AFC HOLWAY BARTY

Feb 22 1971 - Feb 12 1982

The following was written by Barbara Howard (Barty's owner) of Longmont, CO:

"Barty was the result of a surprise litter of three puppies at the famed Holway Kennel in England. His mother Flush, better known as "Flute", turned eleven years old while she nursed this litter. He was raised with his brother and the other Holway dogs, and started on obedience and retrieving. Meanwhile, many miles away I was searching for a top quality field trial dog. I had ordered puppies out of seven different litters, and none of the litters was ever born.

Barty was offered to me as a sixteen month old dog, and I jumped at the chance to have him. After a very long and complicated plane trip, he came out of the crate and into my arms. In about five minutes, we became best friends for life.

With the help of my husband James and my long time friend Carma Futhey, we set out to train a derby dog. Six weeks later Barty won his first derby by beating the top three derby dogs in the country. After a short derby career, we set out to run a few qualifying stakes and moved all too quickly into the all age stakes. Barty won an Amateur in the spring of 1975. It was the first major stake either one of us had ever completed. He finished his AFC in the fall of 1977 with another Amateur first.

However, it is for his progeny, not his points that Barty is best remembered. He is the sire of FC AFC Cherryhhill Rowdy Rascal, AFC Kiowa's Holiday Joy, AFC Sportin Kelty, 1985 NAFC FC Topbrass Cotton, AFC Topbrass Gatsby, AFC Topbrass Gifford of Valhaven, FC AFC Topbrass Mandy, and FC Windbreakers Razzmatazz. In addition to these titled dogs, Barty threw many pointed field trial dogs, as well as many obedience trial winners and many dogs who simply served mankind.

Barty died in 1982 and is buried in our field. He was named a Golden Retriever Club of America Outstanding Sire and was recently elected to the National Bird Dog Hall of Fame. The time that Barty and I had together will always be one of the highlights of my life, and the improvements to the Golden Retriever breed we achieved will always be one of my proudest accomplishments. Barty's grandson*, now retired, and his great-grandson**, who is doing well in field trials, live with us and carry on the traditions he began."

Barbara Howard

Editor's note.
*Barty grandson is: FC AFC Topbrass Dustbuster **Barty Great-grandson is: Tartin Savoir Faire***