 2nd in Post Graduate, Becky with Jazz 4th in Junior bitch and Stella with Peaches winning the Open bitch class. Well done to you all. |  |
| Kasper handling Bonnie to Best of Breed on Day 1 | Marc with Bonnie winning Reserve Best Bitch on Day 2 |
27th July - off to Pride Park vets in Derby to have Scarlet's 2 dog puppies BAER (deaf) tested today. So pleased they sat still, never flinched as the electrodes were attached - even more pleased that they both passed with normal hearing in both ears.
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23rd July - busy weekend with a family visit. These dog cages really do come in handy!
22nd July - a lovely BOB and then Gundog Group 4 for Jeanette and Jos (Wansleydale Goldsmith) at Plymouth & Dist CS. Still only 15mths old - very well done.
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21st July - Leeds championship show in the grounds of Harewood House - another very succesful day for "Wansleydale" owned or bred dogs. Anlory Arras won Graduate dog with Nigel handling, Wansleydale Frazer won Post Graduate dog for Lynne with Chuck handling, Charlie won Limit dog and then went on to win the Reserve CC - only beaten for the Best Dog award by his half brother. The bitches battled it out in the Open class with Whisper taking the first prize, Star came second and litter sister Peaches was 4th.Whisper then went on to win the bitch CC and ultimately Best of Breed. Once again 3 of the top 4 winners were sired by Luke ( Sh Ch Wansleydale King of Hearts at Bramstorm JW)
Wetherby Whisper to Wansleydale JW - trimmed and bathed and ready for the show
16th July - Another breed club Best in Show award! This time for Stella at the Southern English Setter Society's open show with Wansleydale Fairie Queene with Bramstorm. As well as the BIS award she was also the stakes class winner - well done Peaches.
Stella with Peaches (photo - SESS)
15th July - Northern English Setter Society's 50th anniversary day and the committee decided to hold both their championship show and the open show on the same day. Such a shame that the weather was poor and the shows had to be held indoors at the County Showground Stafford, instead of outside in the lovely big grass rings. So, a very busy day indeed as I was showing Charlie and Bella in both shows and Whisper just in the championship show. Super results in the Open Show with both Charlie and Bella winning their classes and then Charlie going on to win Best Dog and Bella winning Best Bitch.
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| Charlie - Wansleydale King's Magic JW, Best Dog | Bella - Wansleydale Bellini JW, Best Bitch |
Charlie - RBIS, Yvonne handling Bella - BIS and the BPIS with judge Lee Cox.
Later in the day at the Championship Show Charlie also won his class. Bella was second but Whisper could only manage a 4th today.The other "Wansleydales" at the shows today were also all in the cards - Jazz (Wansleydale Solitary Bee among Alolofrana), Acer (Wansleydale Ace of Hearts over Ingella), Frazer (Wansleydale Frazer) It was also great today to see Brendan and Olive over from Ireland with Irish Champion Wansleydale Woodpecker. I have only seen Robin once since he left us as an eight week old puppy and it was lovely to see him now he is maturing. Photo credits - Simon Bridges, Wolfhound Phgotography
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| Robin -Irish Champion, Luxembourg Champion Wansleydale Woodpecker at Berrywood | Brendan with Robin enjoying the show |
10th July - a lovely early morning walk with the Pointers. We pass several large cherry trees on this path and I always stop to pick some - Karla has decided she also likes cherries and is very adept at helping herself, not only from the lower branches but also jumping up to get at them on the higher branches!
9th July - In Poland Bonnie wins Best of Breed at Warsaw and her first CACIB at only 14 months old!
7th July - East of England championship show and another great day for Lizzy - bitch CC, Best of Breed and third in the gundog group. What a week this has been!
The main winners - Best Puppy, Best Dog & Best Bitch/Best of Breed with judge Aidan McKiernan
Prize cards all round for the other " Wansleydale" exhibits - a lovely first for Nigel handling Arras, thirds for Ingrid and Yvonne with Acer and Charlie and a second for Tereza with Star. All in all a lovely day.2nd July - English Setter Association open show at Wilbarston near Market Harborough. Not showing today as I am a committee member and required to work!. However Yvonne and Charlie kept the Wansleydale flag well and truly flying by winning Best in Show. Well done!.
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| Ingrid's Wansleydale Ace of Hearts over Ingella | Lynne's Wansleydale Frazer | Yvonne & Nicola's Wansleydale King's Magic |
Star and Lizzy in the bitch challenge at Windsor - This win gave Lizzy her title making her the 23rd UK Wansleydale bred or owned English Setter show champion.
However things got even better with Lizzy being awarded Best of Breed and then going on to win second place in the gundog group making this a really special day.
Sh Ch Wansleydale Queen Bee ( subject to KC) awarded Group 2 at Windsor Championship show.
24th June - Blackpool Championship show, a third place for Nigel with Anlory Arras and a second in Limit for Lizzy - the only 2 " Wansleydales " there today.
Scarlet's pups are 3 weeks old today and getting very active. Looks like both will be tricolour which I am very pleased about. It has been many years since I have kept a tricolour dog - Wansleydale Muddy Waters back in the late 80s so I do hope one of these boys makes the grade.
