Varför blev det just irländska settrar undrar du säkert. Jag såg en ”irländare ” redan som liten flicka och föll pladask och tänkte att en sån hund ska jag ha. Jag älskar dessa röda hundar, de har allt som jag ser det, charm, glädje..
Redan som liten flicka visste jag att när jag skulle skaffa egen hund skulle det bli en irländsk röd setter. Kanske för att jag är uppvuxen och varit aktiv med hästar hela min ungdom och det finns för mig ingen annan ras som så påminner om en riktigt vacker häst. Den engelska standarden föreskriver ju, ”must be racy” och det säger väldigt väldigt mycket.
Min första irländare var ett typiskt impulsköp, lärde mig massor men hon var inget för avel. Bland alla hästmänniskor jag stötte på, fanns Marita Boland, kennel Boland, ja hon hade irländare och så småningom kom min andra tik Övre Lövhöjdens Regina med Maritas underbare Wendover Red Raider som far in i mitt liv . ”Nike” som hon kallades ligger bakom alla mina hundar och henne kan jag tacka för huvuden, rörelser och temperament.
Min första kull föddes 1984 och hemma hos mig stannade Copper’s The Man I Love ett lyckoskott , söta syster Coppers My Heart Belongs To Daddy hade en kull med Sowerhill Sailor of Wendover och där stannade C. Just One of Those Things . C.The Man I Love vann massor i sin dag, Han blev årets irländare X 2 och var djupt älskad av mig, dessutom den ljuvligaste hane man kunde tänka sig, aldrig ett gruff nånsin och han älskade att vara bland valpar.
2024 firar jag 40 år som uppfödare av rasen och i genomsnitt föder jag upp två kullar om år
Här väljer jag att fortsätta historiken med en intervju gjord i Our Dogs av Hefin Jones.
For as long as I can remember, I have had an interest in Irish Setters. I don’t know why really, but I always knew that when I was to have my first dog it would be an Irish. I grew up in a family where we were all involved in horses, show jumping, dressage and breeding, so it all came naturally to me. Of course, we had dogs as well – poodles and a number of terriers over the years. I used to be the one trimming the poodles.
I had my first Irish in 1979. It was a stupid, impulse buy and it showed! She was a mixed pedigree of mainly hunting lines, combined with a bad temperament and not the best of looks Anyway, I learnt a lot from starting off with the wrong one.
When at horse shows, I met Wendover Red Raider (Aka Racer; Wendover Jeeves x Wendover Kate) and was told that this gorgeous boy had mated a lovely bitch Lorrien ( Dino of Wendover x Fancy of Wendover). Immediately, I booked a puppy, who was a new year pup being born on the 1st. January 1989. Her name was Övre Lövhöjdens Regina (Aka Nike) and she is in all my pedigrees. Her breeder was Märta Svanberg and she only bred this litter, so it was sheer luck for me. The reason I booked a puppy from her was because Wendover Red Raider was such a beautiful dog. The breeder was a strange lady. I remember she handed the puppy over to me through the window because Mum, Dad and I were not allowed into the house…it was a freezing day minus 25 degrees….I kept no contact with the breeder. Nike introduced me into showing and she did well, with our most memorable moment being a win of an ISF Premier (a sort of C.C.) under Piet Rooks, at a breed special event. During her early years, Nike was a poor eater, but she had a fabulous head, nice topline and tail carriage and a lovely long stride.
She was mated to Wendover Touch Line (Scotswood Celt x Wendover Truly Fair) and my first litter was born in 1984. I kept Copper’s The Man I Love (Aka Kurt) and his sister C. My Heart Belongs To Daddy (Aka Saffran). Kurt gave me a long, successful time in the ring. He was a big boy, but had a head that I loved. I was immensely proud of him.
