The First of Many Notable Breedings
Blog 12
The 1st breeding Of Gypsy to Barty was born July of 1976. It produced my 1st FC AFC Topbrass Mandy. My first ever win in Field Trials was when Mandy won a very tough Amateur at the Madison Retriever Club in Wisconsin. The last series was a big Water Quid (I had never even run a Quid prior to that day, but she had a great job, and won the Amateur. It didn’t take her very long to earn her AFC and then her FC.
Another wonderful dog from that first breeding was OTCH Topbrass Ric O Shay Barty Can CD WCX OS OBHF (5/22/1976-11/16/1991) Sharon Long was the owner Hander. Sharon and I are still good friends and she now runs Hunt Tests. She trains each winter with my partner, Allison Sinclair, in and around Sebring, FL
Ric was a super Obedience dog and won many High In Trials with Sharon. There were several other wonderful competition Goldens from that 1st Litter.
We really hit the jackpot with the second litter which produced NAFC FC AFC Topbrass Cotton OS FDHF (7/6/1978-2/13/1995). Jeff Finley picked Cotton from this litter to replace Topbrass Custer. Custer unfortunately died while still running derbies. Custer made the National Derby List, but Custer had a Hematoma on his Ear and the vet sedated Him to do surgery. He had an allergic reaction and never came out of the Surgery. So our policy back then was a pup from owner’s choice of an upcoming Field litters.
Jeff Finley decided to stop training dogs and Cotton was NOT trained for about a year. Every time I saw Jeff I would ask him if he would let me run him in our local field trial (The American Amateur Club) held in The Des Plaines Wildlife Area near Joliet, Illinois. He finally relented but was sure that Cotton would not run well for me.
Well much to his surprise, Cotton not only ran well but won a Double Header (winning both the Open and Amateur stake at the same trial.) Since I was not listed as a Co-owner, the wins did not Qualify Cotton for the Double Headers Club. I never won another Double Header with Cotton, but he did win the 1985 National Amateur Field Trial held in Minnesota that year.
Cotton is still the only Golden to win the National Amateur Field Trial. He is also the High Point Field Trial Golden of all time and was a joy to compete with until 10 or almost 11 years of age. As soon as Jeff and I decided it was time to retire him, Jeff came and got him and he remained with Jeff for many years. I got to care for him occasionally when Jeff was busy. Jeff was a policeman until he retired. I think he and his wife (Shelley) have horses now.
Kaye Fuller’s Golden, FC AFC Topbrass No Time to Paws MH CCA WC OS FDHF. (https://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=294806)“FLASH” was a Finalist at the 2015 National Amateur in Ronan , Montana which is also a very significant feat. I was Fortunate enough to Watch FLASH run most tests, since I marshalled in the first holding blind where each dog and handler came out to run the next test.
Blog 13 to be announced