1971 bought huge changes in
our lives. Our much longed for Natasha was
born. 6 days later, our friend and Patron of the
Collie Club, John Gerschmay, helped our Alicia
over the Rainbow Bridge. Immense joy and
grief. Peter didn’t want another Collie, so we
searched the Advertiser. My Uncle Noel had had
Pointers, so we answered an ad. for Pointer
pups. Not so. In fact, the pups were German
Shorthaired Pointers, barely big enough to
walk. Wurrabinya Bambala, Barney, came home
with us and was the introduction to a breed in
which we still take a great interest.
A beautiful roan bitch,
Himark Emmelina bred by Dieter Kusterman joined
our family. Emma was the first of our
dogs to establish many ‘breed firsts’ records in
this state. She was awarded Best Puppy in Group
Royal Adelaide Show 1972 under well respected UK
judge Mr Joe Braddon, the first Royal In Group
winner.
The breed has been a catalyst
in forming life long friendships, the first
being with our eventual partner, Viv Bretherton.
Viv and Bruce Bretherton entered our lives after
Viv purchased her Ch Dunfriu Nicola QC, CD, a
stunning bitch generously shared with us.
Christmas 1972 Peter,
Natasha, the dogs and I travelled to visit Noel
and Aunt Joyce in Sydney, taking in shows in
Melbourne en route. We visited Jack Thompson’s
Dunfriu Kennels and were introduced to GSPs of
outstanding quality and breeding. Emma was
booked to be bred to his Field Trial Ch Dunfriu
Kaiser. The litter produced Ch Tirriki Brymer UD,
owned by Albert and Trudy Fischer. Renz was the
first Best in Group winner and is still the only
GSP to have won the coveted SACA Golden
Dumbbell.
In Sydney we visited Sally
Hartley (Wildheart), Betty Kindl (Birdacre) and
John and Jean Dann (Jagerhaus). Again, we saw
dogs that were to influence the direction in
which we would go with our GSPs. Through the
Danns, we bred our first litter, Ch Wildheart
Jammer x Wildheart Gondafon.
Ch Dortmund Betty QC joined
us on Natasha’s birthday and was forever her dog
along with a MinPin x Terrier, Mr MinPin ET,
trained to Novice trial obedience by Natasha.
Betty was the first solid liver to title in
SA. She won the GSP Club Top Dog Trophy and
Showing Puppy Trophy in 1974.
Betty was the dam of several
champions, including All Breeds Best in Group
winners, a rarity in those days.
Another solid liver, Dunfriu
Dikiri was to produce the foundations for
others:
Tirriki Hamal QC, CDX, (Otto)
- Drs. Shelley & Chris Arnold (Brioche)
Tirriki Henni – The Partridge
Family (Chivago)
Ch Tirriki Meisterwerk QC,
CDX - Anne & Garth Raymond (Valache)
Ch Tirriki Mutwillig Myra -
Anne & Garth Raymond (Valache)
As
the girls reached an age where high school was
imminent and Peter wanted a change in careers,
the tough decision to no longer keep GSPs was
made. Councils were already clamping down on dog
numbers, bringing in the 2 dogs per property
policy. It was with difficulty that we were able
to retain Mini, Luke and our 4 IWS. The older
dogs were placed in what we hoped would be
forever homes. Unfortunately, this was not the
case. Our much loved Betty and Edel saw their
days out where they should have, in the care of
those who loved them most.
German
Shorthaired Pointers
