2008 News

31st December 2008 - we hope you had a truly great Christmas and may we be the among the first to wish all our friends - canine and human - a happy, peaceful and successful New Year.

12th December 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: Maureen was delighted to be invited to judge Clumber Spaniels at the Ladies Kennel Association Championship Show. Maureen's Best of Breed was the bitch - Cox & Isherwood's Sh Ch Vanitonia Wot a Liberty. Maureen was thrilled to see her selection then go on to be awarded Group 2 in the Gundog Group. The Dog CC was the Kirkman's Sh Ch Kirkara Tommy Gunn, with the Reserve Dog CC going to Cox & Isherwood's Sh Ch Vanitonia U Bet I Am. Maureen awarded the Reserve Bitch CC to Ironside's Primrose Glade of Tavirosh and the Best Puppy was Nethercott's Tweedsmuir Harleydavidson. Thank you to all the exhibitors for their entry and to the committee of LKA who were so welcoming.

3rd December 2008 - Hannah: Hannah had a nasty accident when her car hit some black ice, followed by a tree, and then rolled over on her way to work as a Staff Nurse in the ITU at North Tees Hospital - thanks to everyone for their good wishes and help. Our thanks also go to Cleveland Police who were on the scene very quickly.

20th November 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: we are delighted to see that Dave Smith's Maursett Medraut of Karikad (Jasper, to his friends) is top of the table for Clumber Spaniels in the prestigious 'Our Dogs' Top Sire competition for 2008. Congratulations to Dave and, of course, to Jasper for all his hard work.

22nd November 2008 - Football: Brentford FC receive the trophy for the SD Cup competition. Tony, a long time football fan and a director of tournament organisers Supporters Direct, is seen here presenting the SD Cup to Kevin O'Connor, captain of Brentford FC, at Griffin Lane.

The Supporters Direct Cup is an annual, pre-season friendly competition established by Supporters Direct, the Government initiative to increase supporter representation in football. The Cup is competed for between supporter-owned clubs and has been contested to date between AFC Wimbledon, Brentford, Enfield Town and FC United of Manchester. The Cup was first won, appropriately, by AFC Wimbledon when they beat Enfield Town 3 - 2 in 2002 in front of just 521 fans, but the competition now sees big attendances - in 2005, over 3,300 fans watched AFC Wimbledon defeat FC United of Manchester by 1 goal to nil to regain the Trophy. Brentford defeated AFC Wimbledon in the final this year by 2 goals to 1. The Cup itself was paid for by subscriptions from Supporters Trusts and individual fans and is inscribed with Jock Stein's maxim that "Football without fans is nothing". In the spirit of the fixture, gate receipts from the match are split between competing clubs.

16th November 2008 - German Wirehaired Pointers: Tony is delighted to have received a quality entry of GWPs at the Merseyside Gundog Club Open Show. He awarded Best of Breed to Hind's Normbar Atlanta at Hindwolfe out of Post Graduate. His Best Puppy in Breed was McCullough's Yanka II Brokenhagen at Kimmax which then went on to gain Best Puppy in Show. German Shorthaired Pointers: Tony also judged GSPs at the Merseyside Gundog show and awarded Best of Breed to Scanlon's Isara Kurzhaar Invader Padesion ShCM, with the Best Puppy in Breed award going to the same owners with Isara Kurzhaar Ringmaster at Padesion. Tony would like to thank the committee of the Merseyside Gundog Club for the invitation to judge the two breeds and, especially, the exhibitors for their entry which he thoroughly enjoyed judging and made a particular note of the overall quality of the entries for both breeds.

5th November 2008

JUDY SUTFIN

It is with great sadness that we report the sudden death of our close friend, Judy Sutfin, of the Summerstraw Clumber Spaniels in Illinois. Judy was a regular visitor to the home of the Maursett Mob and we had been speaking with her over the weekend about her next trip over.

