After Luke’s death in 1977, we had realised that the only way to buy a puppy was from a reputable breeder, and not wanting to be without a dog again, we were allowed to have Carter Davern Volunteer from Brenda Lowe, and Dickson Nortonwood Inspiration from Ron & Madge Bradbury.
These two lovely boys were the best of friends to each other, and to us, for almost 14years, and between them introduced us to all aspects of the Golden Retriever.
Carter enjoyed the show ring, and won many firsts at Open & Championship shows, Dickson was never really happy in the ring, but did manage a few first prizes at Championship Shows.
Having caught the “show bug" with both of us handling Carter and Dickson regularly at Championship show level, our attention was drawn to the Field Trial classes, entered only by a handful of exhibitors, whose dogs had won awards at Field Trials.
The desire to train our dogs for their original purpose was born.
Dickson, being totally showbred was slow but steady to learn, and was handicapped by Roy’s lack of knowledge and experience.
He won many awards in working tests, and was “picking up" regularly before Roy had enough confidence in his ability to enter him in a Field Trial.
He was awarded Reserve and Certificate of Merit along with Guns Choice, at what was his first and only trial.
Dickson had now joined the “elite"group of dogs being shown in the Field Trial classes, and an ambition was realised.
Roy had seen Daphne with “Thomasina" and knew at once that this was what he was looking for.
Ch Standerwick Thomasina is the only Golden that we have known that fulfils our definition of a dual purpose gundog – i.e. A dog that wins awards at the highest level in AV Open Retriever Stakes, and Challenge Certificates in the showring, interestingly bred from pure field trial lines.
We were allowed to have a puppy out of Daphne’s Strathcarron Seil of Standerwick, and a very special friendship had begun.
Our desire to compete at the highest level in both the show ring and the field, led to our decision to split our kennel into 2 entirely separate bloodlines.
Val awards CC’s in the breed and Roy is a KC “A" Panel field trial judge for retrievers.
All “Abnalls" residents belong to both of us, but…….
We believe in “Horses for Courses"