He was a ‘C’ hip…well at the time, in Sweden, we were not allowed to breed from a dog with a ‘C’ hip score, which was compared with 5/5…. Our system is really hard on hips. Two years ago that changed and we can now use a ‘C’ hip with an ‘A’ hip dog. Anyway, my Kurt was not used for breeding, but his sister, Saffran, had a litter to Sowerhill Sailor at Wendover (Wendover Renegade x Sowerhill Sarah). From that litter, I kept C. Just One Of Those Things.
Nike’s litter to Bonbons Irish Like Your Style (Bonbons Irish Extreme Duke x Bonbons Irish Forget Me Not) gave me just 2 girls and I kept The Lady Is A Tramp (Aka Malin). From there on, my line of girls really started. Malin, herself, was a big winner, but when she was mated to Tactics Great Gatsby (Buccaneer Of Clonageera x Tactic’s Con Amore) I kept my Malva, who was the Swedish Winner 96. Copper’s My Wild Irish Rose was born in 1990. She was loved by many, many people and won group after group. With that, I mean the full gundog group and not the new FCI group7, a split, which I really think, was no good at all. She was also top winning girl for a number of years. One really proud moment was in 1998, at the World Show in Finland, when she went BIS-3 veteran, under Carla Molinari. Wow, that certainly was a proud moment!
Rather than go through my success in Europe, I thought that it might be good to go through the dogs in the breeding of my first C.C. winning dog in the U.K. – Sh Ch NORV -00 FIV -03 Aniara or, as she later had the Prefix, Classic Red Aniara (Aka Sweatpea or Ärtan in Swedish).
Aniara was the result of a mating between of EUV 97 Ember James Bond (Aka Basil; Danaway Raingood Warrior x Discovery’s Nr One Only) and SEW 00 Copper’s Honeysuckle Rose (Copper’s All Over The Place X Copper’s My Wild Irish Rose). She was born in 1999 and her breeder was Mrs B Johansson, who is a good friend. I always showed her dog, Honeysuckle Rose , so when she was mated to Basil, who was a big favourite of mine, I just had to have one!
At the time, what we didn’t know was CLAD. Just a few weeks after the mating, the test became available and they both tested carriers…… What a worry! 16 puppies were born – 2 clear,10 carriers and 2 affected. Oh, it could have been so much worse! Anyway, out of all those puppies, Sweetpea was still easy to pick and I loved her from the minute I saw her. She was a group winner in Sweden . When David and Gillian Barker Bell (Balintyne) came over to Sweden, they saw her when she was 12 weeks old and they also fell in love with her. At the time, in Sweden, the CLAD situation was rather awful. Lots of different views were being discussed and some even thought our carriers should be banned from showing and breeding was looked upon as about the worst thing you could do! Luckily, it has changed and the Kennel Club didn’t put a ban on breeding. By now, we all know the history of how to keep lines, even when having carriers.
Fortunately, at the time, the U.K. opened up the borders for dogs to enter the country from abroad. and Aniara (SH CH Aniara) went over to David and Gillian in the U.K. to be campaigned and to be mated.
Her first C.C. came in 2003, at S.E.I.S.C., under Brenda Levick (Corriecas). Next, she had a litter to Caskeys Vaguely Scottish ( SH CH Kirkavagh Kalaglow x SH CH Dunnygask Ginger Spice At Caskeys) and then returned home for a while. In 2004, she gained her second C.C., at Bath, under Myra Thomas Rhodes (Amhurst) and her crowning C.C. at Darlington, under Chris Sones (Withersdale)! She also had a R.C.C. at I.S.C.S., under Pat Butler- Holley (Shandwick).
What a magic moment it was when she gained her third C.C. I remember having Swedish friends at ringside, speaking to me on the phone and reporting every detail. It was a magic moment. After all, she was the first overseas bred and owned to have achieved this and so made history.
At home, she was a dreamy girl with such a sweet, sweet nature. Her daughter WW-08 Balintyne Coppers Home N Dry (Aka Bubbles) has also written history, not only by winning herself, but by being a remarkable brood bitch, with her progeny also producing champions, such as Coppers Bubbleande Glad x Coppers Prinsessan Pa Arten producing SH CH Coppers Undercover At Lynwood J.W. (Aka James), who, in 2011, won three B.O.B. as well as a previous C.C. and ten R.D.C.C.’s between 2010 – 2011 for Jane and Roger Mugford.
