In 1970, I bought my first English Setter, PILSDON HELWARD DASHING HUSSAR (BB/T).
By SUNTOP WONDERBIRD, ex OLDHOLBANS SILVER LINING, he gained his Stud Book Number in 1972. During his show career, he won B.I.S. at Kingston.
| In 1971, I purchased a blue belton puppy of an entirely different type to keep him company. Small but well balanced, Pilsdon Wolvershill Saga won consistently at championship shows (1st Windsor, 1st LKA). Sadly, he damaged his spine while chasing birds under a fence and became paralysed at the age of 5 years. He was by Sh Ch RENMARK EDGAR, ex WOLVERSHILL SENSATION.
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In 1973, I was benched next to Mrs Gladys Jenkins (PENYCAE) at Alexandra Palace. It was here that a 'Rescue Service' was discussed and, from this, the English Setter Rescue was formed and run between us for many years.
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The first dog to come to me on rescue was a skinny, wilful Orange dog called Adam Ahasuerus who, by the time he was fit to rehome, had worked his way into my heart.
He was later to be Sh Ch ADAM AHASUERUS, who became the foundation dog for all future Pilsdons, eventually winning Three CCs and 1 Reserve CC. He was by SUNTOP WINTERBIRD, ex OLDHOLBANS CARAWAY.
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In 1974, Adam sired a litter - his only litter - to OWNWAYS SAY WHO YOU ARE.
 | I took a puppy in exchange for a stud fee and he was YEOMAN of PILSDON. He gained his studbook number in 1980 and had the best conformation of any dog I have ever known. |
In 1978, Yeoman produced a beautiful litter to GORSEBROOK DANCE AROUND. I kept two boys.
Poacher of Pilsdon (orange) was my Dog of a Lifetime, a flamboyant dog who loved showing. He won several Ch Sh first prizes, including Limit at Paignton in 1981, when a first in limit was not accepted as a qualification for the studbook. The rule was recinded the following year.
Sadly, Poacher was tragically killed in1982, on his 4th birthday, just four days after Crufts.
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In 1979, I moved from Surrey to Devon and, for the first time, had the facilities to keep a bitch. It was at this time that WISTASTON SUMA SCHOOL of PILSDON joined the clan and became my foundation bitch.
From her, Yeoman produced a litter, out of which PILSDON PIRATE and PILSDON PERSEPHONE were retained.
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After the death of my beloved Poacher, his full brother, LYKEWATER PARTRIDGE of PILSDON took over as chief stud.
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He sired two litters, one to WISTASTON SUMA SCHOOL of PILSDON, from which PILSDON PICKWICK was retained. To Yeoman's daughter, Persephone, Partridge produced the CC winning PILSDON PAPRIKA and PILSDON BLACK PEPPER
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Black Pepper (right), mated to WISTASTON SUMA SCHOOL of PILSDON, produced my next kennel bitch, PILSDON CALLIOPE and the good winner PILSDON KING PLUTO of ROYLESTONE.
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By now, it is 1987. I retained a bitch puppy from Pickwick's first litter to Persephone; she was PILSDON PICTURE PERFECT but, unhappily, she died in tragic circumstances.
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In 1990, Black Pepper was mated to FREESONG SIMONS GIRL, and I kept my next kennel stud, PILSDON PIED PIPER. He sired a litter to Calliope in 1992 and, to great surprise, produced two Liver Beltons, two Liver and Tan, two Blue Beltons and two Tricolours.
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I retained the Liver Belton PILSDON PEARLY PRIDE. He had the most beautiful head and balanced conformation, but I never used him at stud, as I didn't want the lack of pigmentation/light eyes (inherent in the liver colour) to be carried on in my lines. However, I did repeat the mating and a beautiful Liver and Tan girl, PILSDON PEARLY SHELL joined the CHEYNEYGATE kennels where, despite her colouring, she won at Championship Shows. Also in 1992, PILSDON PICKWICK sired a litter to WISTASTON SCHOOL INSET and produced the dam of Sh. Ch. WISTASTON SCHOOL BELLTIME.
