Our interest in English Setters stems back way in the 70's. A light blue belton and tan male dog "Santon" was bought as a pet that we tried to show and realised quite quickly he would not make the grade!! He always won the fancy dress for the children though, with his home made Sherlock Holmes outfit I made him. Sitting quite proudly in front of the judges with his pipe firmly in his mouth! You can see "Santon" in his outfit in the photo gallery.
One year later we purchased a puppy - Suntop Dark Breeze from the famous Suntop kennels and true to Margaret Barnes word he became a Show Champion (like his sister Margaret kept - Sh Ch Suntop True Breeze) and our lad even took a Reserve Gundog Group at East of England Ch Show, showing alongside the most highly respected judges of the day - Rae Furness, Joe Braddon, Warner-Hill and the like. A wonderful achievement for such novices!
It was inevitable we would want to breed our own line, so a puppy - Suntop True Blossom was purchased but unfortunately only ever produced two lads, one being Daraquist Blue Breeze (SB No) a beautiful steel blue who was a consistent winner during this career although never quite hit the top spots.
It is correct to say that it was not until Sue Wilkinson of the famous Hurwyn English Setters and Pointers allowed us to have an orange belton puppy - Hurwyn Honey Buzzard (eventual CC & RCC winner) that our present line was formed. Honey Buzzard was put to Ferrysett Ferryman of Hurwyn and from this mating all our winning stock descent from today. This litter produced Sh Ch Daraquist Leading Lady - Top Dog in 1996 and Top Brood Bitch in 2002. In time Leading Lady was mated to Roszarke Romantic Pursuit and successfully produced Sh Ch litter brother and sister - Daraquist Leading Recruit and Daraquist Leading Starlet.
Sh Ch Daraquist Leading Recruit's line has been invaluable, producing our Calypso Belle at Daraquist (SB No and dam of our very successful young lad Daraquist Down Under and just in the ring Sandra and Adrian Full's Daraquist Leading Partner), and not forgetting their sire our Wandsfell Leading Me Astray at Daraquist and sister Wandsfell Leading Me On who is making her mark as a successful brood bitch. We have been very fortunate to acquire a Leading Recruit daughter from the Fishwick kennel - Fishwick Koko Kabana to Daraquist and yes, as you can see by the photo she is a blue belton & tan, a colour combination we have not seen for many a year in our kennels!!! Can't thank you enough Lois.
The Maine Coons are a relatively "new" interest from 2006. We were very fortunate to meet Jane Turner of the well respected Dotcom Cattery. We acquired our first breeding queen Dotcom Penelope Pitstop as a kitten, who won very well as a kitten and then retired to produce our first litter. She produced to date 1 Champion and Suzy eagerly waiting for her 3rd CC! Not a bad start and needless to say we were hooked!
Of course there have been cats and dogs that haven't "made it" in the ring but always remained with us, there have been bitches and queens that have never had litters - but equally remained with us. First and foremost they are all or were all our devoted friends and we appreciate the wonderful moments each and every one has given to us. Past and present! We acknowledge them all in our Photo Gallery.
Glenys & Roger