Her two litters, to the fabulous Sh Ch Caskeys Concept at Aoibheanne (Aka Louis; Caskeys Persuader From Amberlight x SH CH Dunnygask Ginger Spice At Caskeys ), resulted in her achieving top brood bitch in 2013. Coincidentally, both litters were born on the same day, just two years apart. This girl certainly knew how to make life difficult for Camilla. She would come into season in January and so Camilla, at first, travelled by car. In Sweden, you always have winter tyres, but not so in the U.K. As she was buying a car, she flew from Stockholm to Holland to pick up her new Volvo, which had summer tyres on it. All was fine getting to and crossing the Channel, but she had not anticipated heavy snow in England. She did not know Eva, but Camilla had seen Louis as a puppy and really wanted to mate her girl to him. When she met Eva, she remembers being absolutely frozen, trying to warm herself in front of a fire in a pub. Having travelled all that way on her own, she wondered if any pups would arrive because only a slip mating occurred and then neither dog was interested in the other! So it was that she left for that long journey home.
Such determination to get the best dog certainly paid off. In their first litter, they gave us 3 INTL CH – Coppers Bubble Power, C. Bubbel Story, INTL/SH CH C. Magical Bubble, SH CH Coppers Champagne Bubble At Aoibheanne and Rus Ch Coppers Christal Bubble.…….
Sh Ch Coppers Champagne Bubble JW (Aka Vita), owned by Eva Ciechonska, gained her first C.C. in 2008, at Midland Counties, under Gordon Haran (Magregor); in 2009, at I.S.C.S. under Joan Northend (Joben); in 2010, at Manchester, under Becky Box (Fernstart) and City of Birmingham, under Rita Pike (Scarletti), in 2011, at I.S.B.C., under Priscilla Smith (Reddins). Later, when she was mated to Sh Ch & Ir SH CH Gwendariff Whippersnapper J.W. (Aka Nilsson), they produced Eva’s lovely Vera, Sh Ch Aoibheanne’s Say No More.
For the second mating, again in January, Camilla travelled by Inter rail – that system, so familiar to travelling students, which meant jumping from one train to the next; almost missing connections, but eventually arriving at Harwich to be picked up by Eva. Much the same thing happened, but it certainly proved successful yet again with exactly the same number of pups being produced.
In their second litter, born on 24th. March 2009, they produced three Show Champions – Sh Ch Copper’s Prima Bubblerina (Aka Pinglan), co – owned with Lynn Muir, winning in 2012, at S.E.I.S.C., under Bonnie Andrews (Bonhomie), at National Gundog, under Brenda Berry (Brinara) and at I.S.A.E., under Barbara Birch (Moyna). They also gave us Sh Ch Coppers Bubble Of Joy (Aka Nice), owned by Silke Lohkamp Sommer (Living Highland). In 2011, she won B.O.B. at I.S.B.C., under Lynn Muir (Romarne); B.O.B., in 2013, at Windsor, under Teresa Gisby (Sutersett) and B.C.C., at S.E.I.S.C., under Viv Blackshaw (Lanstara). In 2015, Sandra Chorley Newton gave her a R.B.C.C. at Crufts. The third champion from this litter was Sh Ch Copper’s Champange On Ice At Aoibheanne (Aka Edward;), owned by Eva Ciechonska. Up to 2013, he had won five R.D.C.C.’s, but in that same year, he went on to win B.O.B. three times – at Paignton, under Gaye O’Connor (Caispern) and Group 3; at S.W.K.A., under Jane Mugford (Lynwood) and Group 2 and on 16/10/2013, at Gundog Society of Wales, under Mr. C. MacKay (Chevron) and Group 3. In 2014, at Paignton, under David Shields (Wilholme), he won a further C.C. and, in that year, he also won four R.D.C.C.’s.
