IRISH SETTER CLUB OF SACRAMENTO
We moved to Sacramento, from Berkeley, in January of 1972, just after the birth of our first son, so John could attend law school. Law School didn't stick, but Sacramento did. We had Mooney and Shamus and shortly, became involved with the fledgling Irish Setter Club of Sacramento. We were a pretty rowdy bunch: among others, Linda Smith, Ed Meyer, Mary Olich, Jeannette Holmes, Sharon Pikell, Tom and Beverly Demes, Ron Smith...forgive me if I forget to mention all. John eventually became president. In those days, we built a float for the Sacramento St. Patrick's Day parade and marched en masse. We were frequently joined and supported by various early members of the Irish Setter Club of the Pacific, including Larry and Sharon Hartshorn, Sandy and Maureen Santori ( just a kid then) and Carl and Marleen Sutton. Our group was motivated and active - we even submitted a proposal to host the National Specialty at Elk Grove Park. We held group get togethers frequently after the shows and the matches. We all formed many close, and casual friendships. Some of those never go away. It was fun to see Linda Smith at our first show back with Gilda.....as if we were never away. We were so proud when Shamus won the trophy for "Breeder Owner" three years in a row and retired it. The trophy was about four feet high and resembled a bowling trophy, but it occupied a proud spot on our mantle for many years.
TREY RELEASES KEVIN - A friendship is formed
We met Sharon and Larry Hartshorn at an Irish Setter Club of the Pacific Specialty. Our two year old son, Trey, was an explorer and when he saw their two year old son Kevin, in an exercise pen, he felt it was time for "freedom" and once he "sprung" Kevin, we formed a fast friendship with his parents after shasing them down!. Sharon and Larry moved several times... and changed breeds...to English Cockers... along the way. Most recently, they retired close to us in NorCal and we've been able to spend time together again. In 2007, we were reminescing about "the old days" when they finished their Irish CH Robalee Echo of Taru (Penny) handled by Larry, at the Irish Setter Club of the Pacific Specialty, and defeated 93 other bitches for the five point major. I had forgotten just how competitive the Irish ring was in those days! Kudos to Larry and Penny and Kudos to Carol and Shamus! In fact Kudos to everyone who entered the breed ring in those very competitive days! And Kudos to Sharon and me for all those long nights we spent poring over each page of the 1975 pictoral with a glass of wine until both Larry and John fell asleep.
THE NIGHTS OF THE CONDOR - Oregon Circuit tale
We were part of a group who enjoyed each other so much that we decided to rent a motor home and go on the Oregon Circuit. John and Ed Meyer and Tom and Bev Demes drove "The Condor " motorhome to Oregon and Linda Smith and I came up on Friday night in her Honda, trading off driving. I remember being so tired that I thought the tailights of the car ahead of us were a giant motorcycle...needless to say we traded off about then! We arrived at daybreak and slept in the back seat of the Honda (two of us) for at least two hours. The trip was wonderful...and wonderfully challenging...from picking blackberries along the river between shows...to the multiple Condor breakdowns! Thank goodness Ed and John were resourceful...not mechanics, but resourceful. It was better than a Steve Martin movie. Somehow I don't remember the placements, but I think we all did pretty well. I DO however, remember the comraderie and the laughter. I'm sure many who fancy dogs have similar tales. These are the times that bond us..
WESTMINSTER AND SPECIALTY
Shamus finished in 1975. I believe it was 1976 when we took him to Westminster and the Eastern Irish Setter Specialty. He showed beautifully. Funny, people never failed to notice him, regardless of whether he won or not, but he got a VERY good look at the EISCA specialty. What a joy it always was to watch him and Carol together!
ATLANTA NATIONAL
What an incredible Specialty! We were lucky enough to attend and enjoy the pagentry, the site, the hospitality and the beautiful red dogs. And,we were lucky enough to watch Shamus place in a very large open class - what a thrill! The flight home was awful, with our dogs very nearly being left on the runway, crated, in scorching heat and us on the plane. John just stood up and demanded to be let off the plane and we stayed until we could all go home together. We attended several National specialties after that: Denver and Tucson, and both were wonderful, but we have carried the memories of the yellow and white striped tents and green fields of Atlanta as special.
EVELYN AND JO
No account of our special memories would be complete without mention of Evelyn Anderson (Bangor) and JoAnn Berry (Knockross). They were our special Colorado friends...JoAnn as Mooney's Dam's breeder , who absolutely loved Shamus from the first moment she saw him, before he was six months old, and Evelyn, who became a long and fast friend for many years and who stamped the breed in Colorado with several of her lovely dogs.
Goodbyes
It's always hard to say goodbye to people whom you have loved and who have shared your special moments.....we were blessed to have renewed some old friendships before they left us... and they will always be in our memories...May the shamrocks fall softly......Dawn Stead, Val and Ray Gonsor, Roy Jerome and the lovely Carol Lewis. We still miss you!
