Page 89 - K9 News - Issue 15 - March2021

Ruke, our GSP, on point was painfully straight in stifles.
with at the time, not that we were oddballs or
anything. Returning to a new dog, we knew a
few people in GSP’s and decided they were
biddable and would not form any threat to Ryan
who by now was the best friend I ever knew.
We booked a puppy but the litter was not born
until 1974, he was a Midlander from Mic &
David Layton which we called Ruke. David was
a professional gundog trainer and he invited
me to join with a group of people at his regular
training sessions. Our puppy was not yet born
but after every session I would have more
knowledge with which to train Ryan. I had read
books on the subject but their content was of
little use when you were encountering repeated
problems. One to one and group sessions are
invaluable when training as usually the people
in the group have experienced and dealt with
these problems themselves.
Elaine and I were soon to become totally
engrossed with showing our now two dogs. We
became quite sombre if we had no shows for the
forthcoming weekend. We had learned a little
by now about construction and movement and
were aware of any shortcomings that we had
with Ryan. He held his own against many others
whilst we enjoyed our outings and we achieved
many higher placings than we expected gaining
reserve CC’s along the way. The breed we
came into was still quite good for breed type but
sadly lacking in quality construction and good
movement. Ryan had both decent type and
construction but when not showing at his best
K9 NEWS DIGITAL / MARCH 2021
The judges at that time were of the ‘old
school, either stockmen and women or from
large successful kennels. People such as
Joe Braddon, Joe Cartledge, Ernie Froggatt,
Violet Yates, Judy De Casembroot, Lily Turner,
Catherine Sutton and many more gundog
specialists and all-rounders of that era. They
did not suffer fools gladly and they would leave
you in no doubt if they did not like your dog,
they were extremely decisive. If you were lucky
enough to get the nod you knew you had a
‘good un’. Up to the middle of the 1970’s it was
difficult showing for the newcomers, there were
about 13 sets of CC’s a year. In dogs we had a
then breed record holder that took at least half
of these and he was followed by the next breed
record holding male who began taking tickets
whilst still in puppy. In bitches there was also a
breed record holder who was fighting it out with
the males for the overall title. By the end of this
decade the registration numbers were over 700
per annum resulting in a greater CC allocation,
but also the breed now had opened up to the
young generation of breeders and showgoers.
In those days it was said you will only be asked
to judge when your peers think you are ready.
I received my first judging appointment in 1977
and I think that was when we both felt accepted
within the breed, we had finally arrived. This was
supported when at my appointment I received
28 dogs, making 40 entries for my three breed
classes, and in the Open class I had 5 Show
Champions and other CC winning exhibits, with
exhibitors travelling from around the country, the
people in the breed wanted you to have good
dogs to judge. What an honour and a day I will
never forget. Elaine first judged in 1984 taking
on both Weimaraners and GSP’s. We both
continue to enjoy judging, sharing a passion we
have to pass on any knowledge and experience
we can to newcomers. Elaine awarding CC’s in
two breeds and I award CC’s in three.
Elaine and I had since about 1976 been looking
to move house. With all our menagerie and
wishing to have more space to pursue our
interests we needed ground and some privacy.
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