Page 58 - K9 News - Issue 15 - March2021
P. 58
be complete without mention of Sh. Ch. Flimmoric since 1976.
Fanclub, sired by American Champion Nani’s
CONCLUSION
Totally Awesome out of American import Lusco’s
Foreign Affair of Flimmoric. Awesome was
quarantined in Britain when en route for Australia Through the 1970s to the 1990s, on both sides
and only sired this one litter before heading off of the Atlantic, the popularity of the breed has
for pastures new. Fanclub brought substance, increased dramatically to fourth most popular
conformation and an exceptional temperament in American registrations and tenth in Britain.
to the breed. There are few pedigrees of quality Breeding for quantity became almost the norm.
dogs in which he does not feature. New owners attracted to the breed by media
attention, soon realised that the Weimaraner has
Drive along a country lane in Yorkshire, England special needs which they could not, or would not,
and you’re greeted by a veritable feast of provide – companionship, training, socialisation,
Weimaraners – dogs and bitches alike, all running leadership and respect.
together, tails wagging eager to see the visitors.
You’ve arrived at the home of Patsy and Stephen This popularity explosion had created quantity
Hollings of Gunalt Weimaraners – top breeders all breeding by puppy farmers with no regard to
reeds 14 times, top breeders in Weimaraners 19 quality either in health issues or temperament.
times, breeders of the one time breed Challenge Media attention through television adverts and
Certificate record holder Sh Ch Gunalt Harris programmes had drawn the attention of the
Tweed who, in turn, sired the bitch Challenge public. Unable to acquire a wellbred puppy from
Certificate record holder Sh Ch Ansona Purdy, and a responsible breeder and being unwilling to wait,
also breeders of Harris Tweed’s successor - Sh the public had turned to the puppy farmers often
Ch Gunalt De Ice at Stridview. Interestingly, both with dire consequences such as illness, even
Harris and Ice were owned by Karen Whitehead death and, more often than not, questionable
(Robinson) - winning 48 and 51 CC’s respectively temperaments. After all the careful planning
- what a record. of dedicated breeders, the damage was done.
Still, to this day, the breed rescue organisations
To give some idea of that contribution to are inundated with Weimaraners needing new
Weimaraners, Patsy and Stephen have owned homes.
and/or bred 95 Champions in Weimaraners,
Champion English Setters and Hungarian Vizsla However, following on from those early proponents
with Res. CCs in Field Spaniels and Golden of the breed, the commitment to selection for
Retrievers. Add to that impressive record 14 quality and sound temperaments will continue
individual Gundog Group winners and 18 Group and the Weimaraner will remain that most special
2 with Gunalt Joy winning Top Brood Bitch, all of breeds.
breeds, in 1995 and runner up in 1994 and 1996.
Sh Ch. Gunalt Subject, sired by Am. Ch. Nani’s References
Class Clown of Tasairgid (USA Imp) out of Group 1 - As shown in the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York City
winner Sh Ch Gunalt Tea Party who was not 2 - Shown in the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen zu Weimar,
Weimar Germany
shown till she was 14 months when she won
3 - August Stroese, Unser Hund Neumann 1902 quoted in
the Challenge Certificate and Best of Breed,
Denlinger Weimaraner 25
was also runner up Top Brood Bitch, all breeds,
4 - Robert a. d. Herber, Deutsche Waidwerk 22 Sep. 1939
in 2002. It is interesting to note that many of the quoted in Denlinger Weimaraner 26,28
Show Champion Weimaraners were owned and 5 - Denlinger Weimaraner 25. This passage is quoted in
handled by newcomers to the breed not just in many archives but original source remains unidentified.
Britain but also in South Africa, Australia, New 6 - Beckmann Geschichte 1:169
Zealand and Barbados. Not a bad record and all
58
K9 NEWS DIGITAL / MARCH 2021