17th June - Border Union championship at Kelso. Such a lovely venue for this show and the drive across from the station at Chathill is so pretty. A really hot day but the dogs coped very well. First in the ring was Arras - shown today by Nigel to win Graduate dog. Next up was me struggling with Charlie - we came second in the Limit class.A bit of a rest then until Lizzy who won the Limit bitch class. Stella was third in the same class with sister Peaches ( W. Fairie Queen at Bramstorm) and then Tereza showing the other sister, Star, winning the Open bitch class and the reserve CC - so all in all a good day!
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| Nigel with Arras ( Anlory Arras) | Star and Lizzy in the bitch challenge line up |
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| Charlie being assessed by the judge | Charlie on the move - not slowed down by the heat! |
Yvonne, Stella, me and Stuart with the wet and tired but very happy dogs after their run at Bamburgh. Thanks Jan for the photo.
Excellent news from overseas - Bonnie (Wansleydale Orszak Gold) is now a Polish Junior champion. A little nearer to home Robin (Irish / Luxembourg champion W. Woodpecker at Berrywood) continues his run of successes with another Best of Breed and a lovely Group 4 placing at the Swords International show.Many congratulations to their owners : Zieb and Basia and the Carty family.
Bonnie at 14 mths
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| Brendan with Robin | Robin winning group 4 |
11th June - Three Counties championship show at Malvern. Busy puppy sitting with Scarlet today so not at the show.A second place for Jeanette with W. Goldsmith in Junior and a 5th for Charlie in Limit. Star won Open bitch and the reserve CC - well done all.
Tereza with Star
10th June - Midland English Setter Society open show at Baginton, near Coventry. A return to the showring today for Bella - not shown since completing her Junior Warrant at Darlington last September.Arrived just in time to compete in the luchtime stakes class which she won - with the bonus of £5 cash for 1st prize!She then continued her success, winning her graduate class, Best Bitch award and finally Reserve Best in Show. Her litter brother, Lynne Sketchley's Wansleydale Frazer won the post graduate dog class.
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| Bella after winning her class | Frazer handled by Chuck |
The main winners at this year's MESS Open Show
6th June - can't believe it is supposed to be summer. Really cold here and pouring with rain - having to put on central heating to make sure Scarlet's pups are warm.
Mango taken to his bed to keep warm and even managed to cover himself with his fleece!
4th June - despite a sleepless night keeping a watchful eye on Scarlet and her family it was an early start off to Newbury for Southern Counties show. I really wanted to get to this show if possible as I hoped the judge would like at least one of my girls.Best made plans etc never work out with whelping bitches and today David had to leave for a week in Scotland and so it is a huge thank you to Yvonne and Jennifer who kindly " puppy sat" for me and to Stuart who did the driving.It was well worth the trip as Lizzy won her second CC, and Whisper and Charlie came home with red and blue prize cards as well. Jos, Sonny, Peaches and Star were as usual all in the cards today for their owners. I need to settle down now to a few sleep disrupted nights until I am sure all is well with the puppies.
Good news from Poland - Wansleydale Orszak Gold has won her first CACIB, Best of Breed and Group 2 at Lezno yesterday. Well done Zieb and Bonny.
Bonnie in the ring
3rd June - 9 weeks ago we mated Scarlet and were aware from fairly early on in her prgenancy that all was not well. Ultrasound scans showed that she was resorbing her puppies and although she started off with 6 or 7 we knew she was now down to only 2. A worrying day today as she made little progress in labour and a trip to the vets was necessary and the pups were eventually delivered by C section. Pleased to say that Scarlet is fine as are her 2 pups - both boys but at least this time they are not orange!
the "dynamic duo" never stop feeding!
20th May - weekend away in Northumberland including a trip to Edinburgh for the Scottish Kennel Club's championship show. Not a big entry but some nice dogs there and we all had a great day! A second place in the Post Graduate Dog class for the Sketchley's Wansleydale Frazer followed by 1st in Limit and the reserve CC for Charlie. Onto the bitches - Lizzy won the Limit class and the bitch CC. Litter sister Star won Open and the reserve CC, with Whisper coming second in that class. Best of Breed was awarded to the male - Sh Ch Richecca Breaking Dawn over Bushbane making it a "family affair" as all 4 of these top winners are offspring of Luke's ( Sh Ch Wansleydale King of Hearts at Bramstorm ) In fact 3 of them, Lizzy, Star and Charlie are all litter mates - I don't think that happens very often!
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| Not the clearest photo as taken from a distance but nice to see the line up for the dog CC | 3 tired dogs after their run on the beach |
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| Star, Whisper and Lizzy - all three daughters of Luke |
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| Star, Lizzy with littermate Charlie and half sister Whisper |
5th May - Birmingham National championship show at Stafford. Acer, Charlie, Peaches and Star all in the cards today but the highlight was Lizzy winning her class and then going on to win the reserve CC.
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| Lizzy bathed and ready for the show |
1st May - a lovely walk in the bluebell woods with the German Shorthaired Pointers. Another of our favourite walks takes us through woods full of wild garlic.