Sh Ch INT CH JWW-08 Copper’s Magical Bubble (Aka Tosca) is owned by Madde Bäckman. She gained her title with wins in 2012, at Crufts, under Eva Ciechonska (Aoibheanne), in 2015, at Leeds, under Priscilla Smith (Reddins) and at Paignton, under Gaye O’Connor (Caispern).
Those are the Bubbley ones, which were made up in the U.K. Despite the endless miles to get to the U.K., they have given me so many moments of joy, so many friends and happy days.
There are also some INT CH from the litter. In 2009, the rules changed over here. We still cannot win a C.C. in Sweden because of the official hunting club rules, but we can now win CACIBs and become an INT CH. What do we have to do for that? Well dogs have to be 2 years old to gain a CACIB, we need to go to 3 different countries under 4 different judges. Also 1 year has to pass between the first and last CACIB. Sweden isn’t a small country, but we do not have many CACIB shows at all. Last year, we only had 6 in total from the very north to the very south. We are surrounded by water, so chasing CACIBS means having to travel miles, using ferries and so on. It is mainly fun going on the trips, especially if you win!
Back to the Bubbles success – In Finland there are INTCH Copper’s Bubble Power (Aka Börje) owned by Maarit Flink and INTCH Copper’s Bubble Story (Aka Hilla) owned by Eijja Jormakka. Börje sired for me CH Copper’s Wine N Roses (Aka Neita) when mated to Lynwood Kiss And Tell Coppers (Aka Nora; Copper’s Bubblande Glad x Sh Ch Lynwood Sealed With A Kiss). Hilla, when sired by Anlory Keltic Blue Sky, gave me my Frinan boy and girl.
Also, there is INT CH Copper’s Legend Of Bubbles (Aka Douglas), owned by L Warmboe.
The Bubbles litter also contained Coppers Pratbubbla and Copper’s Classic Bubble, who were both Group winners.
In Russia, with Irina Isaenko, we find R CH Copper’s Christal Bubble.
As I look at this litter, I am pretty sure that if they had been shown in the U.K., then they could also have done some winning. This really was a good litter.
From Tosca (C. Magical Bubble), we have one of our country’s most successful girls ever. I must extend my thanks to Madde, for being a perfect owner and a clever handler. I had the breeding rights, so it was time to do a magical litter in many ways. I used Dubliner Tiger Woods ( WW-08 A Soft Wind Of The Golden Wale x Dubliner Imagine) and the boy I loved the most ever was born – my Muscot / Sh Ch INTCH SEW-13,14,15 Copper’s Magiska Under. This remarkably handsome boy won his first best male at 9 months of age at Stockholm, under Colin MacKay (Chevron) and just kept winning – loads of Groups, B.I.S. at S.K.K. and in a couple of months over in the U.K. he was made up. From that litter, I also kept lovely INT CH Copper’s Magical Twist (Aka Miss Fläder).
2014 was such a memorable year for us. At Three Counties, I remember so well the feeling I had on winning the D.C.C. and then B.O.B., under Phyllis Pollard (Grayrigge). It was a fantastic day for the Coppers. We also won at Windsor, under Sandra Sturrock (Forfarian), at Bournemouth, under Sandra Christian (Cloverdell), including B.O.B. and Group 4; at W.K.C., under Barry Shapter (Pepperstock), including B.O.B. He also won six R.D.C.C.’s – 2 in 2013, 3 in 2014 and 1 in 2017.
We returned to the U.K., in 2018, to the I.S.A.E., to win R.D.C.C., behind his son Sh Ch Copper’s War of Roses. That was another special day, with his daughter Copper’s Roses All Over winning R.C.C. and Eva’s Vera winning the C.C. It was very much a family day!
Now I must come to the section on CH Copper’s Wine and Roses (Aka Neita; INTCH Copper’s Bubble Power x Lynwood Kiss N Tell Coppers) owned by Laura Kolbach, who, at the time, was living in Hungary where she already had from me INTCH Copper’s Music N Paws (Aka Danka). She also worked her in the fields.
