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Glenn Miller and the Graftonbury English Springer
Spaniels 1975 - 2010
I purchased my first dog
in 1972, an Irish (Red) Setter Bardonhill Achilles
as a pet but after seeing him at 6 months old his
breeders persuaded me to show him and “the show bug had
bit”. I had great success with him at open shows, he
being BOB many times, but he never had the same success
at championship shows never the less he was the very
first Graftonbury.
Late in 1975 I had the
opportunity to purchase a young ESS bitch as this breed
had caught my eye; in fact it was love at first sight
after viewing all the beautiful bitches being shown in
the ring at that time (mostly by the Great Sh Ch
Hawkhill Connaught) The bitch in question was
Hawkhill High Society of Lawnwood aka
Becky, later to become Sh Ch Hawkhill High Society
of Lawnwood, 14 months old and never been to a
show. The following year she was mated to Sh Ch
Clevehill Yankee Clipper (not my choice or type
but a sound and worthy champion). This was the very
first Graftonbury litter, 8 in total, black/whites and
liver/whites. My choice of pick of the litter was a
liver/white bitch I named Smudge or her official name
was Sh Ch Graftonbury Exquisite at Lawnwood
and was owned by Marjorie Satterthwaite but lived
with me for several years.
In 1976 I mated Becky
again this time to Sh Ch Monclaire Mr Chips
a son of the great Connaught. One puppy caught my eye,
the one who has continued to be my blueprint for the
breed Sh Ch Graftonbury Genghis Khan
winner of 25 CCs (4 at Crufts). 17 RCCs. 15 BOB. 3 Group
1st at general champ shows including Crufts
1985 and in 1984 a RBIS at a general champ show.
Following Khan we had his daughter Lady Sara of
Graftonbury who won 1 CC and 3 RCCs mated to
Wardhill Whistling Boy she produced Sh
Ch Graftonbury the Ninja 4 CCs 5 RCCs and his
litter sister Graftonbury Princess Leia
who won 4 RCCs.
In 1986 there were big
changes in my life and it was not until 1999 some 13
years later that I returned to the show ring with an ESS
starting with Sh Ch Amichien Monte Christo at
Graftonbury aka Jake, winner of 4CCs 3
BOBs 1 Group 1st and 2 Group 3rds. Following
Jake I have had many CC winners and Swedish Sh Ch
Graftonbury Total Recall.
Again in 2008, big
lifestyle changes where it has been impossible for me to
breed or show but the Graftonbury name
continues with many top winners in both Europe and the
UK being sired by Graftonbury dogs. Now
were in 2010 and even more changes and relocating. As
from June11th I will be living in Geneva, Switzerland,
where if all goes well the Graftonbury Springers will
once again return to the show ring.
I will continue to
accept judging appointments when asked and have awarded
CCs to ESS in the UK since 1985 and have judged them in
Denmark, Sweden and Finland. I also judge all gundog
breeds in the UK at Open Show level.
I can be contacted by phone on: 07747196051 or Skype Id:
glennmiller1
Email:
enquiries@graftonbury-ess.com
Full postal address on request.... |