Judy on her last visit to us, stood on the banks of Loch Lomond - August 2008

Judy was with us in August for Hannah and Dave's wedding and then spent an enjoyable couple of weeks with us travelling around Scotland. Maureen paid tribute to Judy in her Clumber Spaniel Breed Notes column for Dog World:

We met Judy as did many other Clumberites at the International Seminar held in Sweden in the early 90's. Although Judy had been billeted with the rest of the Americans she soon jumped ship and would bed down in one of our dormitories after a night of putting the world to rights with the British gang. Our little colonial,as Tony always called her soon came to appreciate our sense of humour, it was as wicked as hers! Judy had imported Sh Ch Clubow Stars and Stripes at Raycroft from Rae Furness and a puppy from us soon followed, who she named Tony after my other half, he became Ch Maursett Macleaya. Three Master hunters in the States are descended from Macleaya, brains and beauty are still in the breed, something both Judy and us are very proud of. Over the years we became close friends, with Judy visiting us and vice versa.

I think I better explain about our trip to Sweden! We were put up in a newly completed youth hostel. Tony and I, along with Rae Furness and Mary Bowen, were some of the lucky ones as we had our own rooms with bunk beds! Some couples - and most of the single people - were in dormitories; I can tell some tales there! Brian Woods arrived with a suitcase full of Marks and Spencer food - he was not daft, as we soon found out. The kitchen was kept locked so we could not even buy tea bags at the shop and make a cuppa. A good job we had plenty of duty free! I remember well at every meal Neil Underwood saying to his other half " 'ere wots this Anne?"; we were treated to Elk and pickled herrings amongst other traditional dishes. The sight of Mary and Rae two of our most revered judges, trooping off to the communal loo, resplendent in nighties and hair nets still brings a smile to my face. Smoking was already banned in the building, as Brian Stanley found out when he lit up in his bedroom and set the smoke alarm off. The bus that transported us around was a bus of many colours, the windows leaked and it had a poster of Che Guevara in it. To say it was an interesting trip was an understatement, Michelle Meredith had to rescue someone from a locked loo at the airport with a knife she always carried. How we were all not arrested I will never know. To cap it all, Margaret Roberts left one of her bags on the trolley at Heathrow when we returned. Kathy Kirkman had arranged the trip - I think she was close to a nervous breakdown by the time she got home. Many of the characters who were on this adventure are long gone and now Judy has joined them. We still miss them all.

19th October 2008 - German Wirehaired Pointers: Liesl (Normbar Savannagh mit Maursett) wins Post Graduate Bitch at the German Wirehaired Pointer Club Open Show.

11th October 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) wins Junior Clumber Spaniel at the White Rose Canine Society and Reserve Best Dog - judge Walter Lucas (Lubyrnetyre)

28th September 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: another win for The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) as he wins the Junior Dog class at the Clumber Spaniel Club's Championship show. Meanwhile, The Stig's sire, Dave Smith's Maursett Medraut of Karikad, won the Limit Dog class at the same show under breed specialist judge Mrs Marjorie Ironside (Belcrum Tavirosh).

31st August 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) wins Junior Clumber Spaniel at the City of Birmingham Championship show under Phil Green.

23rd August 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) wins Junior Clumber Spaniel at the Scottish Kennel Club's Championship Show, under Judge Nigel Bryant (Phensett). German Wirehaired Pointers: meanwhile, over in the GWP ring, Sharon Pinkerton (Bareve) was judging and she awarded the Post Graduate Bitch class to Liesl (Normbar Savannagh mit Maursett); Sharon then went on to award the Open Bitch class and Bitch Challenge Certificate to Norma Ellis's Sh Ch Maursett Marelda via Normbar to end the day for the Maursett Mob on a real high.

16th August 2008 - a very special day for Hannah as she marries David Taylor (yes, she couldn't be bothered to change her name!), with family and friends from around the world attending the ceremony at St Andrews Church in Haughton, followed by the reception at the Darlington Rugby Club.