Neita, called Briita by me (as I couldn’t say Neita in the right Hungarian way;=)) was born in a litter where there were a number of really nice pups. Her brother, C. Rock N Roll, owned by Maarit Flink, again in Finland, has had some lovely winnings while C. Wash n Go has done the same at Club shows over here.
Anyway, Laura wasn’t really sure whether she would have another one, but, in the end, she couldn’t resist. We agreed that I could have her back for a litter eventually. She did well, winning well in Hungary and at Club Shows in Holland etc. She came back to me and we started waiting for her to come into season. Well, she decided to take her time and so, let’s face it, I lived with her for almost a year. Poor Laura! During that time, we won a CACIB and B.O.S. to Muscot, under Gordon Haran (Magregor). At last, I did my dream mating to Muscot and the Rose litter was born. I kept my C. Roses All Over (Aka Akleja), who gained 2 R.C.C.’s in the UK (in 2017, at I.S.C.S., under Pat Butler-Holley (Shandwick) and at the I.S.A.E., under Judi Frampton (Strathmead).
In Poland, we have INT CH Copper’s Gypsy Rose, the lovely Muffin, owned by Agnieszka Szeliga, who has sired winners in many countries including the U.K. – Jane Mugford’s SH CH Sanghara Skyline Over Lynwood (Aka Abby), Jetsetter Cristalle To Polmennor J.W. for Angela Roberts and more to come, we hope.
Now, back to Neita. In 2014, at Three Counties, under Phyllis Pollard (Grayrigge), we did the double with Muscot; at I.S.A.E., under Peter Hall (Harreds); in 2015, at Paignton, under Brian Grace (Ranaleen); Setter And Pointer, under Jane Mugford (Lynwood); at Crufts with Priscilla Smith (Reddins) and, perhaps the best of all, Laura being so clever by making her become a full Champion!!!!That was and is still totally mind-blowing, as that means work, skills and a clever little doggie!!!
Other clever owners and clever dogs to be mentioned are also full CH Copper’s Snowdancer (Sh Ch Avacet Snowdrift x Copper’s Sockerkringla), owned by Esther Siegfrid in Switzerland. That is another one with brains and beauty! From that same mating came Marie Wilson’s first Show Champion -SH CH Coppers Snowqueen (Aka Elsa), who went on to gain her title in one year, 2018, as well as two R.B.C.C.’s. Her three CCs came from Alister Watt at S.O.E.I.S.C., Carolyn Hogsflesh at Leeds and Lyn Muir at Belfast and District Irish Setter Club. She also gained 2 R.B.C.C.’s.
Half-sister to Neita is INT CH Copper’s Magic Glimmer, who is owned by Bronka Glonekeva in Slovenia. She, too, has also passed her field trial.
From that combination, it is worth mentioning INTCH Copper’s Magic Master, owned by Aleksandra Janik in Poland and INT CH Copper’s The Magic Flute, owned by Katrina Toika, in Finland.
Torbjörn Bergström owned the lovely INTCH Copper’s Törnrosa (Aka Maja), who, on many occasions, managed to win over her dad. I will forever remember our crazy trip to Norway to get her last CACIB. Surviving that was a miracle in tons of snow and winds!!Yet, we did it and it is now a fond memory.
And then there is Arthur :=) ( Sh Ch Copper’s War of Roses) – Blake Crocker’s big winner at the moment, on 45 C.C.’s and 20 R.D.C.C.’s making him the second most prolific C.C. winner behind SH CH Caspians Intrepid J.W. (Aka J J; SH CH Danaway Debonair x Caspians Night Music). He has gained all these awards from 2014 – 2020. He was the most handsome pup and he lived with me for the first months of life. I know his personality, which is very much like Muscot’s – always willing to do their best in the ring, but clowns in the house. They are so very affectionate and you just have to love them. Of course, as his breeder, I couldn’t be prouder of his achievements! As we all know, Arthur has won many C.C.’s and the details would fill the column on their own! Suffice to say that his first was in 2014, at L.K.A, under Mrs. G.M. Townsend (Follidown) and his crown came in 2015, at Three Counties, from Becky Box (Fernstart). That was one of the four C.C.’s that he won that year. In 2016, he won 12 C.C.’s, 7 in 2017, 9 in 2018, 10 in 2019 and 2 in 2020. That is some achievement. Well done!
