W2D-016 Italian Spinone club-2.txt
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 'S EVENTS DURING 1994

On February 20th '94 the inaugural meeting of the Italian Spinone Club of Ireland took place. The aims of the Club are to provide information, support and encourage comradeship for Spinone owners or those who hold an interest in the Breed. In October of '94 the Club became officially affiliated to the Irish Kennel Club Ltd.

It really proved to be an excellent year for the Breed in Ireland. We were really pleased to welcome several new exhibitors from England and Scotland, we would like to congratulate one of those exhibitors in particular on her achievements. Mrs. Laurie Craig whose dog Wynsett Steady Under Fire at Baillieston was the top winning Spinone here for 1994 and achieved the title Annual Champion '94 under I.K.C. Rules.

Mrs. Marie Fox from Cornwall also achieved top honours when her dog Colheath Noble Fir won Best of Breed at the first official Club Show. 'Flint' was also pulled in the final line up for Gundog Puppy at St. Patrick's Day last year.

However, the highlight of the year for me personally came in June when my bitch Drackett Athena bred by Mr. Finn Cuthbert became the first IR. SHOW CHAMPION SPINONE and truly earned her place in any history of the Breed here.

We also look forward to seeing a new generation of Spinoni in the field and show ring this year following the birth of three litters in 1994. The first in September to Mr. Peter Brannigan's Beanie's Belle ex Drackett Alban, the second in October to my own Sh. Ch. Drackett Athena ex An. Ch. Wynsett Steady Under Fire at Baillieaton and finally to mark a perfect end to the year a Christmas litter to Joyce Ruigrok Dan Delaney's Inostricani Rossa ex their Drackett Alban.

It must also be noted that this year perhaps more than any other there has been an incredible interest in the working abilities of the Spinone and full credit must be given to those owners who rough shoot with their dogs and promote the Breed through that closness between handler and dog this does more to promote the abilities of the Spinone than any written word.

HEATHER TIMMINS (Colheath)
