Irish Setters have owned us since 1968. We acquired our first Irish, Varagon Money (Mooney) from college friends in Colorado. She was a lovely Knockross O'Boy grandaughter and we should have shown her, but we didn't know enough about the breed or the breed ring to realize that. In 1970, we decided to breed her and called the owner of her sire, Am. Can. Mex CH. Scarlet Flash of Varagon, Dawn Stead. From that call we obtained two lifelong friends: Dawn and Shamus.
Dawn recommended that we breed to Am. Mex. Ch Crimson Satan of Varagon. Then she graded the litter and mentored our first halting steps into the breed ring with an attention-getting puppy. Shamus (CH. Satan's Woodland Moon) finished with a five point specialty major at ISCC and a five point major at ISCSC, as well as a major win at Beverly Hills, a point at San Joaquin KC and a breed at Santa Maria to finish under noted breeder judge Roy Jerome. It was 1975.
Shamus produced some lovely puppies, including Ch Superstition Rising Star (Harley) (ex. Ch. Marjonlie Bristol Creme Sherry) owned by Greg and Marilea Winn and CH Kerryeire Superstition (Kerri) (ex. CH KerryEire Sparkle Plenty) owned by Robert Norris, DVM, Fort Worth.. He also produced a lovely bitch, Enniscorthy Annie's Song (pointed)( ex Ed Meyer's Ch. Enniscorthy Crimson and Clover) who was lost in a tragic accident. Most of all, Shamus was a friend and a heartdog. He brought so many warm and wonderful moments into our lives, and so many warm and wonderful friends. Carol and Robin Lewis, Val and Ray Gonsor, Roy Jerome, Ed Meyer, Sharon and Larry Hartshorn, Linda Smith, Carl and Marlene Sutton, Sandy and Mo Santori, Joann Berry and Evelyn Anderson. Best of all, he was our best friend...the guy who thought the Meyer lemon was a tennis ball tree and who won a $20.00 bet by showing he could hunt, but really preferred sticks as we all rolled in laughter. What an Irishman!
Shamus was succeded by his son, Shady (Superstition Moonshadow Too) who we fully intended to show, when John's Dad became ill. We spent lots of time away from the breed and the ring taking care of him, and suddenly, our parents were gone, our sons were grown and our dogs, basically the last of the Varagon bloodlines were gone too.
We spent two years looking for another special bitch, to be named Gilda, after comedienne Gilda Radner. Most of that time, we were waiting for a bitch to be bred by breeders outside the US, who after having us wait from litter to litter finally decided not to send a bitch to the US. We are now such firm believers that everything happens for a reason. We were meant to find the "right " Gilda, and we did, from Leslie Russell at Avon Farm. How much more right could it be than Gilda sharing a birthday with our youngest son!
Gilda (CH Avon Farm Superstition) quickly proved that she was special by winning the 6-9 sweepstakes at the Fort Worth National and placing in the regular class, handled by Loran Morgan. She followed that up by finishing her championship within six months and before the age of two, under the special tutalege of dear friend and talented handler, Taffe MCFadden.
On July 17, 2007, Gilda presented us with ten lovely pups from BISS CH. Galewinns's Spirit of Tramore.
And so....chapter two begins......