Photos by Ron McKenna (Carrmyers GWPs)

11th August 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) wins the Junior and Novice Clumber Spaniel Classes at Bournemouth Championship Show under judge Mr Frank Kane.

13th July 2008 - German Wirehaired Pointers: Fizz (Sh Ch Normbar Coleen of Maursett) wins Veteran Bitch and then, much to our delight, takes the Reserve CC at the German Wirehaired Pointer Championship Show under breed specialist Ruth Martin (Sunhouse). A fine day (the sun was truly shining) saw Fizz then compete to win the trophy for Best Reserve CC winner at the show.

5th July 2008 - I'd love to be able to report that we crashed into the record books today, but that was not quite the case - read on, dear reader... Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) wins another Best Puppy Dog at the South Wales Championship Show at Usk, under breed specialist Lee Cox. Things, however, didn't quite go to plan as a car drove into us when we were in the outside lane of the A1M on the return journey causing quite a lot of damage to the Vito and giving Maureen a thing or two to think about (she was in the passenger seat so a little nearer the scene than Tony). The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) and Maude (Maursett Maude) slept through the trauma oblivious to the fun and games. Fortunately, Maureen, the dogs and Tony (in that order, of course) are all ok, if just a little shaken. The Vito is, however, somewhat redesigned and is in need of attention.

22nd June 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: The North of England Spaniel Club had Kelly Cadwell (Jubilwell) judging the breed and she awarded Best of Breed to Jane and Walter Lucas's Harry, Sh Ch Eilandon Glencoe of Lubyrnetrye, (sired by our own Sh Ch Maursett Mindsapint) - Harry's daughter, Maursett Maude, took second in Open - quite a day out for the Maursett Mob.

30th May 2008 - German Wirehaired Pointers: Fizz (Sh Ch Normbar Coleen of Maursett) makes her debut in the Veteran classes under Judge Mr John Thirlwell at Southern Counties Championship Show and is awarded Best Veteran in Breed. Interestingly, John had judged Fizz once before when he gave her Best Puppy in Show at the German Wirehaired Pointer Club show - how time flies!

25th May 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: more success for The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett), this time at the North Riding Gundog Club's Open Show. He won the Clumber Spaniel Junior Class and Best Puppy in Breed, before going on to get Reserve Best Puppy in Show out of a very strong selection of puppies.

18th May 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: another great day out for The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) as he wins the Clumber Spaniel Puppy Dog class and then goes on to be awarded Best Puppy in Breed at the Scottish Kennel Club Championship show, judged by all rounder Mr Moray Armstrong.

8th May 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) wins the Puppy Dog class and Best Puppy in Breed under Judge Mr Colin Mackay at the Birmingham National Championship Show.

26th April 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) wins the Puppy Dog class under Judge Mr Mike Gadsby at WELKS.

6th April 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: news of success for Maursett breeding at the Clumber Spaniel Club Championship Show, with a class win for Dave Smith's Maursett Medraut of Karikad (who took Reserve Best Dog). Dr Andrews' Nakaru Mystic Maid for Langpool (sired by Maursett Mungo of Kinneil) won the Junior, Maiden, Novice and Graduate bitch classes. Our congratulations to them all.

24th March 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) wins Best Puppy in Breed at the North and South Shields Canine Society's Open Show and then goes on to win the Gundog Puppy Group under Mrs Lynne McFarland. Not to be outdone, Riff Raff - ie the other one (Sh Ch Maursett Mindsapint) - comes second in a large Veteran class and proves he is still going strong at nearly 10 years of age. German Wirehaired Pointers: no classes for GWPs today, but Fizz (Sh Ch Normbar Coleen of Maursett) wins the AVNSC Open class, but is pipped to Best AVNSC by her grand daughter, Liesl (Normbar Savannagh mit Maursett), who delighted us by going on to be awarded Group 2 in the Gundog Group. What a great day for the Maursett Mob!

