"July 2006 was a truly Golden Time - not just for the golden days of sunshine with record temperatures, but for the memorable Golden events that were held that month.

First of all we had The Golden Retriever Club's hugely successful Championship Show on July 15th. This was again held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire and had the wonderful garden-party atmosphere that we have enjoyed for the past 2 years. The weather was very warm but with a cool breeze that gave ideal temperatures for the dogs and exhibitors around the beautiful tree-edged grass rings. There were over-seas visitors from all corners of the world - from Australia, New Zealand, U.S.A., India, South Africa, Scandinavia, France, Germany, Holland, and some of the European Members bringing their dogs to exhibit. The previous evening we had enjoyed a buffet supper with many of our Overseas friends and members of the GRC. The results and photographs of the show winners can be found on our link to Show Results on this web-site, and further photographs and a summery of this event will appear in our magazine.

The following weekend was the Berkshire Downs & Chilterns GRC Symposium entitled "From Guisachan To Today". This was held at Lackham College of Agriculture near Laycock in Wiltshire. 200 people including many of the visitors from overseas who had been to our show, gathered to hear the story of how our beautiful breed came into being from the dedicated owners and gamekeepers from the Guisachan Estate in the Highlands of Scotland. Some of our most senior breeders and an American Historian of the breed gave fascinating insight into the development of Golden Retrievers from the earliest days to our more modern show and working Goldens of today. The whole event run by the B.D.& C.GRC was an amazing success and they are to be congratulated on a thoroughly enjoyable and perfectly run Golden Day.

The weekend of July 29th/30th was the "Guisachan Gathering" in Inverness-shire organised by the GRC of Scotland and what a triumph this was! The Saturday was the Scottish Breeds Show which this year invited an Australian GR judge so there was a record entry. At lunch time all the Golden Retriever folk made their way to the ruins of Guisachan House and enjoyed a picnic on the grass around the old house which holds all the memories of how our beautiful breed evolved over 140 years ago. To mark this historic occasion the GRCS asked Lynn Kipps to photograph as many of the Goldens present as possible, and with her kind permission and the generosity of the GRCS we are able to show you this picture. What a unique moment - 187 (?) Golden Retrievers in the place of their origin!. There was an excellent dinner that evening and the following day the GRCS had their Open Show, again with a record entry. Many of our Overseas friends were there too and the entire weekend was a very happy and memorable one.

All of these events require a huge amount of planning and very hard work to be successful and everyone who attended one or all of these Golden Days must thank and congratulate those Committees who organise these functions. Well Done all of you !"

 

Field Trial Enquiries ~ Gwen Knox

Tel: 01409 220286

 Puppy Enquiries ~ Viv Jones

Rescue Enquiries ~ Clive Donahue

We will be holding a Show Gundog Working Certificate test on 9th January in the Wiltshire area. More details to be announced shortly.

Progress report for the study of MRD, HC and PRA in the Golden Retriever at the AHT

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