English springer spaniels
Peasblossom
Heulyn
Dave's interest in English Springers began in 1977 (!), when 'Muffin' or Delta Lady to give her pedigree name, was purchased from a local pet shop for the huge sum of £50! Muffin was a working bred bitch who came complete with distemper! However, it was to be Muffin that inspired his ever lasting love affair with the breed as well as the start of the essential but oh-so-expensive relationships with vets! Muffin attended obedience classes where she had to compete against the superior skills of Border Collies and GSDs but it was at one of those classes that someone uttered the fateful words, 'she's beautiful - you should show her'. Duly Muffin was taken to a local exemption show where she didn't win but it was on that day that the showing 'bug' was well and truly caught.
Dave and his then wife, Angela, went to have a look round at a local general Championship Show, Southern Counties. The entries of English Springers then were huge, somewhere approaching 200 dogs at a single show! They saw and fell in love with a bitch called Sh Ch Verulam Liver Pate, to find that she was already in whelp. Her breeders, Lyn and Keith Payne, agreed to them having one of her puppies. Verulam Tom Boy came home with them and taught them the rudiments of the breed in terms of ringcraft and trimming. Sadly, at only a year old 'Leyla' had to be spayed following a pyometra. Nevertheless she provided a fantastic moment for their newly-established kennel when she was awarded a RCC from the Post Graduate class at the Southern ESS Society Champ Show, under judge, Carolyn Muirhead. Leyla went on to win a CC and two further RCCs.
Bowswood Brandy Snap, 'Rosie' also joined the Heulyns and she too went on to win a RCC. She produced only one dog puppy when mated to Sh Ch Barlochan Engineer. Unfortunately Rosie died at a young age from a liver-related disease. Two more Bowswood Springers were purchased after that, Bijou and Bracken, 'Mai' and 'Minnie'. Mai inspired an interest in the field trial and working side of the breed and she eventually became one of the breed's very few full champions. (Photo above). A week after winning her third CC, Mai had to be spayed following a pyometra so the full weight of expectation fell on the shoulders of Minnie. She was mated to Marshring Major Mitchell, producing Heulyn Belle Heather, 'Cissie'. She, in turn, was mated to Sh Ch Bowswood Brown Doublet, which produced 'Tansy', Heulyn Catch The Wind who produced the kennel's first champion in Heulyn Desperado, 'Finn'. Photo below right.
Bowswood Belle Esprit, 'Sadie' was brought in along the way and mated to Finn, produced Jack and Phoebe, Heulyn Flambeau and Folie Bergere. Jack had a great show career, winning one CC and six RCCs. Tansy had a second litter, this time to Sh Ch Penrioch Patter Merchant, producing another successful bitch, Heulyn Eclaire, 'Katie'. Much later Katie was put to Petranella Purple Ronnie, producing the kennel's second homebred champion in 'Maddie', Heuln Giselle.