21st March 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) wins the Clumber Spaniel Junior class and Best Puppy in Breed at Tweedmouth Canine Society's Open Show, under Judge Mrs Diane Ritchie (Gwendariff).

16th March 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) wins Best Puppy in Breed and is then awarded Group 3 in a very large Puppy group at the Newton Aycliffe Open Show. What a start he is having to his career as, remarkably, The Stig is still only 7 months old and yet is building up quite a fan club.

14th March 2008 - a sad day for us all as Ettie (Maursett Martinique) passed away. She will always have a special place in our hearts as a great companion, especially for our grandkids Dan, Beth and Sam who adored her as she spent the last few years living with Hannah and Dave. Ettie was 11 years old, but has left her mark on our lines in a very positive way. We'll certainly miss her.

2nd March 2008 - more success, this time at the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Canine Society's Open Show where Roger Taylor judged the Gundog classes. Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) takes second in Open and, once again, is awarded Best Puppy in Breed. German Wirehaired Pointers: no classes for the breed this time, but Liesl (Normbar Savannagh mit Maursett) wins Any Variety Not Separately Classified Gundog Open and then takes the Best AVNSC Gundog award.

24th February 2008 - a good day out for the Maursett Mob at the Easington & Peterlee Open Show. Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) is awarded Best Puppy in Breed and then goes on to take third in the Gundog Puppy group under judge Mr Richard Stafford. German Wirehaired Pointers: Terry Pearson judged the breed and gave Fizz (Sh Ch Normbar Coleen of Maursett) the Open class and Best of Breed, and Liesl (Normbar Savannagh mit Maursett) the Junior Class. Fizz went on to be shortlisted in the Gundog Group. Basset Hounds: Nora B (Barembak Martini at Maursett) makes her return to the show ring in impressive style as judge Margaret Jamieson awards her Best of Breed. Nora B has become very accustomed to the more pleasurable comfort of her armchair, but can still perform when called upon - we actually think she enjoyed her day out, in spite of the snooty expression on her face when we got back home!

23rd February 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: congratulations to Alex and Jacqueline Risk as their Clumber bitch, Maursett Moonen, wins the Gundog Group at the Irvine Canine Society's Open Show.

2nd February 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) is awarded Best Puppy in Breed at the Darlington & District Canine Society for the second week in a row. German Wirehaired Pointer: once again, Liesl (Normbar Savannagh mit Maursett) pips Fizz (Sh Ch Normbar Coleen of Maursett) to win Best of Breed GWP.

26th January 2008 - Clumber Spaniels: a great start for The Stig (Jubilwell Riff Raff for Maursett) as he is awarded Best Puppy in Breed, going into the Gundog Puppy Group and taking the Group 4 place at just 3 days over 6 months of age. The Northern Dog Club's Open Show sets the scene for a promising career for The Stig and we are so pleased that the judge, Mr A C Allen (Allenie) considered him worthy at his first competitive outing. German Wirehaired Pointer: meanwhile, Liesl (Normbar Savannagh mit Maursett) pips Fizz (Sh Ch Normbar Coleen of Maursett) to win Best of Breed GWP at the same show - our thanks to the judge Mr R P Bott (Quensha).

19th January 2008 - German Wirehaired Pointer: Liesl (Normbar Savannagh mit Maursett) wins the German Wirehaired Pointer Junior Bitch class at Manchester Championship Show under breed specialist judge Jennifer Fairhall. Clumber Spaniels: more good news from Manchester Championship show - congratulations to Dave Smith, who handled his Maursett Medraut of Karikad to win the Limit Dog class and then the Reserve Challenge Certificate. It is always so rewarding to see dogs of one's own breeding doing so well.

1st January 2008 - A Very Happy New Year to all our friends (canine and human) around the world. We look forward to meeting up with as many of you as possible over the coming months.