For Blake, he has already sired 4 Show Champions. When mated to SH CH Neathamill Nerissa, they produced, in April 2016, SH CH Riverbrue Gloriana, SH CH Riverbrue Alchemist Amidst Kespas (Aka Ronnie), SH CH Riverbrue Ophelia At Glennara and SH CH Riverbrue Altissimo At Aoibheanne. We would all have to agree – not a bad achievement!
Diane Ritchie Stewart also came over and grabbed Copper’s Comin Up Roses at
Gwendariff (Aka Kikki), who is a class winner at Crufts. She hates travelling, so mainly stays at home where she has produced nicely for the Gwendariff Kennel. I have a daughter – Gwendariff Gift To Coppers.
I must say that I have loved a lot of my dogs so much and I am not ‘gonna’ name them except for My Wild Irish Rose, Muscot and, at home now, I have Magda, who totally has me under her thumb!! I think naming them is just because I do actually think they loved, love me over anyone else. Whenever her most handsome Muscot came home to her, ‘he would not leave my side and would put his paw on my leg, as if to say ‘you’re not going anywhere without me. We are staying here’.
When thinking about my proudest moments…I suppose, I should say, my dogs winning at Crufts. I love the U.K., the dogs, the people, the show scene, which is more relaxed, nicer and with more competition. I simply love your system. With the CACIB, you can gain one more easily because if the dog in front of you is already a champion, then you get the CACIB. Camilla enjoys going to Holland, too, where, like Sweden, you can get a good entry at certain shows. However, entries have changed because there are now dogs imported from Australia and the U.S.A., which are influencing the breed and so those people will not enter under a British judge etc. Each time Camilla visits the U.K. , she knows that it will take at least two days each way and so she has to plan for dog sitters for up to a week. It can be difficult, but she says that it is well worth it. As a child, her family would rent a cottage in some part of the U.K. and she has some wonderful childhood memories of our country. Her sisters also like it with one living here for seventeen years. There are so many things to do and see here and she always brings some of her dogs with her.
Yet, there are shows elsewhere that I love for other reasons – Stockholm in the winter and the spectacular work that is put into making this special. The big ring is always fantastic with decorations, music…I love being there and the times when I won the group have been totally outstanding. Or sometimes you remember shows for other reasons other than the winning – for a fun weekend with friends, or all the things that can happen on the way…and does happen!!
My affix is easy to explain – the shine of Copper reminds me of the shiny coats of the Irish Setter and so that is why I chose the Affix.
When considering whether to allow my dog to be a stud for an owner, I must first find that the bitches are good enough. After all, a boy cannot do it all by himself and I think a strong bitch line is most important.
When I choose a dog, I want a dog in balance with a good front. If you lose that, it will take ages to get it back. The same applies to the heads – don’t lose them and think I will just put it back in the next generation. I want a good topline and I hate tails over the back, even if I managed to breed that. I want a temperament that is easy to live with, but also loves to perform when asked. A dog can be ever so beautiful, but if it doesn’t want to show – well it doesn’t. I do love angulations, but not to be overdone and weak and I do want good moving dogs with attitude. When choosing a male for breeding, he has to have parts that can improve the girl. I live in Sweden and the Kennel Club try to make us breed with COI under 6.9. Well that is not something I consider as my biggest goal, but now and then, I need to try another pedigree and hope for something still looking like what I like. Temperament, for me, is so very important. I want nice dogs to be able to live a good life with pet owners as well. We don’t just breed for the showring. I do like to sell for show homes, but it is also not always the happiest of moments when people think they are buying a future Champion. That takes years of learning and preparing for showing. Good homes are my main concern. If they want to show and learn, that is a bonus.
