Xanthos Zinq with Gaytonwood
Show Gundog Working Certificate Holder
(Ch Xanthos Blackthorn JW x Ch Xanthos Effervescent)
DOB 16/03/06
Hip Score 5:4
Elbow Score 0:0
Zinq aged 12 months - photo courtesy of Paul Seamons (Messano)
In mid May we had a new arrival at Gaytonwood.
Xanthos Zinq (Zinq) arrived as a welcome addition to our family. We were privileged to be allowed to chose this lovely boy from a Thornton and Fizz litter in the hope that he will wreck the garden, chew the furniture and leave his hair all over the house like the rest of the gang.
Seriously, we hope that Zinq will join the others in the show ring and in working and in future years (subject to health clearances) add some new bloodlines into our kennel.
Many thanks to Heather Morss for allowing me to own and love this lovely boy.
Zinq started his career by going to three Open Shows and gained a respectable third at one which pleased us greatly. He then went to his first Championship Show run by Eastern Counties Golden Retriever Club and gained two first places and went Best Puppy In Show thank you to the Dog Judge Sue Barnes (Millgreen) and the Bitch Judge Lynne Hennessey (Ritzilyn) for this wonderful award. Things don't get much better than this!!
He continued to be well placed at most Championship Shows during 2006.
On January 13th 2007 he was awarded Best Puppy in Breed by Ingrid Pinfield (Tilldawn), Best Gundog Puppy by Roy Maynard (Chinnordale) and Reserve Best Puppy In Show by Sue Bird (Joyberna) at South West Essex Canine Association. A lovely start to 2007. Photo's are on the SWECA website.
During the 2006/2007 shooting season he came out to watch and was soon joining in picking birds. We were helped by Angie Cooper (Dikeadaze) who invited us to her shoots to give him more experience. This culminated in him gaining his Show Gundog Working Certificate on 15th January 2007 at a day under 10 months old, just two days after his Reserve Best Puppy in Show win, proving he has the brains and beauty!!!! To say I am delighted is an understatement. He ended January 2007 by gaining a second Reserve Best Puppy In Show at Wellingborough and District Canine Society by winning Best Puppy under breed specialist Julia Chalkley (Pondcroft) and Reserve Best Puppy In Show under Hazel Fitzgibbon (Smiliesam) the Best In Show Judge. Thank you to all concerned.
Zinq narrowly missed his JW as he lost his coat at the totally wrong time but worked well during the summer, learning to stop on the whistle and take direction and won 2 Puppy Working Tests. He spent some time on the North Yorkshire Moors picking grouse and we look forward to a busy shooting season of picking up and hopefully getting a run in a Novice Field Trial. We really want to prove he is a dual purpose dog!!!