Page 57 - K9 News - Issue 15 - March2021

Mrs Causeley. Recently, a female Field Trial Champion owned
by Dave Pilkington and bred by Steve and
Championship status was granted to Weimaraners Marilyn Chant out of Quadet Asta and sired by
by the Kennel Club in 1960 with four sets of Brakabreeze Goshawk. It was back in 1986
Challenge Certificates – Crufts, Scottish Kennel when David Pilkington first became involved with
Club (Glasgow), Blackpool and Birmingham. Weimaraners having had two companions with a
With the increase in numbers, nowadays, all bit of working flair.
Championship shows have Challenge Certificates
for the breed. In 1999, following some research into good
working blood lines, David was made aware of a
At Blackpool, Mrs Barbara Douglas-Redding’s litter of newborn Weimaraners in Dorset. Quadet
bitch Wolfox Silverglance, incidentally sired by Caterin joined his household.
Sandrock Admiral, became the first female Show
Champion and, at Birmingham, Strawbridge Oliver As a puppy, she was very biddable, enthusiastic
was crowned the first male Show Champion. and confident in any situation and the close bond
In 1961, Show Champion Strawbridge Oliver which is essential to create a good foundation for
qualified at the German Short Haired Pointer Club basic training was quickly formed.
field trials at Hailes Castle in Scotland to become
the first full Champion in the breed. Quadet Caterin (Holly) did well in gundog working
tests through all classes from ‘Puppy’ through
In Obedience, the first Obedience Challenge to ‘Open’, achieving awards along the way. At
Certificate was awarded to Mrs Milward’s bitch the Weimaraner Club of Great Britain’s 50th
Strawbridge Irene in 1958 later gaining CDex Anniversary Weekend, she was given high marks
(Companion Dog Excellent) in Working Trials. To for her working capabilities and she was awarded
date, there has not been an Obedience Champion 1st place in the Open Class of the Club’s Gundog
in the breed in Britain. Working Test.

Perhaps it can be said that Working Trials and From the shooting Season of 2002, David had
Field Trials are more suited to the Weimaraner started to enter Holly in field trials. Her first trip
instinct. out gaining a 3rd place in ‘Novice’, the only award
given on the day. In January 2005, at the age of
There have been numerous Champions who have five years and after gaining numerous field trial
qualified in the show ring, in field trials and also in awards, Holly had gained her second ‘first place’
Working Trials; Ch Fossana Bruno CDex, UDex, in an Open Class trial. This gave her the title
WDex, TD owned by Val O’Keefe, Ch Monroes of ‘Field Trial Champion’ and she was the first
Ambition of Westglade CDex, UDex, WD owned Weimaraner bitch to have ever received the title
by Gwen Sowersby and Ch Reeman Aruac CDex, in the history of the breed in the country.
UDex, WDex, TDex to name but a few. But it took
till 1988 before Ritisons Constellation CDex, The Pilkingtons then had a new addition having
UDex, WDex, TDex owned by Jenny Wilson imported ‘Reha’ (Woksebs Reha Swe Imp) a
became the first Working Trial Champion in the Weimaraner bitch bred in Sweden by Anders
breed in Britain. and Elisabeth Beskow using their bitch Swe Ch
Woksebs Nike and the Sire from Germany, Ansum
In Britain when Field Trials for Hunt, Point, Retrieve Von Reersom. Anders is also a Field Trial Judge
breeds are run, all HPR breeds compete together. in Sweden. Reha comes from good working lines
There are, of course, different styles among the which could prove a valuable contribution for the
differing breeds so it is no wonder that there has future of the working Weimaraner in the country.
only been one male Field Trial Champion – FT CH
Wobrooke of Fleetapple owned by Di Arrowsmith. The history of the Weimaraner in Britain could not

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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / MARCH 2021