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Pilsdon Pearly Pride
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In 1999, I bought in an adult bitch TUNSHILL TRIPLE TIPPLE OF PILSDON, who decended on 2 sides from my old stock. Mated in 2003 to WESTONFIELDS ANOTHER BLUE (a decendent of P. PICKWICK), two bitches were retained from the resulting litter, PILSDON LUCY LOCKET and PILSDON POLLY PERKINS.
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LUCY was campaigned locally and qualified 5 times for Crufts and gaining her KC stud book number, though she never had a litter.
Her litter sister POLLY was mated to MASNDYSET SMOOTH CRIMINAL, a dog I greatly admired and would have loved to own.
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In 2005, POLLY's litter arrived and I retained 2 dog puppies, PILSDON JACK-A-DANDY (KCBVA Hip Score 3:6)and PILSDON JACK-O-LANTERN (KCBVA Hip Score 7:6)
DANDY won consistently and soon gained his KC Stud Book number.
He bears a great resemblance to my Sh. Ch. ADAM AHASUERUS
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Later in the year, I took in a rescue dog. It was just after Christmas and, in the previous 3 weeks, I had lost three of my old-age pensioners. The dog's name was ADAM, the same as my first rescue dog who became Sh. Ch. ADAM AHASUERUS, and the backbone of my PILSDON line.
WYNACRE SUNLIGHT soon became my shadow, and a very special dog. I never used him at stud, but he won consistently and gained his KC Stud Book number as well as many B.O.B.s, and represented our local Donyatt Rigcraft class at the SuperMatch regional finals. At nine years old, he won the club's match in great style; he simply loved showing.
Sadly, Adam was put to sleep in May 2011 at 9 years of age after being stung on the head by a hornet and, after a battle to save him - through which he bore pain silently, bravely and without any agression - I had to end his suffering. Although not of my own breeding, he personified what the character of a true English Setter should be, and he is dearly missed. |
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2007
I bought in MANDYSET FIZZY POP of PILSDON especially to mate to either JACK or DANDY. I showed her a little, qualifying twice for Crufts. Her first litter to JACK produced just three puppies, of which I lost a very promising dog at just 5 weeks.
I retained the two remaining bitches, PILSDON FIREFLY (KCBVA Hip Score 7:8) and PILSDON FLY-BY-NIGHT (KCBVA Hip Score 4:7), who became a true "Flyer", winning many Best Puppy, R.B.O.B and Group awards while still a puppy.
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 Fly and Flicka
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 Fly
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2008
My elderly father came to live with me, which curtailed my showing ambitions.
He died in 2010, at just short of 100 years old.
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2011
The start of a new era for me.
PILSDON JACK-A-DANDY has been mated to MANDYSET FIZZY POP at PILSDON and their puppies were born in March 2011
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Pilsdon Jack-A-Dandy won his stud book number with a 2nd in Open Dog at Paignton Ch Sh and Pilsdon Flash Harry was retained from the Dandy x Fizz litter
2012
Sadly, no puppies were produced this year due to my knee problem, but Harry had a wonderful year in the show ring, quallifying for Top Dog of Devon (See NEWS ) and Dandy again won 3rd place in Open Dog at Paignton Ch Sh, and then knocked out two front teeth playig with his son Harry.
A big Thank You to all those people who ran with them in the show ring.
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2013
A beautiful, repeat mating between Pilsdon Jack A Dandy and Mandyset Fizzy Pop produced six puppies two of which were destined for the show ring. Gill Baker has the lovely Pilsdon Flash in the Pan (named Leu), and I retained Pilsdon Flashlight.
However I realised I could not show her to advantage and felt she was more than a bit special so allowed Margaret Henry, [Beechanger,] to have her. She has so far won Puppy bitch at Birmingham and the Graduate stakes at the Scottish ES Soc Ch show among other placings.
Pilsdon Jack A Dandy was 2nd in the Veteran dog class at Paignton and Pilsdon Flash Harry qualified again for Crufts at National Gundog.
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2014
Another litter, this time to Pilsdon Fly By Night sired by Mandyset Double Entendre. I have retained a lovely dog puppy Pilsdon Night Flyer who I hope to show later in the year. He will be the last puppy I shall keep, as old age is catching up with me.
I shall however endevour to breed two more litters, the pick of which will be available to show homes.
Pilsdon Jack a Dandy won the Veteran dog class at Bath and Pilsdon Flash Harry gained a VHC at Crufts.
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