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| Lottie and Karla | As usual - no sign of a setter! |
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| Our lovely girls at English Setter Society of Scotland show - photo " Photocall" |
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| Lizzy - winner of Mid Limit | Whisper - winner of Open |
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| Lizzy in the ring | Whisper being awarded the reserve CC | Yvonne looking very pleased with her and Whisper's performance! |
23rd April - The second of the breed shows I am missing - the English Setter Association's championship at Stonleigh. Looking at the results online it appears to be a day of second places for the " Wansleydales" - W. Goldsmith, Ace of Hearts over Ingella, King's Magic, Tribute to Jolymore, Fairie Queen with Bramstorm and Star Queen at Glenmaurangi all came second in their respective classes!
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| Stella with Peaches (W. Fairie Queen with Bramstorm) | Tereza with Star (Sh Ch W. Star Queen at Glenmaurangi) |
15th April - Whilst away on holiday I may be missing out on the shows in the UK but today have the wonderful opportunity to judge English Setters at the English Setter Club of NSW championship show in Sydney. Really enjoyed my day - so interesting to see the dogs from other countries and compare them with ours. The setters in Australia now carry mainly American lines with some still having British breeding a little way back in their pedigrees. This tends to result in a slightly different type of setter to ours - but still beautiful and with typical setter temperament. Classification at the show is also different to the classes at UK shows. The show was held at a super purpose built showground - shame the UK Kennel Club can't deliver the same facilities over here.
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| Best Puppy in Show - Baby Puppy Dog | Best Australian Bred Male |
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| Best Male in Show - winner of Open Dog class | Reserve Best Male in Show - 2nd in Open Dog class |
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| Best Junior in Show - Junior Bitch | Best Intermediate in Show - Intermediate Bitch |
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| Best Bitch in Show - winner of Australian Bred Bitch | Reserve Best Bitch in Show - 2nd in Aust.Bred Bitch class |
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| Best Neuter in Show - winner of Open Neuter Dog | Reserve Best Neuter in Show - winner of Open Neuter Bitch |
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| Best in Show - winner of Australian Bred Bitch | Reserve Best in Show - winner of Open Dog |
11th April - Making a name for himself on the continent is Robin, today adding the title of Luxembourg Champion at his first attempt. Well done to the Carty family (I have lost track now of the number of Green Stars/CACs that Robin has won to date!) All your time and hard work to ensure Robin always looks his best certainly pays off.
Olivia handling Ch & Lux Ch. Wansleydale Woodpecker at Berrywood ( photo Karl Donvil)
9th April - Missing out on 2 of the English Setter clubs annual championship shows while I am away. Today is the English Setter Society of Wales show - only 3 " Wansleydales" there today but all 3 were in the cards. A succesful return to the show ring after a long break for Peaches (Wansleydale Faerie Queen at Bramstorm) - second in her class and winner of the Stakes, a second for Yvonne and Charlie in Limit, and a lovely 1st prize for Barbara with Sonny in Open.
Barbara with Sonny ( Wansleydale Tribute to Jolymore)
7th April, Exciting day - off to Australia with a 5 day stop over in Hong Kong. Really looking forward to the trip as in addition to visiting family I will also have the opportunity to judge English Setters in Sydney.
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| The English Setter Association breed stand, Crufts 2017 Stella, Lorna, Fee and me - thanks to our other main " early bird helper", Chris Bird for the photo. |
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| Jeanette with Jos - Wansleydale Goldsmith (10 mths old) | Ingrid with Acer - Wansleydale Ace of Hearts over Ingella ( 18mths old) |
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| Charlie | Charlie on the move |
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| A big smile from me for the judge today! | Star Queen & Queen Bee with our Crufts 2017 judge, Ruth Martin |
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| Tereza and Star moving out on the big green carpet of the Group Ring at Crufts |
6/7th March - busy trimming dogs for Crufts which is later this week. Yesterday it was Charlie's turn and today the Sketchley's Wansleydale Frazer followed with a final tidy up for our Lizzy.
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| Wansleydale Frazer - litter brother to Wansleydale Bellini JW | Our lovely Queen Bee - Lizzy |
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| Bamburgh beach overlooking the Farne Islands | Bamburgh castle is right on the beach nestled in the dunes |
5th Feb. Midland English Setter Socity championship show at Stonleigh. - Start of the 2017 show season for us and what a busy and successful day for us all! I have been looking after Stella's 2 pups (from her litter out of Wansleydale Faerie Queen) while she is away on holiday and had agreed to show them both at this show for her. The day started well, her puppy bitch Bramstorm Tapestry, coming second in both of her classes and then a quick dash to the dog ring to show the litter brother, Bramstorm Oberon, who won the minor puppy class but was then beaten for best puppy dog by Jos (Wansleydale Goldsmith) who went on to win Reserve Best Puppy in Show. The next classes were for the juniors and Ingrid had a great day winning with both Acer and Silva. Following on, Lynne's Wansleydale Frazer was second in both of his classes.
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| Jos - winner of Reserve Best Puppy in Show | Acer - winning his first reserve CC today | Silva - Junior bitch class winner |
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| Arras | Lizzy |