Page 62 - K9 News - Issue 15 - March2021
P. 62
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Gunalt
WEIMARANERS
Stephen and I met at the biggest marriage Line breeding with differing ‘branches’ that we
bureau in the world- the Young Farmers Club! could ultimately pull into; type, health soundness
We married in 1972, (I profess, I was only 10!). in body and mind, were utmost in our thoughts
We got an English setter from a litter my sister - and still are. Stephen said to Dick Finch that if
had, and went to a young farmers show which he mated his top bitch to Brandyman, we would
had an exemption dog show. That was it, the have a male from that union. Sh Ch Hansom
bug, crept under our skin and we were forever Portman of Gunalt was his name and became
smitten! the first all breeds championship Best In Show
winning Weimaraner in the UK. We have
In 1976, after 2 children, we thought another also bred the only other male to achieve this
gundog breed would fit in. Shorthaired, so not honour, Sh Ch Gunalt De Ice at Stridview,
to add to the trimming we had with the Setters. owned by Karen Whitehead and handled by
After deciding on one of the hunt point retrieve Jacqui Ward. Portman can be found just four
breeds, I didn’t mind which as long as it wasn’t generations back in Ice’s pedigree. Notably,
the grey one with the yellow eyes. Stephen had ‘Ice’ is the current CC record holder in the breed,
the last word, therefore it was -a Weimaraner! emulating, Sh Ch Gunalt Harris Tweed (the
So, Vimana Viveca of Gunalt joined the previous record holder),who was bred by us,
household from Fiona Dow in Scotland. We owned by Karen and handled by Jacqui ! The
soon realised that this stoic, determined German top winning bitch Sh Ch Ansona Purdey was
breed suited our Yorkshire attitude and we were by Sh Ch Gunalt Harris Tweed and her dam was
hooked. of Gunalt breeding.
Having started with this sound bitch we built The top champion producing dam in the breed
our lines on a mix of British and American is still Harris Tweed’s Dam, Gunalt Joy who
lines, having a male bred by Dick Finch, by an has produced more champions than any other
imported American sire, his name was Sh Ch – Sh Ch Gunalt Harris Tweed, Sh Ch Gunalt
Hansom Brandyman of Gunalt. A gentleman Obsession, Sh Ch Gunalt Hedonist, Sh Ch
of a dog, he became our first show champion, Gunalt Tart, Sh Ch Gunalt Balmain, Sh Ch
all in 10 days, after 9 reserve Challenge Gunalt Finn, Sh Ch Gunalt Global, Sh Ch
Certificates, patience is a virtue (as is Yorkshire Gunalt Posh Enough and Ir Sh Ch Gunalt
determination!) . Irresistable.
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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / MARCH 2021