Looking back…no, I don’t think I regret breeding, I have learnt so much through the years. I have learnt not to keep if not good enough. It is important not to go blind just because you bred it. Be hard in your choice of girls/boys to breed from. I have brought in so many imports, some being super for breeding, some not. There are always good homes to be found if a dog doesn’t reach your expectations.
Also, good friends are the best and honest people and what we learn from are good, honest discussions. If I have a litter, I have special friends I send pictures to as I know their opinion is worth considering. In fact, the more you learn is actually also making things harder :=)).
From the start, it wasn’t my goal to gain U.K. Show Champions, but, up to now, I have owned or bred 11 U.K. Show Champions I am just ‘bloody’ lucky that I sold to the best people who made it possible. I would be nowhere without them.
I am a bad, bad person. I do not actually know how many INT CH I have bred, but, for me, the 11 UK ones are my proudest.
When picking a puppy, I trained by handling them. I believe that I am good at picking them out now. Well I’ve had plenty of time to do so! I take videos and send photos to friends, like Eva and some of my Swedish friends, who will give me their opinion. Sometimes we disagree, but usually we end up agreeing by the last week. I like to see them with an attitude, striding out, with a lashing tail. They must move well and be pretty. Some say conformation is first. You have to live with the head and so sometimes, it is the head that is first.
Camilla believes that Muscot and Edward have been the most influential dogs in the U.K. because they have sired so many champions for different Kennels that include Neathamill, Forfarian and plenty of others. I am sure that Ruth Longbottom would agree because when mated to Gwendariff The Catz Wiskers J.W. (Aka Lou Lou; SH CH Northamber Just Cause For Glenavna JW x Gwendariff The Special One J.W.) they produced her SH CH Gwendariff Unknown Soldier (Aka Squaddie), with his 4 D.C.C.’s and his 7 R.D.C.C.’s. Also, Diane Stewart- Ritchie decided that Muscot would be the best mate for her SH CH Gwendariff Miss Whiplash JW (Aka Coco). Together they produced for Diane SH CH & Ir SH CH Gwendariff Whippersnapper (Aka Nilsson) with his twenty-nine B.O.B., 33 C.C.’s and twenty-two R.D.C.C.’s. He also won Top Dog All Breeds in 2016 in his country of Origin. To some, his greatest win may have been the coveted title of Champion of Champions in his native land, in 2019. His litter sisters, Diane and Alec’s, Ir Sh Ch Gwendariff Walnut Whip (Aka Tosca) and Gwendariff Whipsa Daisy J.W., owned by Alison and Frank Meadows in partnership with Diane, have also achieved. In particular, Tosca, has excelled as a brood bitch because she is the mother of this year’s Crufts Gundog Group winner – Sh Ch, Ir SH CH & INTL Sh Ch Gwendariff Coconut Cream (Aka Elsie). In total, Tosca’s progeny have secured 42 C.C.’s and she is the mother of 3 G.B. Champions, 4 International Champions, 3 Irish Champions, 1 Icelandic Champion and 1 German Champion. Again, that is some achievement! Gwendariff Whipsa Daisy J.W. has also produced some winners and a Champion (Sh Ch Gwendariff D’Ya Know My Name By Bardonhill J.W.) from her one and only litter with Covarney Flap Jack (Sh Ch Harvancourt Harlem At Jacingail x Covarney Coco J.W.). What a successful family in so many ways! Reading of this success only makes the next part more poignant. Sadly, Camilla had intended to collect more semen from dearest Muscot, when he tragically passed away so suddenly. Only two Kennels still have some.
When considering her dog for stud, she must like the bitch, which may not be the most glorious of bitches. She asks herself whether she would like to have something from their litter. As with other successful breeders, Camilla refers to that ‘feeling’ for the right match. She has been known to say ‘no’ whether it is a famous mate or not. Also, she looks at the pedigree to look at any health issues that may be known in the lines because she would not want to double up on any ‘problems’.
