Harsett Golden Retrievers

The kennel originated in 1969 when we owned a Border Collie and an English Setter bought as companions but which Helen trained for obedience. It was when we bred a litter of Setters that the Harsett Affix was granted

We acquired our first Golden in 1970 when Helen bought a bitch for me as a present. The bitch Silhouette of Craybank was from a good dual purpose line and sired by Stubblesdown Errol. She again was a companion but was trained for working trials, obedience [where she competed at Test B Level] ,gundog work and was shown. She got us hooked on the breed and our interest just grew from there.

We bred our first litter in 1973 when we used Joan Gill’s Sean of Westley and kept a dog Harsett Amber Light who Helen successfully campaigned in the show ring and in gundog working tests.

We then had two litters to Elma Stonex’s dog Dorcas Ferintosh. From the first we kept a bitch Harsett Rebecca which is behind all of our subsequent progeny. From the second litter Elma Stonex had a dog Harsett Ferinson at Dorcas who was a successful show dog including BIS at a GRC Open Show and Venetia Hugh-Smith a dog Harsett Frolic who became a Field Trial Winner.

From the various matings Harsett Rebecca produced Harsett Tess [Tess] by Rosecott Lancer and Harsett Silhouette [Kate] by F.T.Ch. Holway Spinner.

For the next generation Tess produced Harsett Vanguard [William] by Osmington Victor and Harsett Fern by Harsett Countryman. Kate produced Harsett Mary Rose [Mary] by Standerwick Rumbustuous of Catcombe.

For a number of years Mary and William formed our field trial team, later joined by a William son Harsett Travellers Charm [Dominic]. Between them they won more than twenty awards including First’s. They also won on four occasions a cup awarded by the GRC to the dog ,or bitch, gaining most points at championship shows and field trials.

In 1991 we mated Fern to Sh Ch Tokeida Outlaw’s Treasure and produced Harsett Melody of Tokeida [Suzie], Harsett Maestro [Seamus]and Harsett Minstrel of Summerfold [Mizzy]. Both Suzie and Seamus did well in the show ring with Seamus just missing out on his Junior Warrant.

Mizzy is owned by Carole O’Leary in South Africa and he has been brilliantly trained and handled in five disciplines. He is a :-

Champion in Show Ring

Champion in Obedience

Champion in Carting

C.D.Ex in Working Trials

F.Q. F.T.A. N.H.R. in Field Trials

Other dogs who have done well for their owners are Jean Hill’s Harsett Kite [Kate son] who worked Test C Obedience and was a member of the Midlands Inter - Regional winning team at Crufts. Also in obedience Pat Kirk’s Harsett Teazle at Pepsanner and Monica Utteridge’s Harsett Tern ,both brothers of Dominic work Test C.

In 1993 we bought a daughter of Seamus Putjade Purple Rain at Harsett [Rosie] from Sue Loach. She did very well in the show ring with the highlight being Best in Show at the SWGRC 21^ST Anniversary Open Show. Her son Harsett Grebe JW has done very well in the show ring winning  2CC's, both with BOB. He is also a working gundog. Her daughter Harsett Gem for Putjade JW owned by Sue Loach has also won a RCC.

The majority of the puppies we produce are sold as pets and we have been thrilled at the pleasure that they have given so many owners and that so many have come back for another dog when the time to acquire a replacement has arisen.

Follow the purple links from the dogs' names to their own pages.

News in 2001/2002

Putjade Preacher Man at Harsett recently joined me from Sue Loach’s Putjade Kennel. He has started his career in the show ring brilliantly by being placed at all Championship and Open Shows attended.

In Obedience, Beverley Golding’s Harsett Angelica has been picked to run for the Western Region Team in the Inter-Regional Team Competition at Crufts.

In Gundog Working Tests, John Slatter’s Harsett Barley’s Son has won a number of awards, including a First.

In Agility, Musket has been a member of the South Cotswold DTC Team competing in the Three Counties Starters League.

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