When she sells her pups, she has to trust the owners to look carefully if they intend to breed. In Sweden, there are no endorsements Sold is sold! She has to keep her fingers crossed that the new owners will ask her advice on a suitable mate. Most do.
When selling her pups, she, like so many others, asks many questions and invites prospective owners to visit and view. They come from all over , especially from Europe, but she does not expect that from Australia and New Zealand. She wants her dogs to be indoor, family dogs. If they are to be kennelled, then they will not get a pup from Coppers. I think she hit the nail on the head when she lovingly said “Irish Setters should be loved. They are so sensitive”. If the new owners want to show the dog, then she encourages them to find classes run by the unofficial Irish Setter Club of Sweden. They can be found in local areas and hold meetings, demonstrations etc. such as trimming, obedience and ringcraft. She also encourages them to go to shows, such as in Holland, where there are more classes for new, young dogs, who will not be up against big names. In this way, they will experience success and maybe get a rosette, which will be considered wonderful.
The end of this year may see a show out of doors yet. This will allow plenty of space to spread out because puppies need the experience to be introduced to the show world. In Sweden, classes start for Minor Puppies (4 – 6 months old); Puppy (6 – 9 months old); Junior (9 – 15 months old); Intermediate (!5 – 24 months old); Open Class (2 – 8 years old) and the Champions Class. A CACIB can only be achieved after 2 years of age.
At home, all her dogs live indoors and have the run of the house, which means that she has to clean a great deal. Yes, we all know that feeling and those tasks, but they’re worth it!! Camilla would want it no other way. There is plenty of land around where she lives and so she just opens the gate and off they go together.
She has no worries about selling her pups to people living in flats either. With limited space, these people tend to go out more than some of those who have a house and a garden. In fact, several U.K. judges find Swedish dogs are more muscled. Perhaps running and jumping in the snow helps. Sweden is a nation of good swimmers and the dogs go too.
Being so proud of Neita’s full champion status, I wondered if she had ever been interested in field trialling. A confident ‘yes’ was the answer, but location was and is a problem. No field birds would be found nearby and she would have to travel for two days to go right up North or far down South to find the birds, train and participate in events. In Sweden it is a very expensive, time consuming hobby with some ‘birdie’ people having their own hunting grounds.
With retirement on the horizon, Camilla may turn to breeding two litters in a year. We shall just have to wait and see what the future holds. Most modestly, she insists that none of her success would have happened without good friends and owners showing and helping out. What others might say is ‘that all good things turn to gold, but in this case COPPERS. ‘Tack’ Camilla, for sharing the success story of your well-known Kennel.
Hefin Jones
Ö.L. Regina parades med BonBon´s Irish Like Your Style och så fick jag då ”Malliga Malin” C. The Lady is A Tramp, en av mina absoluta favoritflickor genom åren, det vackraste av huvuden, härliga vinklar och kanon rörelser spetsat med showtemprament.
Smeknamnet var givet efter alla hennes vinster.
Malliga Malin parades med Tactic´s Great Gatsby, och där föddes ”Malva” Sv-96C. My Wild Irish Rose, och en historia tar sin början..
Låt mig säga att hon vunnit mer än någon annan tik under hela 90 talet, specialer , SKK BIG. Hon vann sina gruppvinster under gamla systemet (grupp 7 & 8 tillsammans). BIS-3veteran på världsutställningen i Finland 98, sista BIR:et och BIG vid nästan 12 års ålder. Att hon sedan producerat avkomma som fortsätter i hennes tasspår är underbart.
Parad med Copper´s All Over The Place så föddes SV -00 Copper´s Honeysuckle Rose / Karisma ägd av B Johansson. Jag visade henne till många vinster under åren och när hon fick sin kull med Ember James Bond så blev GBSHCH Aniara mitt val av valp.
